The Yara Hotel is different by design. It is a Spanish-style inn nestled in a city known for its modernist buildings. That’s one of the main reasons why it stood out to Kate Reid, a part owner of Yara Hotel along with her husband, Moody Nashawaty, and Nopali Properties. “It was not the typical mid-century property,” Kate said. “It was built in the 1930s and had many lives — it’s been a hotel, condos, and then sat vacant.” This history spoke to the hoteliers, who saw that it had “great bones and structure,” Moody said, presenting the opportunity to create...

The Yara Hotel is different by design. It is a Spanish-style inn nestled in a city known for its modernist buildings. That’s one of the main reasons why it stood out to Kate Reid, a part owner of Yara Hotel along with her husband, Moody Nashawaty, and Nopali Properties. “It was not the typical mid-century property,” Kate said. “It was built in the 1930s and had many lives — it’s been a hotel, condos, and then sat vacant.” This history spoke to the hoteliers, who saw that it had “great bones and structure,” Moody said, presenting the opportunity to create something fresh. Coming up with the moniker for the hotel was a group effort, with the partners asking family and friends to participate in a naming contest. They received more than 150 submissions, and the one that stuck out was “Yara.” It means “water goddess” and “little butterfly,” which is a perfect fit for the property. “It’s been dormant for so long in a cocoon and now it’s ready to fly,” Kate said. The team got to work on the hotel’s seven rooms and three suites, with a design vision of “Tulum meets the Mediterranean.” The Nopali Properties team has years of experience in the Airbnb world, and while they initially planned on turning the property into a vacation rental, “during the renovations we realized this is a hotel. It has to be a hotel,” Kate said. All of the rooms and suites face the heated saltwater pool and courtyard with loungers and a firepit. The decor is warm and inviting, with custom furnishings and tile work in the bathrooms. One of the largest suites is the Surya, which has a bedroom, separate living room with queen-sized sleeper sofa, and private patio and jacuzzi. The lobby lounge is called La Sagrada, where guests gather for a casual and complimentary continental breakfast in the morning, with DIY avocado toast and fresh parfaits. This is Kate’s favorite space, since it “is the perfect picture of what the property encapsulates and what we were going for.” She also loves the view of the pool and mountains from the swing on Room 1’s patio, and the fact that guests seem to gravitate to an outdoor hallway that has dramatic natural lighting. “It was not intentional, and so photogenic,” Kate said. “There are so many interpretations of the hotel that we couldn’t anticipate.” There’s also a poolside bar for guests, who can order cocktails like the Monarch and Brimstone Margaritas, as well as natural wines and mocktails, which are a hit with couples visiting Yara Hotel on babymoons. Guests not only comment on the design and aesthetics, but also the five-star hospitality. This “unparalleled service” is what sets Yara Hotel apart, Kate said, with reviews specifically praising on-site staff members Michael and Katrina. “It makes me very proud of them,” she added. The partners are also proud to do business in Palm Springs. All of them are Southern California natives who have fallen in love with the city and “really believe in the future of Palm Springs,” Kate said.