This was the most interesting site inspection I have done including the one I did in Spanish at Maroma. It was also the most fun I have ever had getting to know a new property. When I went to the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills it was at the invitation of Jorge Collazo their director of marketing who I have enjoyed interacting with on Twitter. He also invited Stacy Small who I have also met on Twitter and really like tweeting with. She was joined by Gen Hershey who is new to Twitter but trying to get herself up to speed at Stacy’s prompting. Rounding out our group was Peter Falke the charming sales manager for the Four Season Los Angeles. Peter is not on Twitter despite his colleagues’ attempts to lure him there.

Peter was extremely gracious and patient as he tried to give a site inspection in the middle of a tweetup. From the moment we all started trickling into the lobby Twitter was the dominant force poor Peter had to contend with. Whenever you gather any enthusiastic tweeters together the elephant in the room is a little blue bird. Usually I am attentive and snapping oodles of photos when I have the opportunity to visit a property, but this time I was very distracted. As we toured the hotel side twonversations kept popping up about Twitter. Jorge and I  chatting about what this vendor or that is doing or not doing on Twitter. Stacy and Jorge discussing a mutual tweeter. Stacy and I comparing notes on how Twitter is changing our business. The three of us explaining to Gen what this Twitter term or that one means, or how to do this or that on Twitter. Throughout it all Mr. Falke kept his composure and showed us the changes being made to modernize and upgrade this lovely hotel.

Whenever a group of travel professionals gather for lunch there is much talk of mutual acquaintances and former colleagues. It is a business of relationships. During our gathering there was a lot of this tracking of where one person is and how we know them perhaps from their last position in the industry. The difference on this day was adding the all important “He’s not on Twitter” or “She is @so-and-so on Twitter.”  During it all @elitetravelgal was tweeting on her blackberry and snapping photos of us all to post on Twitpics! She also talked @jorgecollazo into downloading “UberTwitter” for his blackberry. It was a most interesting time!

So let this rambling serve as my apology for failing to get enough good pictures to do this lovely property justice here on my blog. I guess this means I will have to return! The next time I visit Los Angeles to see friends and family or for a business function I hope to stay at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The location is fabulous. The hotel sits on a leafy intersection a bit off the main hubbub of Beverly Hills. It still is very close to Rodeo Drive and the other temptations that the area is famous for. For those wanting easy access to all that Los Angeles has to offer, but preferring a room that offers a respite from the bustle, this location is ideal. A short drive or a long walk puts you right in the thick of things in Beverly Hills. The Robertson Boulevard shopping area which is up and coming is only one block away.

The circle drive at the lobby is subtly screened by trees and other greenery making a very private experience in a very public area. Word is that this is what makes the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills very popular with Hollywood types. Along with the nearby Raffles L’Ermitage this is one of the favored stays for celebrities both local and visiting. The bar also serves as a favored watering hole for the rich and famous. When asked what distinguishes this Four Seasons from the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire one of our hosts replied that the latter is where tourists go hoping to see celebrities and the former is where celebs go to avoid the tourists. True to this description several notables strolled by during our visit.

Another view of the front facade.

What three words say you have arrived better than Four Seasons Hotel? This is a view of the lobby overhang from the circle drive area. Though small (this is an urban hotel) the grounds are lush and green. One of the things I like about Los Angeles is how well every square inch of land is taken advantage of with plantings of the myriad variety of foliage that can grow in this benign climate. This property is true to that trend giving it a lush tropical feeling with bougainvillea, palms, annual flowers and all manner of green things.

Yes, we are in Los Angeles. Reminders of that inescapable fact start with this oft photographed statue of Marilyn Monroe in her most famous movie scene. This fun sculpture is there to greet you opposite the lobby in the circle drive.

This geometric tiled water feature is also front and center offering the sound of splashing water to mute the sounds of the traffic beyond. The hotel is oriented so that it faces the less busy street. Neither is a major thoroughfare so by L.A. standards it is a very quiet and sedate location.

One of us asked our hosts if they had a resident florist and the answer was “Of course!” Upon entering the lobby it is the stunning floral arrangements that immediately catch the eye. Could they please send the florist by my house once in a while?

This detail of the large white rose arrangement on the wall opposite the front desk was one of my favorite pictures from this trip. I do so love flowers, and these white roses were exquisite!

The main emphasis Jorge and Peter wanted to impress upon us is that they have started a rolling make-over that will touch every room in the hotel over the next year. I have to say the redone rooms were really nice. From the simple yet smart art touches on the contrast was striking. The best new feature is replacing vertical armoires with low desks and adding flat screen HD TVs. It creates a much more open feeling in the rooms. It also gives the guest the great HD picture they are used to on their home TVs.

They are incorporating marble and high end fixtures in all the baths. This is one of the few times I took a decent photo of a bathroom. Rooms in general are a big challenge to the budding photographer. I really would like to take another photo lesson from @equusluminous, but this time in a resort during a site inspection.

When I book this hotel for you I will request a high floor if you like a nice view of Los Angeles. Each room includes a balcony most with nifty views of the exciting city that is it’s setting.

I liked the subtle hues on the print headboards. They were framed by mirror walls further opening up the rooms. Of course high quality linens are the rule. This is a Four Seasons after all.

This is the family room of one of the remodeled one bedroom suites. Spacious and comfortable, no? All the rooms are very nicely appointed.

By the time we got to the pool area I was thoroughly distracted. We had lunch under an umbrella overlooking the pool. Somehow in all the buzz and twittering over Twitter I forgot that I had a camera with me and was there to take pictures. The two I took do not really capture how nice the pool area looks here. As you can see in the left corner of this picture (barely) they have very smart two shade green pads on the chaise lounges. There were some very cool cabanas that had the same color scheme that were lovely. You will have to take my word for it because I neglected to snap a single shot of them!

Here is the other reason that I MUST return to the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. It was strongly suggested that we try the ice cream sandwich. This is a dessert not to be missed! In fact, I have been pining for it ever since. I rarely look for sweets at lunch time, but I was so glad they insisted on splitting this fabulous creation. Starting with two freshly baked homemade chocolate chip cookies (which would be a delight on their own) they add a center of soft whipped homemade vanilla ice cream. One end is then dipped into dark hot fudge sauce and the whole is chilled. Offset with a colorful assortment of berries it becomes a work of art that is every bit as tasty as it looks!

If you would like to see more click on the first image to start a slide show in a new window, then mouse over to the arrow and click to advance the slides: