A host of heavy-hitting hotel brands are battling to open L.A.’s hottest new lodgings. Set to open in June, the SLS Beverly Hills has the biggest guns behind it: The project was envisioned by nightlife guru cum restaurateur cum financier cum film producer cum hotelier Sam Nazarian. Philippe Starck designed it, Starwood will manage it, and Jose Andres will do the cooking. Nazarian plans to offer guests VIP passes to his high-end clubs such as AREA — where Paris, Lindsay, and even Barack Obama have been spotted. Though if the hotel plans to hand out passes, does that mean AREA’s already passé?

Neighboring Westwood is home to Hotel Palomar, Kimpton’s latest incarnation of their nascent big-boutique brand (first hatched with the Palomar San Francisco). The 268-room hotel will, Kimpton told globorati, be L.A.’s first green hotel when it opens in May. Which, if nothing else, means it will have a hybrid car service, an organic minibar stash, and sustainable seafood in the restaurant.

The biggest name in the kitchen, however, will be across town at The London West Hollywood, where Gordon Ramsay is ramping up for a summer opening — and praying for a smoother ride than his restaurant at The London NYC. Though the L.A. hotel opened earlier this month, we’re still awaiting the food, the fitness center, and the pool.

The first complete hotel among the current contenders, though, may just be Thompson Beverly Hills, from the very fashionably late Jason Pomeranc. His $27 million transformation of a former Best Western has produced a 70’s-inspired outpost to New York’s 60 Thompson. The house restaurant, Bond Street sushi, opened in January, while the mezzanine lounge and exclusive rooftop pool (hotel guests and VIPs only) are slated to come on line later this month. They might even be enough to woo back those travelers thrown off by both the New York Times and Los Angeles Times.