Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills
| Company type | Hotel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Founded | August 11, 1955 in Beverly Hills, California, United States |
| Founder | Conrad Hilton (Hilton Hotels Corporation) |
| Headquarters | Beverly Hills , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Beny Alagem (owner), Conrad Hilton (founder) |
| Products | Hotel rooms, event spaces, ballrooms |
| Owner | Beny Alagem (Oasis West Realty) |
| Parent | Hilton Worldwide (management) |
| Website | www |
The Beverly Hilton is a hotel situated on a site at the intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards in Beverly Hills, California, United States. It is distinguished for hosting a variety of award ceremonies, philanthropic gatherings, and events related to the entertainment sector, most notably the yearly Golden Globe Awards.
History
In 1949, Hilton Hotels Corporation entered into an agreement to lease a newly planned hotel on a 9-acre location in Beverly Hills, developed by Crummer Development Corporation.[1] When the arrangement collapsed in 1950, Hilton acquired both the company and the property for $3.07 million to proceed with the hotel’s development independently.[2]
Construction commenced in August 1953 on what would be a $12 million investment for a 416-room hotel,[3] designed by architect Welton Becket. Due to escalating expenses, the hotel's opening was postponed from 1954, compelling Hilton to secure a $5 million mortgage on the Mayflower Hotel to finance the project.[4]
The Beverly Hilton officially welcomed guests on August 11, 1955, with founder Conrad Hilton and then Vice President Richard Nixon present at the inauguration.[5] In 1957, the Bali Room ballroom was enlarged to create the 1,700-seat International Ballroom — the largest ballroom on the West Coast at that time,[6] which has served as the venue for the Golden Globe Awards since 1961.[7] A new Lanai wing containing 41 rooms with direct pool access was added in 1960.[8]
In March 1961, Hilton sold The Beverly Hilton to private investors for $13.4 million but leased it back under a 35-year agreement that included renewal options and repurchase rights.[9] That same year saw the completion of a new parking garage accommodating 500 vehicles, increasing total parking capacity to 1,500 spaces — reportedly the largest hotel parking facility worldwide.[10] Hilton reacquired both the hotel and garage in 1966 for $14.3 million and expanded with an additional 180-room wing featuring updated amenities by 1967.[11]
In 1975, Hilton divested a 50% interest in six hotels including The Beverly Hilton to Prudential Insurance Company, creating the Beverly Hilton Joint Venture.[12] Entertainer and entrepreneur Merv Griffin purchased full ownership in December 1987 for $100.2 million,[13] following a $35 million refurbishment. Griffin had initially pursued acquisition of the nearby Beverly Hills Hotel, which had recently sold for $200 million.[14]
During Griffin’s tenure (1987–2003), upkeep declined amid intensifying competition. In 2003, he sold The Beverly Hilton for $130 million to Beny Alagem, co-founder of Packard Bell Electronics, through Oasis West Realty.[15] An $80 million renovation project led by Gensler alongside Hilton Hotels management was launched to reposition the property toward corporate clientele.[16]
This refurbishment reduced room count to 570 and introduced contemporary business-oriented features such as 42-inch plasma televisions and Bose Wave radios. Meeting facilities including the International Ballroom were modernized to better accommodate corporate events; currently, business travelers represent roughly 80% of guests.[17]
On February 11, 2012, singer Whitney Houston passed away in Suite 434; subsequently, that room number was retired and reassigned.[18]
Beverly Hills Waldorf Astoria and Measure H
In April 2006, the proprietors unveiled a $500 million expansion initiative for the Beverly Hilton, which necessitated modifying Beverly Hills' three-story height restriction to accommodate the construction of two 13-story condominium towers alongside a 15-story condo hotel featuring owner-rented units. The intent was to establish the enhanced hotel as a more cost-effective 4½-star option compared to nearby five-star establishments such as the Peninsula.
The plan included two additional three-story structures along Wilshire Boulevard, adding 96 guest rooms and retail outlets. The Beverly Hilton itself was slated for renovation into a smaller hotel with 402 rooms, rebranded as the Beverly Hilton Oasis. Also part of the development was a 120-room Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills, crafted by Gensler with interior designs by Pierre-Yves Rochon, marking the brand’s inaugural hotel on the West Coast. Both hotels would remain distinct properties under Hilton Hotels Corporation management.
The Beverly Hills City Council approved this $500 million proposal by a narrow 3–2 margin. Opponents organized the Citizens Right to Decide Committee and successfully placed Measure H on the November 4, 2008 ballot, contending that the project was excessively large. Measure H permitted amending the general plan to allow luxury hotel accommodations, condominiums, and open space on the Beverly Hilton site. After initially tight results, Measure H narrowly passed by 129 votes out of more than 15,000 ballots cast.
In April 2014, Oasis West Realty partnered with Hilton Worldwide to announce construction of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills at the intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards, adjacent to The Beverly Hilton. This 12-story, 170-room hotel—designed by Gensler with interiors by Rochon—includes upscale dining venues, retail spaces such as jeweler Graff Diamonds, a spa, meeting facilities, and a ballroom capable of hosting up to 200 guests. The property officially opened in 2017.
Beverly Hills Measure HH
Measure HH appeared on the 2016 ballot as a proposal for a 37-story condominium tower by Oasis West Realty on the site of the Beverly Hilton. The measure was rejected by nearly 56% of Beverly Hills voters.
One Beverly Hills
In 2021, Alagem Capital, owner of the Beverly Hilton, revealed plans for a $5 billion redevelopment known as One Beverly Hills on an adjacent 17-acre parcel. The city council approved the project with a 4–1 vote. Designed by Norman Foster with Adamson Associates serving as architect of record, the development comprises two residential towers (28 and 32 stories) featuring close to 200 Aman-branded condominiums and a 10-story Aman Hotel with 75 suites. The complex will offer roughly 35,000 square feet of retail and dining space, an underground garage accommodating 2,100 vehicles, and eight acres of publicly accessible park-like open areas. Construction commenced in February 2024 with an anticipated completion date in 2031. To make way for this development, The Beverly Hilton’s multi-level parking structure was demolished during summer 2024.
Notable events
- Golden Globe Awards held annually since 1961
- Gracie Awards presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation since 1975
- Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Party
- Richard Nixon’s final press conference following his defeat in the 1962 California gubernatorial race
- Senator John Edwards’ controversial hotel stay amid his 2008 extramarital affair scandal
- USA Swimming’s Golden Goggle Awards ceremonies in 2007 and 2009
- The passing of singer Whitney Houston at the hotel in 2012 due to accidental drowning in her suite bathtub
Film location
The Beverly Hilton was featured as a filming site and backdrop in the movies To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Frost/Nixon (2008), and Argo (2012).
See also
External links
- 1950s architecture in the United States
- Hotels in Beverly Hills, California
- Golden Globe Awards
- Culture of Hollywood, Los Angeles
- Hotels established in 1955
- Hotel buildings completed in 1955
- Hilton Hotels & Resorts hotels
- Welton Becket buildings
- Wilshire Boulevard
- Skyscraper hotels in California
- Skyscrapers in Los Angeles County, California
- 1955 establishments in California
- Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts