The Regent Beverly Wilshire Fact Sheet - A Brief History

The landmark Regent Beverly Wilshire, originally called the Beverly Wilshire Apartment Hotel, opened its doors in 1928. The Beverly Hills scene was far different from the sophisticated scene embodied by The Regent Beverly Wilshire and Rodeo Drive today.

In honor of its 72nd anniversary, The Regent Beverly Wilshire completed an historic all encompassing $35 million renovation in 1998 which increased its inventory of rooms and suites to a grand total of 395, including two Presidential Suites. The renovation, orchestrated by the international design firm Hirsch Bedner & Associates, has made The Regent Beverly Wilshire au courant without sacrificing the history and ambience of the property. The renovation goal was preserving the rich visual history of the hotel, enhancing the technological amenities and creating two distinctive designs -- the classic Wilshire Wing and the Contemporary Beverly Wing.

The Regent Beverly Wilshire takes pride in the 72 years it has been an integral part of the Beverly Hills community and its role in many sophisticated social gatherings and movie scenes over the decades. The history of The Regent Beverly Wilshire reflects the growth of L.A.'s westside, the influence of the automobile, and the glamour of the Hollywood entertainment industry.

The hotel was built on the site of the Beverly Auto Speedway, extending from Pico to Wilshire and Beverly to Spaulding. The Speedway provided L.A. residents with an opportunity for picnics and Model T Ford races on Sunday afternoons. Travelers from farther afield arrived by steam railway, making connections with electric trolleys -- L.A.'s "Red Cars". The population of Beverly Hills was less than 1,000, and it was still undiscovered by Hollywood's in-crowd.

Real estate developer Walter G. McCarty, foreseeing the glamorous future for the community, purchased the property and built the luxurious Beverly Wilshire. The hotel grounds, originally occupying an entire city block, have been subdivided as the population of Beverly Hills has grown. The Regent Beverly Wilshire's neighbors are some of the city's most prestigious and influential businesses.

The Regent Beverly Wilshire is a salute to its construction and renovation teams over the years. It has withstood major earthquakes in 1933, 1971 and 1994 and was designated an air raid shelter during World War II. The hotel, originally designed by architects Walker & Eisen at a cost of $4 million, was constructed with its distinctive E-shape in the Italian Renaissance style with French neoclassic influences. The original suites were designed with Corinthian columns, glass mosaic skylights, fireplaces, libraries and connecting roof gardens, and the public areas were furnished by Barker Brothers. The finest construction materials were used, including Italian Carrara marble and a special Tuscan stone, which has been preferred by architects in Italy since the golden age of Rome.

Arnold Kirkeby, owner of a chain of hotels, purchased the Beverly Wilshire in the early 40s. He added an Olympic-sized pool and championship tennis courts with tennis pro Pancho Gonzalez as the hotel's tennis director. Kirkeby also added the Florentine Room where Kate Thompson and the Williams Brothers performed during the Big Band era.

The 1950s and early 1960s were transitional years for the hotel. Evelyn Sharp, owner of several New York hotels, purchased the hotel in 1958 and sold it to William Zeckendorf in 1961. Zeckendorf, in turn, sold the Beverly Wilshire to Hernando Courtright and an investor group the same year.

The Courtright years established the hotel as a dynamic setting for Beverly Hills society and discerning guests from around the world. The Beverly Wing, with a ballroom on the first floor, second floor terrace with Mediaterranean style pool and a combination of accommodations on the upper floors was added to the hotel in 1971 at a cost of $20 million. The new wing was designed by Welton Becket and Associates and it was decorated with themed floors by Marcelle Courtright. The ballroom in the Beverly Wing is striking in its elegance with white Carrara marble, mirrored arches and hand wrought iron balconies. Hand-carved balustrades in Tinos Vert a Rouge Incarnat marble in the grand style of Versailles grace the entryway to the Ballroom.

El Camino Real, a private driveway lined with 38 gaslight lanterns, makes a distinctive entry to the hotel, and a domed porte-cochere gracefully joins the two buildings.

Regent International Hotels purchased the Beverly Wilshire on December 31, 1985 and added the landmark property to its prestigious group of luxury class hotels and resorts around the world. In 1987, Regent International embarked on a $100 million renovation of the original Wilshire Wing to restore the standard of elegance and luxury. The hotel was officially opened on February 11, 1989 as The Regent Beverly Wilshire to communicate the union of the hotel's local history and reputation with the global presence and reputation of Regent International Hotels. In February 1996 the property was acquired by B.W. Hotel L.L.C., a Hong-Kong-based investment syndicate of prominent Hong Kong companies with diversified global holdings.

The Regent Beverly Wilshire, where Wilshire Boulevard meets Rodeo Drive, recently completed a $35 million renovation. The landmark hotel has two wings with distinctive styles for its luxurious rooms and suites, including the city's leading two presidential suites.

Celebrating its 72nd anniversary, it's a complete business and vacation destination at 9500 Wilshire Boulevard, in the heart of Beverly Hills. There are 120 suites, in classic and contemporary styles, among its 395 guest rooms; sophisticated shops; the award-winning Dining Room with an innovative California style menu with Provencal accents; a Health Spa with special massage and beauty packages; and a Fitness Center with an outdoor Mediterranean style pool, available to Regent guests on a complimentary basis.

Guest accommodations are geared for business travelers and active vacationers - room amenities include three telephones with dual phone lines, a dataport for computers, voice messaging, speaker phone and facsimile capabilities, in-room safes, and signature marble bathrooms with over-sized shower and deep-soaking bathtub. For information or reservations, call The Regent Beverly Wilshire at (800) 421-4354 (outside California) or (800) 427-4354 (within California).


The Regent Beverly Wilshire Fact Sheet - A Brief History --- David Harrison Levi