Fairmont Century Plaza
Product brand
UnclaimedA landmark luxury hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, originally opened as the Century Plaza Hotel in 1966 and relaunched as Fairmont Century Plaza in 2021.
Last updated August 22, 2026
Overview
Fairmont Century Plaza is a 19-story luxury hotel on Avenue of the Stars in Century City, Los Angeles. The property was conceived as the centerpiece of Century City, a large-scale “city within a city” developed on land formerly associated with 20th Century Fox. Designed by architect Minoru Yamasaki, the original hotel opened in 1966 with 750 rooms and a distinctive curved façade. At opening it was the tallest building in Century City and was notable for having color televisions in every guest room, an advanced amenity for the period. The hotel was initially operated by Western International Hotels, the company that later became Westin Hotels. Its opening celebrations established the property as a major Los Angeles venue for entertainment, political, diplomatic, and corporate events. A 1966 charity gala featured Bob Hope and Andy Williams and was attended by Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Walt and Lillian Disney. The hotel subsequently hosted prominent public figures and events, including a 1967 Democratic fundraiser attended by President Lyndon Johnson, the 1969 state dinner at which President Richard Nixon honored the Apollo 11 astronauts, the 1967 Emmy Awards, and the 1970 and 1971 Grammy Awards. A 322-room southern tower was added in 1984, bringing the combined hotel complex to 1,072 rooms. Ronald Reagan was arranged as the first guest of the new tower in December 1984, and his frequent stays led the media to refer to the building as the “Western White House.” The tower was later operated as The St. Regis Los Angeles before being sold and ultimately demolished for the Century condominium development. The hotel itself changed management in 2006, when Hyatt took over from Westin and renamed it Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, although the historic Century Plaza sign remained above the entrance. Ownership and redevelopment proposals shaped the property during the 2000s. Sunstone Hotel Investors acquired the hotel in 2005 and invested in guest-room and public-area improvements. After the property was sold to Next Century Associates in 2008, a proposal was announced to demolish the hotel and replace it with high-rise towers. Preservation advocates opposed the plan, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation listed the hotel among America’s most endangered historic places in 2009. In 2010, the developer announced a revised plan that retained and renovated the historic hotel rather than replacing it. The hotel closed on March 1, 2016, for a major redevelopment. The completed project retained and rebuilt the original hotel while adding two residential towers behind it. The hotel component was reduced from 726 rooms to 400 substantially larger guest rooms, with 63 condominiums incorporated into the restored building; the two new residential towers contain 268 additional condominiums. The redesigned complex involved Pei Cobb Freed, Gensler, and Marmol Radziner. The property reopened on September 27, 2021, under the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts flag as Fairmont Century Plaza. Today, Fairmont Century Plaza combines luxury accommodation, dining, meeting facilities, ballrooms, and event spaces with a strong heritage identity. It has hosted major entertainment-industry gatherings, including the Academy Awards Nominees lunch, Critics Choice Awards, and Producers Guild Awards in early 2022. The hotel joined Historic Hotels of America in 2022. Its legacy also extends into popular culture: the building appeared in the 1980 film 9 to 5 and has been represented in video games including Midnight Club: Los Angeles and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
History
Fairmont Century Plaza originated in the development of Century City on approximately 180 acres that 20th Century Fox sold after a period of costly film failures. Developer William Zeckendorf and Alcoa helped establish the site as a planned business and residential district promoted as a “city within a city.” The Century Plaza Hotel was selected as the development’s visual and hospitality centerpiece. Designed by Minoru Yamasaki, the 19-story, arc-shaped hotel began operating in 1966 with 750 rooms. It was the tallest building in Century City at the time and offered views toward the Pacific Ocean. The hotel also promoted color television in every guest room, an unusual feature during the 1960s. Its doormen wore red Beefeater-style costumes, contributing to the property’s recognizable public image. Western International Hotels managed the hotel from its opening and later changed its name to Westin Hotels. The operation included a large housekeeping department led by hospitality director Georgina Tucker. From its first year, the property served as a venue for high-profile civic, political, entertainment, and diplomatic events. Its opening charity gala was hosted by Bob Hope and included performances by Hope and Andy Williams, with Ronald and Nancy Reagan and Walt and Lillian Disney among the guests. In 1967, a Democratic fundraiser for President Lyndon Johnson became the setting for a confrontation between police and anti-Vietnam War demonstrators outside the hotel. President Richard Nixon held a state dinner there in August 1969 to honor the Apollo 11 astronauts after the first Moon landing. The hotel also hosted the 1967 Emmy Awards and the Grammy Awards in 1970 and 1971. The complex expanded in 1984 with a 322-room tower along Olympic Boulevard, taking total capacity to 1,072 rooms. Ronald Reagan was the first guest of the new tower by arrangement, and his repeated stays while president led journalists to nickname it the “Western White House.” In 1999, the tower’s penthouse was rededicated as the Ronald Reagan Suite. After Westin’s corporate ownership changed, the tower became a separate St. Regis-branded hotel in 2000. It was sold in 2005, closed for residential conversion, and eventually demolished because its older floor-to-ceiling heights were unsuitable for the intended condominium project. The Century condominium towers later occupied that portion of the site. The original hotel was sold by Sunstone Hotel Investors in 2008 to Next Century Associates. Sunstone had purchased the property in 2005 and reportedly spent on guest-room and common-area upgrades before the sale. A proposal announced in December 2008 called for demolition of the hotel and construction of two 50-story towers. Preservation groups objected, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the Century Plaza Hotel on its 2009 list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places. In February 2010, the developer changed course and proposed preserving and renovating the historic building while incorporating residential uses. The hotel closed in 2016 for a comprehensive redevelopment. The finished scheme retained the original hotel, rebuilt its interiors and guest rooms, and constructed Century Plaza North Tower and Century Plaza South Tower behind it. The new residential buildings were designed by Pei Cobb Freed, Gensler, and Marmol Radziner and contain 268 condominiums. The reconstructed hotel has 400 larger guest rooms and 63 condominiums within the retained building. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts became the operating brand, and the property reopened as Fairmont Century Plaza on September 27, 2021. The reopened hotel continues the site’s role as a luxury hospitality and events destination. In early 2022 it hosted the Academy Awards Nominees lunch, the Critics Choice Awards, and the Producers Guild Awards honoring George Lucas. Its cultural profile is reinforced by appearances in the film 9 to 5 and in video-game settings. In 2022, the property was recognized by admission to Historic Hotels of America. A Century City station for the Los Angeles Metro D Line was planned nearby for 2026, potentially improving transit access to the district.
- 2022
Inducted into Historic Hotels of America
[1]The restored property joined Historic Hotels of America, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program.
- 2021
Reopens as Fairmont Century Plaza
[1]The property reopened on September 27 with 400 hotel rooms and the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts operating brand.
- 2016
Hotel closes for redevelopment
[1]The hotel shut on March 1 for a large-scale project retaining the historic building and adding two residential towers.
- 2009
Listed among America’s most endangered historic places
[1]The National Trust for Historic Preservation recognized the hotel as one of the country’s most endangered historic places amid demolition proposals.
- 2006
Hotel management changes to Hyatt
[1]After four decades under Westin management, the property became Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
- 1984
Southern tower added
[1]A 322-room tower expanded the complex to 1,072 rooms and later became associated with Ronald Reagan’s frequent stays.
- 1967
Antiwar demonstration surrounds presidential fundraiser
[1]Police clashed with anti-Vietnam War demonstrators while President Lyndon Johnson attended a Democratic fundraiser at the hotel.
- 1966
Century Plaza Hotel opens
[1]The Minoru Yamasaki-designed 19-story hotel opened with 750 rooms and became the tallest building in Century City.
- 1961
Century City development begins
[1]William Zeckendorf and Alcoa acquired approximately 180 acres from 20th Century Fox for the development of Century City, with the future hotel planned as its centerpiece.
Products and positioning
Landmark urban luxury hotel combining high-end accommodation, large-scale event facilities, and mid-century Los Angeles architectural heritage.
Luxury accommodation · 2021
Guest rooms and suites
The reopened hotel provides approximately 400 substantially enlarged guest rooms and suites in the restored Century Plaza building. The accommodation offering combines contemporary luxury interiors with the property’s mid-century architectural identity and its location in Century City.
Hospitality and events · 1966
Meetings, ballrooms, and events
The hotel’s ballrooms and meeting facilities support conferences, galas, awards programs, political gatherings, weddings, and other large social events. The Los Angeles Ballroom has been a recurring venue for nationally prominent entertainment and civic occasions since the hotel opened.
Food and beverage · 1966
Dining and bar services
Food-and-beverage operations form part of the hotel’s full-service luxury proposition, serving resident guests, local visitors, and event attendees. Specific current restaurant names and concepts are not established in the supplied reference material.
Wellness · 2021
Spa and wellness services
Wellness services are part of the contemporary Fairmont Century Plaza hospitality offer. The supplied references do not provide enough detail to identify individual treatments, facilities, or launch dates.
Brand decisions
2021
Property relaunches under FairmontStrategyBackground
The hotel had closed in 2016 for a comprehensive renovation and reconstruction after its previous Hyatt operation ended.
Action taken
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts became the operating brand and reopened the property as Fairmont Century Plaza on September 27, 2021.
Aftermath
The property returned to the Los Angeles luxury-hotel market with 400 larger guest rooms and a renewed emphasis on heritage, events, and premium hospitality.
2010
Preservation-led redevelopment replaces demolition planStrategyBackground
After a 2008 proposal to demolish the hotel and replace it with two 50-story towers, preservation advocates and historic-site organizations challenged the plan.
Action taken
The developer announced a revised approach to renovate and retain the historic hotel building while adding residential development to the site.
Aftermath
The revised strategy ultimately led to the 2016–2021 redevelopment, including the restored hotel and two residential towers behind it.
Recent events
- 2022
Fairmont Century Plaza joins Historic Hotels of America[1]
Other
The restored hotel was inducted into Historic Hotels of America, a National Trust for Historic Preservation program recognizing historically significant hotels.
- 2021
Fairmont Century Plaza reopens in Los Angeles[1]
Product launch
Following a multiyear renovation and reconstruction, the property reopened on September 27, 2021, under the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand.
- 2016
Century Plaza Hotel closes for redevelopment[1]
Other
The hotel closed on March 1, 2016, to begin a major redevelopment that retained the original structure while adding residential towers behind it.
Sources1 sources
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