Dinah's Garden Hotel: Still All in the Family

Growing up in bucolic Palo Alto in the 1950s and 60s and attending Henry M. Gunn High School, Julie Handley didn't expect to be living here as an adult, much less taking over the family business—the compound on the corner of El Camino Real and Dinah's Court. This lush oasis includes Dinah's Garden Hotel, built by her father Raymond Handley in 1957, Dinah's Poolside Grill and Trader Vic's.

"My father loved traveling to exotic places like Indonesia, India, the Pacific Islands and Africa," says Julie, "and the hotel was built around his extensive art collection from those trips."

Her father's love of travel also explains the addition of Trader Vic's to the property. The restaurant was originally Dinah's Shack, founded in 1926 and named after the property owner's childhood nanny. It was an institution in its time, welcoming notable customers including John F. Kennedy while he was a student at Stanford. Raymond Handley eventually replaced Dinah's Shack with Trader Vic's in 2001.

Despite growing up amidst the hotel's lush gardens, designed by world-renowned landscape architect Robert Royston, Julie's independent streak led her to UC Berkeley. Then after graduating in 1973, she took up residence in Healdsburg, California.

When her father once offered to buy her a hotel in Waikiki, she replied, "Why on earth would I want to run a hotel?" As far as Julie could see from her parents' example, nothing was harder than operating a hotel, except a restaurant. And they had both.

As time passed, and situations changed, so did Julie's opinion and passion for the hospitality business. When her mother became ill in 2004, Julie spent more time in Palo Alto to help care for her until she passed away. When her father passed away in June of 2009, Julie was brought in to help with the transition of Dinah's Garden Hotel and Trader Vic's.

"I came in for what I thought was a temporary job, to keep things running until we could find someone to manage the business," says Julie. "But the more I got involved, the more it grew on me. The part I didn't expect was how gratifying it would be to provide people with an extraordinary experience."

Dinah's Garden Hotel guests are primarily business travelers, and family members of Stanford Hospital patients. Both groups appreciate the convenient El Camino Real location, with the bonus of a tropical paradise outside each room and a welcome that feels like a home away from home.

"The families love being able to stroll around the beautiful grounds," says Handley. "And business travelers like that we're not a cookie cutter, impersonal hotel. Each room is decorated in a unique way, and our staff is incredible. They truly love pampering our guests. And having the hotel, restaurant and poolside grill on one site is so much easier for travelers who just want to relax."

When asked if she plans to change anything, Handley replies, "not a thing." Her parents had a vision that incorporated art, culture and exceptional hospitality and she plans to remain 100% loyal to that vision.

Luckily, her father was also a technology visionary, developing the first solar powered building in Silicon Valley in the mid 1970's. Julie is following in his footsteps by being the first private entity to partner with the City of Palo Alto to offer their high-speed fiber optic system, which business guests in particular will appreciate.

Things have come full circle for Julie Handley, but she truly feels like she's back home. She now knows firsthand that running a hotel and restaurant are a lot of work, but she can't imagine doing anything else.

Dinah's Garden Hotel and Trader Vic's are located at 4261 El Camino Real. For hotel reservations, call 800-227-8220. For dining reservations, call 650-849-9800.