Los Angeles County - News from Jan. 30, 1995

Hilton Leaving Downtown L.A.: After more than 40 years, the Hilton name will disappear from the Downtown Los Angeles hotel scene on Wednesday. That’s when the 900-room Los Angeles Hilton & Towers will become an Omni Hotel. The name change reflects a contract dispute between Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels, which manages the property, and Hanjin International, a Korean conglomerate that purchased the hotel in 1989. A Hanjin spokesman said the firm will manage the property and use the name and reservation system of New Hampshire-based Omni Hotels. The hotel, which occupies an entire city block, was the site of a large Dec. 1 labor demonstration that disrupted traffic and led to the arrest of 37 hotel workers and supporters. The protesting hotel workers were concerned that the change in management companies would threaten job security. Under an agreement with union leaders, all 550 hotel workers will be rehired Feb. 1 without a probationary period and with their seniority intact.