The Élan Hotel was ranked as the number 4 hotel in Los Angeles  by Trip Advisor!

The Inn at Union Square was ranked as the number 4 hotel in San Francisco by Trip Advisor!

Thank you to our valued guests for their continuous support and positive feedback on Trip Advisor. We hope that you continue to experience exceptional service at the Élan Hotel, the Inn at Union Square and all of our other west coast properties.

Entry will run from April 18th to May 31st, and our winners will be selected June 15th. Enter to win here!

Where would you like to go? Win two nights in:

Bend, Oregon at the…

• TownePlace Suites and whitewater rafting for two
• Fairfield Inn and Suites and whitewater rafting for two

San Francisco, California at the…

• Inn at Union Square and two tickets to the symphony
• King George Hotel and two tickets to American Conservatory Theater
• Hotel Griffon and two Giants baseball tickets

Palo Alto, California at the…

• Creekside Inn and  tickets for two  to the Winchester Mystery House

Los Angles, California at the…

• • The Hotel Wilshire and dinner for two at the Roof on Wilshire
  • Élan Hotel and massage therapy treatment for two

San Diego, California at the…

• • Best Western Seven Seas plus two Padres baseball tickets
  • Bristol Hotel and two San Diego Zoo tickets and Trolley passes

Find out more about each of the Greystone prizes:

Win Two Nights in Bend, Oregon
Explore the beauty of Bend, Oregon, where the outdoor activities are endless. Enter to win a stay at either of our two centrally-located hotels in Bend, Oregon, both located near the historic Old Mill District and Downtown Bend, an area that offers plenty of things to do and see.

• If you choose two nights at the TownePlace Suites…

You’ll experience the adrenaline rush of a lifetime while rafting the whitewater rapids of the Deschutes River Oregon, and you can bring someone along for the exciting ride! After a long day, relax in comfort at our all-suite hotel or meander through the beautiful township of Bend.

• If you choose two nights at the Fairfield Inn and Suites…

An exciting ride on the whitewater rapids of the Deschutes River awaits you and a friend, along with complimentary breakfast, wireless internet, and comfortable accommodations for two nights.

Win Two Nights in San Francisco, California
You will not run out of incredible attractions to explore and things to do while spending a vacation in  beautiful and exciting San Francisco, including  riding the iconic  cable cars, visiting Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, the Embarcadero and enjoying world class shopping and dining.

• If you choose two nights at the Inn at Union Square…

You’ll enjoy the classic San Francisco experience with two tickets to the San Francisco symphony, along with elegant accommodations and a location just steps away from Union Square.

• If you choose two nights at the King George Hotel…

Two tickets to ACT Theatre and exceptional service are sure to make your stay in San Francisco, near Union Square an entertaining one!

• If you choose two nights at the Hotel Griffon…

You will be sure to have a great sports getaway. Win two Giants Baseball tickets and a two evening stay at our hotel voted “Best Boutique Hotel” by gayot.com and “Best 24 Hour Getaway” by San Francisco Magazine. The Hotel is walking distance to AT&T Park as well as many other fun activities along the Embarcadero!

Win Two Nights in Palo Alto, California
Only minutes from Stanford University, University Avenue  and  a short drive from San Francisco , Palo Alto offers a variety of exciting activities and attractions, whether it be for the shopper, sightseer, or nature lover.

• If you choose two nights at the Creekside Inn…

You are sure to experience some paranormal activity when wandering through this historic mansion, the Winchester Mystery House. Win two tickets to tour the estate, and afterwards relax at our charming boutique hotel nestled within manicured gardens. Take advantage of the heated swimming pool, work out facility or rent a bike and enjoy one of the many scenic bike routes in the area.

Win Two Nights in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, an eclectic, vibrant city that is full of exciting things to do and see! Win a two night stay at either the Élan Hotel or The Hotel Wilshire, two boutique hotels with exceptional accommodations and services. Enjoy a perfect getaway for two on us!

• If you choose two nights at The Hotel Wilshire…

Experience a delicious dinner for two at the Roof on Wilshire, Hotel Wilshire’s innovative rooftop restaurant that offers panoramic views of Los Angeles. After enjoying your rooftop experience, retreat to your modern and luxurious guestroom, yours to enjoy during your two night stay.

• If you choose two nights at the Élan Hotel…

Rejuvenate with a massage therapy treatment package for two, after which you can enjoy the contemporary yet inviting atmosphere of your hotel room for your two night stay in West Hollywood. This is sure to be a vacation full of pampering, shopping, dining and fun!

Win Two Nights in San Diego, California
With warm beaches, exciting activities to suit every   traveler, and renowned attractions, your trip to San Diego is sure to be an enjoyable one. Our hotels are located conveniently within minutes from destinations such as the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Old Town San Diego and the Gaslamp District, and so much more. Explore sunny San Diego!

• If you choose two nights at the Best Western Seven Seas…

You can show your support for the Padres, San Diego’s beloved baseball team! Afterwards, celebrate the win in comfort, enjoying the pool, outdoor Jacuzzi’s, the restaurant and bar along with complimentary WiFi, parking, and more during your two nights at the Best Western Seven Seas.

• If you choose two nights at the Bristol Hotel…

You are sure to have a wild time with two tickets to the San Diego Zoo and Trolley Passes to explore the city. After this city-wide safari, head back to the sophisticated, boutique Bristol Hotel, conveniently located just steps from the harbor, SeaPort Village and San Diego’s urban dining and entertainment Mecca, the Gaslamp Quarter, where you will spend two nights in contemporary, relaxing comfort.

And that’s not all! Sign up to win and tweet about it for a second entry! You’ll receive the details of exactly what to tweet upon entering.

Enter to win here!

The article on http://www.foxnews.com/travel/2012/03/16/top-10-new-us-hotels-132760398/ describes picking the top 10 hotels as challenging, saying, quote,

“It’s inevitable: every year, New York races in ahead of the pack with the most new hotel openings. This year its offerings were even greater than usual, so choosing was especially difficult. After picking a pair of New York hotel openings, we spread out across the country to round out our list with a balance of tried-and-true luxury hotel groups, trendy new hotel brands and notable independents and boutiques. While quality is our number-one criterion, we’re also interested in originality, whether it’s in the form of amenities (skateboards) or design (a high-rise “wave”).”

The Hotel Wilshire was acknowledged for its breathtaking views, rooftop bar, restaurant and pool, as well as for its chic modern rooms and green efforts-

“There was a time when having drinks with a view meant schlepping to one of the overcrowded, overpriced hotels on the Sunset Strip. But that changed with the arrival of The Hotel Wilshire. Set on the Wilshire Corridor between Beverly Hills and downtown L.A., this LEED-certified property does its competitors one better by boasting views of the city skyline and the Hollywood Hills from its rooftop bar. This perch is also where guests will find The Roof on Wilshire, with a menu of innovative American cuisine by chef Eric Greenspan. The pool is up here too, an intimate retreat with cabanas done in a relaxed yellow-and-taupe color scheme that extends to the 74 guest rooms and multi-media suites below. As for our accommodation of choice, it’s the Penthouse Suite with — you guessed it — amazing views.”

For more information on The Hotel Wilshire and to book a room, please visit www.hotelwilshire.com.

Congratulations to the General Manager, Julio Ongpin and his team at the Fairfield Inn & Suites!

We know that people like to host their own award-watching parties, sometimes complete with an evening gown and black tie dress code and red carpet entrance. For those attending a viewing party, we have created some fun Oscars Bingo boards to pass out to your friends as you watch the show. Follow the Oscars television coverage closely and look for the action items highlighted on the bingo boards.

We hope you have fun with our Oscars Bingo boards and watching the Academy Awards on February 26th! Print out all six boards, and one blank board.

As for the Oscars, here are just some of the notable nominees:

Best Picture: The Artists, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse

Actor in a Leading Role: Demian Bichir, George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt

Actress in a Leading Role: Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams

Directing: The Artist, The Descendants, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, The Tree of Life.

We at Greystone Hotels believe the combination of her prior hospitality experience, management ability, people skills, energy and enthusiasm will play a key role in the future success of the Hotel Wilshire and we are thrilled to welcome Debra Matsumoto as one of our team!

The Hotel Wilshire is a stylish 74-room boutique hotel designed as a LEED property by the award-winning Killefer-Flammang Architects. The fresh and contemporary, eco-friendly boutique hotel includes a rooftop pool and a bar and restaurant counterpart: The Roof on Wilshire. Matsumoto is the inaugural General Manager of the property, and as such she oversees daily hotel operational duties for the property.

In her most-recent past role, Matsumoto had been a Director of Sales and Marketing for JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot. There, through her expertise, strategically sound, creative and resourceful plans and long-standing relationships with group, transient and catering guests, she grew occupancy, ADR and REV/PAR an average of 10 percent annually and assisted the GM with many operational responsibilities on a daily basis.

Matsumoto joined Le Merigot in 1999 during the hotel’s opening year as Director of Catering and Special Events, where her background in the culinary arts benefitted clients on a daily basis. Prior to joining Le Merigot, Matsumoto was Assistant Director of Catering for Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel.

Matsumoto is a Certified Meeting Professional, member of Meeting Planners International, PROST and the Hotel Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI). She served on the board of Paralysis Project of America for almost twenty years before it disbanded this year and currently is involved with the Santa Monica Symphony as an active board member as well as the Santa Monica High School Choral Committee . She resides in Los Angeles with her husband Chris Matsumoto, son Jamie and her dog Talulah. When not at the hotel you can find Matsumoto spending time with her family, including stepsons Michael and Matthew, cooking, taking yoga, fine dining, attending cultural events and playing tennis.

This January 15th we will be celebrating the 69th annual Golden Globes Awards. Watch as the top television and film celebrities strut the red carpet and receive awards for their year of work in the entertainment industry.
We have pieced together four different Golden Globe Bingo boards (plus a blank one) for you to print out and play with as you watch the Golden Globes coverage with friends. The rules are quite simple:

Golden Globe Bingo rules
If you spot your celebrity during the television coverage, mark an “X” over the corresponding square on your Bingo board. Connect five squares in a row before the rest of your friends and win Golden Globe Bingo.

Choose to start the game during the red carpet walk or opt to start the competition as soon as the award ceremony show officially starts, it’s up to you! Some of the squares on the Golden Globe Bingo boards are intentionally left blank for you to fill in your own celebrities that you think will make an appearance quickly.

Have fun with our game, and enjoy the Golden Globes on NBC!

Download your Golden Globe Bingo game boards

Greg Rizzi was recently appointed General Manager of the Bristol Hotel on December 1, 2011. Immediately prior to that appointment, from March until October 2011, Greg was in Los Angeles and was responsible for the pre-opening and opening of the new Hotel Wilshire. Greg started his hospitality career working for Loew’s Hotel Corporation holding several Corporate and Front Office Manager positions at the City Squire Hotel and Paradise Island Hotel and Villas, eventually holding the position of Rooms Division Manager at the 1842 room, Americana hotel. After that, Greg joined Realty Hotels as Resident Manager and Director of Reservations for The Biltmore, Roosevelt, Commodore and Barclay Hotels in New York City. In 1982, Greg moved West, and held the General Manager positions at the Grand Hotel in Anaheim, The Seven Seas Lodge in San Diego, the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, the Inn by the Sea, the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club and the La Jolla Shores Hotel.

The Bristol Hotel is thrilled to have him join the team!

And now Arlene! We are so excited to have Arlene join us in the Sales Office!

Arlene Laucis began her role at the Bristol Hotel earlier in November, as the property’s new Senior Sales Manager. Arlene brings a wealth of Hotel Sales experience gained at Radisson, Hilton, and Starwood chains, and she has had some noteworthy experiences at the Pala Resort and Casino and the Grand Wailea Resort and Spa in Hawaii. She most recently joins us from the Porto Vista Hotel in San Diego, CA and she joins Madelyn Giuseppini in the Sales Office.

Greystone Hotels would like to welcome Greg & Arlene to the family, and we encourage you to give them a call when you plan your next visit to The Bristol Hotel San Diego!

This dynamic group of businesspeople was started in 2008 with the vision of bringing Jewish businesses and professionals from all over Los Angeles County together to help grow local businesses, create jobs, and to help the Los Angeles Jewish community and culture to thrive. This past October, the Élan Hotel played host to the Los Angeles Jewish Chamber of Commerce for an after-work networking mixer. The event brought together a large group of professionals representing a variety of businesses throughout Los Angeles County.  They are a very active group focusing on expanding business awareness, networking/employment opportunities, as well as stressing the importance of business education with monthly meetings and seminars.

The Élan Hotel was honored that the Chamber chose to have their event at our hotel. Jeff Gurman, the President of the LA Jewish Chamber, described the Élan as, “…a beautiful location for one of our mixers and a great little boutique hotel, nestled in the perfect location for any family member coming into town.” We are honored that the group was able to have a successful mixer with us at our hotel, and are glad to have forged the relationship with other local business owners. We appreciated the opportunity to host the group for a successful mixer and we look forward to pairing up in 2012.

The President of Greystone Hotels, Eric Horodas, flew into Los Angeles to join the festivities. Also in attendance was the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Greystone, Jennifer Langham, the General Manager of the Élan Hotel, Joel Majors, and the Élan Hotel’s Director of Sales, Bette Bloom.  We look forward to participation in their events in the upcoming 2012 calendar year!