Pan Am Hotel By Hilton Opening In Los Angeles: Cool, But At An Outlet Mall?!

As an aviation geek, I’m delighted when I hear of new airline themed hotels opening. Here’s a cool new one, though the exact details make this a little less appealing than I was hoping.

Pan Am Hotel opening in 2026, at Citadel Outlets

The Pan Am Hotel is expected to open in mid-2026, as part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. The hotel will be located at the Citadel Outlets, a popular shopping area in Los Angeles. The developers highlight how the Citadel Outlets are located 10 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles, and 25 minutes from Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Orange County (lol… maybe by helicopter, or at 3AM).

The goal is to turn the Citadel Outlets into a destination in and of itself, rather than just a place where people shop. The hotel will have a mid-century design aesthetic, reflecting the Pan Am era, with lots of Pan Am branded art. Of course the hotel will also have all the modern comforts that guests would expect for a hotel opening in 2026. There will be two restaurants and a gym.

This is part of a larger expansion of the Citadel Outlets, whereby we’ll also see the introduction of a new “Grand Fountain,” which will be located between the hotel and the outlets.

Here’s how Steven Craig, the President of Craig Realty Group (the company behind this development), describes the project:

“Our vision for Citadel Outlets has always been to create more than just a shopping center — we’re building a global destination that inspires wonder and connection. With the addition of the Pan Am Hotel by Hilton and The Grand Fountain, we’re reimagining what’s possible — bringing together design, innovation, and hospitality to deliver something truly unforgettable.”

I love the ideal behind this hotel, but…

I always appreciate when developers try to open new hotels that might appeal to aviation geeks. However, I’ve gotta say, an aviation themed hotel attached to an outlet mall wasn’t exactly on my bingo card. I mean, I guess this will get more people talking about the outlet mall, and I can appreciate the desire to turn it into a destination.

However, I already struggle enough with deciding what part of Los Angeles to stay in when I visit, and it’s unlikely that I’d choose to stay at an outlet mall. But that’s just me.

We’ll see how this plays out, but based on the information provided so far, it seems that there will be some Pan Am themed art, but little more than that. It doesn’t sound like it’ll be anything like the TWA Hotel, where an incredible amount of effort was put into the aviation aspect of it, and it almost feels like a TWA museum.

Speaking of the TWA Hotel, despite the amount of effort that went into designing the hotel, it’s just a total operational disaster. I oh-so-much loved what they were going for when they opened the property. But the hotel has just turned into a cost cutting, nickel-and-diming mess, and the owners have forgotten that they’re in the hospitality industry. I feel like it’s worth visiting the lobby of the TWA Hotel, and maybe having a meal, but I won’t be staying there again.

Bottom line

The Pan Am Hotel is expected to open at Los Angeles’ Citadel Outlets in 2026, as part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection. The developers are trying to turn the Citadel Outlets into more of a destination, and that includes opening a hotel, plus a new fountain.

I’m always happy to see more aviation themed hotels, though staying at an outlet mall doesn’t have much appeal to me.

What do you make of these plans for the Pan Am Hotel Los Angeles?