The Beverly Hilton facts for kids
| The Beverly Hilton | |
Quick facts for kids  The Beverly Hilton as seen from Wilshire Boulevard |
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| Hotel facts and statistics | |
|---|---|
| Location | 9876 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, California 90210 |
| Coordinates | 34°3′59″N 118°24′47″W / 34.06639°N 118.41306°W |
| Opening date | August 12, 1955 |
| Developer | Conrad Hilton |
| Architect | Welton Becket |
| Management | Hilton Worldwide |
| Owner | Oasis West Realty |
| No. of rooms | 570 |
| of which suites | 101 |
| No. of floors | 7 |
The Beverly Hilton is a famous hotel in Beverly Hills, California. It sits on a big piece of land where Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards meet. This hotel is well-known for hosting many important events. It's especially famous as the place where the annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony takes place.
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The Hotel's Story
The Beverly Hilton was opened in 1955 by Conrad Hilton, who founded the Hilton Hotels chain. A famous architect named Welton Becket designed the hotel. When it first opened, it had 582 rooms.
Since 1961, the hotel's International Ballroom has been the home of the Golden Globe Awards. These awards are given out every year by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to honor great work in movies and television.
Changes in Ownership
Over the years, the hotel's ownership changed a few times. In 1975, a company called Prudential Insurance bought half of the hotel. Later, in 1987, a well-known entertainer and businessman named Merv Griffin bought the entire hotel for over $100 million. Before Griffin bought it, the hotel had already received a $35 million update.
Merv Griffin owned the hotel for many years, from 1987 to 2003. In 2003, he sold The Beverly Hilton for $130 million to Beny Alagem. Alagem is known for helping start Packard Bell Electronics.
Modern Updates
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the hotel began a big $80 million renovation. An architecture firm called Gensler worked on this project. After the renovation, the hotel had 570 rooms. These new rooms included modern features like large high-definition TVs and Bose sound systems. The updates also made the rooms better for business travelers, who now make up most of the hotel's guests. The meeting areas and the famous International Ballroom, where the Golden Globes are held, were also updated.
On February 11, 2012, singer Whitney Houston passed away in one of the hotel's suites. The hotel later changed the room number and repurposed the room.
New Plans for the Hotel Area
In 2006, the hotel's owners shared plans for a large expansion project. This project would add new buildings to the Beverly Hilton property. The plans included building two tall condominium towers and a hotel where people could own rooms and rent them out when they were away. The goal was to make the hotel even more luxurious.
The plans also included a new, smaller Beverly Hilton hotel with 402 rooms. Plus, a brand new 120-room Waldorf-Astoria Beverly Hills hotel would be built next door. This would be the first Waldorf-Astoria hotel on the West Coast. Both hotels would be managed by Hilton Hotels.
Community Vote on Development
The city council of Beverly Hills approved this big project. However, some local residents were concerned that the project was too large. They formed a group and collected enough signatures to let the public vote on the plan. This vote was called Measure H.
In November 2008, the people of Beverly Hills voted on Measure H. After a close count, Measure H passed, which meant the city council could move forward with the plans for the new luxury hotel, condominiums, and open spaces.
In 2014, the owners announced that the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills would indeed be built next to The Beverly Hilton. This new 12-story hotel would have 170 rooms and was designed by Gensler. It would also feature a large sculpture, a fancy restaurant, and shops. The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills was planned to open in 2017.
Another Vote: Measure HH
In November 2016, there was another vote called Measure HH. This initiative asked voters if the hotel owners could build a very tall 37-story condominium tower on the site. However, the voters of Beverly Hills rejected Measure HH, with most people voting no.
Famous Events at The Beverly Hilton
The Beverly Hilton has been the setting for many memorable events:
- The Golden Globe Awards have been held here every year since 1961.
- The Gracie Awards, which honor women in media, have been presented here since 1975.
- Clive Davis hosts his famous Pre-Grammy Party at the hotel.
- In 1962, Richard Nixon held his "last press conference" here after losing the California governor's race.
- Singer Whitney Houston passed away at the hotel on February 11, 2012.
Images for kids
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The Beverly Hilton as seen from Wilshire Boulevard
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Entrance to the Beverly Hilton Hotel
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Merv Griffin Way with The Beverly Hilton in the background, in Beverly Hills, California.
