Drive past the Beverly Hilton on any evening and you’ll likely find a red carpet rolled out. The iconic Beverly Hills property is the setting for hundreds of high-profile gatherings every year, including the Golden Globes, the Oscar nominee luncheon, the pre-Grammy gala and the Carousel of Hope Ball, to cite just a few. Now, the 569-room hotel has enhanced its impressive event offerings with the opening of The Gardens, a multimillion-dollar addition created to provide a seamless indoor-outdoor experience. “For us it’s like a dream come true,” says Sandy Murphy, the Beverly Hilton’s general manager of the 569-room property. “We had some outdoor space before but nothing as lovely and versatile as The Gardens.”
The Gardens consist of two distinct settings. The Wilshire Garden is the larger of the spaces, spanning 6,650 square feet with a lush lawn and a living wall of more than 5,000 succulents (capacity: 350 guests in rounds, 600 in ceremony-style seating). The connecting Secret Garden has swaying palm tress, cozy nooks, waterfall features and loungestyle furnishings (1,760 square feet; capacity 100).
The space that was once known as “airline alley,” because it was home to airline offices and car rental agencies, is now being used for cocktail receptions, formal luncheons and dinners, a lounge setting for meeting breaks, yoga classes, car launches and weddings. “You come off the lobby and the space is so light and bright and welcoming,” says Murphy. “I’ve walked The Gardens with meeting planners several times and they’re so excited about the possibilities. It was designed to be a neutral palette that can be transformed in endless different ways. Planners can tent the space, they can brand it with gobo lighting or with screens, and, of course, it can be used year-round. There’s going to be so much creativity in how planners utilize these settings and because the gardens are living the space will grow and change through the seasons and the years. I can’t wait to see how it all evolves.”
