Interview with Doug Bruce, Proprietor and General Manager of The Rose Hotel from Venice, Los Angeles

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

In Venice Beach, you can see skaters, surfers, cycling people, volleyball players, walking or sunbathing tourists and more different figures. The soul of Venice Beach is all about this diversity. Besides all these, there are also structures that formed a bridge between past and present. The Rose Hotel, with a history of 108 years, is one of these iconic buildings of Venice. With its dedicated team, history, design, and colors that reflect the Venice spirit, The Rose Hotel is waiting for guests who want to live Venice spirit all day long. To better understand the Venice Beach soul and to find out more about The Rose Hotel, I talked to Doug Bruce, Proprietor and General Manager of The Rose Hotel Venice.

Doug, before start talking about The Rose Hotel, could you tell us about yourself? Who is Doug Bruce?

I'm a French photographer who grew up in Africa and went to boarding school in England. I then studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York and lived there for 11 years before moving to Venice 8,5 years ago. I've travelled extensively for work and that's what drew me to hospitality. My main passions are rescuing animals, reforestation, and the conservation of rainforests and preservation of indigenous tribes.

Doug Bruce - The Rose Hotel

The Rose Hotel

Could you tell us about the history of The Rose Hotel?

It was built by Abbot Kinney in 1908 as a "party house" (brothel) for his east coast friends. It has had various incarnations as a flop house, a gang headquarters, and a motel. Legend has it that Charlie Chaplin used to drop in as did Jim Morrison.

The Rose Hotel

How would you define The Rose Hotel? Please tell us about The Rose Hotel.

The concept behind The Rose was to create an experience for the guest of a "home away from home". The decor is very minimalist and incorporates the hues of the beach; natural woods, beiges, blues, and greens. It has a very relaxed vibe, yet our staff is very attentive to our guests requirements. Our guests tend to be in the arts and generally curious types who don't want the full amenities services of luxury hotels.

The Rose Hotel

Please tell us about Venice and surfing. What are the advantages of being located there?

Venice is synonymous with surfing, there are breaks all along the beach leading to the pier. Good surfers will "shoot the pier" meaning they ride waves under it and across to the other side....quite spectacular when the swell is pumping!

The Rose Hotel

What type of different rooms and suites do you have? Could you tell us about them? What are their features?

We have rooms for all budgets. Our standard rooms start at 205$ and go up to the expansive 1500 sq ft Pacific Penthouse which rents for about 700$ with full range Bertazonni appliances in the kitchen and two bedrooms. All the suites have private decks and ocean views......It's best to look at www.therosehotelvenice.com to see full descriptions and pictures of the rooms.

The Rose Hotel Lobby

What features of The Rose Hotel sets it apart from other hotels in Venice, Los Angeles?

We have oversized artwork from our friends on the walls. We're a block from the boardwalk, so our guests benefit from the views and its proximity, yet don't have to deal with the crowds. I'm told that is staff is what really sets us apart from other hotels in that they almost become like family members to our repeat guests.

The Rose Hotel

Please tell us about your services and amenities. How could your guests spend time at The Rose Hotel?

We offer complimentary surfboards and lessons, cruiser rentals, massages in the rooms, Aesop products in the bathrooms, and our complimentary continental breakfast consist of the best croissants in Los Angeles from the Sugarbloom Bakery and Stumptown coffee.

The Rose Hotel

And when they out of The Rose Hotel and stepping into the Venice, what can they do?

Guests can take a bike and cruise up and down Abbot Kinney, see the canals, or watch the skaters in the bowl, the boardwalk is a big attraction, there are many excellent restaurants now, and of course, go for a swim a stone's throw away from the hotel.

How can travelers make their individual or group reservations?

The easiest way is via our website, www.therosehotelvenice.com

The Rose Hotel

Which is the top season for travelers who want to visit Los Angeles? What is the reason?

We see visitors from all over all year around. Our balmy winters mean that the East Coast migrates here during their deep freeze. Of course July and August are the busiest months but with Los Angeles becoming a thriving culinary and artistic destination in the last few years, I don't really think there's a "top season" anymore.

What are the most famous attractions near you?

The Boardwalk, the Venice canals, the state parks, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, 3rd Street Promenade.

The Rose Hotel

If you have only one weekend in Los Angeles as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

Walk around Venice, take a car up to Malibu, See the Broad Museum, Go to Little Tokyo, See the Arts District downtown, Visit the Griffith Observatory and Universal Studios, and explore all the amazing restaurants that Los Angeles offers.

How could you describe Los Angeles?

I always feel that the worldview of LA is that it's a cheesy place stereotyped in the worst way, whereas it's actually the opposite if you stay out of Hollywood. It's a thriving metropolis brimful of diversification which I think is a much more interesting place to be living in than New York right now. There has definitely been a migration from the east coast but also from Europe too.

Thank you Doug for this enjoyable interview.

For more information, please visit website of The Rose Hotel

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Wednesday, August 8, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.