Mondrian Los Angeles Unveils Sleek New Look and Public Spaces

LOS ANGELES, March 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A fixture on the Sunset Strip since the day it opened, Morgans Hotel Group unveiled the latest transformation of its celebrated Mondrian Los Angeles property with the introduction of three new public spaces this month including new poolside cabanas, a lobby bar and café, and specialty curated lifestyle shop, BASE. Originally designed by the visionary Phillipe Starck in 1996, with recent design updates by the acclaimed Benjamin Noriega Ortiz in 2008, this month Mondrian Los Angeles also completed a chic remodel of the hotel's lobby and celebrated nightlife destination, Skybar, achieving the perfect balance of glamour and serenity.

"As the flagship hotel for the Mondrian brand, we were excited to bring in some fresh design updates, while complementing the original aesthetic and honoring the vision of Phillipe Starck and Benjamin Noriega Ortiz. To revitalize the property's signature style, we looked to create a whimsical yet sophisticated environment, drawing inspiration from California's serene coastal landscapes and the Sunset Strip's glamorous and electrifying atmosphere," said Verena Haller, Senior Vice President of Design, Morgans Hotel Group.

Just in time for spring, guests will experience new public spaces and enhancements to the following areas:

Lobby - Entering Mondrian through its signature thirty-foot mahogany doors, guests are bathed in light as they experience the newly expanded hotel lobby. By relocating the hotel's front desk, Morgans Hotel Group's in-house design team created an extended lounge area for guests, styling the space with custom-designed furniture. Keeping with the warm marigold palette, accented with hues of purple, the new lobby seating complements iconic original design elements including the Lucite indoor swing and mushroom-inspired concierge desk.

Lobby Bar - A new indoor cocktail oasis adjacent to Asia de Cuba, Lobby Bar offers guests and locals a place to mix and mingle over signature cocktails and delectable bites. The clean, simple design of the new Lobby Bar features sleek lacquered white cabinets in the daytime, which transform into a polished bronze mirror at night, creating a jewel box-like effect. The striking white stone bar completes the fresh, streamlined look, which is offset by a cozy seating nook dressed in purple to evoke the California sunset. Lobby bar serves a full espresso, tea and cafe menu during the day, and a menu of small plates in the evening. Guests at Lobby Bar can also order items off of the Asia de Cuba menu.  

BASE - Also extending from the lobby is the hotel's newest shopping haven, BASE Mondrian; the first southern California outpost of the artfully-curated lifestyle shop. With an eye on the needs of the savvy traveler, BASE has gained international acclaim for its refined selections of limited-edition clothing, footwear, beauty products, accessories and whimsical gift items, now available to Angelenos and visitors alike. BASE features a wide selection of locally and internationally sourced products, ranging from Loyal Dean's beautiful hand-crafted skateboards to downtown LA-based Apolis apparel and accessories, made with a laudable consideration for its suppliers and materials. Things you might have forgotten to pack or suddenly need, like the toothbrush or last-minute simple white tee when you've run out of clean laundry, sit alongside an eclectic mix of desirable items and accessories including: exquisite jewelry from renowned Italian designers Iosselliani; men's accessories from Miami-based Miansai; Ray-Ban and Retro Super Future sunglasses; Porter bags from Japan; women's clothing by Zoe Karssen; Knomadik urban sportswear from LA-based Australian designer Daniel Patrick, just to name a few.

Cabanas - Featuring beautiful maple wood floors, crisp white furniture and fully retractable doors, the airy new cabanas at Mondrian offer a unique convertible event space designed to accommodate a wide range of meetings, events, dinners and personal poolside entertaining. Outfitted with comfortable seating for large groups, the sun-drenched cabanas extend seamlessly into Mondrian Los Angeles' outdoor living room and pool area. White, cream and brown hues define the space, creating a soothing retreat by day, while colored recessed lighting creates a serene and seductive setting by night.

Skybar - As the final phase of Mondrian Los Angeles' renovation, Morgans Hotel Group's design team looked to Skybar, the hotel's poolside lounge that has been the spot for the hottest nightlife from the day it opened in 1996. Skybar's newly re-imagined design brings a fresh approach to this iconic space. Boasting some of the finest views of Los Angeles, Skybar is an open-air, ivy-covered pavilion perched above the pool at Mondrian Los Angeles. Appearing to almost float in the clouds, the color scheme at Skybar remains fresh and simple, dominated by shades of white and playful hints of yellow, with a wall of strawberry plants adorning the space. The Skybar hut features colorful African patterns, new natural teak furniture and metal lanterns. A chic poolside lounge by day, Skybar provides an idyllic oasis to take in the sun and enjoy impeccably fresh cocktails. When the sun sets, the pulse of Skybar beats even louder, stirring a seductive energy, aroused by world-class DJ's and Hollywood glamour. The bar serves designer cocktails and a special sharing bar menu.

This year Mondrian Los Angeles will also introduce a series of special events and promotions to complement the property updates, including High Kicks, a VIP networking series; Champagne and Caviar, a monthly private invite-only night in Skybar's renewed space; Uncorked, a bi-weekly wine tasting event in Asia De Cuba's Arbor and exclusive Wine Dinners that include cocktails in the penthouse and a 5-course meal prepared by Executive Chef Chang Sivilay.

Mondrian is Morgans Hotel Group's lifestyle brand that introduced the idea of the hotel as a social experience, and is renowned for a high concept design aesthetic that fosters social engagement and public exchanges of culture, fashion and art. In addition to Mondrian Los Angeles, Morgans Hotel Group currently has Mondrian-branded properties in New York and South Beach, as well as projects under development in London, England; Istanbul, Turkey; Doha, Qatar and Nassau, The Bahamas.

For more information, visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.

ABOUT MORGANS HOTEL GROUP
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) is widely credited as the creator of the first "boutique" hotel and a continuing leader of the hotel industry's boutique sector. Morgans Hotel Group operates Delano in South Beach and Marrakech, Mondrian in Los Angeles, South Beach and New York, Hudson in New York, Morgans and Royalton in New York, Shore Club in South Beach, Clift in San Francisco, Ames in Boston, Sanderson and St Martins Lane in London, and a hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Morgans Hotel Group has ownership interests or owns several of these hotels. Morgans Hotel Group has other property transactions in various stages of completion, including Delano properties in Las Vegas, Nevada; Cesme, Turkey and Moscow, Russia; Mondrian properties in London, England; Istanbul, Turkey; Doha, Qatar and Nassau, The Bahamas; and a Hudson in London, England. Morgans Hotel Group also owns a 90% controlling interest in The Light Group, a leading lifestyle food and beverage company. For more information please visit www.morganshotelgroup.com.

PEBBLEBROOK HOTEL TRUST
Pebblebrook Hotel Trust is a publicly traded real estate investment trust ("REIT") organized to opportunistically acquire and invest primarily in upper upscale, full-service hotels located in urban markets in major gateway cities. The Company owns 26 hotels, including 20 wholly owned hotels with a total of 4,952 guest rooms and a 49% joint venture interest in six hotels with a total of 1,733 guest rooms. The Company owns, or has an ownership interest in, hotels located in ten states and the District of Columbia, including 16 markets: Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; San Francisco, California; Santa Monica, California; West Hollywood, California; Miami, Florida; Buckhead, Georgia; Bethesda, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Minneapolis, Minnesota; New York, New York; Portland, Oregon; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Columbia River Gorge, Washington; Seattle, Washington; and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.pebblebrookhotels.com.

SOURCE Morgans Hotel Group Co.