ANAHEIM : In a Sign of the Times, 3 Hotels Spruce Up in City Face Lift

The city’s $174-million face lift near Disneyland took another step forward Tuesday with the unveiling of new signs at three hotels across the street from the theme park.

The blue and tan signs are being offered to hotel and business owners in the city’s Anaheim Resort district, which includes Disneyland, the Anaheim Convention Center and scores of hotels and motels.

“These are the first three signs, but eventually there will be hundreds,” Mayor Tom Daly said during a ceremony attended by about 100 people. “We want this area to be as visually attractive as possible. We have to keep up with the competition, and tourism is the most important industry in our city.”

During the brief ceremony, Daly took a giant pair of scissors and cut a red ribbon off a new sign at Carousel Inn & Suites. He was helped by hotel manager Paul Sanford.

“I wanted to set a good example to get the community going,” Sanford said. “Someone had to take the first step.”

Other hotels with the new signs are Park Inn International and the Tropicana Inn.

The signs, which cost between $18,000 and $20,000 each, will be available to businesses free of charge during the next two years, Deputy City Manager Tom Wood said.

The city plans to have all the signs in the area replaced within five years. Businesses that do not take advantage of the two-year incentive program will have to pay for replacement signs, Wood said.