Paul Handlery, owner and chairman of Handlery Hotels Inc., passed away January 26, 2013, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Paul’s father, Harry Handlery, began his hotel career in 1928 in Vallejo, California. In 1948 Harry bought the Hotel Stewart on San Francisco’s Union Square. Paul assumed control of the company and in 1964 build the Handlery Motor Inn, considered to be the first boutique hotel in San Francisco, with unique amenities including remote control televisions, in-room coffee, in-room safes, and outdoor balconies around the pool and courtyard. The two hotels were combined in 1988 to form the 377-room Handlery Union Square Hotel. The company also continues to operate the 217-room Handlery Hotel San Diego.
Paul held leadership positions with the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the American Hotel Foundation, the California Hotel & Lodging Association, the Hotel Employers Association of San Francisco, the Hotel & Restaurant Foundation of San Francisco, the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Cornell Society of Hotelmen.