Inside the $33 million makeover of the Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills


Los Angeles is no stranger to facelifts, nip-tucks and makeovers, but when a luxury hotel decides to go under the knife the finished product is worthy of a red carpet debut. The Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, finished its $33 million makeover this year and on a recent visit to Los Angeles, I got an inside look at the renovations, and learned why this hotel is so special to Hollywood’s elite.

The renovations spanned two and half years and in the end, all 285 guestrooms and suites, the ballroom, lounge, restaurants and pool and cabana areas were renovated. I met with General Manager Mehdi Eftekari to learn how the hotel managed the makeover while still operating at full capacity, and hosting celeb-studded parties, including some Academy Awards parties, with ease.

THE DECOR

Walking into the foyer of the Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, is like walking into a zen garden. Fresh floral bouquets greet guests and you’re suddenly overwhelmed by varying scents of freesia, lilies, roses and more as you make your way to the check-in desk. The lobby is draped in soothing yellow, golds and deep brown tones, and the same hues extend through the entire hotel, providing an inviting entrance no matter what floor you’re on.

THE ROOMS

The new design of the guest rooms pays homage to old Hollywood glamour. King-sized beds are positioned against white-gold headboards and each bedroom features a modern floral motif on the wall. New tan carpet infuses a splash of coral, plum or aqua into the mix and according to hotel staff, the carpets were custom designed to play off the owners’ love of flowers and gardens.


My favorite part of the rooms were the French doors that open to private balconies overlooking Beverly Hills, downtown Los Angeles or the Hollywood Hills, depending on which side you face. One-bedroom suites come complete with a living room area, pull-out sofa and desk space. Internet access comes at a fee, the only downside to staying at the hotel.

If you’re so inclined to stay in one of the hotel’s suites, you won’t be disappointed. Cashmere throws, grand pianos and Swarovski crystal are just a few of the perks that come with the suites. The rooms can be transformed from upbeat and inspiring to romantic and indulgent with the turn of a light switch. Walk-in closets in the suites are the size of some small apartments, so prepare to be envious (and start planning the renovations of your own closet back home).THE BATHROOMS

Each guest room’s bathroom has a stand-up shower and a bathtub, and comes furnished with all the proper amenities including robes and slippers, which I highly recommend you lounge around in. Truth be told, I spent a lot of time in the plush slippers and the best part is, you can take the slippers home for free (the robe will cost you $100). I’ll admit, the Four Seasons slippers are one of the best additions to my shoe closet.

THE RESTAURANT

Windows Lounge on the ground floor is the see-and-be-seen gathering spot for Los Angeles guests and Hollywood figures. At any given time you might see agents working deals, aspiring models looking for their next break, or you might catch a glimpse of your favorite celeb walking by. It’s important to point out the lounge isn’t a gawking spot for tourists. If you want to break out the camera, head down the street to Wilshire Boulevard and get your flashes ready. At Windows Lounge, order a glass of wine or relax with your favorite martini and you’ll feel like you’re part of the A-list crowd.

The lounge is a great spot to start before having dinner at the hotel’s new restaurant, Culina, Modern Italian. A blend of traditional Italian dishes with eclectic flavors make this restaurant worth the wait.

THE SPA, POOL & FITNESS CENTER

Ever wonder what it feels like to walk on a cloud? Step into the new pool and walk across the cushioned bottom, and you might get the sense of weightlessness you’ve been yearning for. Relax in one of the cabanas, which can be fitted with TVs, Internet access and food and beverages for the day for a fee. The restaurant on the third level offers poolside service amid gardens and orange trees, providing necessary shade for hot days.


The Four Seasons Spa features steam rooms, a sauna and a range treatments. For a truly relaxing experience, ask for your treatment from one of the poolside cabanas, where you can lounge in a chair and enjoy the fresh air while being pampered.

The hotel’s fitness center is the last piece of the puzzle to be renovated, but the current state of the center will get you pumped up to work out. Located poolside and set in an outside environment (with proper shades in the event of rain), the fitness center, while small in size, has treadmills, elliptical machines, stair-steppers, bicycles and a weight section. My perfect morning started off with a 5-mile run, followed by 20 minutes of elliptical training and ending with 20 minutes by the pool. Sometimes, a little ‘me time’ is necessary.

THE STAFF

When you stay at a luxury hotel, you expect luxury service, and the Four Seasons didn’t disappoint. I asked Eftekari how he managed to keep the hotel moving during the renovations, and he praised his staff who he said, “They believe in what they do.” It couldn’t be more apparent that the hotel staff love their jobs. From the check-in desk to the concierge to the maid service, everyone said “hello” with a smile and was eager to help with any request. The waitstaff knew when I needed more coffee, and even suggested a little protein in my diet when I had ordered only vegetables for lunch one day. When the last raspberry danish was given to another guest one morning, they made sure to save me one for the next day.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Imagine a place where Frank Sinatra might have played the piano late-night, or Lauren Bacall might have flipped her hair when Humphrey Bogart walked in the room, and you have the essence of the Four Seasons Los Angeles, Beverly Hills. If you listen closely you can the secrets of Hollywood’s elite whispering through the walls.

The bottom line: If you’re going to spend the money to stay in Los Angeles, you might as well be treated like a star and the Four Seasons Los Angeles Beverly Hills will gladly roll out the red carpet for you.

Daily Pampering: A classic ride at the Peninsula Beverly Hills


If you’ve always wanted to ride in a 1961 Fort T-Bird or 1932 Studebaker Commander but never quite had the means, this Beverly Hills hotel has a deal for you. Starting March 28, guests enjoying Sunday Brunch at The Belvedere, the restaurant at the Peninsula Beverly Hills, can leave their meal in a chauffeured class car. Thanks to the hotel’s partnership with El Segundo’s Automobile Driving Museum, these classic cars are available for a ride during the “Dine and Drive” promotion.

The Belvedere restaurant’s three-course Sunday Brunch isn’t for amateurs. Aside from the “Duck & Eggs,” Prince Edward Island Mussels, Rock Shrimp Frittata and “Kobe Style” Flat Iron Steak is a mouth-watering pastry buffet for dessert.

The Dine & Drive Sunday Brunch is available April 11 through April 25, 2010, from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm. The price is $59 per person and $32 for children under 12, exclusive of tax and gratuity. An additional $20 donation to the non-profit Automobile Driving Musuem in El Segundo is appreciated for the ride in a classic car.

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Valentine’s Day specials: Four Seasons Los Angeles finds your scent

What does your loved one smell like? The folks at Four Seasons are ready to find out.

We’ve published all sorts of Valentine’s Day packages, including in-room massages, breakfasts in bed and while not technically a Valentine’s Day offering, we can’t forget the human bed warmers over at the Holiday Inn. But the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills is putting a new twist on Valentine’s Day, thanks to its Everlasting Valentine’s Day Package.

Book a night with the luxe-hotel and you’ll enjoy a private “aromatic journey” with a custom perfume specialist who will help you create your very own fragrance.
Kedra Hart from Opus Oils‘ Jitterbug Perfume Parlour will introduce couples to a wide variety of scents and blend together a custom created fragrance made specifically for each couple. You’ll take home a 2 oz. Eau de Parfum spray as well as a travel size roll-on, and your secret scent will be saved on file so you can re-order when you’re running low. Of course, all this scenting goes down in one of the Four Seasons newly-renovated guestrooms or suites, and they’ve thrown in breakfast for two and your choice of a specialty Valentine’s Day cocktail.

The package starts at $535 and is available on Friday, February 12, Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14.

Daily Pampering: Get a Cabana Pedicure at The Four Seasons


The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills has undergone a $33 million renovation, and Cabana Pedicures (from $80) are just the icing on the cake.

Still, let’s talk about that icing. A newly renovated, private outdoor cabana is available for both guests and non-guests to book pedicures, manicures, Swedish or deep tissue massages and foot reflexology. The luxury cabana comes at no additional charge.

In addition to cabanas, the fabulous hotel has also revamped their 4,000 square-foot Ballroom — or unvamped it, rather — returning it to a natural light-filled look of cool California charm. The infamous Windows Lounge has been updated to include elements of nature like a “backlit photographic glass bar top that exhibits an image of succulent foliage, and a green onyx fireplace.” The adjacent patio has been expanded to accommodate seating for up to 25 and two wrought iron cabanas, as well as “newly planted orange trees, bougainvillea and lush greenery.” The Cabana Restaurant has a new awnings, discreetly hidden space heaters for cool nights, and wellness-oriented menu with categories like Indulgence, Energy Booster, Antioxidant and Comfort.

Most recent is the completion of the 1940s glamour-inspired guest rooms with mirrored wall paneling and white-gold chinoiserie headboards, accompanied by warm neutral furnishings and splashes of teal or coral. Additional details include nature-themed carpeting and throws, following the classic Four Seasons tradition. New flat screen TVs and other fixtures are also being added.
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Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Top 5 hotels for having an affair

Looking for a place to take your mistress for the weekend? Trying to plan a secret rendezvous with your lover? If so, check out ABC News’ list of the top 5 hotels for having an affair.

The draw of these hotels, according to the article, is “thick walls, a discreet staff, a bit of romance”. Noel Biderman, the creator of a website that matches would-be cheaters with potential dates (The tag line is “Life is Short. Have an Affair”. Classy, huh?) says ideal hotels for trysts also allow guests to check in under a pseudonym and offer good room service.

Biderman recommends the Beverly Hills Peninsula Hotel, for its private residences outside of the hotel, and suggests looking for hotels that are new or off the beaten path. There is less chance you’ll run into someone you know at one of these places. Also recommended is the Amenjena Hotel in Marrakech. It comes at a price, but Biderman says an affair is the time to splurge (Why not, you may as well spend your money now so your spouse can’t take it all when he or she divorces you, right?).

Another high-style option is the Il Palazzetto Hotel in Rome. With it’s simple but luxurious decor, it gives guests the feeling of being in their own residence (Of course, because you want to think about your own marriage bed when committing adultery.) &Beyond Mnemba Island, a private island retreat near Zanzibar, makes the list, as does the 1870 Banana Courtyard in New Orleans. The hotel is in the fantastically romantic French Quarter, and its history as a bordello adds to its allure.

Of course, the article also wisely points out, you could just stay at any of these hotels with your significant other. The privacy and luxury they offer may make you feel like you are doing something naughty, spicing up your stay (and maybe your relationship) in a way that won’t land you in divorce court.