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

by Melanie Nayer on


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.

Meet the “Rotel,” the hotel on wheels

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Why are hotels so stationary? Wouldn’t it be great if your hotel could travel along with you wherever you go? Apparently there is such a mobile accommodation, and it’s called the Rotel.

Website Jalopnik brings us up to speed on this unique hotel on wheels concept, a fleet of vehicles owned by a German company called Rotel Tours. A quick Google Translation of the company’s website offers some additional details. The “Rotel” concept was pioneered by entrepreneur George Höltl, who wanted passengers to be able to experience the remote corners of the world in a novel adventurous way. The company, which offers lie-flat bed tours of Europe, Africa and Asia, is rumored to have more than 3400 “beds on wheels,” with each vehicle accommodating between 20-40 sleeping passengers. Sleeping bunks on the Rotel are approximately six feet long, three feet wide and three feet high. Not luxurious, but big enough for crashing.

While the idea of traveling by Rotel seems whimsical and fun, it leaves me with a few unanswered questions. How long are you traveling on this thing each day? And wouldn’t it get a bit rank in a vehicle where you’re living in there all the time with 20 strangers? All vehicles are equipped with bathrooms, but unfortunately, no showers. Nothing says good times like a multi-week trip without bathing!

Grand Hyatt New York “reinvents” room service

by Melanie Nayer on

Don’t you just hate it when you order room service, it takes close to an hour to arrive and when it finally gets to your room, the food is cold? Apparently, so does the Hyatt.

In an effort to “reinvent” the concept room service, the Grand Hyatt New York is mixing up the way room service has worked in the past and is putting the power of change into the hands of its guests. Welcome, Market – the Grand Hyatt’s new food and beverage venue in the hotel’s lobby. Market offers a little of New York‘s finest eats and treats from the Roasting Plant, Tisserie, Chickalicious and Macaron Café NYC and serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, beer and wine for hotel guests who need a fast fix to curb their hunger. You simply walk into Market, pick out what you want to eat, charge the food to your room and take your meal with you. In other words, eliminate the service and do-it-yourself.

The hotel will continue to offer traditional room service for those who don’t want to walk downstairs.

The Elysian — Inside Chicago’s newest luxury hotel

by Grant Martin on

Chicago’s newest luxury hotel, The Elysian, opened up late last year, and Gadling finally got the chance to stop by for a look.

The Elysian Fields, for those not familiar with classical mythology, were the ancient resting places for those virtuous in life and battle, a place for the finest Greeks to one day lie. So with a name like “Elysian,” the standard for this hotel is set pretty high.

And high they are kept. One could easily describe the Elysian as unpretentious luxury with clean lines, styling and detail supplemented by a high level of attention, class and quality. Nothing is overbearing, with quiet, articulate staff, minimalist appointments and spacious, pristine rooms. Indeed, designer Lucien Lagrange’s commitment to the legacies of Chanel and Dior has been well held.

The lobby sums up the property pretty well. With high ceilings and broad, open space, one enters from the grandiose, stone courtyard to be greeted by two solitary, massive Greek sculptures. The atrium is bordered by a phalanx of waiting attendants and a sitting room on the left, while the reception desk pleasantly waits on the right. There are no kiosks, pantries, night clubs or dance parties to blur the experience.

%Gallery-89729%In a similar vein, The Elysian’s rooms boast a classy silver, white and brown color scheme, with simple, luxurious appointments and stylish design. Average rooms are just over 850 feet square, while our one bedroom palace had a massive, white marble bathroom, living room and bedroom, all facing the bustling promenade of Rush St. below.

Of particular note, the technological features of each room are phenomenal. Flat screen LCD televisions tastefully appoint the bedrooms and living rooms while some rooms even have in-mirror screens that you can watch while brushing your teeth. iPod ready docks are sprinkled about the rooms and even the freezer is tastefully tucked into a cabinet drawer.

Those looking to dine on-property will find two outstanding restaurants, Balsan and Ria serving European bistro and upscale fare respectively.

But the best of The Elysian’s luxury offerings is its spa, a 14,000 square foot mecca complete with a gentlemen’s lounge, lap pool, saunas, steam rooms and an outdoor terrace. One could easily spend a lazy evening in these facilities recovering from a long day of shopping on the Magnificent Mile.

Tickle your fancy? Check out Elysianhotels.com for more info. Rooms start at just under $400 though there are currently some specials running.

Tweet and win with the Valentin Imperial Maya Resort

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Blast your thoughts in 140 characters or less, and you could find yourself under the sun in Mexico. The Valentin Imperial Maya Resort is launching a new contest, “Follow Valentin & Win,” so if you’re a Twitter ninja, this is a user you want to follow – by the end of the month.

The Valentin’s goal is pretty simple: the adults-only resort on in Riviera Maya wants to reach more than 1,000 followers. Make yourself one of them, and you have a shot at being one of the three guests to receive a free three-night stay at the resort. The Valentin will pick three secret numbers. If one of them corresponds to yours (i.e., as the Xth follower), you’ll be on the receiving end of a relaxing getaway which includes a 45-minute Primax swim with the dolphins, round-trip transportation to the resort and a DVD of your experience.

There is a catch … there always is. Each winner will be asked to keep a “Valentin Journal,” documenting the stay. These journals, along with photos and videos, will be popped onto the resort’s Facebook page, showing the experience through the eyes of a fellow vacationer.

The contest closes at the end of April, and the winners will be announced on May 3, 2010. You can follow the resort at @valentinmaya.

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