As long as Greg Guthrie has worked at Hotel Maya, the seaside getaway facing the Long Beach skyline has always given him a certain feeling.
“You feel like you’re on vacation, although you’re in a major city,” said the general manager. “You want to relax. You want to enjoy it.”
This year, the beloved Long Beach property stepped into a new era, officially parting ways with Hilton and reclaiming its independence. For Guthrie and his team, some of which have been with the hotel from the beginning in 1975, the shift wasn’t a dramatic departure — it was a natural evolution.
“We never really felt like we were defined by a brand,” Guthrie said. “We’ve always felt like we were Hotel Maya. That identity was always there. It just felt like the right time for everything to fall into place — for us to become more intimate with our community and our guests.”
Now, as Hotel Maya marks its 50th anniversary, Guthrie and his staff are leaning into everything that makes this waterfront enclave a destination for travelers and locals alike — bright, Baja-modern architecture, gently swaying palms, a manmade beach laced with seagrass and fire pits and a view of the neighboring Queen Mary. Set on 14 lush acres at the edge of Queensway Bay, the hotel offers a front-row view of both the downtown skyline and the harbor.
Though it’s just across the water from the heart of the city, the resort feels a world away — tucked into its own palm-lined pocket of the coast. With artful landscaping, colorful design and pathways that invite wandering, Hotel Maya creates an atmosphere of both escape and ease.
The anniversary celebration this July will be a throwback through the decades.
“We’re doing themes from the ’90s, ’80s, and ’70s as part of a countdown,” Guthrie explained. “We’re tying it all together through drinks, food and special events.”
And guests don’t need to go far to experience it all.
“Start your day early, relaxing on your patio,” Guthrie said. “Slide open your door and let the sun reflect off the water and pour in.”
From there, it’s all about soaking up the atmosphere — maybe a swim in the oceanfront pool, a round of ping pong, a jet ski ride in the afternoon and s’mores by the fire pit as the sun sets.
The property boasts floating cabanas, seven fire pits, waterfront hammocks and a private boardwalk that doubles as a wedding aisle. And at the heart of it all is Fuego, the hotel’s open-air restaurant with sweeping views and a Latin-infused menu curated by Executive Chef Luis Torres.
“He’s really great at layering flavors and making every dish visually beautiful,” Guthrie said.
Inspired by coastal Latin American cuisine, Fuego offers fresh seafood, bold flavors and seasonal ingredients — served alongside panoramic views of the water. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch are available both indoors and on the spacious outdoor patio, steps from the water.
Locals looking to enjoy the property for the day can book a day pass on ResortPass.com to access the resort’s outdoor heated pool.
Whether you’re a guest or a local dropping in for brunch and a margarita, Fuego delivers. “You can’t go wrong with tacos,” Guthrie said. “And that’s something we do really well — tacos and margaritas.”
Hotel Maya is currently undergoing a full renovation, with refreshed guest rooms, updated landscaping, a revamped lobby and a facelift for Fuego expected by summer 2026.
“We just want to keep creating memories,” Guthrie said. “Not just for today, but for the next 50 years.”
“We just want to keep creating memories,” Guthrie said. “Not just for today, but for the next 50 years.”