<P> The hotel was built by Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., son of president Ulysses S. Grant, who named the hotel after his father . Grant bought the Horton House Hotel and demolished it to construct the current hotel . Architect Harrison Albright designed the hotel . San Diego voters helped finance $700,000 for the $1.5 million needed to construct the hotel after Grant lacked the funds to do so . The hotel opened on October 15, 1910 and included two swimming pools as well as a ballroom on the top floor . </P> <P> The hotel's signature restaurant is the Grant Grill, which opened in 1952 . It became a power - lunch spot for downtown businessmen and politicians, so much so that "ladies" were not permitted in the restaurant before 3 PM . In 1969 a group of prominent local women staged a sit - in which resulted in the restaurant abandoning its men - only policy . </P> <P> The hotel was refurbished in the 1980s, but fell upon hard times in the subsequent decade due to a financial slump . The hotel changed hands several times during the 1990s . In 2003, the hotel was purchased by the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation, who closed the doors for 21 months to renovate the building . It reopened in October 2006 . The hotel is operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts as a part of their Luxury Collection . </P> <P> The Grant Hotel was, for nearly 35 years, until 1974, the site of the annual reunion dinner of the "Great White Fleet Association," a group of sailors who sailed on the cruise of 16 white battleships from 1907 - 09 . These dinners attracted a wide range of military officials and guests from all over the world . </P>

Who owns the us grant hotel in san diego