Currency: mid-November 2008, 1 US dollar = 0.79 euro
\nArea code: +1 followed by the area code
\nTime difference: minus 9 hours<\/p>\n
AIR TAHITI NUI. As the airline likes to say, \"the change of scenery starts when you board\". The programme includes tiare flowers offered as soon as you step on board, seats in the colours of the South Seas and a welcome in outfits straight out of a Gauguin painting. Admittedly, this 'holiday' atmosphere may seem out of place for a business clientele, but when you consider that Air Tahiti Nui, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary, has been named 'Best Pacific Airline' five years running, taking advantage of eleven hours' respite to relax and prepare for your meeting is probably not such an unpleasant prospect. Air Tahiti Nui offers up to seven direct flights a week to Los Angeles. Practical information: from 12 January, all passengers travelling from Paris to Los Angeles on Air Tahiti Nui and Air France will be required to complete a new questionnaire, the Esta (Electronic System for Travel Authorization).
\nTel: 0825 02 42 02 (0.15 euro\/minute)
\nInternet: www.airtahitinui.com<\/p>\n
AIR FRANCE offers 15 non-stop flights a week from Paris in three-class B777s.
\nTel: 3654 - Internet: www.airfrance.fr<\/p>\n
HYATT REGENCY CENTURY PLAZA. In the heart of Century City, not far from Beverly Hills, this grand hotel with 726 rooms and suites has been specially designed for business travellers. Free high-speed Internet access in all the hotel's public areas - bar, restaurants, lobby, etc. - five meeting rooms that can accommodate from 10 to 2,000 people, a special concierge service at the Regency Club, a Penthouse floor with fifteen suites, multilingual staff... and to top it all off, an outdoor swimming pool where you can refocus before signing a big contract.
\n2025 Avenue of the Stars - Tel: +1 310 228 12 34
\nFax: +1 310 551 33 55
\nInternet: www.centuryplaza.hyatt.com<\/p>\n
FOUR SEASONS BEVERLY WILSHIRE. Standing majestically in front of the famous Rodeo Drive, this splendid Tuscan stone building is the haunt of celebrities who gather here for press conferences or lunches. A scene from Pretty Women immortalised this legendary Beverly Hills establishment which, despite its glamour, is first and foremost a luxury hotel. A limousine service is available for transfers to the other Four Seasons in Beverly Hills.
\n9500 Wilshire Boulevard - Tel: +1 310 275 52 00
\nFax: +1 310 274 28 51
\nInternet: www.fourseasons.com\/beverlywilshire<\/p>\n
FOUR SEASONS HOTEL LOS ANGELES AT BEVERLY HILLS. More discreet than its famous counterpart on Rodeo Drive, the Four Seasons at Beverly Hills is nevertheless frequented by the very best. You can meet Tim Robbins simply in the lift and, as you would expect, starlets lounging by the sumptuous pool lined with lemon trees. But you can also work at your leisure by hiring a computer or mobile phone in case you forget. The price of high-speed internet here is ten dollars instead of fifteen at the Wilshire, and the multilingual staff at the business centre will respond to any specific requests.
\n300 South Doheny Drive - Tel: +1 310 273 22 22
\nFax: +1 310 859 38 24
\nInternet: www.fourseasons.com\/losangeles<\/p>\n
THE LANGHAM, HUNTINGTON HOTEL PASADENA. Just ten kilometres north of Los Angeles, The Langham, long known as The Ritz-Carlton, is a haven of peace immersed in lush greenery and peacefully surrounded by mountains. In all, 380 rooms and suites, numerous meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology, and an exceptional business lounge, The Langham Club Lounge, where a sumptuous buffet is served at any time of day. Cable Internet access.
\n1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena
\nTel: +1 626 568 39 00 - Fax: +1 626 568 37 00
\nInternet: www.pasadena.langhamhotels.com<\/p>\n
HOTEL CHATEAU-MARMONT. This legendary 1920s establishment, overlooking Sunset Boulevard, has lived through the highs and lows of the cinema of yesteryear. Today, the Ch\u00e2teau-Marmont may not be the liveliest or the most comfortable hotel, but it remains a Hollywood landmark, with its garden cottages, swimming pool and neo-Gothic colonnades.
\n8221 Sunset Boulevard - Tel.: +1 323 656 10 10
\nFax: +1 323 655 53 11
\nInternet: www.chateaumarmont.com<\/p>\n
HOLLYWOOD ROOSEVELT HOTEL. This famous Spanish-style Hollywood hotel, opened in 1927, has played host to some of the world's greatest stars. It is said that the spirit of Marilyn Monroe, who lived for two years in one of the cabanas surrounding the swimming pool decorated by David Hockney, continues to haunt the premises. The mirror from her room, suite 229, which now hangs in the lobby, still sometimes reflects her image. This glamorous venue, where the first Oscars ceremony was held in 1929, offers all the technological conveniences of the 21st century.
\n7000 Hollywood Boulevard - Tel.: +1 323 466 70 00
\nFax: +1 323 462 80 56
\nEmail : infoHRH@thompsonhotels.com
\nInternet: www.hollywoodroosevelt.com<\/p>\n
Other major business hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n THE SHERATON LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN HOTEL THE HILTON CHECKER LOS ANGELES THE WESTIN BONAVENTURE HOTEL LOS ANGELES THE MARRIOTT HOTEL LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL Budget-hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n THE CRESCENT. This small, understated boutique hotel is housed in a Beverly Hills townhouse built in 1926. Admittedly, it's not a very business-like hotel, but wi-fi is free and you can walk to Rodeo Drive. Bonus: an outdoor fireplace for informal, very Californian meetings on the terrace. THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER. Playful, colourful, unpretentious and, above all, very 'motel revisited', this small hotel in the Fairfax district, very close to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, is also very well located. PASADENA CONVENTION CENTER & CIVIC AUDITORIUM. In the heart of colonial Pasadena, this convention centre dates back to the 1930s and has long hosted the Emmy Awards ceremony. Today it is undergoing serious renovations that will soon add two new buildings. Nearby hotels include a Sheraton, a Hilton, a Westin, a Marriott and a Ritz-Carlton. LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER GEISHA HOUSE (HOLLYWOOD). It doesn't get much more Hollywood than this restaurant owned by Demi Moore's young husband Ashton Kutcher. On the menu: sushi, but what sushi... THE WATERGRILL (DOWNTOWN L.A.). This fish restaurant is a benchmark in Downtown fine dining. It offers tuna, crab and sturgeon in Asian, Oriental and Latin styles. MELISSE (SANTA MONICA). Quite simply one of the best restaurants in L.A. This Franco-American restaurant, which has two Michelin stars, is a Mecca for... world cuisine. CUT (BEVERLY HILLS). Opened in 2006, the restaurant at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire continues to be the place to see and be seen. Its chef, Wolfgang Puck, was awarded a Michelin star in 2008 and is constantly opening new restaurants. Here you can enjoy contemporary cuisine that revisits the classic American steakhouse. PATINA (DOWNTOWN L.A.). This \"Cal-French\" restaurant, located in the famous Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by architect Franck Gehry, is \"the\" restaurant in Downtown. You can also lunch and dine al fresco. An ideal setting for a business meeting. NOBU. This famous Japanese restaurant, which no longer needs any introduction and which dots the world's major cities, from New York to Melbourne via London, Milan and Hong Kong, also exists in several Californian versions. In Malibu, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood (owned by none other than Robert de Niro). LOS ANGELES TOURIST OFFICE > 333 South Hope Street, 18th Floor PASADENA TOURIST OFFICE > 171 South Los Robles Avenue - Tel: +1 626 795 93 11 CALIFORNIA TOURIST OFFICE > California Tourism, PO Box 1499, Sacramento OFFICIAL SITE OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES > City Hall, 200 North Spring Street UNITED STATES ECONOMIC MISSION TO SAN FRANCISCO > Since 30 April 2006, FRENCH-AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN LOS ANGELES HOLLYWOOD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE > 7018 Hollywood Boulevard - Tel.: +1 323 469 83 11
\n711 South Hope Street - Tel: +1 213 488 35 00
\nE-mail: concierge@sheratonla.com
\nInternet: www.starwoodhotels.com<\/p>\n
\n535 South Grand Avenue - Tel: +1 213 624 00 00
\nFax: +1 213 626 99 06 - Internet: www.hilton.com<\/p>\n
\n404 South Figueroa Street - Tel: +1 213 624 10 00
\nE-mail: labon@westin.com
\nInternet: www.starwoodhotels.com<\/p>\n
\n333 South Figueroa Street - Tel: +1 213 617 11 33
\nFax: +1 213 613 02 91 - Internet: www.marriott.com<\/p>\n
\n1301 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica
\nTel: +1 310 394 27 91
\nInternet: www.shangrila-hotel.com<\/p>\n
\n403 North Crescent Drive - Tel: +1 310 247 05 05
\nFax: +1 310 247 90 53
\nInternet: www.crescentbh.com<\/p>\n
\n115 South Fairfax Avenue
\nTel: +1 323 937 39 30 - Fax: +1 323 932 16 08
\nInternet: www.farmersdaughterhotel.com<\/p>\nConference centres<\/h2>\n
\n300 Green Street - Tel: +1 626 793 21 22
\nEmail : info@pasadenacenter.com
\nInternet: www.pasadenacenter.com<\/p>\n
\n1201 South Figueroa Street - Tel: +1 213 741 11 51
\nFax: +1 213 765 42 66 - Internet: www.lacclink.com<\/p>\nRestaurants<\/h2>\n
\n6633 Holywood Boulevard
\nTel: +1 323 460 63 00 - Fax: +1 323 460 23 44
\nInternet: www.geishahousehollywood.com<\/p>\n
\n544 South Grand - Tel: +1 213 891 09 00
\nInternet: www.watergrill.com<\/p>\n
\n1104 Wilshire Boulevard - Tel.: +1 310 395 08 81
\nInternet: www.melisse.com<\/p>\n
\n9500 Wilshire Boulevard - Tel: +1 310 276 85 00
\nInternet: www.wolfgangpuck.com<\/p>\n
\nWalt Disney Concert Hall, 141 South Grand Avenue
\nTel.: +1 213 972 33 31
\nInternet: www.patinagroup.com<\/p>\n
\n903 North La Cienega Boulevard
\nTel.: +1 310 657 57 11
\nInternet: noburestaurants.com\/losangeles<\/p>\nInformation<\/h2>\n
\nTel: +1 213 624 73 00 - Fax: +1 213 624 97 46 - Internet: www.discoverlosangeles.com<\/p>\n
\nFax: +1 626 795 96 56 - E-mail: cvb@pasadenacal.com - Internet: www.visitpasadena.com<\/p>\n
\nTel: +1 916 444 44 29 - E-mail: web@visitcalifornia.com - Internet: www.visitcalifornia.com<\/p>\n
\nTel: +1 213 485 21 21 - Internet: www.lacity.org<\/p>\n
\nThe Los Angeles Economic Mission has been closed and is now based in San Francisco.
\n88 Kearny Street, Suite 700 - Tel: +1 415 781 09 86 - Fax: +1 415 781 47 50
\nE-mail: sao-etatsunis@missioneco.org - Internet: www.missioneco.org\/etatsunis<\/p>\n
\n10390 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 130 - Tel: +1 323 651 47 41 - Fax: +1 323 651 25 47
\nE-mail: director@frenchchamberla.org - Internet: www.frenchchamberla.org<\/p>\n
\nFax: +1 323 469 28 05 - E-mail: info@hollywoodchamber.net
\nInternet: www.hollywoodchamber.net<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"