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SENA Hotel Anaheim OCVIBE: Inside Anaheim's First Autograph Collection Hotel

By Anaheim Life Editorial5 min read
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A tabletop architectural model of a terraced hotel, lit warm orange on one side and cool blue on the other, beside a small round disc model and loosely curled trace paper.

OCVIBE has released the design for SENA, the first hotel planned for its 100-acre district around Honda Center. It will also be Anaheim's first hotel in Marriott's Autograph Collection. OCVIBE's October 15, 2026 announcement says SENA is expected to open in 2029 as a "300-plus-key property." The part most likely to matter to residents is a ground-floor José Andrés restaurant, which OCVIBE says will be open to Anaheim residents as well as hotel guests.

SENA at a glance

  • Expected opening: 2029, per OCVIBE. No opening month has been announced.

  • Size: 300-plus keys. Hotel Management Network and What Now Orange County also report more than 300 rooms.

  • Location: the OCVIBE district around Honda Center in Anaheim.

  • Brand: Marriott's Autograph Collection, connected to Marriott Bonvoy.

  • Operator: Sage Hospitality Group.

  • Not yet announced: the restaurant's name and concept, room rates and booking dates.

A José Andrés restaurant open to residents

OCVIBE says José Andrés will open a signature restaurant on SENA's ground floor that "will welcome guests, OCVIBE visitors, and Anaheim residents." The restaurant and an indoor-outdoor lobby bar will both overlook OCVIBE's South Plaza and Honda Center. What Now Orange County also reports that the restaurant will be open to residents.

In the release, Andrés said: "Anaheim, here we come! It is no secret that I love California…filled with amazing people, bountiful ingredients and energy. My team and I are excited to bring a new restaurant into this community that we look forward to being a part of."

What the design calls for

SENA has not been built yet, so everything in this section comes from OCVIBE's description of the plan. WATG is the architect and landscape architect. Its design draws on the hotel's setting along the Santa Ana River and on Southern California's natural light, and the building is "conceived as a building that changes with the sky." A terraced podium and a luminous façade are meant to be "a warm, welcoming counterpoint to Honda Center."

Rockwell Group is designing the interiors. OCVIBE says "a circular lobby bar will serve as SENA's social anchor." The bar will have views of Honda Center and South Plaza and will go "from bright and convivial during the day to warm and atmospheric at night." David Rockwell, the firm's founder and president, said: "We were inspired by Anaheim's history of imagination and innovation, and we designed SENA around that spirit."

Outdoors, OCVIBE describes a pool bar with fire features, lush landscaping, cabanas and music-driven programming.

Who is behind it

Sage Hospitality Group will run the hotel. OCVIBE says SENA "will maintain an individual identity rooted in OCVIBE while connecting guests to the global reach and loyalty network of Marriott Bonvoy." Dan Young, OCVIBE's Executive Director of Development, called SENA "both a destination in its own right and a front door to everything OCVIBE is becoming," and described it as "a place where exceptional design, dining, hospitality, and live experiences come together."

Noah Silverman of Marriott International said the company is "incredibly proud to work alongside OCVIBE and Sage Hospitality Group to bring Anaheim's first Autograph Collection hotel to life." Daniel del Olmo, President and CEO of Sage, said the most memorable hotels "are living, breathing extensions of the communities around them." Mike Waterman, President and CEO of Visit Anaheim, said SENA is "creating something distinctly Anaheim." Trade coverage from Connect CRE lists the same partners and key count.

How SENA fits the OCVIBE timeline

SENA comes after the district's first phase, which OCVIBE says opens to the public in early 2027. That phase includes a public plaza and The Weave, which OCVIBE describes as the county's first mass timber office building in a mixed-use development. It also includes Katella Commons, a 50,000-square-foot, two-story market hall with 21 chef-driven kitchens and six bar and lounge concepts, located just below The Weave. The third piece is the 5,000-capacity OCVIBE Concert Hall.

OCVIBE says the district is privately funded with a $5 billion commitment from the Samueli Family and will be fully complete in 2033. At that point it is planned to have 20 acres of open space, three miles of connected walking trails, more than 2,000 residences, more than 35 new dining spots and three entertainment venues.

What it means for Anaheim residents

There is nothing to book or reserve yet. If you live near Honda Center, the first phase in early 2027 will give you new places to eat and see shows about two years before SENA opens. The hotel's restaurant and bars will add more dining to the same walkable area. To follow updates, check the OCVIBE newsroom, which is where these details were first published.

What is still unknown

OCVIBE has not announced the restaurant's name or cuisine, room rates, an opening month or construction milestones. Everything above comes from OCVIBE's announcement of a planned project, and details may change before 2029.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

When will the SENA hotel in Anaheim open?

OCVIBE says SENA is expected to open in 2029. It has not announced an opening month or booking dates.

Can Anaheim residents eat at the José Andrés restaurant at SENA?

Yes. OCVIBE says the ground-floor restaurant will welcome hotel guests, OCVIBE visitors and Anaheim residents. Its name and concept have not been announced.

How many rooms will SENA have?

OCVIBE describes SENA as a 300-plus-key property, and trade coverage reports more than 300 rooms.

Who will operate SENA, and is it part of Marriott?

Sage Hospitality Group will operate SENA. It will be Anaheim's first Autograph Collection hotel and will connect guests to Marriott Bonvoy while keeping its own OCVIBE-based identity.

Is SENA part of OCVIBE's 2027 first phase?

No. OCVIBE says the first phase opens in early 2027 with Katella Commons, The Weave, a public plaza and a 5,000-capacity concert hall. SENA is expected after that, in 2029.