Second Time's a Charm: Pelican Hill Resort

"The recession has been very good for my incentive trips." I stabbed another hand-made cheese ravioli bathed in sage butter sauce. "We've gained access to 5-star resorts we never could have afforded before 2007."

Simaan, Regional Sales Director for Pelican Hill Resort smiled and nodded his head. Perhaps it was bad taste to mention my gain from the resort's inability to meet original revenue projections.

Ever the consummate host, Simaan played along: "I know! Can you believe the rate we're offering?"

My first visit to the resort was in 2009, months after Pelican's grand opening. I stopped overnight on my way from Borneo to Salt Lake.  There I was, an under-30 in jeans and a filthy t-shirt from Urban Outfitters after 24 hours on a plane and a week in the sweaty tropics.

"Good evening sir. Welcome to"(and then, almost in a whisper)"Pelican Hill." A exquisitely tanned staff member in a brown suit drove me to my room in a $300,000 Bentley. He referred to me as sir at least five times before we made it to my room. It was just too much, and just way too formal.

Simaan says shortly after the opening, the hotel was unsure of its culture. He speculates that  some hasty hiring decisions led to inexperienced staff who assumed an elegant resort required uptight behavior.

After two years of the resort getting comfortable in its own skin,  I'd say it is now confident and relaxed to the perfect degree.

At sunset, Simaan and I walk out to a terrace overlooking the greens of a golf course gently sloping down to the Pacific.

"I make sure to come out here at least once a day for this view." Simaan panned the horizon, pointing out Catalina Island. "I've never been, but guests say this view reminds them of the hills above Florence."

"Tuscany meets the Pacific." I added. "Not bad at all."