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Articles Tagged ‘Los Angeles hotels’

Tired of flying? Check into these great airport hotels

Wednesday, December 26th, 2012

The Sheraton Malpensa hotel offers day rates and extra amenities for air travelers.

By Mark Chesnut

In many parts of North America, it’s the time of year when travelers may find themselves spending more time in the airport than they’d like, thanks to winter storms, flight delays and cancellations. But relief may be closer than you think, when you check into one of the new generation of airport hotels that help passengers relax, rejuvenate and even conduct business, often without stepping a foot outside the terminal building. (more…)

High-tech hotels: Four Seasons increases connectivity

Thursday, October 18th, 2012

Ready to roll: The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles has a high-tech Mercedes van for meetings.

By Mark Chesnut

Staying connected is getting easier than ever at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts—with mobile meeting space, Wi-Fi–equipped limousines and even Skype-assisted check-ins among the latest offerings. (more…)

Cheers: hotels that offer cocktail classes

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Wolfgang Puck restaurant at the Hotel Bel-Air hosts mixology classes.

By Mark Chesnut

Having a drink with colleagues and clients shouldn’t be limited to ordering and toasting. Many hotels now offer mixology classes, which can provide a new dimension to business entertaining (and perhaps a fresh education for the next time you’re the bartender at home). (more…)

New hotels, bigger planes: the latest from Los Angeles

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Eco style: The Hotel Wilshire in Los Angeles

By Mark Chesnut

From new hotel options to an airport expansion that will accommodate gigantic 21st-century aircraft, there is always something new for travelers to discover in Los Angeles. Whether you’re planning a California vacation or an important business trip, check out these fresh ideas for that next visit.

Los Angeles hotels
New hotel options in the Los Angeles area include The Hotel Wilshire, which debuted in September with 74 eco-friendly rooms set in a six-story former medical office building, and the Shore Hotel, which opened in Santa Monica in September. (more…)

5 ideas for the Royal Couple’s Los Angeles vacation

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Sporting amazing views, Hotel Erwin's rooftop bar is ready-made romance for Will and Kate.

By Abby Samler

Will and Kate – because we like to keep it casual in California – are coming to the Golden State. While their July 8-10 itinerary is no doubt squeezed by royal engagements, we took it upon ourselves to offer up the top 5 things to do during a Los Angeles vacation, from shopping in stilettos on iconic Rodeo Drive to offbeat haunt Muscle Beach. (more…)

3 Los Angeles hotels for oceanfront getaways

Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Los Angeles skyline. Credit: Todd Jones Photography

Los Angeles skyline. Credit: Todd Jones Photography

By Vince Font

If you’re planning a romantic getaway, steer clear of dartboard-in-a-map approaches. Los Angeles hotels may be a dime a dozen (or perhaps a buck a dozen, once you adjust for inflation), but scoring that one-in-a-million bullseye shouldn’t be left to chance. With that in mind, here are three of the finest Los Angeles beach hotels where you can enjoy both the Southern California scene and the coast.

  • Hotel Maya in Long Beach has a self-proclaimed joie de vivre that’s bolstered by its close proximity to one of the city’s great attractions, the Queen Mary. It’s also home to one of the few truly elegant waterfront restaurants in LA, Fuego, which specializes in Mexican and Latin American cuisine. The freshly renovated rooms offer scenic ocean and city-skyline views. It’s also pet-friendly, but for a romantic getaway I suggest leaving Spot at home.
  • Hotel Shangri-La in Santa Monica has the ubber-modern exterior look of a futuristic hospital, but the oceanside bluff it’s perched on gives it away. Inside, it’s head-to-toe Art Deco from suites that scream “glamorous” to the dining room that whispers “feed me gourmet things.”
  • Terranea Resort in Palos Verdes stands as an example of all that’s right in the world when ocean meets land meets man-made structure. I’ve never had a coastal view actually take my breath away, but this came close. Bungalow suites offer private patios and a taste of what it must be like to be royalty.

Vince Font is a freelance writer born in Puerto Rico and currently escaped to Utah. When not dreaming of interstellar travel, he’s on the hunt for weird, wacky, and off-the-beaten-track vacation destinations. Next stop: The Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast.

5 hip hotels for business, pleasure in downtown LA

Thursday, May 20th, 2010
Millennium Biltmore Los Angeles

The Millennium Biltmore has earned its place in Hollywood history.

By Whit Honea

California vacations have been romanticized in books, screen and song, and the city at the heart of it all is Los Angeles. In the words of Randy Newman, “I love L.A.” — and when I visit the City of Angels, these are the five downtown Los Angeles hotels where I like to stay:

1. Millennium Biltmore Hotel is more than a hotel, it’s a landmark. The architecture and decor harken back to the glory days of Hollywood. The Gallery Bar is considered one the best among the downtown Los Angeles hotels, and the adjacent Cognac Room is a luxurious tribute to the Biltmore’s impressive history.

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Major hotels change brands in New York, San Diego, Detroit

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

By Joe Brancatelli

The hip Hotel Baronette in Nevi, Michigan

The hip Hotel Baronette in Novi, Michigan

Hotel owners in 2010 are caught in the same kind of financial crunch that first affected homeowners in 2008. The value of their properties have plunged and many properties are now worth less than their outstanding mortgages. The result? Lots of management changes and switches in brand affiliations, especially in and near major business-travel communities.

Four Seasons is finally out as manager of Aviara, the fancy resort near San Diego. After almost a year of haggling, nasty public comments, roadblocks, accusations of fiscal turpitude and arbitration, the hotel’s owners will pay Four Seasons an undisclosed sum to go away. Effective May 8, the 329-room resort will become the Park Hyatt Aviara.

Starwood has sold off two of its W Hotels in New York, The Court and The Tuscany. (Old-timers might remember these hotels as Doral properties.) Both properties have become part of the newish St. Giles chain, which is based in Britain and has generally focused on budget properties.

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San Francisco’s Parc 55 changes hands, again

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
San Francisco's Parc 55 Hotel

San Francisco's Parc 55 hotel

By Joe Brancatelli

Marriott made a big deal about San Francisco’s Parc 55 hotel back in 1998 when it reflagged the 1,000-room property as a Renaissance hotel. At the time, it was Marriott’s 1,500th hotel — a milestone that’s meaningless to business travelers but fraught with importance for lodging bigwigs. But that was then and this is now, and the Parc 55, once again an independent property, has found itself a new brand affiliation. It becomes a Wyndham later this month.

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See what’s fresh on the Los Angeles hotel scene

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

By Abby Samler

JW Marriott at L.A. Live

JW Marriott at L.A. Live

In Los Angeles, hotels are not just for tourists. Locals like me lounge at the pools, sample the restaurants, hang out at the bars, relax at spas, and stay overnight every once in a while.

This spring, the City of Angels is celebrating new hotels, renovated ones and perennial favorites. Here’s the dish on properties and nearby events:

Diggin’ Downtown Los Angeles

The newest addition to downtown Los Angeles hotels is the JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, with opening rates starting at $179 through May. These hotels are located in the L.A. Live complex, which boasts the Conga Room, GRAMMY Museum, Nokia Theater,  Lucky Strike Lanes, and restaurants like Rock ‘n Fish.

A mile away is Dodger Stadium, with opening day slated for April 13. Budget tip: Grab the Dodgers Coca-Cola Family Pack, which includes four tickets, four Dodger Dogs and four Coca-Cola fountain products for as little as $68. (more…)