Two new hotel brands go up in downtown

Tipster Jeff emails that the red signs are gone from the former downtown Marriott at Figueroa and 3rd streets, and the place now bears banners calling it the "L.A. Hotel." How's that for generic? An operator who answered the phone said the changeover took place August 3.

Across downtown in Little Tokyo, the former Kyoto Grand now has a big sign high on the facade of the building labeling it the DoubleTree by Hilton. That's the former New Otani hotel.