<p><b>The Beverly Hilton</b> is a <a href="/pages/w/103821212989654">hotel</a> located on an 8.9-acre (3.6 ha) property at the intersection of <a href="/pages/w/142438492435893">Wilshire</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Boulevard" class="wikipedia">Santa Monica boulevards</a> in <a href="/pages/w/112456468765632">Beverly Hills, California</a>. The Beverly Hilton has hosted many awards shows, charity benefits and entertainment and motion picture industry events, and is perhaps best known as the home of the annual <a href="/pages/w/107960295891371">Golden Globe Award</a>s and the <a href="/pages/w/104052939632043">Daytime Emmy Award</a>s.</p><h2>History</h2><p><a href="/pages/w/112647298747637">Conrad Hilton</a> opened the Beverly Hilton in 1953. Architect <a href="/pages/w/129955903712332">Welton Becket</a> designed the hotel as a showpiece with 582 rooms.</p><p>Since 1961, the hotel's International Ballroom has hosted the <a href="/pages/w/107960295891371">Golden Globe Award</a> ceremony, presented annually by the <a href="/pages/w/106103622753463">Hollywood Foreign Press Association</a>.</p><p>In 1975, 50% of the property was sold to <a href="/pages/w/106286926075666">Prudential Insurance Company</a> forming a partnership with the <a href="/pages/w/106263019405536">Hilton Hotels Corporation</a>. The partnership sold the hotel to entertainer and businessman <a href="/pages/w/108107205877319">Merv Griffin</a> for $100.2 million in December 1987.</p><p>The Beverly Hilton had completed a $35 million renovation prior to Griffin's purchase. The hotel was Griffin's second choice, as he had expressed an interest in buying the 260-room <a href="/pages/w/187574014726417">Beverly Hills Hotel</a>, which had recently been sold to Sultan <a href="/pages/w/108040525891177">Hassanal Bolkiah</a> of <a href="/pages/w/107550995940865">Brunei</a> for $200 million by a group headed by Denver oilman <a href="/pages/w/135478109819866">Marvin Davis</a>.</p>