HotelChatter

The Pool
We skipped the 8,000 square-foot spa and the 4,000 square-foot fitness center on the second floor and went all the way up to the fourth floor to have a look at both the Executive Lounge offering a quiet space to enjoy a continental breakfast and the morning paper, as well as the pool and Jacuzzi for the hotel. The huge glass tower is extremely reflective, so the pool deck was bright and hot, even on a February morning, and the only spot of shade was in the two cabanas. In the evening, things heat up as well at the outdoor Ion Bar.

Suites
After our outdoor excursion, it was time for a quick walkthrough of two suites on the seventeenth floor.

The soon-to-be-renamed Presidential Suite was large but homey, with a comfortable sitting area and TV room, a separate dining room and kitchen and a guest bathroom up front. The master bedroom included a king-size bed, another flat-screen TV, and an intricately-tiled bathroom with a shower bigger than most L.A. studio apartments, and a sunken soaking tub that will be hard to resist. Oh, and let’s not forget the crystal accents hanging everywhere from lighting fixtures to the arch in the entryway foyer. Those were kind of sparkly and cool, too. No word on rates for these rooms.

The Junior Suite we saw was at the northwest corner of the building, and boasted views swept from Catalina Island to the skyscrapers of downtown. It was also decorated with a palette of natural woods and cream colors with accents of teal and even orange to give it a little color. While it lacked a separate sitting area and second bathroom, at 651 square feet, it still felt huge to us (but judge for yourself from the walkthrough video we made). We found a rate for as low as $289 a night.

Based on the number of opening ceremonies and ribbon-cuttings we’ve already attended, we have a feeling we’ll be back at the property within the next few weeks to take a look at a standard room and to get a sneak peek at the Ritz-Carlton floors of the building, so stay tuned for more photos and videos!