Four Seasons sprouting up all over L.A.

There's the celebrity-studded South Doheny location, of course, but the Four Seasons name can also be found in Beverly Hills (aka the Beverly Wilshire Hotel) and in Westlake Village (owned by billionaire David Murdock). Oh, and there's the soon-to-be-developed Four Seasons Residences. That's more Four Seasons in one metro area than anywhere else in the world, a most unusual - and some would say counterproductive - branding scheme. Think of the potential confusion among out-of-towners (though it's hard to believe that anyone would confuse Westlake Village and the border with Beverly Hills). From the Business Journal:

Until recently, it might have been unusual for two Four Seasons properties to end up sharing a market, much less a street. But Toronto-based Four Seasons Hotels Ltd. has been on a rapid expansion program since 2007, when founder Isadore Sharp sold off most of his holdings to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Saudi Arabian billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. Since then, Four Seasons has opened in new markets, with a focus on Asia, and added hotels in existing markets. Last year, only three cities in the world had more than one Four Seasons hotel; today there are at least seven.

The condo project on Wetherly Drive, right next to the Four Seasons Hotel, has been a heavily litigious affair. Developer Genton Property Group tried to work out a deal in 2009 by paying the hotel $15 million and reducing the number of units. But the hotel owners are still not happy.

Last month, the developer filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging the hotel owners were attempting a "shakedown" by obstructing the project. According to its complaint, Genton was rebuffed by the hotel in its preconstruction planning. Among other things, the hotel complained of the effect of construction noise on its movie junket business. The suit appears to have forced [hotel owners Robert and Joseph Cohen] back to the negotiating table. A joint statement from lawyers for Genton and the Cohens said the parties were discussing a settlement.