History of the Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel is located on the famous Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. It features 204 rooms and suites as well as 21 unique bungalows spread across the property. Since its creation in 1912, the Hotel has been a central meeting spot for the area's film and television industry, as well as a popular hangout for celebrities.

The Hotel is Founded

In 1912, Margaret J. Anderson and her son Stanley were managers of the famous Hollywood Hotel. At the time, Beverly Hills was an unincorporated rural farmland well outside the glamor of Hollywood. Land developer Burton Green, who dreamed of finding oil in Beverly Hills, convinced the Andersons to create a luxury hotel in the area that would help attract wealthy tourists and residents. Relying on their experience at the Hollywood Hotel, the Andersons hired California architect Elmer Grey to design their masterpiece. By 1914, the hotel had drawn enough residents to the area that city leaders were able to incorporate Beverly Hills as a town of its own.

Hernando Courtright

The Anderson family sold the hotel in 1928 to investor Hugh Leighten. Soon after, the stock market crashed and the hotel's loan holder, Bank of America, began foreclosure proceedings. They assigned a bank employee, Hernando Courtright, to oversee the hotel's foreclosure. Courtright quit his job at the bank instead and found investors to help keep the hotel alive. He took over as hotel manager, and bought it outright in 1941. Courtright added many of the hotel's distinctive features, including the pink facade and the famous Polo Lounge, which are still celebrated today.

The 1950s Through the 1970s

In 1954, a real estate investor from Detroit, Ben Silberstein, was visiting the hotel with his family. They fell in love with the hotel, and Silberstein offered to purchase it from Courtright. Courtright agreed to sell for $5.5 million. Silberstein then managed daily operations. During this time, the hotel became known as a haven for celebrities. The Rat Pack could frequently be found at the Polo Lounge, and actress Raquel Welch was discovered lounging by the pool. In 1979, Ben Silberstein passed away, and his daughters were given control of the hotel.

The 1980s

One of Ben Silberstein's daughters, Seema Boesky was married to a wall street trader. During the 1980s, her husband was accused of insider trading and subjected to jail time, fines, and penalties. To pay the fines, Boesky sold the Beverly Hills Hotel to a Denver oil magnate, Marvin Davis, for $136 million. Davis quickly resold the hotel to the Sajahtera Investment Firm, who retains control to this day. The Beverly Hills Hotel is part of Sajahtera's Dorchester Collection, a series of luxury hotels throughout the world. The hotel celebrated its 75th anniversary with a star-studded bash in 1987.

The 1990s

From the end of 1992 to summer of 1995, the Beverly Hills Hotel was shut down and underwent a $100 million restoration. Rather then try to expand the hotel, the goal was simply to restore it to its former glory and glamor. During this period, new furnishings, fixtures, and carpet were added to replace the former selections. The rooms and suites were modernized and enlarged. The hotel's landscaping was replanted and restored. Each of the bungalows was renovated to create a unique look that was both elegant and as comfortable as a regular house. Finally, a tea room, a grand ballroom, and a central staircase were added, as well as additional space at the Polo Lounge.