Sultan Of Brunei's Ownership Of Bel Air Hotel

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, owns the Dorchester Collection, a group of high-end hotels. This includes the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, which has been boycotted due to the Sultan's implementation of Sharia law in Brunei, which includes the death penalty for homosexuality. The Hotel Bel-Air has been a favourite of celebrities and dignitaries, but the boycott has seen many avoid the hotel, with some calling for the Sultan to sell it.

The Sultan of Brunei owns the Bel-Air Hotel through the Dorchester Collection

The Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles is one of nine luxury hotels operated by the Dorchester Collection, which is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). The BIA is an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei and is controlled by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah.

The Dorchester Collection was established in 2006 to manage several luxury hotels in Europe and the United States. The collection includes The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in London, Coworth Park in southwest London, Plaza Athénée in Paris, Principe di Savoia in Milan, The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, and Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles. The Dorchester Collection also has a property in Tokyo, Japan, set to open in 2028.

The Hotel Bel-Air was originally built in 1922 by Alphonzo Bell and has been a popular destination for celebrities and dignitaries since it opened in 1946. The hotel was purchased by the Dorchester Collection in 2008 and underwent major renovations before reopening in October 2011.

In 2014, the Sultan of Brunei sparked controversy by implementing the Sharia law penal code, which includes harsh punishments such as death by stoning and flogging for crimes such as abortions, adultery, and homosexual acts. This led to boycotts of the Dorchester Collection hotels, including the Hotel Bel-Air, as people protested the Sultan of Brunei's ownership and the implementation of these laws.

While the boycott gained support from celebrities and organizations, there were also those who spoke out against it, arguing that it unfairly punished the hardworking employees of the hotels. The controversy surrounding the Sultan of Brunei's ownership of the Dorchester Collection and the implementation of Sharia law in Brunei continues to be a topic of debate.

The Bel-Air Hotel is located in Los Angeles, California

The Bel-Air Hotel is one of nine luxury hotels operated by the Dorchester Collection, which is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). The Dorchester Collection manages a number of luxury hotels in Europe and the United States, including the famous Beverly Hills Hotel, which is located in Beverly Hills, California. The Bel-Air Hotel has 103 rooms, 45 of which are suites, and is known for its old Hollywood style. The hotel has regularly housed notable guests and celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly.

The Dorchester Collection, and by extension the Bel-Air Hotel, has been the subject of controversy due to its ownership by the Sultan of Brunei, who enacted a Sharia law penal code in his country that includes death by stoning, severing of limbs, and flogging for crimes such as abortions, adultery, and homosexual acts. This has led to boycotts of the hotel, with celebrities such as George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, and Elton John calling for people to avoid staying at the hotel. However, there are also those who oppose the boycott, arguing that it unfairly punishes the hardworking employees of the hotel.

The Bel-Air Hotel has been boycotted due to Brunei's treatment of the LGBTQ+ community

The Bel-Air Hotel has been the subject of boycotts due to its links with the Sultan of Brunei, who implemented anti-LGBTQ+ laws in his country. In 2014, the Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, began to incorporate aspects of Sharia law into Brunei's legal system, which included the persecution of homosexuals. This led to widespread protests and boycotts of the Bel-Air Hotel, which is owned by the Dorchester Collection, a luxury hotel operator that is ultimately owned by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei.

The Sultan's decision to adopt Sharia law, which included the death penalty for same-sex intercourse, sparked outrage and condemnation from celebrities, non-profit organizations, and LGBTQ+ groups. In response, many chose to boycott the Bel-Air Hotel and its sister property, the Beverly Hills Hotel, which is also owned by the Dorchester Collection. This boycott was supported by prominent figures such as George Clooney, Elton John, Ellen DeGeneres, Jay Leno, and Sharon Osbourne. Organizations, including a United States national LGBT advocacy organization, the Gill Action Fund, cancelled events and reservations at the hotels, demanding refunds of their deposits.

The boycott gained significant attention and had a noticeable impact on the hotel's reputation and business. The Beverly Hills City Council even passed a resolution urging the Sultan to sell the hotel, and many celebrities and organizations chose to take their events and business elsewhere. The hotel management responded by asserting that it does not discriminate based on sexual orientation and that its policies and practices are independent of the laws of Brunei. However, the boycott highlighted the complex ethical dilemma of separating the hotel's operations from the actions of its owner.

While some argued that the boycott would primarily hurt the hardworking employees of the hotel, others believed that it was necessary to take a stand against the Sultan's human rights violations. The controversy surrounding the Bel-Air Hotel and its association with the Sultan of Brunei's treatment of the LGBTQ+ community brought attention to the issue and applied pressure on the Sultan to reconsider the enforcement of these laws. In May 2019, the Sultan backtracked on enforcing the laws that would have made same-sex relations punishable by death, demonstrating the potential impact of such boycotts and protests.

The Bel-Air Hotel is considered one of LA's most prestigious hotels

The Hotel Bel-Air is considered one of LA's most prestigious hotels. Located in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, the hotel has 103 rooms, 45 of which are suites. The Bel-Air hotel has an overall old Hollywood style and is surrounded by 12 acres of gardens in the Bel-Air Estates neighbourhood. The hotel was originally built in 1922 on 60 acres of gardens by Alphonzo Bell and has served celebrities, heads of state, and dignitaries since its opening in 1946. Notable guests have included Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly, who frequented the hotel so often that a suite was named after her.

Marilyn Monroe's final Vogue photoshoot took place at the Hotel Bel-Air, six weeks before her death. The hotel was also the setting for Howard Hughes's secret bungalow, where he would stay without anyone knowing he was on the premises. The only person who knew was the hotel chef, whom Hughes would awaken in the middle of the night to prepare food for him.

The Hotel Bel-Air was purchased in 1995 by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of the royal family of Brunei. In 2008, it was acquired by the Dorchester Collection, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency. The Dorchester Collection is a luxury hotel operator that manages ten five-star luxury hotels worldwide, including the Hotel Bel-Air. The Dorchester Collection is owned by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, via the Brunei Investment Agency.

The Bel-Air Hotel was purchased by the Sultan of Brunei in 1995

The Bel-Air Hotel, located in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California, was purchased by Prince Jefri Bolkiah of the royal family of Brunei in 1995. It is one of the nine luxury hotels operated by the Dorchester Collection, which is owned by the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA). The BIA is an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei and is controlled by the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah.

The Bel-Air Hotel was originally built in 1922 on 60 acres of gardens by Alphonzo Bell. It opened in 1946 and has since served celebrities, heads of state, and dignitaries. The hotel was purchased by Prince Jefri in 1995 and then acquired by the Dorchester Collection in 2008. The Dorchester Collection was established in 2006 to manage several luxury hotels in Europe and the United States.

The Bel-Air Hotel has an old Hollywood style and is surrounded by 12 acres of gardens in the Bel-Air Estates neighborhood. It has a total of 103 rooms, 45 of which are suites. The hotel has regularly housed notable guests and celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Wagner, Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Jimmy Stewart, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly. It was also the setting for Marilyn Monroe's last Vogue magazine shoot, six weeks before her death.

In 2014, the hotel faced controversy due to its ownership's relation to the Sultan of Brunei. The Sultan enacted the first phase of adopting aspects of Sharia law into the Brunei criminal code, which included the persecution of homosexuals. This led to a boycott of the hotel and other Dorchester Collection properties. Despite the controversy, the hotel remains a prestigious and iconic destination in Los Angeles.

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