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UC system buys five-star luxury hotel resort on San Mateo County coast
The Mercury News • • business
Key Points:
- The University of California system purchased The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Half Moon Bay for $192.9 million, marking its second significant hotel acquisition in just over a year.
- The 261-room resort was bought by a UC affiliate based in Oakland, at about 20% below its assessed value of $241.8 million.
- In October 2025, the UC system also acquired the 331-room Residence Inn Berkeley for $175.8 million, similarly below its 2023 appraisal of $218 million.
- Both hotel purchases were all-cash deals, with sellers being established hotel companies: Pyramid Global Hospitality for the Berkeley property and Strategic Hotels and Resorts for the Half Moon Bay resort.
- These acquisitions reflect the University of California's strategic investment in Bay Area hospitality assets through its real estate unit.
