As The Beverly Hilton celebrates its 70th anniversary this summer, the legendary hotel revealed exclusively to Forbes Travel Guide its plans for the most comprehensive renovation in its storied and star-studded history — a sweeping transformation that will honor its past while embracing contemporary luxury.
Set to be completed in 2027, the ambitious project is led by David Collins Studio (whose projects include suites by David Beckham at The Londoner Hotel in Macau; Mandarin Oriental, Doha; and Café de Paris Monte-Carlo) and will touch nearly every corner of the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel, including a revamped lobby where countless stars have made their grand entrances; renovated event spaces, guest rooms and suites; and new restaurants and luxury boutiques.
The Beverly Hilton opened to much fanfare in 1955. Conrad Hilton, the founder of the eponymous hotel and the Hilton company, had women sit atop pink-painted elephants at the entrance. Beyond the theatrics, the property established itself as an innovator, pioneering hotel technology with high-speed elevators and individual air-conditioning thermostats in guest accommodations. The hotel also housed an outpost of the famous Trader Vic’s — owner “Trader” Vic Bergeron claimed to have invented the rum-spiked mai tai in 1944 — which quickly became a favored haunt of the Rat Pack and Hollywood’s elite.
The renovation seeks to honor the Beverly Hills hotel’s glamorous heritage while introducing contemporary sophistication. The property will retain its white mid-century modern Welton Becket façade, featuring a cherry-red “The Beverly Hilton” sign, but it will receive a reimagined porte-cochère. The hotel will serve as a cultural and architectural anchor of One Beverly Hills, a 17.5-acre destination devised by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Norman Foster, in collaboration with Kerry Hill Architects, that will connect the property and next-door neighbor Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills to Aman’s forthcoming urban hotel, its first on the West Coast (the East Coast urban outpost opened in 2022); luxury residences; a private members’ club; and lush botanical gardens with more than 200 species of California native and water-wise plants and trees.
The centerpiece of the redesign will be the iconic Aqua Star Pool. Swimming champion and Old Hollywood starlet Esther Williams christened Beverly Hills’ largest pool when hotelier Conrad Hilton debuted his flagship property. The pool also made a splash when Angelina Jolie took a plunge in it wearing a silver sequined Randolph Duke gown after winning a Golden Globe for Gia in 1999.
“The Beverly Hilton has long been the stage for Hollywood’s most unforgettable moments, from red carpet triumphs to legendary celebrations,” said general manager David Ecija. “As we celebrate this remarkable anniversary, we’re proud to invite guests into a year of exceptional experiences.”
One of these experiences will start in August. The property will host Decades Dinners, a series of invitation-only meals in the Presidential Suite meant to help guests travel back in time with menus and cocktails inspired by different eras from the hotel’s history, with vintage-looking tablescapes and more.
You can also relive moments from the hotel’s glory years with the 70th Anniversary Package, which includes a Penthouse Suite (where you will find some surprise nostalgic amenities), a rental from Hollywood Classic Cars and a seven-course Decades Dinner drawn from the hotel’s archival menus.
Toast the hotel’s milestone with the limited-edition Beverly Hilton Reserve. Made in partnership with Beverly Spirits, the 100-proof American whiskey blends 60% bourbon and 40% rye. The spirit will be available in a cocktail at the property’s CIRCA 55 Rooftop Restaurant + Lounge as well as served as part of the Decades Dinners.
The Beverly Hilton also teamed up with local artist Henry Kaye to create original illustrations and designs that honor its legacy. You can see his work across the hotel, from keepsakes to the special Iconic Decades cocktails menu at the Decades Dinners and CIRCA 55.
You can experience the hotel’s glitzy past in the lobby, where a selfie station features a piece of the red carpet from the Golden Globes — the hotel’s International Ballroom has hosted the famed awards ceremony since 1961, one of 175 red-carpet events the property holds each year (Forbes Travel Guide even held its annual invitation-only Summit, the preeminent luxury travel conference, at the property in 2018 and 2019).
For another photo op, head to the CIRCA 55 Rooftop and step into the only operating analog film photo booth in Beverly Hills. The restored 1950s-era booth from Photomatica spits out black-and-white photo strips on film for a personalized keepsake.
