Hotel Online Press Releases 

 Merv Griffin Expands Hotel Holdings with Purchase
of Givenchy Hotel & Spa in Palm Springs
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Palm Springs, Calif., March 16, 1998  Hotel Partners International is pleased to announce that Merv Griffin Hotels has acquired the Givenchy Hotel & Spa, located in glamorous Palm Springs, California.  Merv Griffin Hotels is a unit of The Griffin Group, which is owned and chaired by the well known and affable showman - turned - businessman Merv Griffin.  The Givenchy Hotel & Spa was sold by a private owner.

Brokered by principal Russell D. Urban and Harry Pflueger of the Newport Beach office of Hotel Partners, the transaction was finalized on March 16, 1998, at an undisclosed sales price.

Originally built in phases during the 1960s and 1970s as the Gene Autry Hotel, the Givenchy Hotel & Spa was renovated and reopened along with a newly built spa in January 1996.  The approximately 20,000-square foot spa offers two indoor swimming pools, 22 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy machines, hair salon, boutique and a cafe.

The property has already been recognized as one of the nation's leading spas.  Condé Nast Traveler listed the Givenchy Hotel & Spa on the international "Hot List of the 25 Coolest Places to Stay Now" and ranks the spa sixth in the spa category of the Reader's Choice Awards.  The Fifth Edition of the Zagat Survey of U.S. Hotels, Resorts & Spas ranks the Givenchy Hotel & Spa as the fourth best spa in the nation.

This truly unique boutique resort will flourish with Merv Griffin's signature flair for marketing.  Griffin believes that the Givenchy Hotel & Spa is poised to benefit from the improving national and Southern California economies, as well as the emerging interest in spa destinations.  Griffin will pursue additional renovations to his newest hotel acquisition.  An expansion parcel  offering spectacular mountain views  is planned to be developed.  This opportunity might include additional guestrooms, meeting and banquet space or recreational amenities.

The luxurious French Renaissance-style hotel stands as a Versailles in the desert.  The Givenchy Hotel & Spa's 98 oversized guestrooms are located throughout five buildings and consist of suites, villas, single-bay guestrooms and a four-bedroom Grand Suite.  Most rooms include either a patio or balcony with picturesque mountain views.  A 2,200-square foot residential structure located on-site may be converted to additional conference facilities or an exclusive multi-purpose suite.

The Pavilion building houses the 90-seat Le Restaurant/Garden Terrace and the Library Lounge.  Other amenities include lushly landscaped grounds, walking paths, two outdoor pools, whirlpool, large fitness center, six tennis courts, meeting space and a business center.

The Givenchy Hotel & Spa represents Merv Griffin's continued expansion into the hotel business in North America and Europe.  The entertainer's presence has been evident in his other investments.  The Beverly Hilton, Griffin's first hotel acquisition and flagship, currently hosts numerous entertainment industry events, including The Golden Globe Awards, The Princess Grace Foundation Awards and The Comedy Hall of Fame, among others.  He has also added his special touch to hotels and resorts in Scottsdale and Wickenburg, Arizona; Deerfield Beach, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Galway, Ireland; and South Beach (Miami), Florida.

With the acquisition of the Givenchy and his three recent hotel purchases in South Beach  the first being the Blue Moon Hotel, also brokered by Hotel Partners  Griffin solidifies his entree into the boutique resort hotel market.  The Palm Springs community is embracing this most dynamic addition.

About Hotel Partners International  Chicago-headquartered Hotel Partners International is the world's premier hotel investment advisory firm.  Services provided to the hospitality investment community include individual hotel and portfolio acquisition and disposition, debt and equity financing and asset management.  Hotel Partners has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Singapore and Tokyo.

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Contact:
Jim Burba 
SVP, Director of Development 
714-553-0808
Kurt Lindsey
Marketing Associate 
212-687-5500
email: [email protected]
 


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