SLS at Beverly Hills, CA [Master Thread]
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: spg, elevate
Posts: 8
SLS at Beverly Hills, CA [Master Thread]
stayed this weekend. a very high level of service, interesting and whimsical design, amazing (and empty) gym, turndown, mercedes drop-off service. a few things bugged me; will comment if people are interested. i think they're doing grand opening discount promos.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: spg, elevate
Posts: 8
re: rates. I booked about a month ago with the amex 50% off coupon @ 279.50 for the standard king. First time I've actually been quoted a lower rate than I could find online. Valet $35.
The staff was clearly trying very hard in the hotel's first week, and never said no to anything we requested. We were escorted from our car to check in, our bags carried to our room, concierge helped us figure out dinner and arranged the luxury ride (gratis) out to a bar. Even the driver was eager to know how we were enjoying the hotel. In the hour and a half we were gone for dinner they came for turndown service. The downside of such constant attention is dropping tips everywhere, and the slight aggravation of having to tell strangers where youre headed and how you're enjoying things. But, I'm a New Yorker, so feeling aggravated is second nature. I did find the concierge more pleasant to interact with than the front desk or the (admittedly hot) bellboys.
The hotel interior is strange and stunning. They have a thing for monkeys and odd, mismatched chairs throughout, and the rooms are all mirrors. Downsides: our room had only a shower, no chest of drawers or luggage rack (would be problematic for more than a few days stay), no view, some amenities in the bathroom actually _for sale_ (priced on the list inside the mini-bar). The gym had some great high-end machines I'd never even seen before; I went back twice. The pool was on the roof with a decent view, but tiny and only 3ft deep...clearly more for lounging and socializing.
It was definitely a luxury but fun place to stay, with attentive service, that, like cheaper starwood properties, often puts fashion before comfort.
The staff was clearly trying very hard in the hotel's first week, and never said no to anything we requested. We were escorted from our car to check in, our bags carried to our room, concierge helped us figure out dinner and arranged the luxury ride (gratis) out to a bar. Even the driver was eager to know how we were enjoying the hotel. In the hour and a half we were gone for dinner they came for turndown service. The downside of such constant attention is dropping tips everywhere, and the slight aggravation of having to tell strangers where youre headed and how you're enjoying things. But, I'm a New Yorker, so feeling aggravated is second nature. I did find the concierge more pleasant to interact with than the front desk or the (admittedly hot) bellboys.
The hotel interior is strange and stunning. They have a thing for monkeys and odd, mismatched chairs throughout, and the rooms are all mirrors. Downsides: our room had only a shower, no chest of drawers or luggage rack (would be problematic for more than a few days stay), no view, some amenities in the bathroom actually _for sale_ (priced on the list inside the mini-bar). The gym had some great high-end machines I'd never even seen before; I went back twice. The pool was on the roof with a decent view, but tiny and only 3ft deep...clearly more for lounging and socializing.
It was definitely a luxury but fun place to stay, with attentive service, that, like cheaper starwood properties, often puts fashion before comfort.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,179
just checked into the SLS.. got "upgraded" to a signature suite... Although it's actually a downgrade since I booked a premier suite about 2 months ago.. apparently that category of suite doesn't exist now... got put in a signature suite on the 4th floor, and they said its basically the same room, but the premier suite was on the top floor before.. now they just merged it into the same category..
Anyways, hotel in general is very nice... it's basically a W Hotel that is more refined and more designer... I guess its where W guests will eventually move on to when they get older... Had dinner at the restaurant downstairs, and found the prices to be quite reasonable considering the area and the food quality... Had a soup, burget and a drink and came to under $40... Service has been top notch so far, as it is a new hotel and everyone is trying to please...
I usually stay at the W when I'm in town, but I think will be staying here in the future...
Anyways, hotel in general is very nice... it's basically a W Hotel that is more refined and more designer... I guess its where W guests will eventually move on to when they get older... Had dinner at the restaurant downstairs, and found the prices to be quite reasonable considering the area and the food quality... Had a soup, burget and a drink and came to under $40... Service has been top notch so far, as it is a new hotel and everyone is trying to please...
I usually stay at the W when I'm in town, but I think will be staying here in the future...
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
thanks for the reports. ^
tfung, was the "signature suite" a junior suite or one bedroom suite? seems like its considered a junior suite on the room fact sheet. also seems like there are 2 categories above "signature suite." >
- $2500 - luxury suite
- $5000 - presidential suite
hmm, i wonder how high SPG50 goes.
edit - every category ^
more info @ http://slshotels.com/
features
* guest-only lobby/restaurant (restaurant = tres)
* "preferred access/reservations" and "VIP treatment" @ SBE restaurants/clubs (details?)
* jetvans (bookable?) >
http://www.sbe.com/releases/SLS-Beck...37;20Final.pdf
tfung, was the "signature suite" a junior suite or one bedroom suite? seems like its considered a junior suite on the room fact sheet. also seems like there are 2 categories above "signature suite." >
- $2500 - luxury suite
- $5000 - presidential suite
hmm, i wonder how high SPG50 goes.
edit - every category ^
more info @ http://slshotels.com/
features
* guest-only lobby/restaurant (restaurant = tres)
* "preferred access/reservations" and "VIP treatment" @ SBE restaurants/clubs (details?)
* jetvans (bookable?) >
http://www.sbe.com/releases/SLS-Beck...37;20Final.pdf
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Dec 29, 2008 at 11:10 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
not doing so well
Just heard from an insider on this project that they are not doing so well.
Last week some nights as low as 10%occupancy
Minna is lookig to pull out of the place as soon as possible
And yet rates are still through the roof
Last week some nights as low as 10%occupancy
Minna is lookig to pull out of the place as soon as possible
And yet rates are still through the roof
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: All over
Programs: Most
Posts: 10,839
It is not unusual for hotels to have very low occupancy rates after opening. I do agree, however, that they rates seem rather high and unsure whether they can fill up the hotel at such rates.
#9
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,847
The rates have been running nearly twice as much as the former Le Meridien Beverly Hills was charging and the economic climate now is far worse than it was 1-2 years ago. They should have offered some low intro rates to get people to try it out and tell other people about it. Why pay $200 more/night to stay there over the W Westwood? I can't imagine it is worth paying double the former Le Meridien prices. The location is exactly the same, which was and still is a bit out of the way. It is not in the heart of Beverly Hills. It is a hike to get to Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. It is really only convenient to the Beverly Center and why stay there to go to a mall with stores that exist in every major city in the world outside of Tehran, Pyong Yang, and Yangon.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
S. Irene Virbila, the L.A. Times' restaurant critic, liked the food and decor at The Bazaar, the tapas-with-a-touch-of-El Bulli restaurant at SLS BH:
http://www.latimes.com/theguide/rest...,3577062.story
http://www.latimes.com/theguide/rest...,3577062.story
#11
Join Date: Jun 2008
Programs: Flying Club (Gold), Bonvoy (Titanium), Hyatt (Diamond), IHG (Spire)
Posts: 41
I'm in the hotel now , checked in yesterday.
As noted before, the staff are great and very friendly. The bazaar seemed lively but the hotel is very quiet - I've been through the lobby half a dozen times and not seen a single other guest in the hotel side.
The rooms are very nice - remind me a lot of some of the morgans hotels (sanderson in london etc).. the redesigned Mondrian is better but this is close. They have the same sort of huge mirror with flatscreen TV embedded in it , although the SLS are floor to ceiling.
Only minor downsides were the overnight laundry doesn't cover the hours it says on their forms, and the wireless internet seems a bit flakey.
I paid $389 for their opening offer (which included a $50 credit per day, and triple starpoints). I got upgraded to a two dounble bed signature suite.
Anyone stayed here and received a platinum amenity ? Other luxury collection hotels seem to do it.. I forgot to ask on check-in after a long flight.
As noted before, the staff are great and very friendly. The bazaar seemed lively but the hotel is very quiet - I've been through the lobby half a dozen times and not seen a single other guest in the hotel side.
The rooms are very nice - remind me a lot of some of the morgans hotels (sanderson in london etc).. the redesigned Mondrian is better but this is close. They have the same sort of huge mirror with flatscreen TV embedded in it , although the SLS are floor to ceiling.
Only minor downsides were the overnight laundry doesn't cover the hours it says on their forms, and the wireless internet seems a bit flakey.
I paid $389 for their opening offer (which included a $50 credit per day, and triple starpoints). I got upgraded to a two dounble bed signature suite.
Anyone stayed here and received a platinum amenity ? Other luxury collection hotels seem to do it.. I forgot to ask on check-in after a long flight.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
Please clarify
FAQ: The Platinum Welcome Amenity thread
#14
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Pasadena,Ca.,US.
Programs: AA, Delta, United, SPG plat, Hyatt dia
Posts: 7,140
You are correct CE-and thank you for finding the link.But with so many of the LC properties being "resorts"(I do not know if SLS considers itself a resort or not)and thus allowed wiggle room on the SPG program that I do not expect anything from them.
The two LC collection non resorts I have stayed in both required prodding when it came to Plat ammenities-but did cough it up.
The two LC collection non resorts I have stayed in both required prodding when it came to Plat ammenities-but did cough it up.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
every category can be booked with SPG50, including top 2 suites
everything but the top 2 suites are ~30% off BAR with SPG50
top 2 suites are rack only, so 50% off "BAR" with SPG50
another solid SPG50 property ^
everything but the top 2 suites are ~30% off BAR with SPG50
top 2 suites are rack only, so 50% off "BAR" with SPG50
another solid SPG50 property ^
Last edited by Kagehitokiri; Dec 29, 2008 at 11:19 am