William L. Evans is Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Evans Hotels, the owner and developer of The Lodge at Torrey Pines, now under construction in La Jolla, Calif. In addition to overseeing all management, operation and marketing activities for Evans Hotels, Mr. Evans has been the creative force behind the development of The Lodge`s tribute to the California Craftsman Movement.

A passionate collector of antique automobiles, California Impressionist art, as well as rare specimen palm trees and subtropicals, Mr. Evans is known for his extensive knowledge of the Craftsman Era. He has assembled a team of leading architects, historians, artisans and artists to work on The Lodge, among them noted Gamble House historian/curator Randell Makinson, who is serving as design consultant.

The Lodge at Torrey Pines carefully echoes the early 1900s architecture of Craftsman-style architects Greene and Greene, designers of the famed Gamble and Blacker houses in Pasadena, Calif. Extensive, individualized hand crafted detailing and artisanship will be evident throughout the 175-room Lodge, which features a palette of natural colors, fine masonry and woodwork and stone surfaces. Interiors will create a warm, tranquil feel with custom-designed light fixtures inspired by Greene and Greene, area rugs and carpets patterned after original William Morris designs and California Impressionist paintings.
Situated adjacent to Torrey Pines Golf Course and within walking distance of Torrey Pines State Reserve, The Lodge at Torrey Pines will offer guests a unique business and vacation destination. In addition to its guest rooms and suites, the property will offer more than 13,000 square feet of meeting and banquet spaces, as well as a 9,500 square-foot full-service spa and two gourmet restaurants.

“Our aim is to position The Lodge, restaurants, spa, golf, and the incredible natural history of Torrey Pines State Reserve as one seamless experience,” said Mr. Evans. “It will be a uniquely luxurious experience, both new and timeless, and a chance for business travelers, vacationers and San Diegans alike to enjoy everything we love about La Jolla and the region.”
Evans Hotels, a collection of properties located mostly in San Diego, owns and manages the Bahia Resort Hotel, Catamaran Resort Hotel, Bahia Sternwheelers in Mission Bay and Newport Dunes Resort & Marina in Newport Beach, Calif.

A native of San Diego, Mr. Evans` early career included an affiliation with L`Hermitage Hotel Group as Project Manager of Le Bel Age Hotel in Los Angeles. Previously, he spent two years with Rosewood Hotels as Food & Beverage Manager at The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and in the same position at The Remington Hotel in Houston.

In addition to his extensive professional experience, Mr. Evans` interests include numerous professional and philanthropic affiliations. He is currently a board member and past President & Chairman of the San Diego Hotel/Motel Association, as well as a board member and past President of the Mission Bay Lessees Association. He previously served as President of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation and as a board member of the Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau and the San Diego Historical Society.

Mr. Evans earned a B.S. from Cornell University`s School of Hotel and Restaurant Administration, in Ithaca, N.Y. He is based at the Evans Hotels` executive headquarters in San Diego, Calif.

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