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From Manhattan landmarks to sprawling beachfront resorts, Hilton hotels have become some of the most recognizable settings in Hollywood history. Long before branded partnerships became commonplace, filmmakers were already using Hilton properties for some of their most iconic scenes.
Meg Ryan and John Cusack’s chance encounters in “Serendipity” unfold beneath the glittering interiors of Waldorf Astoria New York; Eddie Murphy arrives in Queens after staying at the opulent Waldorf in “Coming to America”; and generations of viewers have watched celebrities descend upon The Beverly Hilton for the champagne-soaked spectacle of the Golden Globe Awards.
Elsewhere, the gilded ceilings of Chicago’s Palmer House a Hilton Hotel helped frame the cat-and-mouse tension of “The Fugitive,” while the beachfront towers of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort were swallowed into blockbuster destruction in “Godzilla.” Even outer space wasn’t off-limits: Stanley Kubrick famously imagined a Hilton hotel orbiting Earth in “2001: A Space Odyssey.”
Below, a look at some of the most iconic Hilton hotels featured in TV and film over the years.
No Hilton property is more deeply tied to Hollywood history than the Waldorf Astoria New York, which has appeared in countless productions over the decades, from “Sex and the City” to “The Sopranos.” Currently, they’re hosting a one-night stay inspired by the “Devil Wears Prada 2.” The “Devilishly Chic Getaway” includes fashion-inspired welcome amenities, a two-hour personal shopping experience and a $150 food and beverage credit.
Following an eight-year, billion-dollar restoration, the iconic Park Avenue property officially reopened to the public last July — and it’s better than ever. The overhaul preserved the hotel’s Art Deco signatures — including the Grand Ballroom – while reducing rooms from 1,400 to 375 room, plus private residences. Downstairs, its famed Peacock Alley has returned as the hotel’s social spine, joined by a new restaurant from Michael Anthony.
The big scene-stealer, though, is wellness: the reopened property features a 22,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa with 16 treatment rooms, VIP double suites, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, steam room, Moroccan hammam and an arctic snow cave.
Opened in 1955, the Beverly Hilton has become inseparable from awards season thanks to its decades-long role as host of the Golden Globe Awards. 70 years later, it’s still one of the best places to soak up Hollywood glamour.
The hotel’s famous Aqua Star pool — where Whitney Houston was photographed countless times – is a headlining amenity, while its adjacent Circa 55 restaurant offers all-day poolside dining. Plus, pool-facing cabana rooms offer views across Beverly Hills, the Hollywood Hills and the city skyline.
The storied property also offers easier access to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood than many beachfront Los Angeles hotels. Rodeo Drive, Century City and many major restaurants are a short drive away.
Palmer House a Hilton Hotel
With its gold-leaf ceilings, massive chandeliers and grand staircases, Chicago’s Palmer House has long been a favorite for filmmakers looking to evoke old-world elegance (Its scene-stealing appearances in Harrison Ford’s “The Fugitive” is a personal favorite).
Since opening in the 1870s – and becoming a part of Hilton in 1945 — the hotel offers a historic alternative to newer glass high-rise hotels in Chicago. Its 1,641 rooms range from classic guest rooms to larger suites, with a downtown Loop location that puts guests near Millennium Park, the Art Institute and the theater district. Amenities include a fitness center, full-service spa and a renovated heated indoor pool on the eighth floor.
It’s particularly convenient for conferences and large-group gatherings, with more than 130,000 square feet of event space, seven ballrooms and the famed Empire Room.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach
One of Hilton’s most visually recognizable resorts, the Hilton Hawaiian Village became a memorable blockbuster setting in “Godzilla,” where the towering beachfront property and surrounding Waikiki coastline serve as the background to the film’s most chaotic monster attack sequences.
In real life, the beachfront resort serves as a much more peaceful retreat – and a central role in Waikiki tourism. Spread across 22 oceanfront acres on Waikiki’s widest stretch of beach, the property has five towers, multiple pools and waterslides, the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, a spa, daily cultural activities, an on-site luau and enough restaurants and bars to make leaving the grounds feel optional. The Rainbow Tower is the postcard shot, with newly renovated rooms in coastal colors, ocean and Honolulu coastline views, select Diamond Head views and the famous rainbow mural.
Its size also means guests can choose between quieter tower rooms or busier areas closer to the pools and beach, depending on the type of trip they want.
Hilton Chicago, overlooking Grant Park and Lake Michigan, will be instantly recognizable to any fan of “Little Fockers.” The grand, old-school property is where Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) attends a pharmaceutical convention for a new drug called “Stiffness” and, of course, the iconic “ball pit fight” scene between Greg and Jack Burns (Robert De Niro)— where Jack mistakenly believes Greg is meeting with an ex-flame.
Off-screen the property, which opened in 1927, has become known for its large convention spaces, historic architecture and central location. Its 1,544 rooms and suites range from standard accommodations to signature suites with unobstructed views of Lake Michigan and Grant Park, with 13 residentially inspired suites designed for VIP stays, intimate gatherings and private dinners. The amenities are equally practical: an indoor pool, fitness center, business center, meeting rooms and pet-friendly policies, plus dining options including 720 South Bar & Grill, Kitty O’Sheas and grab-and-go fare at Herb N’ Kitchen.
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