The hallway that leads to Le Meridien's restaurant is another story. Large black and white photos of Cannes Film Festival, taken between 1970 and 2000 line walls.

This exhibit alone is worth a visit to Le Meridien at Beverly Hills. Entitled "Le Festival," it's a photographic retrospective "celebrating glory days of cinema in Cannes, Sister City of Beverly Hills." Cannes, of course, is Côte d'azur hotspot home of film festival of same name. All of photos are by Traverso, actually four generations of family members who have spent their lives capturing life in Cannes with an unbiased, candid style that has become family trademark.

Above left: Le Festival! is like a modern garden setting, with slate floors, upholstered purple chairs, white cotton café curtains, and a bank of windows facing tree-lined La Cienega.

Above, right: A lavish breakfast buffet offers a variety of pastries, fruit juices, fresh fruit, cereals, scrambled eggs, chicken apple sausages, smoked bacon, roasted potatoes as well as hot and cold beverages.

The restaurant is also called Le Festival! and I can see why as I wander through this bright, airy dining spot perusing more black and white eight-by-tens displayed on walls and posts.

Le Festival!'s hostess is Marta, who as I am seated offers a black napkin "to avoid white lint on clothes." Marta has sparkling dark eyes and a beautiful Spanish smile. She has been with hotel for six years, first introduced to hospitality industry by Nikko. "It's a pleasure to come to work every day," she says. "We have guests from so many different nationalities. I enjoy working with public."

At my request Alfonse, one of chefs, prepares a beautiful parfait, a towering ice cream glass layered with house-made granola, yogurt and fresh berries, and elegantly presented with a smile from my waiter, Jorge. From 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. there is a lavish breakfast buffet, offering a variety of pastries, fruit juices, fresh fruit, cereals, scrambled eggs, chicken apple sausages, smoked bacon, roasted potatoes, as well as hot and cold beverages. Because Le Meridien is international, a Japanese breakfast is also offered, featuring grilled fish, poached egg, dried seaweed, pickles, fruit, miso soup and rice.

Regular breakfast menu items include hearty griddle buttermilk pancakes, crispy Belgian waffles, a cinnamon-dipped raisin brioche French toast, eggs Benedict, Florentine or Ranchero, omelettes, cured ham and smoked salmon.

For lunch Le Festival! serves international cuisine with Mediterranean entrées and daily chef specials. A private dining room for groups up to sixteen may also be reserved.

Le Festival! is like a modern garden setting, with slate floors, upholstered purple chairs, white cotton café curtains, and a bank of windows facing tree-lined La Cienega. Background music is easy listening and vocal ballads. And when you see employees smiling when no one's looking, it can't help but add an extra warmth to your dining experience.

Wiksten says, "We're a family. You're coming to an environment. If we surround ourselves with great associates, bottom line is guests will have a better experience."

Of twelve people voted employee of month this past year, all averaged eight years of employment with hotel. Wiksten says not one has been here less than five years. And all were nominated by fellow "associates."

Wiksten notes that biggest challenge in hospitality industry today is keeping good people.

"We're not reinventing wheel," he says. "People want to be acknowledged for a job well done." To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/meridien/lax/lax.html Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

"Can I make you some eggs?" I tell her I'm fine, but she insists I try her eggs. I couldn't resist - they were excellent. She's charming. She tells me that this house - as she calls it, feels like home to her - that it has a spirit. Not type of spirit that wanders halls to scare guests, but sort of supernatural entity that desires guests to stay and keep it company; a giving, friendly, good spirit. I don't believe in ghosts, but for some reason I understand what she was talking about by end of my stay. I truly did not want to leave. The Drisco feels more homey than my apartment in San Diego.

The most eyebrow-raising characteristic of Drisco is location. Face South and you teeter on steep Broderick Street, peering out to hills of twin peaks and all compacted houses in between. Face North and you stand with a bird's eye view down road to gorgeous blue marina beckoning below. On a clear day you can see Golden Gate Bridge and island of Alcatraz. Other days tips of bridge supports peek out over a blanket of cottony clouds and fog.

One thing is certain - there isn't a better area for exercise. A block and a half down Pacific Avenue gigantic houses end and nature begins. There are various parks throughout Pacific Heights area, including Alta Plaza Park. This small hilltop park to west of Fillmore Street, offers tennis courts, a playground, and panoramic city views. On other end is Lafayette Park, with grass filling its two-square-blocks, and on warm days filled with sunbathers and dog walkers. It's common to see locals taking an afternoon jog, or checking out tradesman architecture of gigantic mansions in this area.

Most visitors tend to stay along Pacific Avenue, but for a heart race, jog along one of north/south streets. Some of them are so steep and so long, you could bowl down into heart of city. Of course if it's raining, as it unpredictably does in San Francisco, hop on an exercise machine in Drisco basement or at Presidio YMCA fitness center, compliments of hotel.

Is there anything Drisco doesn't have? I don't think so. The staff is final touch, making historic hotel feel like you're truly at home. Gerard, French-descent manager, is a pleasant conversationalist; especially for hotel and neighborhood information. For example: one of rooms is dubbed Eisenhower Suite after one of Drisco's more distinguished guests. He tells me about how Hotel Drisco combines traditional elegance and style with convenience and comfort of a world-class hotel.

The resourceful staff plans daytrips, such as "The Joy Of San Francisco In Four Days," detailing areas like Fillmore Street, a popular tourist destination. Fillmore Street has historically been a bastion of unique establishments. Store owners promote a sense of community with friendly touches, such as setting out bowls of water on sidewalk for thirsty pups. On back of city tour page is a map of city - you won't get lost - staff won't let you. To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/sfo/drisco/drisco.html

Josh Edelson, Jetsetters Magazine Editor – Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com