Oct 20 2011

The Newly Renovated Hotel Bel-Air

I recently had the opportunity to see the "new" Hotel Bel-Air. As you know, the hotel closed two years ago for a complete renovation. I was concerned (as were many of my clients who have commemorated special occasions at the hotel, have been guests, have dined and had high tea) that the character would be destroyed. I am happy to report the hotel is stunning. The 3 resident swans remain as happy as ever. While the 12 acres of lush gardens that surrounded the Hotel Bel-Air were glorious prior to the renovation (and still are), the guest rooms and bathrooms were tired and sorely in need of redesign and updating. The hotel has 58 Guest Rooms and 45 Suites, including 7 one-of-a-kind Specialty Suites. All of the rooms and suites have been completely redone and have beautiful bathrooms, Bang and Olufsen Flat Screen TV's, iPads, and all of the other bells and whistles guests demand today.

There are 12, newly built into the hillside, Canyon View Guest Rooms that are located in the Lower Canyon. Many of them feature beautiful canyon views and have retractable walls that open to large outdoor patios with outdoor fireplaces and spa pools.

The redesign of Hotel Bel-Air by interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was inspired by 1930's, 1940's and 1950's Hollywood, a period of Southern Californian residential architecture and design that produced an all American style evoking glamor and graceful living with international flair.

The Bel-Air’s design has always mixed the influences of Spanish colonial, layered with the smooth finishes and graceful shapes of French Deco, the last word in fashion of the time. The style that emerged was young, fun, fresh and elegant. Stone floors in limestone and polished marble, smooth, pale plaster walls, natural wood ceilings and rich finishes and textures with bold strokes of color in furnishings were melded to create a fabulous style that complements the glorious garden atmosphere. The new Reception Area has clusters of comfortable conversation areas around a modern glass fireplace. Check-in is supposed to be electronic at the Valet Station, but I have not yet researched that aspect.

While maintaining the hotel's signature style and intimate feel, the newly redesigned restaurant and bar inspires and imparts the glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Meticulously redesigned with heated flooring and a retractable roof, the new restaurant is named Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air, and is managed by chef Wolfgang Puck. Wolfgang Puck has a history with Hotel Bel-Air dating back to the early 1980's when he consulted with their chef and created their famous Tortilla Soup recipe. The culinary concept for the new dining venues is modern California with European and Mediterranean influences. All of the menus reflect the healthy California lifestyle and showcase the best of California's wonderful, fresh ingredients such as produce from Chino Farms and local farmers' markets, all natural poultry and sustainable seafood. At this time, the dining venues are open to hotel guests only. On November 1, 2011, they will be available to non-guests as well.

The 12 acres of gardens at the Hotel Bel-Air have created a peaceful environment for health and wellness for over 65 years. The new enhancement to their magical oasis, is the Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie. The new 4,000 square foot spa features seven treatment rooms, including The Enclave, a couples retreat with private patio, a mosaic steam, and comfortably chic relaxation areas. Accessible 24-hours via key card, the new fitness studio is located upstairs in the new La Prairie Spa building. A selection of state-of-the-art Technogym equipment keeps you entertained with USB ports and TV's on all cardio machines. Free weights, stretching area and chilled lemon water make you feel even more refreshed.

Surrounded by hanging palms and cascading blooms, the hotel’s unique oval-shaped swimming pool is heated to 82 degrees for year-around enjoyment. Breakfast, lunch, snacks and an array of specialty cocktails may also be enjoyed in this ideal setting; open daily from 8:00am to 8:00pm.

Located adjacent to the new Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie, Joseph Martin Hair & Beauty offers a selection of hair and beauty services for awards shows, social events, weddings or if you just need to feel fabulous; open 9:00am to 7:00pm daily.

Hotel Bel-Air offers a unique and private location for high-profile executives who wish to avoid the typical hotel business setting. Located minutes from Beverly Hills and Century City, and within easy access to the 405 freeway, Hotel Bel-Air offers these clients a unique alternative to the noise and commotion of larger chain hotels.

The privacy and exclusivity of the hotel provides ideal surroundings for confidential business transactions. Immediately upon crossing over the canopied bridge, the distractions and hassles of the typical city hotel are left behind. The luxurious grounds and quiet pathways of Hotel Bel-Air create an intimate and peaceful environment for business.

For larger meetings or more structured groups, Hotel Bel-Air has 11,984 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space. The Garden Ballroom is able to host various larger events from 40 to 350 people. The adjacent Garden Foyer and Garden Courtyard offers a unique and elegant indoor/outdoor experience to enjoy the gardens when business has concluded. And for smaller groups, The Palm Room offers an ideal location for private meetings or intimate social functions, completely redesigned to easily configure from business to social without sacrificing decor. The two outdoor venues, the Front Lawn and Swan Lake are perfect for garden receptions of up to 300 people.

For more information about Hotel Bel-Air, call an All-Travel Agent today at 800-300-4567!

About Bobbie Abood

As a child, I collected postage stamps. I remember being fascinated by the beauty of some of the stamps that came from all over the world. This fascination was fueled by the fact I grew up living 3 houses away from a neighbor who was a mechanic for American Airlines. He and his wife traveled to many of the destinations my stamps came from. I used to sit on a stool and watch as he tinkered with his projects. While he worked, he told me about the city or country he and his wife had just visited. Ralph always said he thought I would find a career in the Travel Industry. He was correct. In my career that has spanned almost 35 years, I have worked as a Tour Escort, managed a Travel Agency, and worked as a Travel Consultant. My present position as a Senior Travel Consultant at All-Travel is probably the most rewarding position I have ever held. Because I started in the industry before computers existed and specialties abounded, I was trained as an “all around agent”. As a result of this experience, I am able to manage travel that ranges from Corporate to very “High End Leisure”, and every other type of travel in between. With the incredible technology that is available today, my job is even more exciting. I am fortunate to have a wonderful mix of clients. While I enjoy great pleasure in making my Corporate clients’ travels as easy as possible and my Leisure clients’ dreams come true, I have still not yet decided what I want to be when I grow up.  I will let you know........if I ever figure it out.............