Checking the honeycombs at downtown’s Marriott Marquis (Courtesy photo)
Trivia, Downtown

Did You Know…

By Frank Sabatini Jr.

…that buzzing atop the roof of the Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina are up to 350,000 honey bees that produce about 2.5 gallons of honey annually for the hotel’s restaurants?

The bees inhabit multiple hives that are overseen by Bee Leaf USA, a locally-based organization that provides sustainable beehive rescue and relocation services. The honey isn’t available for sale, “but the property is always adding new honey-focused items into the dining outlets at Marriott Marquis,” stated a public relations rep.

“Honey liaisons” from Bee Leaf USA have conducted “beekeeping 101” lessons for property engineers to keep the operation going and to increase hive production over the next year. They’ve also hosted pop-up parties using live bees for the hotel’s Marina Kitchen. (Definitely not the type of soiree for those who suffer from apiphobia.)