The high glam of LA’s awards film industry happens in LA’s five enclaves (Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, DTLA, Santa Monica) and is perfectly pictured in our 2016 LA Awards Show Season Travel Guide. Celebs and their entourages invade LA from January to February because there’s no less than 23 awards “shows” and three important film festivals (Palm Springs, Sundance and Santa Barbara), but the mystique of LA is also in the historic Hollywood event venues, hotels, restaurants, bars and rooftop pools still frequented by today’s stars each winter.
The sophisticated lobby at Beverly Hill Hotel.
Beverly Hills tops each celeb’s list as awards show central, especially as The Beverly Hilton is ground zero starting with the unofficial kick off to all the glitz and glam: The Golden Globes.
The city’s many hotels – some of which have been made legend in Hollywood films no less – are at the heart of “the season” by hosting awards show productions, lovely luncheons, private parties, gifting suites, hair-and-makeup staging and much more during their busiest and most glamorous time of year.
The Beverly Hilton Ballroom
The Beverly Hilton is not only home to The Golden Globes, but also hundreds of red carpet events each year. In 2016, awards events will be held here hosted by no less than the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Casting Society of America, Costume Designer Guild, Visual Effects Society, Art Directors Guild and American Cinema Editor Association.
This brilliant landmark hotel only sells around 80 bleacher seats for The Globes’ intimate red carpet. For 2016, the “Golden Globes Package” includes a two-night stay for two (sharing accommodations from Jan. 9-11), reserved red carpet bleacher seats (in the fourth, fifth or sixth rows), red carpet-themed gift bag, comp parking for one car, breakfast daily and boxed “show day” lunch. The cost is $3,150 for both guests and must be fully pre-paid upon booking at 310-285-1269.
Moet & Chandon bar at The Beverly Hilton
If you can’t afford to stay at The Beverly Hilton, book yourself into the hotel’s annual Night of 100 Stars. This Oscar viewing party is open to the public, encourages guests to dress up and is attended by stars of yesteryear.
Now known as Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, “The Beverly Wilshire” was built in 1928 and made famous by the blockbuster Richard Gere-sweeps-Julia Roberts-off-her-feet film, Pretty Woman. Placed grandly atop Wilshire Boulevard, The Beverly Wilshire has large-sized suites so some guests truly do live here permanently. The hotel’s spa and “nail bar” also caters to guests and stars for red carpet-ready treatments such as the new “rose diamond facial.”
Today, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, may be more known for its awards show season viewing parties at its THE Blvd restaurant. These Moet & Chandon Champagne-sponsored parties are set in 2016 for The Golden Globes, The Grammys and The Oscars. (For table reservations, call 310-385-3901). In ever more star-studded style, the hotel has revealed a new private dining space inside its Michelin-starred Wolfgang Puck restaurant, CUT. Called “Petit CUT,” this for-your-guests-only space is already booking for awards show dining and deal cutting.
Don’t get Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, confused with the panoramic LA views from the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Tucked away in a hip neighborhood along Doheny Drive between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, this Forbes-rated five-star hotel transforms into hushed insider scene for pre-awards show beauty and wardrobe. Need to step out onto the red carpet in a hot ride? The hotel’s Suite Drive program provides guests in the hotel’s best suites with luxury or even exotic cars such as Rolls Royce Phantom, Ferrari F430, Ferrari California, Bentley Flying Spur, Bentley GTC, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Lamborghini Gallardo, Mercedes-Benz SLS, Mercedes-Benz S600 or Porsche 997. Can’t afford the Presidential Suite? Even guests who book a one-bedroom suite or above can ask about the hotel’s many available car options from Cadillac, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Volvo.
The iconically pink Beverly Hills Hotel shines even brighter during this dazzling time of year. The hotel’s two bars – the historic Polo Lounge and Bar Nineteen12 — are annual hot spots for hanging out and watching the scene while sipping on cocktails created in the honor of each Oscar nominee (The Polo Lounge also offers a lunch menu inspired by each nominee as well.) After spending time in the hotel’s La Prairie Spa (see details below) and glamming up, guests can photograph themselves in front of the hotel’s signature “step-and-repeat” red carpet entrance.
Sitting just north of Beverly Hills in a gated enclave is Hotel Bel-Air (also a Dorchester Collection property). Surrounded by verdant tropical gardens and even swans in a pond, stars have frequented and temporarily-to-permanently lived in this famed hotel’s hidden villas. Hotel Bel-Air is home to master chef Wolfgang Puck, who caters the hotel’s food and beverage service. The hotel’s storied bar and lounge also offers seasonally-crafted cocktails such as The Red Carpet and The Best Dressed along with a “light fare” lunch menu. Both hotels are outfitted with a La Prairie Spa, so special treatments abound such as the “red carpet ready caviar body treatment and ultimate gold radiance facial” and the “90-mniute diamond perfection body treatment with perfect manicure and pedicure.”
Hotel Bel-Air wows with its verdant gardens including a pond with white swans a swimming.
The AAA-five diamond The Peninsula Beverly Hills sits at the uber chic intersection of Santa Monica and Wilshire boulevards in the middle of the city’s “Golden Triangle” shopping district. “The Peninsula” is yet another red carpet-worthy address in Beverly Hills and is especially desirous for its 16 private villas. In fact, guests who book certain suites are given complimentary use of a brand new Infiniti vehicle for the length of their stay. When winter weather turns warm, stars in bikinis can be seen lounging on the Peninsula’s sophisticated and tranquil rooftop pool deck.
Private patio lights up nightly at The Peninsula Beverly Hills.
For 2016, The Peninsula Beverly Hills is offering “red carpet ready” and “fit like the stars” packages. For those who need to a full body prep a week ahead, the hotel sets up a series of “week-long pampering services” (that begin each with a monogrammed robe and a glass of champagne) including facials, body treatments, training sessions, spray tans, waxing and mani/pedis. For “fit like the stars,” the hotel flies in trainer-to-the stars fitness phenom James Duigan. Famed for his Bodyism system, Duigan crafts a custom one-on-one fitness program in the hotel’s gym.
Locker room vanity at The Peninsula Beverly Hills
Stars love staying at North Canyon Drive’s Montage Beverly Hills any time of year because this Italian-styled mansion right in the center of Beverly Hills elegantly sits just one block from Rodeo Drive and across the street from famed eateries such as Bouchon, Spago, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Il Pastaio and Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar. Spa Montage is famous as a relaxing oasis in the middle of busy Beverly Hills as well as for its its red carpet-ready facials, hair and nails. But before you go glam, relax in the spa’s totally tranquil mosaic-tiled mineral pool.
The spa just announced a new collaboration with luxurious Swiss skincare brand L.RAPHAEL Genève. This makes Spa Montage the only West Coast (other locations are New York, Cannes and the company’s Geneva home base) spa to offer a comprehensive range of “revitalizing and restorative…scientifically-advanced wellness, beauty and anti-aging treatments.” L.RAPHAEL’S most popular treatments – Oxy Star Anti-Pigmentation Treatment and Oxy Emergency Eye – are now available exclusively for this year’s ravishing red carpet glow at Spa Montage.
SLS Hotel Beverly Hills is parked across the street from LA’s shopping mecca, Beverly Center. The world’s tastemakers and jet setters hang out in the hotel’s acclaimed 5,000 sq. ft. Ciel Spa. Celebrity hair stylist Robert Vetica shines at this chic and shiny Beverly Hills address. So popular, Ciel Spa’s salon is open for hair appointments every day from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. with a full-length service menu for cuts, styling, blow outs and coloring. If that wasn’t enough, the spa and salon offers poolside services at the hotel’s chic rooftop Altitude Pool. SLS Beverly Hills is also famed for hosting gifting suites including “the” Oscar Beauty Lounge, which is usually hosted by an A-list beauty queen.
L’Ermitage Beverly Hills is undergoing a renovation refresh that won’t be quite complete for awards show prime time. However, this posh address (part of the Viceroy hotels group) is offering an inclusive makeover along with luxurious accommodations. Valid through Mar. 30, the “red carpet moment” package includes welcome cocktails at arrival and a chauffeured Maserati to beauty and photography appointments with the renowned Streicher Sisters at STRIIKE Salon and Studio on Rodeo Drive.
Remember The Thompson? Now this boutique hotel is part of the SIXTY Hotels brand. SIXTY Beverly Hills appeals to a global jet set as a “serene respite fringing on Rodeo Drive.” The rooftop pool and bar are also a popular hidden celeb hang out on sunny days and warm evenings. SIXTY’s new bedroom suites inspire design aficionados with elegant minimalist furnishings and well-curated modern art.
In LA, awards show season is always a good way to meld a warm winter getaway that includes luxurious accommodations, star sightings, Hollywood film landmarks and visits to bars, restaurants and clubs where stars hang during this glitzy time of year in the Los Angeles region.
Click here for Sheryll Alexander’s comprehensive 2015-2016 Awards Show Season Calendar.Save
