The Marley, with its bold decor and fun furnishings, is the perfect balance between style and comfort. “It seems like so few hotels get that right,” says owner Tim Spry. “Most veer towards one side or the other. While we definitely appreciate good design, we also have a sense of humor and don’t take ourselves too seriously. I think that makes guests feel at home.” Tim purchased the property, formerly known as The Century, in late 2018; it reopened as The Marley in January 2019. Built in the 1950s, it had a “Jetsons-meets-Pam Springs style,” Tim said, and he wanted...

The Marley, with its bold decor and fun furnishings, is the perfect balance between style and comfort. “It seems like so few hotels get that right,” says owner Tim Spry. “Most veer towards one side or the other. While we definitely appreciate good design, we also have a sense of humor and don’t take ourselves too seriously. I think that makes guests feel at home.” Tim purchased the property, formerly known as The Century, in late 2018; it reopened as The Marley in January 2019. Built in the 1950s, it had a “Jetsons-meets-Pam Springs style,” Tim said, and he wanted to change things up. “We immediately painted the whole place pink, added green palm leaf wallpaper and put black Tikis everywhere,” Tim said. “People say The Marley reminds them of the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is flattering. I guess we’d be the illegitimate half sister — who’s way naughtier, of course.” The Marley has nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms, a gorgeous Viking catering kitchen, a spacious pool, and a fire pit. Able to accommodate up to 22 guests, the property can only be booked by one group at a time. “We think there’s a real need for something bigger than an Airbnb — with real hotel amenities — but small enough that you can rent out the whole place,” Tim said. “We’re really aiming at smaller-scale events, from bachelorette weekends and milestone birthdays to yoga retreats and corporate workshops.” Before becoming a hotelier, Tim owned an ad agency in San Francisco. He found that his clients were “mostly stressed out, fearful, or skeptical — and frequently all three.” It’s a different world in Palm Springs, where “our guests are predisposed to be happy,” he said. “They’re getting ready to see friends or family and have a nice vacation.” The Marley aims to anticipate a group’s needs in advance, staying one step ahead in order to give them everything they need and more. “Our goal is to give guests a better experience than they’re even expecting,” Tim said. “It sounds like a cliché, but we want them to be delighted.”