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Hotel Bel-Air
USINFO | 2013-10-31 14:55
History
Since opening in 1946, the 103-room facility located on Stone Canyon Road, has served celebrities, heads of state and dignitaries. It was originally built by Alphonzo Bell, who developed the area and founded Bel-Air Estates. Originally built as office space and riding stables, it was purchased in 1946 and converted into a hotel by Texan entrepreneur Joseph Drown.
Joseph Drown's partner in the hotel in the early 1950s was Ted Chanock, a former Chicagoan. Chanock and Drown remained partners until Chanock's death in 1973. Chanock's wife, Frances, remained on as a permanent resident as a condition of the Rosewood purchase agreement with the Joseph Drown Estate in the 1980s.
The hotel was themed on an oasis, with Drown adding Swan Lake, which guests cross by foot bridge to get to the hotel. The grounds are planted in ficus, fig, palms and continuously-blooming flowers.
The hotel reopened in October, 2011 after a two-year renovation.Upon reopening, management refused to rehire laid off unionized employees. This resulted in street demonstrations and calls for a boycott.
Nestled on 12 acres in the Bel-Air Estates neighborhood of Los Angeles, the iconic Hotel Bel-Air is one of the most beautiful, romantic, and exclusive hotels in the world. Just opened after a two year transformation, this Spanish mission-style urban oasis wins a never-ending stream of praise for its faultless service, luxurious accommodations, and magical ambiance.
All newly renovated rooms and suites feature a new generation of design aesthetic and is reflected through different design themes from the glamorous decades of the 1930s, 40s and 50s conveyed in a fresh, youthful and elegant manner.
The famous restaurant, bar, catering and in-room dining services are managed by world-renowned Master Chef Wolfgang Puck with a menu featuring modern California cuisine with European and Mediterranean influences in a spectacular garden setting.
