DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown is a full-service hotel in the Little Tokyo area of downtown Los Angeles, California. The property occupies 120 South Los Angeles Street and operates under Hilton's DoubleTree brand, while day-to-day hotel management is handled by Aimbridge Hospitality. The hotel is positioned for business and leisure travelers seeking accommodation near central Los Angeles attractions, government and commercial districts, the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the wider downtown visitor economy. The building opened in 1977 as the New Otani Hotel & Garden. It was developed by the Tokyo-based Kajima Corporation and designed by Japanese-American architect Hayahiko Takase. Its architecture, hospitality history, and Japanese landscaping reflect the property's relationship with the surrounding Little Tokyo community and its long-standing appeal to Japanese visitors. A central feature is a roughly half-acre rooftop garden inspired by a traditional Japanese garden, which has remained one of the hotel's most distinctive physical attributes. The property changed ownership and identity several times. In August 2007 it was sold to 3D Investments, after which Crestline Hotels & Resorts was brought in to manage it. On November 30, 2007, the hotel was renamed Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens. The Kyoto Grand period preserved and emphasized the property's Japanese character and included 434 guest rooms across 21 floors, together with dining venues including Garden Grill, Thousand Cranes, and the Azalea. Following bankruptcy proceedings and renovations, the property was rebranded as a DoubleTree by Hilton in July 2012. This transition connected the hotel to Hilton's international reservation, loyalty, and service platform while retaining recognizable elements of the site's Japanese-oriented identity. After the rebranding, the hotel's documented dining offer was centered on Justice Urban Tavern and Rendezvous Lobby Bar. Its facilities have also included guest rooms, meeting and event space, fitness amenities, and the rooftop garden. In June 2017, Han's Group USA purchased the hotel. Interstate Hotels and Resorts initially held the management contract; that management business was subsequently acquired by Aimbridge Hospitality. Hotel employees are represented by UNITE HERE Local 11. The property is approximately 19 miles from Los Angeles International Airport and about two miles from the Los Angeles Convention Center, giving it a location suited to convention, downtown, and cultural tourism demand. The hotel has also had a small connection to popular music history. Electronic producer Skrillex named a track on his 2011 EP Bangarang “Kyoto,” reportedly because he produced the song in a room at the hotel, then operating as the Kyoto Grand, and recorded vocals there. This association helped give the property a niche cultural reference beyond its role as a downtown hotel. The hotel remains an operating DoubleTree property, although ownership, management, room inventory, and amenity details may change over time.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown traces its history to the opening of the New Otani Hotel & Garden in 1977. The hotel was constructed by Kajima Corporation, a Tokyo-based builder, and designed by Japanese-American architect Hayahiko Takase. Its location in Little Tokyo and its Japanese-influenced architectural and landscape elements made it distinctive within downtown Los Angeles. The most notable feature was a rooftop garden of approximately half an acre, designed with inspiration from an ancient Japanese garden. For much of its earlier history, the property was associated with Japanese hospitality and attracted Japanese tourists. During its Kyoto Grand period, the hotel had 434 rooms distributed across 21 floors and offered several restaurants, including Garden Grill, Thousand Cranes, and the Azalea. The combination of lodging, dining, event facilities, and a prominent garden gave the property a role in both local tourism and downtown business travel. Ownership changed in August 2007, when 3D Investments acquired the hotel. Crestline Hotels & Resorts was brought in to manage the property, which was renamed Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens on November 30 of that year. The new name reinforced the hotel's Japanese identity while distinguishing it from its original New Otani branding. The hotel later went through bankruptcy proceedings. After renovations, it was rebranded in July 2012 as DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown. The change brought the property into Hilton's DoubleTree network and gave it access to the brand's distribution and loyalty infrastructure. The post-rebranding dining operation was described as more limited than during the Kyoto Grand era, with Justice Urban Tavern and Rendezvous Lobby Bar identified as principal venues. In June 2017, Han's Group USA acquired the property. Interstate Hotels and Resorts initially managed it, and management subsequently moved into the Aimbridge Hospitality organization following Aimbridge's acquisition of Interstate's management business. Employees are represented by UNITE HERE Local 11. The hotel continues to serve downtown visitors, convention attendees, business travelers, and leisure guests. Its location is approximately two miles from the Los Angeles Convention Center and about 19 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. The property has also appeared in a contemporary music context. Skrillex reportedly produced the song “Kyoto” in a hotel room and recorded vocals there while the property was still known as the Kyoto Grand. This episode is a notable cultural association, but the hotel's principal identity remains that of a full-service DoubleTree property in central Los Angeles with a Japanese-inspired physical heritage.

• 2017

  Acquisition by Han's Group USA

  [1]DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  Han's Group USA purchased the hotel in June.

• 2012

  Conversion to DoubleTree by Hilton

  [1]DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  Following bankruptcy proceedings and renovations, the property joined the DoubleTree by Hilton system.

• 2007

  Acquisition by 3D Investments

  [1]DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  3D Investments purchased the property in August, with Crestline Hotels & Resorts brought in for management.

• 2007

  Renaming as Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens

  [1]DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel adopted the Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens name on November 30.

• 1977

  Opening as New Otani Hotel & Garden

  [1]DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org

  The property opened in downtown Los Angeles after development by Kajima Corporation and design by Hayahiko Takase.

Upper-midscale to upscale urban business and leisure hotel with Japanese-inspired heritage and downtown Los Angeles access.

• Accommodation · 1977

  Guest rooms and suites

  The hotel's principal offering is full-service accommodation in downtown Los Angeles. During the Kyoto Grand period, the property was documented as having 434 guest rooms across 21 floors. Current room counts, configurations, and amenity details should be confirmed through the operating hotel.

• Leisure and events · 1977

  Rooftop garden

  A roughly half-acre rooftop garden inspired by an ancient Japanese garden is the hotel's signature physical feature. It expresses the property's Japanese heritage and provides a distinctive setting associated with leisure, events, and guest experience.

• Restaurant · 2012

  Justice Urban Tavern

  Justice Urban Tavern is a dining venue documented as part of the hotel's post-DoubleTree food-and-beverage offer. It serves the needs of hotel guests and visitors seeking an on-site urban dining option.

• Bar · 2012

  Rendezvous Lobby Bar

  Rendezvous Lobby Bar is the hotel's documented lobby-bar concept following the DoubleTree rebranding, providing an on-property meeting and beverage venue.

• Events

  Meeting and event facilities

  The property serves business and group travelers with hotel event and meeting capabilities. The available spaces, capacities, and current packages are not specified in the supplied reference material.

• 2017

  Acquisition by Han's Group USAM&A

  Background

  The operating hotel was sold again after its conversion to the DoubleTree brand.

  Action taken

  Han's Group USA purchased the property in June 2017.

  Aftermath

  Interstate Hotels and Resorts initially managed the hotel, with Aimbridge Hospitality later becoming the management company after acquiring Interstate's management business.

  Reported purchase price. 115000000 USD (June 2017 acquisition)

  Source

• 2012

  Rebranding into the DoubleTree by Hilton networkStrategy

  Background

  Following bankruptcy proceedings and renovations, the hotel required a new operating and brand position.

  Action taken

  The Kyoto Grand was rebranded as DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown.

  Aftermath

  The hotel gained affiliation with Hilton's DoubleTree platform while retaining its Japanese-inspired rooftop garden and downtown location.

  Source

• 2007

  Change of ownership and hotel identityM&A

  Background

  The property was sold to 3D Investments after operating as the New Otani Hotel & Garden.

  Action taken

  Crestline Hotels & Resorts was brought in to manage the hotel, which was renamed Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens later that year.

  Aftermath

  The property continued under a Japanese-themed identity before its later conversion to the DoubleTree brand.

  Source

1. 1DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtownen.wikipedia.org