Hotel Bel-Air to Debut in October 2011
Thursday 2, June 2011
Dorchester Collection’s Hotel Bel-Air will re-open in October after 24 months of extensive refurbishment and redesign. The new Hotel Bel-Air website now provides access to never-before-seen digital renderings which portray the thoughtful restoration; a collaborative effort between two internationally renowned design teams, Alexandra Champalimaud and Rockwell Group.
“We are so excited to re-open Hotel Bel-Air,” said General Manager Tim Lee. “We hope our new and returning guests will be comforted by our attention to detail in restoring the beloved iconic elements while adding contemporary touches that will elevate the guest experience. We are proud of our efforts and believe Hotel Bel-Air will continue to rank as one of the best hotels in the world.”
The hotel has always been known for its individuality and great care was taken to keep much of the hotel’s originality. The familiar Spanish Colonial architecture splashed in “Bel-Air Pink” is still present while a new generation of Bel-Air aesthetic is reflected through different design themes representing the glamorous eras of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s conveyed in a fresh, youthful and elegant manner.
The hotel will re-open this autumn with a total of 103 guestrooms and suites, featuring 12 new accommodations, built into the hillside offering sweeping canyon views, expansive sliding glass walls, outdoor fireplaces and spacious decks with private spa pools. Most of the guestrooms and suites will have larger bathrooms with separate shower and bath, and heated floors. In addition, there will be seven individually designed specialty suites including the famed Grace Kelly Suite and a new Presidential Suite compound with 6,775 square feet of indoor and outdoor living space. This suite will offer private dining for 10, a chef’s kitchen, a study, great room with grand piano, and a private pool located within a private Spanish courtyard.
New to the hotel is a 12,000 square foot Spanish mission style structure featuring a new bell tower, fitness studio, three unique “Loft guestrooms” with open floor plans, double sided fireplaces and dramatically high ceilings as well as the brand new 4,134-square-foot Spa by La Prairie, the luxury Swiss beauty company. The spa will showcase a spacious guest relaxation lounge, elegantly designed women’s and men’s facilities, each equipped with steam, and seven treatment rooms including a private couples’ room with an outdoor patio. Hotel Bel-Air will be the first US hotel to launch an in-room amenity line of body care products designed by La Prairie. The premiere collection will include shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, body moisturizer and face/hand soap.
The familiar dining venues have been given a splendid new life and new additions offer expanded dining and drinking opportunities. The restaurant will reopen under the management of Master Chef Wolfgang Puck and his restaurant group, the Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining Group (WPFDG), to oversee all of the property’s food and beverage operations. The restaurant will be called Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air and the culinary concept will be focused on modern California cuisine with European and Mediterranean influences.
The Garden Ballroom and pre-function rooms have been completely reconfigured to host a total of 250 people and will flow perfectly between the inside and new outdoor elements. The interiors are designed with soft tones, allowing for each specific event to create its own color scheme. The executive boardroom will comfortably seat 14 for business meetings and feature video conferencing.
The signature Bel-Air swans have remained at Swan Lake during the entirety of the restoration process, enjoying a new circulation pump giving them the clearest water to glide in. The installation of the new pumps will save Los Angeles 1.5 million gallons of water a year.
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