Hotel Bel-Air reopened its doors on Oct. 14, 2011, after 24 months of extensive refurbish- ment and redesign. Great care was taken to keep much of the hotel’s originality. The famil- iar Spanish Colonial architecture splashed in “Bel-Air pink” is still present while a new gen- eration of Hotel Bel-Air aesthetic is reflected through design themes from the glamorous 1930s, ’40s and ’50s but conveyed in a fresh and elegant manner. A total of 103 guestrooms and suites are
further reflect the beach environment. The two hotel areas are separated by a
narrow street, and their entrances are op- posite one another to ease flow from one building to the other. A skywalk also con- nects the two buildings. The stainless steel on the building’s exterior looks different at different times of day and under different weather conditions, resulting in changes as dramatic as the weather.
PHOTOS: RYAN GOBUTY/GENSLER
offered, including new “Loft” and hillside ac- commodations, many with sweeping canyon views, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, grand pianos and spacious decks. New to the hotel are a fitness studio and the 4,134-square-foot Hotel Bel-Air Spa by La Prairie with seven treat- ment rooms. The renowned oval swimming pool, a beloved element of the hotel for more than 65 years, has retained its signature shape and can be enjoyed in its familiar setting. A spacious indoor/outdoor patio overlooks
the garden and lush grounds, and multiple glass wine cellars separate the main and private dining rooms. Guests can enjoy tea and cocktails in the lobby lounge while the famous
hotel bar has maintained its cozy lounge feel- ing and a separate terrace bar has been added. The signature Hotel Bel-Air swans, which
remained at Swan Lake during the entirety of the restoration process, can still be found gliding along the clearest of water thanks to a new circulation pump that will save 1.5 million gallons of water a year.
PHOTOS: HOTEL BEL-AIR September October 2012 // RETROFIT 29