On October 28th, 2008 the exclusive SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills will open to the public. The long anticipated hotel boasts a plethora of features that are sure to impress any luxury hotel connoisseur. Located in one of the most decorated neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area, the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills claims it will provide an experience like no other, immersing guests in a stay “rich on pleasure and comfort.” Since interest surrounding this luxury hotel has proved to be exorbitant, we have compiled this article to showcase a good number of details on the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills.

SBE ENTERTAINMENT / SBE HOTELS BACKGROUND

SLS is a new luxury hotel brand by SBE Hotel Group. SBE Hotels is a division of SBE Entertainment, a company headed by Sam Nazarian. According to the SBE Entertainment website, the company (through its various divisions) is involved in both acquiring and developing a spectrum of different projects, ranging from hospitality projects to night clubs.

THE SLS BRAND

The SLS brand of hotels was started by SBE to allegedly “redefine” the luxury hotel experience. According to the SBE Hotels’ website, they hope their brand will be one of the more dominant forces in the upscale hotel market. The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is the first hotel of the SLS brand. Slated to open this fall, the hotel will put SBE’s promises to the ultimate test.

MANAGEMENT – STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.

SBE contracted with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, inc. to manage the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, inc. is a New York-based hospitality ownership and management firm that has dealt with nearly 900 hotels in various countries.

THE LUXURY COLLECTION

The SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is a member hotel of The Luxury Collection, a collection of some seventy immaculate hotels located in various parts of the world. Hotels that are part of this compilation include the Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria. Décor, service, and surroundings are a few of the variables that distinguish member hotels from other hotels.

THE HOTEL SITE

SBE acquired the site of the former Le Meridien Beverly Hills and closed it in June to begin construction on the SLS at Beverly Hills. The hotel is located on La Cienega Blvd. in Los Angeles. The hotel lies on the border of Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. Thus, some argue that its name is misleading.

GENERAL FEATURES

The SLS at Beverly Hills will feature 297 rooms, a rooftop pool, and fitness center. The hotel will have integrated dining and retail offerings also available to the public.

UNIQUE HOTEL FEATURES

The SLS at Beverly Hills has some truly unique and distinctive features. Below we have listed some of the more notable ones.

• The Bazaar by José Andrés – An upscale shopping and dining area contained within the SLS. The Bazaar will be open to hotel patrons as well as visitors. The Bazaar will feature the culinary creations of Spanish chef José Andrés , as well as unique seating areas. Phillipe Starck is leading the design of The Bazaar. The shopping aspect of the Bazaar will be handled by design retailer Moss. The internationally-recognized retailer was started in 1994 and has since grown to offer a spectrum of different products including lighting, furniture, and tableware. The Bazaar will have a very open environment – one void of an excessive amount of windows and walls.

• Dual guest lobby – Hotel patrons and visitors to the SLS at Beverly Hills alike will have their own entry points. A dual guest lobby will direct patrons to the hotel lobby area, while directing visitors to The Bazaar by José Andrés.

• Furniture by Phillipe Starck – Phillipe Starck will design an exclusive line of furniture for the SLS brand of hotels. This furniture will be available for purchase via the hotels only.

• Custom uniforms – Employee uniforms will be designed by Pascal Humbert. Humbert will design nearly 80 separate styles to allow employee positions to be easily distinguishable.

• Fitness – Seven of the SLS’ 297 rooms will be fitness-oriented “lifestyle suites.” These suites will feature fitness equipment manufactured by Technogym, an Italian-based company specializing in high-end fitness equipment. Technogym will make its Kinesis Personal equipment as well as its trainers available to hotel guests. The fitness equipment will also be available in a general fitness area.

THE SLS AT BEVERLY HILLS TEAM

As one might expect, SBE hired the best of the best to craft its vision of a luxury hotel line. José Andrés, a Spanish culinary mastermind, was assigned the task of coordinating food and beverages for the hotel line. Guests will be able to experience Andrés’ talent first hand by indulging in foodstuffs made available in the hotel’s bars and restaurants. Those who wish to remain within their rooms may utilize the hotel’s in-room dining services. Andrés will also be heading what SLS has called The Bazaar by José Andrés, a unique adaptation of a hotel lobby that meshes numerous culinary and lounging arrangements.

Andrés has received numerous distinctions for his culinary expertise. In 2006, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington named him the Chef of the Year. Andrés hosts his own show in his home country of Spain.

The SLS at Beverly Hills will be designed by Phillipe Starck, a world-renowned French designer with experience in both interior and consumer product design. Starck’s design contributions to the hotel will include a dual guest lobby, separating hotel patrons from visitors. The latter part of the lobby will make its way to The Bazaar by José Andrés, where guests will be presented with a world-class shopping and dining experience. Stark will also be designing furniture exclusive to the SLS hotel line. Theresa Fatino, an SBE employee, will be working with Starck on many of the aesthetic aspects of the hotel.

From a management standpoint, Phillip Dailey will be taking the rains as general manager for the SLS at Beverly Hills. Dailey has nearly two decades worth of management experience and joins SLS from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. Dailey was most recently general manager at Shangri-La Chiang Mai, a Thailand hotel boasting nearly three hundred employees.

Dailey has also held management positions in the various parts of the United States, including California and Florida. He has worked with Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts as well as the Ian Schrager line of hotels. Dailey graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in 1986.

PRICE AND RESERVATIONS

The starting cost for a room at the SLS at Beverly Hills is expected to hover at the $300/night range. Further details will be provided as more information is made available. The SLS will begin taking reservations on November 1st, nearly four days after it opens. The opening date has changed several times, with it the first day that reservations will be available. Thus, one can expect this to change.

CONCLUSION

While we can’t give any definitive answer as to the quality of this hotel, we will tell you that it looks extremely promising and will likely be worth a look at once it opens (if you’re able to get reservations). We’ll keep this page updated as additional information becomes available, so stay tuned!