Appellation, a culinary-first hotel brand co-founded by chef Charlie Palmer, CEO, and luxury hospitality expert Christopher Hunsberger, COO, has partnered with vintner Frank Léal of Léal Hospitality to introduce Hotel MOHI by Appellation. The hotel, set to open in fall 2025 in downtown Morgan Hill, in Silicon Valley, Calif., will be the area’s first full-service luxury boutique hotel.
The five-story Hotel MOHI by Appellation will feature 76 rooms and will integrate food and beverage as a central part of the guest experience. Known for his role in transforming Sonoma County’s wine region, Palmer plans to spotlight Morgan Hill as a noteworthy culinary destination.
“Appellation hotels are meant to express the essence of the place with a sense of ‘here,’” Palmer says. “Like the rest of our portfolio, we will be truly embedding food and beverage into every aspect of Hotel MOHI by Appellation, from design to programming.”
Hotel MOHI will feature a 215-seat restaurant and bar, led by Palmer and sourcing ingredients from onsite gardens and local suppliers. The hotel also will include a terrace pool, a marketplace and café, a wine-country-inspired spa, and extensive event spaces, including a 7,730-square-foot ballroom—the largest in Morgan Hill.
Hunsberger emphasized the importance of Léal’s local ties and dedication to farm-fresh dining for the hotel’s success. “Frank Léal is a beloved pillar of the community. Leveraging his long-time commitment to Morgan Hill and to farm-fresh, locally sourced dining will be key to the success of Hotel MOHI by Appellation,” he says.
Léal noted the partnership would address the area’s current limitations in venue space and lodging, enabling Morgan Hill to accommodate a broader range of events and solidifying its position as a hub in Silicon Valley. “Our partnership to create Hotel MOHI by Appellation will allow us to accommodate a wider array of meetings and celebrations, solidifying Morgan Hill’s position as a major hub for gatherings in Silicon Valley and the surrounding wine country,” he says.
Hotel MOHI by Appellation is part of Appellation’s broader expansion in California, with upcoming openings planned in Healdsburg, Sun Valley, Petaluma, and Pacific Grove.
