These new venues within larger hotel properties afford a variety of entertaining and meeting options.
1. Poolside Entertaining: Nightlife entrepreneur Victor Drai has brought his namesake destination Drai’s Hollywood to the rooftop of the W Hollywood. The splashy space offers more than 20,000 square feet, with sweeping views and multiple areas for events. The 120-seat restaurant is helmed by chef Claude Segal and sits between the lounge and the rooftop pool and patio. On one side of the pool there is a row of flat-topped cabanas furnished with low couches and wood frames holding up white privacy curtains. On the other side is a row of covered daybeds with Moroccan-style inlaid wooden tables, red-cushioned couches, mirrors, and flat-screen TVs. At the far end of the pool, four larger cabanas overlook the whole space.
2. Indoor/Outdoor Meeting Space: The Beverly Garland Holiday Inn in North Hollywood recently debuted its redesigned conference space, the Garland Center. Updates include technology improvements, new carpeting, lighting, and cosmetic touches. Six separate meeting spaces include the 132-seat Beverly Garland Theater, which has plush chairs with retractable desks. The Spanish-influenced hotel offers more than 14,500 square feet of event space, including a grand ballroom, which has room for 650 guests, and a landscaped outdoor space.
3. A Revamped High-End Spa: Along with this year’s major renovation at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills came upgrades to the spa, including new tiling in the steam rooms, locker refacing, and refurbished wood in the saunas. The 3,695-square-foot space has eight treatment rooms. Perks like pre- and after-hours or in-room treatments, and chocolates from the in-house pastry chef are available. The spa does not typically offer group rates or package pricing.
4. A Beachside Penthouse Lounge: Santa Monica’s 71-room Hotel Shangri-La has debuted Suite 700. The new rooftop bar and lounge from nightlife entrepreneur and designer Marc Smith has a nautical moderne design with unobstructed views of the ocean. Terraces offer plush lounge seating and fire pits. Inside, gray flannel covers walls, and there are etched mirrors, large windows, and a dramatic scalloped fireplace. The space is available for buyout, with room for about 75. The classic cocktail list recalls Hollywood’s golden age with drinks like rum punch and Pimm’s After Dark served in shiny shakers and tulip martini glasses. Menu items include octopus carpaccio and lamb served with medjool dates.
