August 8, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Former Beverly Hills Hotel Hostess Shares Testimony, Reveals Then-General Manager’s Character

 

The hostess did not report to Human Resources for fear that she would not be believed. (Thinkstock)
The hostess did not report to Human Resources for fear that she would not be believed. (Thinkstock)

A former hostess at the Beverly Hills Hotel’s Polo Lounge testified today that the renowned establishment’s then-general manager inappropriately touched her in the workplace numerous times, usually by walking up from behind and catching her off guard.

Wendy Giron told a Los Angeles Superior Court jury that she considered Alberto del Hoyo to have so much influence at the hotel that she never reported his alleged untoward behavior to management.

“I didn’t feel comfortable going to human resources,” Giron said. “He was the general manager and they wouldn’t believe me.”

Giron, along with one current and one former employee, sued the hotel and del Hoyo in June 2011, alleging a variety of employment violations. Del Hoyo, who retired in 2011, was the highest-ranking employee in the famed hotel, which is now owned by the Sultan of Brunei. Both the hotel and the Polo Lounge have long been famous destinations for celebrities and Hollywood power brokers.

According to Giron, she began working at the hotel’s gift shop in 2004 and within two months obtained her hostess job in the Polo Lounge. She said del Hoyo came into the Polo Lounge at various times of the day and preferred to be seated at a table once favored by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe.

Del Hoyo directed the Polo Lounge supervisor to require that hostesses wear uniforms and shoes he preferred and demanded that they also wear makeup, Giron said.

Giron said del Hoyo often approached her from behind while she was at the hostess work station and put his hands on her upper arms in a way that also caused them to brush against her upper chest. She said he also at times placed his hands on her lower back, causing them to touch her buttocks.

It wasn’t comfortable for me as a woman,” Giron said.

She said she eventually lost count of how many times del Hoyo touched her without her consent.

“It was constant throughout the time I worked there,” Giron testified. “It just got to a point where I didn’t want to think about it anymore.”

Giron said she found out that another Polo Lounge hostess, Kelly Morales, allegedly experienced the same type of touching by del Hoyo.

“We had a pact of trying to avoid him,” she said.

Asked by her lawyer, Rob Hennig, whether del Hoyo’s alleged touching reminded her of something in her past, Giron paused for nearly a minute before saying that someone had done something similar to her when she was 6 years old.

“It’s something I carry with me,” she said. “It’s not something I forget.”

Giron said her mother did not believe her account of what happened to her as a child.

Giron, a single parent of a young daughter, said she thought she would jeopardize her job if she reported del Hoyo.

“I always felt like if I complained, I could be replaced,” she said. “I had a child to support.”

Under cross-examination, Giron said she could not recall if she laughed and congratulated Morales outside the courtroom after Morales’ testimony last week. She also said she never told her former boyfriend, who also is her father’s daughter, during their 3 1/2-year cohabitation that del Hoyo was allegedly abusing her.

“We had a strained relationship from the beginning,” Giron said. “We were only together because of our child.”

Giron said she left the hotel in early 2010 and is now a full-time student.

The trial also deals with the employment claims of former director Tim Dupree and the Polo Lounge’s current sommelier, Nino O’Brien. Both allege discrimination.

Morales and the hotel settled her claims before trial.

Related Posts

Full Moon Frights at Cinespia: Vampires, Werewolves, and a Night Under the Stars

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Double Feature Coincides With Rare Celestial Triple Event Cinespia invites fans of horror comedy classics will gather under the glow...

Xenomorphs Hit Hollywood: FX Launches Global ‘Alien: Earth’ Hunt Ahead of Series Premiere

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Fans Can Track “Crash-Site” Crates in LA for Instant Prizes, Photo Ops, and Sweepstakes FX is bringing the world of...

Glorya Kaufman, Dance, Arts and Health Philanthropist Who Transformed L.A.’s Landscape, Dies at 95

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

From Culver City, Brentwood, UCLA, USC, and Downtown LA, Her Generosity was Legendary Glorya Kaufman, a transformative benefactor to the...

Overnight Lane Closures Set for I-405 Through Sepulveda Pass Next Week

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Caltrans to Close Multiple Northbound and Southbound Lanes Nightly  Caltrans will implement overnight lane closures along Interstate 405 in the...

Levain Bakery Lands in Beverly Hills with Cookies, Swag, and a Sweet Surprise

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Newest Location’s Debut Includes Limited-Edition Flavor, Early-Bird Giveaways Levain Bakery will mark the opening of its newest location in Beverly...

Bistro Blue’s One Night Only Seasonal Menu Pops Up at Little City Farms August 10

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Chef Kara Vorabutr’s Garden Dinner Promises to be a Seasonal Showstopper Bistro Blue, a pop-up concept by Chef Kara Vorabutr,...

Cardinale du Vin’s Weekend Izakaya Pop-Up Blends Thai Flavors and Japanese Dishes

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Three Nights Only: Thai-Japanese Fusion Menu Launched in Pico-Robertson Cardinale du Vin is unveiling a special izakaya-inspired menu this weekend,...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Classic Rock Tribute Takes Center Stage at Beverly Hills Summer Series, Concerts on Canon

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rod Lightning and the Thunderbolts of Love Bring High-Energy Hits to the Stage The City of Beverly Hills continues its...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

DUI Suspect Identified and Charged in Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old, Injured Brother

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

RV Driver to Face Serious Felony Charges After Striking Boys Riding E-Scooter The 46-year-old man who was allegedly driving under...

Late-Night Traffic Stop in L.A. Lands Rap Star Soulja Boy Back in Legal Spotlight

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rapper Taken Into Custody During Early Morning Traffic Stop Rapper Soulja Boy was taken into custody early Sunday after Los...

Deadly Crosswalk Hit and Run in West Adams, Victim Hit Multiple Times and Left to Die

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Three Drivers Who Struck and Killed a Pedestrian  Detectives with the Los Angeles Police...

Brentwood Bookstore Welcomes a Hollywood Insider and Secret Service Agent for a Night of Noir

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA Diesel, A Bookstore will host a...