L.A. Live hotel prompts upgrades to downtown L.A. inns
When a 54-story, glass-sheathed hotel complex next to the L.A. Live entertainment center opened last year, it altered the skyline of downtown Los Angeles.
It also changed the landscape for the city's hotel industry. Owners of existing downtown hotels are launching multimillion-dollar upgrades to keep pace with the upscale JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels that operate out of the glass tower.
Across the street from L.A. Live and Staples Center, the humble three-star Holiday Inn has nearly completed a $10-million makeover, becoming a four-star property with a fancy new name: Luxe City Center.
At least seven other downtown hotels — including the Westin Bonaventure and the Omni Hotel — have either begun or are gearing up for major renovations.
-- Hugo Martín
Photo: The Westin Bonaventure’s lobby fountains, which have appeared in movies including "True Lies” and “In the Line of Fire," are being redesigned. Credit: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times
EDITOR'S PICKS:
Yes, upgrade this area of LA. Every time the Lakers win a championship there are riots in the streets.
Big mistake fixing up this area of town. Hotel owners are stupid.
Posted by: uncle_vito | January 01, 2011 at 07:39 PM
wow, uncle vito, seems like you havent been downtown in years. a much different place, with great restaurants, bars, museums and cultural amenities, and not to mention a residential population over 45,000.
the "riots" are actually 50 knuckleheads who act stupidly in a small area.
Its good to hear that there is even more investment in downtown LA. i just wish the Bonaventure would rehab the exterior. the pedestrian experience is horrible around that hotel. they need to tear down the bridges and open up the hotel to the streets.
Posted by: D | January 01, 2011 at 09:28 PM
@ uncle vito seems like you dont have to worry about the lakers winning a championship this year!!!!
Posted by: jonathan | January 05, 2011 at 03:23 PM