Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Appoints Vanessa Williams to General Manager

USA, Beverly Hills, California. January 29, 2019

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills continues to lead the luxury hotel sector in Southern California with today's announcement of the promotion of Vanessa Williams to general manager.

With decades of global luxury hotel leadership and a specialty in leading key marketing campaigns, Williams is the ideal person to oversee the overall operations of this award-winning property. Williams, whose career includes over five years of spearheading business development and sales and marketing campaigns within the Hilton organization's luxury and lifestyle brands, particularly Waldorf Astoria and Conrad brands, has served as the director of sales and marketing at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills since before the hotel's opening in June 2017.

Vanessa Williams is the second woman to be elevated to GM in one of Oasis West Realty's legendary luxury hotels, following Sandy Murphy's appointment to helm the iconic Beverly Hilton hotel, and is the first female GM at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

"Vanessa has been at the forefront of property operations since before the Beverly Hills opening and has been instrumental in our accomplishments. Not only did she expertly position and drive the commercial success of the hotel, she developed collaborations with local and national partners to provide guests an unforgettable experience with unmatched amenities and service," said Beny Alagem, Chairman and CEO of Oasis West Realty, LLC that owns Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. "Her dedication and passion for this hotel has been unwavering. This is a well- deserved promotion, and I am confident that the hotel experience for guests will only continue to further impress."

Williams brings a global outlook to the position, after an illustrious hospitality career that has spanned nearly three decades at worldwide five-star luxury destinations including a key role in the renovation, relaunch and repositioning of the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills, Sandy Lane Barbados, Sukhothai Bangkok before joining Hilton to open Waldorf Astoria Beijing and Conrad Seoul. In 2018, Williams was named one of Southern California's Top 9 "Woman of Influence" by LA Confidential magazine.

"We are thrilled to have Vanessa lead the team at this flagship property that has quickly established itself as one of the premier luxury hotels in Southern California, as well as the go-to place for local residents," said Pascal Duchauffour, Vice President Luxury Operations, Hilton. "She has been an integral part of the opening success of the hotel and we look forward to her leading the team to continue to create authentic moments that become unforgettable memories".

Both locals and tourists alike love The Rooftop by JG bar (and its casual restaurant that serves lunch and dinner), which offers breathtaking views of Los Angeles from every seat. The hotel's signature restaurant, Jean-Georges Beverly Hills, which is the first West Coast venture by globally acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, is another element of the Waldorf Astoria's spectacular offerings drawing fans of world-class dining from both near and far. The hotel's sublime La Prairie Spa, the only one in Southern California, is an oasis of relaxation and sumptuous enjoyment.

Learn more about Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts at www.waldorfastoria.com.

About Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts' first new build on the West Coast and second California property, joining the legendary Waldorf Astoria portfolio of now 31 hotels and resorts. The hotel's 119 deluxe rooms and 51 suites are part of a world-class, Art Deco-influenced design created by renowned interior design firm Pierre-Yves Rochon, Inc. (PYR). World-class dining can be discovered at the hotel with three venues created by the legendary French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten: the elegant Jean-Georges Beverly Hills, the chef's signature restaurant, as well as The Rooftop by JG and Jean-Georges Beverly Hills Bar. Relax at the on-site award-winning La Prairie Spa, the only one in Southern California, and enjoy an array of signature services and nourishing treatments. The hotel also features a stunning rooftop pool with 360-degree views of the city and private cabanas, plus 6,300 square feet of meeting spaces, perfect for social events, corporate meetings or gala celebrations.The property won the Forbes Five-Star Award in 2018, 2019, and 2020, was ranked in the Conde Nast Traveler 2017, 2018, and 2019 Readers' Choice Awards as a Top Hotel in Los Angeles, and was named best new hotel on the 2018 Travel + Leisure It List, 2018 and 2019 Travel + Leisure "World's Best" Awards, and by U.S. News and World Report. La Prairie Spa at Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills is also a Forbes 5-Star award recipient, and the Jean-Georges Beverly Hills is a Forbes 4-Star recipient. For more information, visit www.waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com.