beverly hills hotel tour

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The Beverly Hills Hotel

Be a part of hollywood history by staying at the beverly hills hotel on sunset boulevard..

Located on Sunset Boulevard, the Beverly Hills Hotel is one of the most instantly recognizable hotels in the world. Founded in 1912, the hotel has been featured in countless movies and television shows, and was declared an official historic landmark during its 100th year of operation. Today, the Beverly Hills Hotel is part of the Dorchester Collection, a prestigious portfolio of luxury hotels owned and operated by the Kingdom of Brunei.

The hotel’s famous Polo Lounge was extremely popular with the celebrity crowd for many years, and was frequented by luminaries like Humphrey Bogart and the Frank Sinatra-led Rat Pack during Hollywood’s golden age. It is a must-see for anyone who enjoys the fascinating culture and storied history of the entertainment industry.

If you’ve decided to stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel during your visit to Los Angeles, you’re in for a treat. Five-star luxury is the name of the game, and you’ll enjoy the royal treatment from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. You can also enjoy nearby attractions and points of interest including:

The exclusive Beverly Hills residential and shopping districts

The Sunset Strip, home to some of L.A.’s most famous nightclubs, celebrity hangouts, and concert venues

Beautiful Bel-Air, which is just a few minutes’ drive down Sunset Boulevard

West Hollywood, the vibrant home of the Hollywood Hills neighborhood

The Melrose Avenue shopping district

The Beverly Center shopping mall and the Original Farmers Market at The Grove, which is located just a few miles from the hotel

…and much more!

Starline Tours is pleased to offer complimentary pick-up and drop-off service to guests staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

At Starline Tours, we are pleased to include the Beverly Hills Hotel in the list of Los Angeles hotels we serve. As part of our commitment to providing the very best customer service in the city’s sightseeing industry, we provide guests with free hotel pick-up and drop-off service for selected tours. Simply let us know you’d like to be picked up when you make your booking, and our customer service team will take care of all the details.

To learn more, or for personalized assistance completing your reservation, please don’t hesitate to contact the Starline Tours customer service team. We are available toll-free at 1-800-959-3131, or by calling (+1) 323-463-3333 from outside the United States.

+1 (323) 463-3333 [email protected]

6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90028

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Get to know The Beverly Hills Hotel 

Hotel overview.

The Beverly Hills Hotel,

9641 Sunset Boulevard,

Beverly Hills CA 90210

Open in Google Maps

+1 424 421 0060

+1 855 350 0079 (US toll-free)

[email protected]

+1 310 276 2251

Our hotel at a glance

ROOMS & SUITES 210 rooms & suites

DINING Three restaurants, one bar

WELLNESS The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa, fitness centre, outdoor swimming pool with year- round access and complimentary bicycle rental (up to two hours) available daily from 8am – 7pm

MEETINGS AND EVENTS Five event spaces

LOCATION Ideally situated just north of Sunset Boulevard, a short distance from Rodeo Drive, in 90210, the world’s most coveted zip code

HOUSE CAR We offer guests complimentary transportation within a three-mile radius of the hotel, Monday to Thursday 7am – 10pm, Friday and Saturday 8am – 11pm, Sunday 8am – 10pm

Useful Information

TIMING Check-in from 3pm, check-out by 12pm

EXTRA BED POLICY One extra bed can be arranged in most rooms or suites for $35 per night

DINING DRESS CODE Smart (Polo Lounge), smart casual (The Cabana Cafe, Fountain Coffee Room). At the Polo Lounge, we encourage you to dress for the occasion, so we ask that you refrain from wearing casual hats, ripped denim, crop tops, nightwear, swimwear and men’s sleeveless shirts. After 4pm, we do not permit shorts, flip-flops (including Birkenstocks) or sportswear (including tracksuits). Children under 10 are exempt

ACCESSIBLE ROOMS A selection of accessible rooms and suites are available

SMOKING POLICY There is a no-smoking policy throughout the hotel

PET POLICY We welcome up to two small dogs (max 7kg/15lbs) for $35 per pet per day

CAR PARKING Offered from $60 per day

AIRPORT TRANSFERS Available for an extra charge, can be arranged through concierge

TAXES Rates are per room, per night, exclusive of 14% city tax, 2% occupancy surcharge and 5% employee health and benefit surcharge per night

PHOTOGRAPHY For the privacy of our guests, we ask that you refrain from taking photographs. For weddings, you’re welcome to take photographs if hosting your reception at the hotel, and we’re happy to arrange this through our catering team. Please note that unplanned and unauthorised professional photoshoots or video shoots in the hotel public spaces or outlets are not permitted

Accessibility

For more details on our features and facilities, view our accessibility page .

444 North rexford drive beverly hills ca 90210

former homes of the great stars walking TOUR

The Beverly Hills Historical Society welcomes you to our walking tour of the former homes of the great stars. Below you'll find the route map and list of addresses on the tour. To enhance your tour experience, please listen to the audio clips connected to each stop along the route. Some stops also include a short video.

stop 1 - 9641 sunset blvd

This postcard from the 1920s reads: "Midway between Los Angeles and the sea. Open all year. Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows. Beverly Hills, California."

The tour begins at Will Rogers Park on Sunset Boulevard. Across the street is the Beverly Hills Hotel, the City's first business, there since 1912. Hotel founder Margaret Anderson donated this parkland and fountain as the first municipal park in Beverly Hills.

For more about the colorful, early history of Beverly Hills, watch the video below.

East of the hotel, were the long-gone mansions of silent screen legends Gloria Swanson, on Crescent, and Will Rogers, on Beverly Drive. She is best known for the movie Sunset Boulevard , and he was a hugely popular movie star, radio personality, political humorist, and the first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills. Rogers had a Polo field on his property and when the riders were done, they’d walk across the street to the hotel bar. When Rogers died, the hotel named that bar in his honor and the Polo Lounge was born.

To learn more about the first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, watch the video below.

As you leave the park and cross Sunset, you’ll notice the pink bus stop built for the Dinky Train that brought visitors up to the hotel 100 years ago. The trolley is long gone, but the shelter is still in use. The green strip that divides Sunset was originally a bridle path for horseback riding when most houses had their own stables and you could ride into town for groceries.

stop 2 - 901 north camden dr

As you walk along Sunset west of the hotel, the house on the right was once owned by then Disney Chairman, Michael Eisner. The next corner, at 901 North Camden, was the filming location for the 1989 movie Troop Beverly Hills with Shelley Long. It is currently the consulate for the Central African Republic.

stop 3 - 904 north bedford dr

This is one of the City’s most legendary star residences. It’s a 6,000 square-foot house with five bedrooms and was built in 1924. When Loretta Young owned the home, she rented it to Gene Kelly, Greta Garbo, and Rex Harrison. In later years, Ava Gardner lived there with her husband Artie Shaw. Other celebrity tenants included Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Ringo Starr, and Joe Bologna with his wife, Renée Taylor.

Loretta Young, Gene Kelly, Marlene Dietrich, Rex Harrison, Ava Gardner, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, and Ringo Starr.

Further north, on the other side of the street, at 913 North Bedford, are the remains of what was once Marlene Dietrich’s mansion.

stop 4 - 910 north bedford dr

This is Local Landmark No. 14 on the Beverly Hills Register of Historical Properties. It’s the only remaining Greene and Greene designed home in the City. It was built in 1909 for Packard dealer Earle C. Anthony, and then moved to Bedford Drive in 1923 by silent film star Norman Kerry and his wife. Kerry is best known for The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and Tod Browning’s The Unknown (1927). More recently, the four-bedroom, five-bathroom Craftsman was owned by screenwriters Leslie Dixon and Tom Ropelewski, famous for Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Look Who’s Talking Now (1993).

stop 5 - benedict canyon

The first mansions in Beverly Hills were built in Benedict Canyon by silent movie stars. Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks named their luxurious home Pickfair. Harold Lloyd’s massive estate was called Green Acres. Soon, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Rudolph Valentino, and many other film greats had fabulous canyon homes.

Sammy Davis, Jr., Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Murphy, Danny Kaye, Jack Lemmon, Raquel Welsh, Kim Kardashian, and Ingrid Bergman.

Over the years, the lure of country living in the middle of the city attracted Tom Mix, Ingrid Bergman, Fred Astaire, Ann-Margret, Danny Kaye, Jack Lemmon, Raquel Welch, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbara Eden, Eddie Murphy, Gene Simmons, Kim Kardashian, Bruce Springsteen, and many more. It was also the site of notorious activities at the homes of Jean Harlow, George Reeves, Sharon Tate, Heidi Fleiss, and Susan Berman.

After you make the left turn at Lexington Drive, you’ll walk past the home of Charo and her late husband Xavier Cugat. Next to them lived legendary RKO studio chief Pandro Berman.

stop 6 - 1000 North Roxbury Dr

This was the home of the most beloved red-headed resident of Beverly Hills. Not only did Lucy and Desi live here, and raise their kids (Lucie and Desi, Jr.) here, they also used their house in an episode of I Love Lucy . It’s the one where Lucy and Ethel sneak into actor Richard Widmark’s backyard to steal a grapefruit. It was actually Lucy and Desi’s backyard. Lucy was the first woman to head a TV production company, Desilu, which she formed with Arnaz, and I Love Lucy was the first show to film before a live studio audience. Desilu produced other popular TV shows including Mission: Impossible and Star Trek .

To find out how Lucy dealt with the tourists who visited her house, watch the video below.

stop 7 - 1002 north roxbury dr

Lucy and Desi’s next-door neighbors were radio and television stars Jack Benny and his wife, Mary Livingstone. Benny was known for his comic timing and his ability to elicit laughter with just a pregnant pause and stoic expression.

Benny’s trademark character stubbornly claimed to be 39-years-old despite being much older, and was the cheapest man in the world. In real life though, Benny was famous with neighborhood kids for giving away silver dollars on Halloween.

For a sweet treat, watch the video below to see how Beverly Hills celebrates Halloween.

stop 8 - 1004 north roxbury dr

Next door to the former home of Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone is the house once owned by actor Peter Falk who is best known for playing legendary TV detective Lt. Columbo. He was the first actor ever nominated for an Oscar and an Emmy in the same year. He achieved this feat twice, in 1961 and 1962. Falk, also a talented artist, had a studio above the garage and his work often sold for thousands of dollars. He and his wife, actress Shera Danese, were together for 33 years until Falk’s death on June 23, 2011.

stop 9 - 1019, 1021 & 1023 north roxbury dr

Brothers George and Ira Gershwin lived in the Spanish Colonial Revival house at 1019 Roxbury where they wrote such immortal songs as They Can’t Take That Away From Me , Shall We Dance , and Our Love Is Here To Stay . When George died, Ira moved next door to 1021. In 1953, actor José Ferrer and his wife, singer Rosemary Clooney, brought 1019 and her nephew, actor George Clooney, lived there for a time.

Actress Agnes Moorehead lived at 1023 Roxbury and thrilled kids on Halloween by dressing as her Bewitched character, Endora. Built in 1926, it was also once home to Spencer Tracy. The 11,700-square-foot house had vaulted ceilings, a billiards room, lighted tennis court, and swimming pool.

Unfortunately, all these homes have been demolished and replaced, as has the corner house at 1014, former home of singer and congressman Sonny Bono, then real estate mogul Kirk Kirkorian, and most recently, Jennifer Lopez. If you venture all the way to the corner, the house across the street at 1006 Hartford Way is the former residence of Oscar-winning movie villain Jack Palance.

stop 10 - 1015 north roxbury dr

Commissioned in 1926 by Columbia Pictures founder Harry Cohn, and designed by Wallace Neff, architect of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford’s estate, Pickfair, this house embodies the best of Spanish Colonial style. When Cohn moved out, the most popular female star of WWII, Betty Grable, moved in with her husband, bandleader Harry James.

It was later owned and renovated by actress Diane Keaton who sold the 7-bedroom, 8-bath property to Madonna for $6.5 million. David and Victoria Beckham later lived here. With its luxurious pool and two guesthouses, it could sell today for $12 million.

stop 11 - 918 north roxbury dr

The home of Jimmy Stewart and his wife once stood at the southeast corner of Roxbury and Lexington. They were often seen riding their bikes or walking their dogs in the neighborhood. Their house was demolished and replaced with the edifice that sits there now. Stewart had two lots, one for his house, and the other for his vegetable garden. When a neighbor complimented him on his beautiful produce and asked if she could hire his gardener, Stewart replied, “Nope. You can’t afford her. The gardener is Gloria, my wife.”

stop 12 - north roxbury drive

For many years, child star Ricky Schroder was Jimmy Stewart’s neighbor across the street at 921 Roxbury. Decades earlier, actress and scientist Hedy Lamarr lived at 919 Roxbury. She co-invented the spread-spectrum techniques that led to WiFi and Bluetooth technology. Near the corner of Sunset is 906 Roxbury, a down-to-earth cottage that singer, dancer, and Oscar-winning actress Ginger Rogers once called home. Ginger rarely drank alcohol, so she installed a fully stocked ice cream soda fountain in her home instead of a bar.

• TURN LEFT TO RETURN TO WILL ROGERS PARK

• turn right to continue the tour.

You’re now approaching Sunset and Roxbury, the turning point in the tour. Those who are a little tired or need to use the bathroom should TURN LEFT and head back to Will Rogers Park. The rest should make a RIGHT TURN and then cross at the corner of Whittier and Sunset to enjoy the second leg of the tour. It takes approximately 20 minutes and includes some of the darker chapters in Beverly Hills history.

stop 13 - sunset blvd & whittier dr

This dangerously sharp turn on Sunset Boulevard is immortalized in the 1963 Jan & Dean hit song Dead Man’s Curve . In the old days, if you were going too fast, you’d end up in a pile of twisted metal. As the song’s lyrics say:

"He passed me at Doheny, then I started to swerve, but I pulled her out and there we were at Dead Man's Curve. I still can hear 'em say, ‘You won't come back from Dead Man's Curve.’"

This intersection was also the scene of the senseless drive-by murder of power-publicist Ronni Chasen in 2010. As the tour continues, you’ll see that’s only one of the tragic events in the City’s past.

stop 14 - 810 north linden dr

Gangster and Las Vegas developer Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was murdered here in the home of his girlfriend, Virginia Hill, on June 20, 1947. The killer snuck up the driveway next door and blasted Siegel through the living room window while he read the newspaper. The Beverly Hills police chief said he solved the case, but accused the Las Vegas Police of sheltering the mob-connected killer. Years later, a deathbed confession claimed the murder was committed to protect an adulterous lover who Siegel had vowed to kill. It is the stuff of gangster legend, never to be solved.

For more about the notorious murder, watch the video below.

stop 15 - north linden dr & lomitas ave

This was the scene of the biggest disaster in Beverly Hills history. On July 7, 1947, the experimental plane Howard Hughes was piloting had engine trouble. Hughes tried to land on the nearby golf course, but missed it by two blocks and instead destroyed three houses in a fiery crash. It attracted 50,000 onlookers who gridlocked the City causing almost as big a disaster as the crash itself. William Durkin, a soldier on his way to a date, saved Hughes from the burning wreckage. Durkin and Hughes became friends, but Durkin always refused a reward saying, “You shouldn’t get paid off for doing what was right.”

For more about the crash that inspired Martin Scorsese’s movie The Aviator starring Leonardo DiCaprio, watch the video below.

stop 16 - 730 north bedford dr

On April 4, 1958, Lana Turner and her lover, gangster Johnny Stompanato, were quarreling when a knife was suddenly thrust into Johnny’s stomach, killing him. Did Lana do it in a fit of passion? Or did her daughter, Cheryl Crane, stab Stompanato defending her mother? Cheryl took the rap and spent time in juvenile hall, but a jury deemed the killing justifiable homicide and exonerated her. She went to work as the hostess for a local Hawaiian restaurant, The Luau, owned coincidentally by her father, actor Stephen Crane.

Review the evidence and decide for yourself by watching the video below.

You’re now headed toward legendary Rodeo Drive and the final leg of the tour. Although Rodeo once had an equestrian bridle path running down the middle, it’s name has nothing to do with horses. Spanish explorers called the region El Rodeo De Las Aguas (which means “gathering of the waters”) because several streams ran down from the canyons above and emptied into the area.

You can watch our video about the early settlers of Beverly Hills by clicking below.

stop 17 - 725 north rodeo dr

The home Gene Kelly bought with his first wife, Betsy Blair, became the weekend clubhouse for the MGM family of actors. Kelly, famous for his athletic ability and notorious competitiveness, would invite his friends over for touch football, volleyball, and charades. Evenings would conclude with sing-alongs at the piano attended by the likes of Judy Garland and Hoagy Carmichael. A tragic Christmas tree fire in 1983 destroyed the house and everything in it. Kelly built a new one exactly like the original and died there February 2, 1996.

stop 18 - 732 north rodeo dr

This is the final home of actress Lupe Vélez, nicknamed The Mexican Spitfire, and known for a succession of stormy, high-profile romances. She lived in this house with her husband, Tarzan actor and Olympian Johnny Weissmuller. Previously, she lived next door with actor Gary Cooper. When Cooper broke off their tempestuous relationship, it’s said Vélez followed him to the train station and fired a pistol at him. She died in this house by her own hand, pregnant and unmarried, on December 13, 1944.

stop 19 - 801 north rodeo dr

This Craftsman-style house was designed and built in 1914 for the first City Recorder, Judge Edwin Locke. In the late 1920s, it was home and office to Joseph P. Kennedy, father of future president John F. Kennedy. While in Hollywood, the senior Kennedy made some 80 films and had an affair with his business partner, actress Gloria Swanson. The home’s second owner, Edwin Blum, was a well-known screenwriter who wrote Stalag 17 with Billy Wilder. Blum was also a speechwriter for prominent Democrats. His family still lives here. This is Local Landmark No. 11 on the Beverly Hills Register of Historical Properties.

stop 20 - north rodeo drive

French singer and actor Maurice Chevalier, and later Hollywood legend Fred Astaire, lived in the house at 806 Rodeo before Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs purchased it. The house to the south, at 804 Rodeo, was once owned by child star Jackie Cooper. Across the street, 807 Rodeo was the residence of Barbara Stanwyck and Robert Taylor. Later, song-and-dance man George Murphy moved in before becoming the first actor elected to the U.S. Senate in 1964.

If you'd like to extend your walk, instead of returning to Will Rogers Park to the north, continue south on Rodeo and visit the commercial district between Santa Monica Boulevard and Wilshire, home to some of the most elegant stores and luxury brands in the world. Do movies stars shop there? Yes. But they come in the back and go upstairs. A guided tour of the area is available elsewhere on this website.

The role horses and race cars played in the early history of Beverly Hills.

RETURN TO WILL ROGERS PARK / END OF TOUR

The Beverly Hills Historical Society thanks you for joining us. We now return you to Will Rogers Park and encourage you to enjoy the wonderful plants and animals there. You will also find plaques situated around the fountain with QR codes that allow you to access five of our historic videos and a panorama of the legendary Beverly Hills Hotel on your smartphone or tablet.

“Beverly Hills: Then & Now”

“Rancho Days: Cowgirls & Indians”

“Who Was Will Rogers?”

“Beverly Hills: Birth of a City”

“Beverly Hills Hotel 1913 Panorama”

“Charlie Chaplin: Making Movies In Beverly Hills”

We hope you enjoy your visit to Beverly Hills.

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• The Beverly Hills Segway Tour

We're excited to share with you our most popular tour, the Beverly Hills Segway Tour. It's a tour that holds a special place in our hearts and we're sure it'll hold a special place in yours too! On this tour, you'll see the extravagance of Beverly Hills and learn fascinating history and backstories that even locals don't know. Glide safely and excitingly down the bustling avenues of the city on a Segway, and explore the fabled 90210, Beverly Hills' first neighborhood, with its manicured tree-lined lanes. We'll ride through the glittering shops of Rodeo Drive and gaze up at the towering glory of its great hotels and famous buildings. The Segway ride is fun, but it almost gets forgotten in the mesmerizing thrill of all that we see on this experience. Join us and discover why this is our most popular Segway Tour. All the details of your tour will be emailed directly to you after booking, so you can sit back, relax, and look forward to your upcoming adventure with us!

Approx. 2 Hours.

Tour Description

Experience the epitome of luxury and glamour on our renowned Beverly Hills Segway Tour, a journey that captures the essence of extravagance in the City of Angels. As the flagship tour of Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, it holds a cherished place in our hearts, offering a captivating blend of opulence, history, and insider stories that even locals find enthralling. Embark on an exhilarating adventure as you glide down the bustling avenues of Beverly Hills aboard your Segway, the epitome of modern transportation. Feel the pulse of the city beneath your feet as you effortlessly navigate its vibrant streets, soaking in the sights and sounds that define this iconic destination. Delve into the rich tapestry of Beverly Hills' past and present as our expert guides unveil fascinating tales and hidden anecdotes that breathe life into its storied streets. From the historic origins of the fabled 90210 neighborhood to the rise of Rodeo Drive as a global fashion mecca, each turn of your Segway reveals a new chapter in the city's captivating saga. Journey through the meticulously manicured tree-lined lanes that wind through Beverly Hills' exclusive neighborhoods, where stately mansions and elegant estates stand as testaments to its enduring allure. Marvel at the architectural splendor of its legendary hotels and iconic buildings, whose towering facades exude timeless elegance and prestige. But the true magic of our Beverly Hills Segway Tour lies not just in the destinations we visit, but in the immersive experience it offers. As you glide effortlessly through the city streets, the Segway becomes more than just a mode of transportation—it becomes a conduit for exploration and discovery, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in the mesmerizing tapestry of sights and sensations that define Beverly Hills. Join us on this unforgettable journey and discover for yourself why our Beverly Hills Segway Tour is the crown jewel of Los Angeles adventures. Book your experience today and prepare to be swept away on a whirlwind of excitement and enchantment. All the details of your tour will be seamlessly delivered to your inbox after booking, ensuring a hassle-free and unforgettable experience from start to finish.

Tour Details

$ 149.00 per guest.

TOUR LOCATION:

Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills Neighborhoods, Wilshire Blvd., The Golden Triangle, and More.

Offered Hourly and Daily, Upon Request.

Takes place in most weather conditions.

MEETING LOCATION:

Our office located at: 1080 S. La Cienega Blvd. #108 Los Angeles, CA 90035

Please contact us for any additional information at 1-323-968-6651 .

TOUR DURATION:

This is a semi-private tour with the option to upgrade to a private experience when booking.

# OF GUESTS:

Any group size can be accommodated. Solo travelers are welcome to join us. To confirm the tour, we need 2 guests signed up.

WHAT TO WEAR:

Comfortable clothing and shoes. Warm layers are suggested for the fall and winter months. Light gloves and a winter cap are also recommended when it is cold outside.

WHAT TO BRING:

Please bring yourself ready for an awesome time!

CANCELLATION POLICY:

No cancellations or refunds within 7 days of your tour date.

The Beverly Hills Segway Tour Includes:

• A safety briefing and segway training
• Beautiful avenues of Beverly Hills
• Robertson Boutiques
• Manicured tree-lined lanes of the fabled 90210 neighborhood
• Rodeo Drive
• Towering hotels such as the Beverly Wilshire Hotel
• Famous buildings like the Beverly Hills Hotel
• Spago Beverly Hills (Wolfgang Puck's renowned restaurant)
• The Ivy (celebrity hotspot known for its upscale dining)
• The Maybourne Beverly Hills(luxury hotel with stunning views and dining options)
• Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (cultural hub for theater and music)
• Beverly Gardens Park (lush green space perfect for a leisurely stroll)
• The Beverly Hills Sign and Pond
• Manicured tree-lined lanes of the fabled 90210
• The Academy of Motion Pictures
• The Beverly Wilshire Hotel
• The Golden Triangle
• Two Rodeo Shopping Mall
• Lumiere Music Hall
• And much much much more....

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Where did a Beverly Hills thief take $480,000 of diamond goods? A South Florida pawn shop

• Miami Herald

A thief who ripped off almost an estimated $2 million of goods from Brazilian guests at a high end Beverly Hills hotel brought two pieces of diamond jewelry appraised at $484,000 to a high end Aventura pawn shop.

Jobson Marangoni De Castro aka “Jobs Marangoni” got $50,000 from Diamond Banc Aventura, 19790 W. Dixie Hwy, on May 18 of last year. De Castro will also get federal prison time after pleading guilty in Los Angeles federal court last week to interstate transportation of stolen property.

Diamond Banc Aventura Market Director Xammany Vongratsamy directed Miami Herald questions about the purchase of stolen goods to Diamond Banc Vice President Kyle Cook. Cook didn’t return a phone message from the Herald.

As for the 38-year-old De Castro, his sentencing will occur after an April 30 evidentiary hearing on the property value.

Beverly Hills Thief

What follows comes from the criminal complaint:

On May 5, The couple whom De Castro victimized checked into room 222 at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, where the cheapest room for two adults runs $985. They planned a week-long stay around a May 9 fashion event.

De Castro at dinner at the hotel bar on May 9 and charged the meal to the couple’s room by writing the names of the man and woman on the receipt. He returned the next day at 5:55 p.m. in an Uber.

The FBI Special Agent who wrote the complaint said thieves and fraudsters often keep profiles of potential victims that include Social Security numbers, birthdates, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers and alien registration numbers.

This could give De Castro what he needed to fool a front desk clerk at The Peninsula when he “fraudulently claimed he was a guest staying in Room 222 and he had left his key and personal items in the room. After asking security questions, which De Castro was able to answer, the clerk gave De Castro a key to Room 222.”

With one of the couple napping in the room, De Castro left and came back at 8:16 p.m. A human-empty room greeted De Castro, who then emptied the room of six suitcases, five black Tumi suitcases and a silver Rimowa carry-on bag. He used an Uber to ferry himself and the suitcases away.

The original list of stolen property and estimated value Beverly Hills police received from the victimized couple put the suitcases alone at $6,000; a Flavia Vetorasso diamond necklace at $200,000; other jewelry at $300,000; a white Chanel dress with embroidered silk Jacquard at $14,900; and $285,000 of other clothes and shoes.

A more detailed  appraisal by Brazilian high-end jewelry designer Flavia Vetorasso Sciarra  placed the white gold multi-shape diamond necklas with 35.24 carat diamonds at $395,000 and the total value of all the stolen pieces at $1.479 million. The victim’s attorney turned over that as well as a Certificate of Origin from Swiss watchmaker Chopard and a Chopard retailer’s $89,400 appraisal for a white gold Chopard L’Heure du Diamantwatch.

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The total estimated value of the stolen property was $1,844,615.

‘Aventura’s Premier Jewelry Buyer & Lender’

De Castro arrived in Miami on May 12, and slid into the Instagram DMs of Diamond Banc Aventura, “ Aventura’s Premier Jewlery Buyer & Lender”  it brags on its website. De Castro dangled that he had a “40 ct” necklace to sell.

Six days later, on May 18, “De Castro...told Diamond Banc that he was in South Beach, that he wanted to sell the jewelry, and that he did not have papers because his mother passed away and he had found the necklace and watch in her safe box,” the complaint said.

De Castro said he was hoping to get “100k” for the necklace. Diamond Banc told him to bring the goods in for in-person inspection. Using the name “Jobs Marangoni,” De Castro showed up at Diamond Banc and was wired $50,000 later that day.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alexander S. Gorin.

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Justin Bieber Allegedly Staying At Beverly Hills Hotel After Fans Mock Hailey For Trying To Save Their Marriage

Hailey's attempts to challenge divorce rumors keep backfiring, especially after Justin was photographed at a hotel.

• Despite ongoing rumors and photo evidence, Hailey Bieber continues to face accusations surrounding her marriage to Justin.
• Fans speculate about Hailey's appearance at Coachella, questioning if it was staged, leading to more rumors about their relationship.
• Hailey addresses speculation on social media, dismissing false stories about her marriage to Justin, while maintaining their privacy.

Fans recently accused Hailey Bieber of trying desperately to challenge the rumors that her marriage to Justin is on the rocks. But amid new reports (and photo evidence) that the singer is living at a Beverly Hills hotel instead of their primary residence, it may be hard for Hailey to explain this one.

Justin Bieber's 10 Most Popular Songs, Ranked (According To Spotify)

Justin tried to avoid the paparazzi as he left a hotel.

Earlier this week, photographers captured Justin leaving the Melbourne Hotel, after grabbing something at their café. The pop star was dressed casually in oversized black pants, a grey hoodie, and a trucker hat. Justin sported an unshaven look and shaggy hair, while he offered the paparazzi a solemn look as he got into his vehicle.

Hailey was nowhere to be seen on Justin’s outing, though it remains unclear if the singer was a guest at the hotel and had spent the night, or if he was stopping by for another reason.

Hailey and Justin spent the weekend being lovey-dovey at the Coachella music festival, with footage of the couple enjoying the music went viral, as they continue facing divorce speculation.

How Much Does Justin Bieber Make Per Concert After Taxes And Expenses?

Why some fans think hailey's coachella appearance was suspicious.

However, some fans suggested the sweet moment between the couple was forced or staged, knowing that people would be observing them at the crowded festival. Some fans believed something was further amiss when Hailey was photographed in a baggy outfit backstage at Coachella .

Some people accused of her of imitating Justin’s infamously unkempt style, given how mismatched and oversized her look was, which is out of the normal for the model’s usually fitted and sexy outfits. "She’s starting to dress like Justin," one person wrote on a Reddit thread discussing Hailey’s Coachella look. Another said, "Her stylist hates her."

Others said, "Why did I think Justin was the one in the blue jacket??" A different comment read, "Wow. She had to try really hard to look that bad."

But others suggested the baggy look was strategic, accusing Hailey of hoping it would spark pregnancy rumors, like similar looks had in the past. In turn, this may helped quell theories about trouble in their marriage. However, it appeared to do the reverse, as fans accused Hailey of trying to do damage control.

"Now her fans going to say 'aww she’s wearing Justin’s baggy clothes, to cover her bump,'" one person wrote via Reddit, while another added, "Clearly not pregnant- her stomach looks totally flat!?"

Justin Bieber Attends Coachella Performance Solo And Hangs Out With Taylor Swift As His Marriage To Hailey Bieber Is Struggling

The rumors about Hailey and Justin’s marriage were intensified last month when her dad, Stephen Baldwin, made a plea on social media for fans to pray for the couple. "Christians, please when you think of Justin & Hailey, take a moment to offer a little prayer for them to have wisdom, protection and to draw close to the Lord," his message said.

Ultimately, Hailey went on to address the speculation without calling out her dad directly. "Just FYI the stories and constant ‘blind items’ I see on TikTok are 100% of the time wrong. Made out of thin air… come from the land of delusion,” she said on IG. "So I know it may be fun feeding into these stories but just know they’re always false xx sorry to spoil it."

For now, Hailey and Justin haven’t commented on the photos of him at the Beverly Hills hotel.

Celebrity-Backed Proto Puts Holograms in a Four Seasons Hotel

Justin Dawes , Skift

April 15th, 2024 at 4:26 PM EDT

At the very least, guests will remember the hotel where they talked to a hologram.

Justin Dawes

Guests at a Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills can now access in-room concierge via hologram.

The  Beverly Wilshire  hotel has placed hologram devices made by Proto in its  penthouse and presidential suites . That allows guests to converse with hotel staff as if they were face-to-face, except that staff are projected into the devices as holograms.

This is the first hotel that has placed this product inside of a room, but Proto CEO David Nussbaum wants this to be the first of many.

“Hospitality, I think, is going to be massive for us. And it’s because we can do a lot of things … from corporate meetings, to live concierge, to entertainment, and also live events,” Nussbaum said. 

“I think that this is going to lead to a lot of phone calls for us.”

The tabletop device, called M, is about 29 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and 8.5 inches deep. It works by capturing the subject with a camera or mobile camera connected to the device’s software. That video is projected in real time into the space behind the device’s screen, at a time that the guest designates. From there, the holographic staff member and the guest can see and hear each other.

The tech inside consists of a series of projections and evenly distributed LED lighting, meant to make the subject appear three-dimensional and lifelike. The software platform that operates the tech can be used to connect a network of the devices. 

The hologram can be a projection of a person in real time, or it can be a recording or a digital avatar.

Proto’s original hologram device, called The Epic, is seven feet tall and was released in 2021. 

Proto showcased the two devices in a social media video shown below.

Expanding in Hospitality 

Reed Kandalaft, general manager of Beverly Wilshire, said in a statement to Skift that the hotel is starting with the interaction capability, but it’s exploring other ways the devices could be used. 

That includes projecting guests to remote meetings, providing shopping options with luxury retailers on Rodeo Drive, hosting business speakers, and offering entertainment and fitness content.  

Nussbaum agrees that there are a lot of possibilities for what hotels can do — Hotel X Toronto recently placed a life-sized display in its lobby as a digital concierge — and Proto is allowing them to get creative. 

“People, they are loyal. And so when they go to a hotel and they have a great experience, they will come back … therefore bringing more revenue to the hotel,” said Nussbaum, who was recently the guest on an episode of the How I Built This podcast with Guy Raz . 

Nussbaum is also promoting it as a way that companies can save on business travel and reduce impact on the environment. 

“Beaming a person in having a keynote speech, and then beaming them out to their home in time for breakfast, is a whole lot better for the environment than flying a person to Australia,” he said.

Proto is not the only hologram device maker looking to expand into hospitality. The startup Holoconnects in 2023 installed a similarly looking hologram box to replace front desk workers at a new Aiden hotel in Denmark, part of a 30-hotel deal. 

A Celebrity-Backed Company  

Proto’s investors include Paris Hilton, America’s Got Talent judge Howie Mandel, musicians Quavo and Lil Wayne, and athletes Brittney Griner, Marshawn Lynch, Robert Griffin III, and Albert Pujols.

They also include Tesla and SpaceX investor Tim Draper and Uber investor Mike Walsh.

Founded in 2019, the company has completed a series A fundraising round for $12 million. The company now has an open convertible note — a loan that can be repaid with equity in the startup — with a plan that it will become a series B round, Nussbaum said.

Much of the company’s business so far has come from the entertainment industry and for marketing and advertising, including in airports, theme parks, and cruise ships. 

It has been featured at the Super Bowl and in promotions for H&M, T-Mobile, Netflix, and CBS, and more than 120 others. 

Qatar Airlines at the ITB travel convention last month displayed a hologram of the digital face that represents its new AI travel planner.

It’s also used by about 40 universities for remote teaching, Nussbaum said. The company just showcased its tech at an AARP convention as a way to combat loneliness and improve telehealth for the aging population. There are some large retailers looking at having the boxes in stores as a way to show 3-D examples of products.

Christie’s auction house in New York, another Proto investor, is using the device to project holograms of items for sale. A pre-recorded holographic Elton John was on display at the auction house in February as he was selling items from his house in Atlanta.

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Tags: four seasons , hologram , hotel tech , paris hilton , startups

Photo credit: Beverly Wilshires, a Four Seasons hotel, has installed Proto hologram devices in certain rooms. Proto

THE 10 BEST Moscow Tours & Excursions

Moscow tours.

• Private Tours
• Walking Tours
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3rd Transport Ring (TTK)
• District Central (TsAO)
• Garden Ring
• Boulevard Ring
• Good for Big Groups
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Couples
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Good for Kids
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Honeymoon spot
• Hidden Gems
• Adventurous
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Moscow Private Tours

2. Mosstreets

3. Moscow through the Eyes of an Engineer

4. Flotilla Radisson Royal

5. Moscow Free Tour

6. Spanish Guide Moscow - Day Tours

7. Bridge to Moscow

8. Go Russia Travel Company

10. City Pub Crawl Moscow

11. Privilege Tour

13. Trans-Siberian Railway Network

14. Moscow Navigator

15. Put-in Tours

16. Moscow River Boat Tours

17. Walks With Folks

18. Moskovskiye Gulyaki

19. Moscow Bike Tours

20. Real Russia

22. Happy Moscow Tours

23. Tour of Moscow - Day Tours

24. Kremlin Tour

25. Three Whales

26. Guia de Moscú

27. IdeaGuide - Your Personal Guide in Moscow

28. Tsar Visit

29. Excursions in Russia

30. Moscow Greeter

What travelers are saying

• The Red Arrow
• Put-in Tours
• Spanish Guide Moscow - Day Tours
• Walks With Folks
• Happy Moscow Tours
• IdeaGuide - Your Personal Guide in Moscow
• Moscow Private Tours
• Moscow Bike Tours
• Tour Gratis Moscu
• Moscow Free Tour
• YourLocalGuide Moscow
• Moscow Navigator
• Moscow through the Eyes of an Engineer
• Angel Taxi - Day Tour
• Your Moscow Guide & Driver
• Gulyayem po Moskve
• Tanksdriving
• PandaPark Fili
• Excursions in Russia
• Vadim Pavlov Guide and Driver in Moscow

• Guided tour

Moscow at Night: City Sightseeing Tour by Car/Bus

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When the Sun begins to set, the myriad lights and firefly-like cars buzzing around on the wide highways see Moscow burst into life. This unreal sight is best enjoyed from the height of the capital’s famous viewpoints, Moscow in the evening is truly, truly spectacular. We invite you with pleasure to see the magic of Moscow under the bright night lights!

On this tour, you can expect to see incredible views and the magical transformation sunset has on Moscow’s most iconic buildings, the highlights of which being:

• The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is a more solemn yet festive sight with its dimly lit lanterns.
• Basil's Cathedral’s fun and colourful onion domes give off the aura of a mysterious castle, growing out of the darkness of the imposing State Duma building nearby.
• The spectacularly illuminated Bolshoi Theatre and the Alexander Garden walkway, itself painted in a whimsical pattern of shadows.
• The legendary Lubyanka Square, steeped in secrecy; just its hearing its name after dark is enough to trigger goosebumps, given its murky past.
• The House on the Embankment, where old legends are revived and ghostly silhouettes lurk.
• The Russian State Library, where vague shadows have been seen flickering in its windows. Who knows, could this be the legendary bibliologist Rubakin protecting the works of literary art that lie within its walls?
• Incredible views from the height of the observation deck at Sparrow Hills. The candle-like skyscrapers of "Moscow-City" shoot into the night in a blaze of glorious light, all reflected back to the observer by the dark waters of the Moscow River. Lest not forget the blood-red fountains on Poklonnaya Hill! An absolutely fantastic spectacle which cannot be seen by day.

Our expert guides will share one thousand and one interesting stories about the aforementioned and other sights, whilst at the same time detailing the vast history of our beautiful capital, past and present.

Come with us and treat yourself to an unforgettable experience amongst the bright lights if Moscow!

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Meeting point We'll pick you up at your hotel

St. Basil's Cathedral

House on the Embankment

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Vorobyovy Hills

Poklonnaya Hill

Moscow-City

Alexander garden

Russian State Library

Bolshoi Theatre

End of the tour

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• Excursion Moscow at Night: City Sightseeing Tour by Car/Bus
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Moscow, city of fire and ice

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MOSCOW — Once I came to Moscow to cover an urban ballooning expedition. In winter. But when the balloonists came face to frigid, wind-lashed face with the winter here — well, we never got off the ground.

And so, as icy gales scoured the city, I strolled near the Moskva River until I faced a vast, low-hovering cloud, lighted from within, scented with chlorine and cigarettes. Occasionally, a near-naked Muscovite would emerge, dripping, and wander off to look for a towel and his pants.

This, I learned, was central Moscow’s only heated outdoor public swimming pool, full of sloshing Russians. Later, I heard it had once been the site of a church, and there were rumors of some kind of curse. But to me, in early 1990, with the Soviet Union on the verge of collapse and Moscow full of features that I couldn’t begin to understand, this one made me smile. I wanted to jump in — another idea that never got off the ground.

Then last winter, on my way to a pre-Olympics assignment in Sochi, Russia, I landed again in Moscow, pelted by snow, numbed by wind. It was different. It was better.

For a tourist, anyway. Moscow, draped in snow and twinkling with unevenly distributed material wealth, is an amazing spectacle, whether or not you came of age during the Cold War. Besides all the new money, the westward cultural tilt and the wacky theme restaurants that have turned up in post-Soviet days, the city remains rich with architecture and art that go back centuries. And the Muscovites are so good at winter! One afternoon I watched a woman in a fur hat cross an icy sidewalk, hop over a slushy gutter and hail a taxi with all the elegance of a figure skater on a freshly prepped rink.

This is not to say that Russia is easy in any season. Many travelers are repelled by the anti-gay “propaganda” law adopted by the country’s legislators in 2013. Others are wary of terrorism in the run-up to the Olympics. More on the law and terrorism at https://www.lat.ms/1hFpU3u .

Then there’s the red tape. In trip planning, I heard nyet so often that I had to visit San Francisco (to get my journalist visa in time from the Russian Consulate there) and Beverly Hills (because Aeroflot would let me change my ticket only if I came to its office).

And then, once you arrive, you confront some of Europe’s stiffest prices and a legion of cashiers and waiters who want nothing to do with your American Express card.

Still, if you go, wintry Moscow will open your eyes. Before I update you on the swimming pool (yes, I went back) and before the Olympics begin in Sochi on Friday (and run through Feb. 23), here are a few questions and answers about a city where no snow-making equipment has ever been necessary. As we go, bear in mind what my translator and guide, Svetlana Gaikovich, told me on our first day:

“Moscow is not Russia. Moscow is a small country within Russia. A showcase.”

Do I have to start in Red Square like every other tourist?

Yes. Stand out front and gawk at the domes and turrets and statues of St. Basil’s Cathedral, which dates to the 16th century. Pay for a tour behind the walls of the Kremlin next door, where three more cathedrals wait, including the 15th century Assumption Cathedral, whose interior — martyrs on the pillars, Christ on the iconostasis — makes St. Basil’s gaudy exterior look like a blank slate.

Across the square from the Kremlin you have GUM, an arcade-style, three-level, 1890s department store formerly run by the government. Now GUM is a retail fantasy land, privately owned since 2005 by a group led by the ubiquitous luxury retailer Bosco di Ciliegi.

Only an oligarch could pay the prices at the GUM Tiffany and Burberry shops, but that’s not so different from Fifth Avenue in New York. And the holiday lights and displays are about as remarkable. What you won’t find on Fifth Avenue is GUM’s Stolovaya 57, a bustling restaurant that mimics a 1957 Soviet factory cafeteria all the way down to its plates of “herring in a fur coat.” (That’s herring and potatoes with beets and carrots. Better than it sounds.)

If you can afford it, sleep in one of the new or redone hotels near the square. Since 2007, Ritz-Carlton has been on a site once dominated by a grim Intourist hotel. In late 2011, the Intercontinental Hotel Tverskaya replaced the former Minsk Hotel. The old Hotel Moskva, a landmark that was built in the 1930s and razed in about 2004, has been replaced by a new Hotel Moskva, run by Four Seasons, due to open in mid-2014.

I stayed at the Hotel Metropol, an Art Nouveau landmark built in 1901. Every day, heading down to fortify myself at the breakfast buffet, I passed pictures of previous guests such as Vladimir Lenin, George Bernard Shaw, Bertolt Brecht and Michael Jackson.

Why am I hearing Louis Armstrong?

That’s the sound of the Red Square winter skating rink, a block from the Metropol. “What a Wonderful World” was playing as I stepped up. In the center of the ice, a couple was kissing. (All this, by the way, is two snowball tosses from Lenin’s Mausoleum.)

But don’t do all your skating in Red Square. Head instead to Gorky Park, which is so much more than a 1981 detective novel by Martin Cruz Smith. It’s 300 acres along the river, redesigned in 2011 to banish that bedraggled-old-fairgrounds feeling. In winter there are ice sculptures, light displays, playfully decorated Georgian food huts, hockey games, art installations, wedding parties and mini-slopes for snowboarders. The skating rink and linked paths cover more than 4 acres. If there’s a better place to insinuate yourself among hordes of happy Russians, I haven’t found it yet.

Will they keep me warm?

No. Your warmest option in Moscow is the ornately appointed Sanduny Baths, the oldest bathhouse in the city, about a mile from Red Square, where I half-melted a pair of glasses. (It would have been wiser to leave them outside the sauna.)

Another option is an 18th century mansion now known as Café Pushkin. It used to be a pharmacist’s home and office. The upstairs “library” area, appointed with bookshelves, globes and waiters who hover, is where plutocrats break bread with politicians. My lunch there was the biggest splurge of my trip (almost $150 for two people), but the mushroom soup and salmon-stuffed dumplings were terrific.

You said something about art. It’s not all icons, is it?

Well, icons are basically all Russian artists did from the 11th to 18th centuries, so you’ll see plenty at the State Tretyakov Gallery, along with brilliant later portraits and landscapes. In the New Tretyakov, at a separate location, there’s a statue garden of cast-off Soviet heroes (many Lenins, one Brezhnev, no Stalins).

But the surprise, art-wise, is Red October, a bohemian neighborhood that has arisen since 2006 in a former Red October chocolate factory across the river from the Kremlin. Tenants include the Lumière Brothers Center for Photography (opened 2010); Red October Gallery (opened 2012); Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design; and several nightclubs and restaurants, including a hipster café called Produkti, whose tattooed and perforated patrons could slouch into any coffeehouse in Eagle Rock.

Look up. What’s that enormous metal thing rising over Red October and the river?

It’s a sculpture of Peter the Great, father of the Russian navy and czar of Russia from 1682 to 1725. It’s taller than the Statue of Liberty (more than 300 feet) and was unveiled in 1997. The nicest thing I can say is that it’s really big.

And across the river ... . Wait. What happened to the big, round pool?

Remember how we used to hear of Soviet big shots appearing and disappearing from official photos as their fortunes rose and fell? Well, before it ever held a swimming pool, that plot of land held the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, completed in 1883 to commemorate Russia’s resilience during Napoleon’s attack and retreat in the early 19th century. It was a central figure in the Moscow skyline, the exterior topped by five golden domes, the interior walls crowded with frescoes.

Then came the revolution. Russia’s atheist government blew up the cathedral on Dec. 5, 1931 — leveled it — and started laying plans to raise a statue of Vladimir Lenin 1,600 feet tall — big enough to make today’s Peter the Great look like a Disney dwarf.

But then came the Great Patriotic War (World War II), which killed more than 20 million Russians. By the time it was over, nobody was ready to put up a 1,600-foot Lenin. And so in 1958, that massive pre-construction hole in the ground was converted into a big, round swimming pool — the pool I saw in 1990.

The end. Right?

Wrong. In the early 1990s, as the Soviet Union was falling apart, church leaders started lobbying to have the pool filled in and the church rebuilt. Finally the government said yes. Donations poured in. Construction went up. By 2000 the cathedral was born again, 338 feet tall.

The snow was falling hard and fast when I arrived at the site last winter. I spent a minute outside, sniffing for chlorine, before stepping inside under the vibrant frescoes and those five golden domes.

Clearly, Russia’s leaders and the Russian Orthodox Church are getting along better these days. In fact, that’s why the women of Pussy Riot staged their protest/prayer/performance in this church on Feb. 21, 2012 — to decry Vladimir Putin’s power.

I’m staying out of that conversation. For a stranger who drops by every 24 years or so, the cathedral is striking enough as a 338-foot-high reminder of how far a society can shift in a single generation — and then shift again. Who can be sure what this real estate will stand for, spiritually, culturally, politically, in another generation?

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