Owners of the Hotel Bel-Air said on Wednesday that the historic hotel will re-open in October after 24 months of extensive refurbishment and redesign.

The Spanish Colonial-style hotel, owned by the sultan of Brunei and managed by the Dorchester Group, will offer 103 guestrooms and suites, including 12 new rooms built into the hillside offering sweeping canyon views. Room rates will start at $565 a night.

“We are so excited to re-open Hotel Bel-Air,” said General Manager Tim Lee. “We hope our new and returning guests will be comforted by our attention to detail in restoring the beloved iconic elements while adding contemporary touches that will elevate the guest experience.”

The hotel, originally opened in 1946 as a retreat for presidents, movie stars and the wealthy, has been closed for renovation since September 2009. The facility came under fire at the time for refusing to guarantee that it would continue with union workers when it reopened, or even give a preference to former workers who applied.

The Los Angeles City Council has directed the City Attorney’s office to draft an ordinance, backed by Councilman Paul Koretz, that would require hotels that lay off large numbers of workers because of construction or remodeling to offer any future jobs to worker it had laid off.

It’s unclear whether the proposed ordinance would include a retroactive clause that would apply to the Hotel Bel-Air, which laid off more than 300 workers.

Hotel management declined to say how much was spent on the renovation. The Dorchester Group also manages the Beverly Hills Hotel, which the sultan also owns.