HotelChatter

Considering the fact that pretty much everyone's initial complaint about this place was that it focused too much on the design, you'd think promoting a suite based on its name and its look wouldn't be in their interest. Well, so much for that.

As the hotel writes:

"The Ramsay-designed Victory Suite features a master bedroom with California King bed, an oversized walk-in shower with overhead rain fixtures and a Pininfarina-designed Morphosis Jacuzzi tub. The ultimate entertaining space, the suite includes a separate living-room area complete with seating and dining areas, wet bar, top-of-the-line Bang & Olufsen entertainment system and two flat panel HD televisions.

The Victory Suite’s exceptional amenities are all complemented by sweeping views of San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter."

Well, that last part sounds nice! And indeed, the Victory Suite has one of the hotel's best features: a corner nook, with the rounded bay windows and comfy seating area to sit and look out on the city below.

Judging from photos on the website, the rest of the suite is marked by brick walls, billowy white curtains, black-and-white photography, and shag carpets. Gordon Ramsay apparently co-designed it (or was it just inspired by him? The wording is a little unclear), so it's got that going for it.

But special enough to cost $1,099? A Standard room at the hotel usually goes for around $249/night, and while a Front Desk agent explained that the reservations department might be able to negotiate the suite's rate down a bit, $1,099 is the base rate.

But who knows? Maybe the Gordon Ramsay name is enough to lure a few diehard fans. At least then, the hotel would be raking in the cash to offset the flash.

[Photo: Keating Hotel]