In 1832 a new book by Washington Irving appeared in various small shops around the United States. This book focused on The Alhambra, an old building that had once served as the Arabian Palace. The Alhambra was not expected to become part of a chain of hotels. Alhambra, meaning "the red one," referred to the color of the brick on the exterior of the building.

Alhambra housed many interesting objects-stone and wood carvings plus tile patterns on the walls.  In 1832 the red brick exterior of The Alhambra captured the attention of one group of Californians. They decided to name their expanding community the City of Alhambra.  This took place more than seventy-one years before the appearance in the city of any hotels. Alhambra became incorporated in 1903.

Alhambra, located eight miles east of Los Angeles, is called the "gateway to the San Gabriel Valley." By 2005 Alhambra had undergone a transformation; it had become home to many different immigrant communities. Some of those immigrants, especially those from India, assumed ownership of various local hotels. Alhambra thus launched an effort to attract tourists.

As this effort advanced the citizens of Alhambra asked among them, "How can we bring more tourists to Alhambra, CA?" They sensed that the city needed more than just hotels. Alhambra needed character. By the start of the 21st century Alhambra was well on its way to developing some sort of "character." Alhambra had become home to a diverse number of people.

Alhambra had a diverse population and lots of hotels. Alhambra also had many different restaurants. The hotels in Alhambra did not need to have restaurants, because each hotel had at least one restaurant close-by. Alhambra contained eleven different Indian restaurants, twelve different Asian/Pacific Island restaurants and four Latin/ Caribbean restaurants. And if those offerings failed to draw tourists to Alhambra, CA then that City could advertise other temptations.

Alhambra contained a Mediterranean/ Middle Eastern restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a French restaurant and a sports bar. It also contained six bakeries, five coffee/tea bars and seven different American restaurants. In addition Alhambra had some nighttime activities that could draw tourists from out of their hotels. Alhambra had a half dozen spots for live dance, some of which offered Cuban dancing, and one of which offered music for the "squarefoot stomp."

Movies too could draw visitors out of the rooms in the hotels. Alhambra had two movie theaters. After a night at the movies, the tourists of Alhambra could seek refreshment at Fosselman's Ice Cream, a shop located on West Main Street. One past visitor to Fosselman's made these comments about the ice cream: "They have every kind of ice cream you can think of. It's very old fashin! Which is very cool!"

Alhambra has also supported the building of many retail stores in the vicinity of its hotels. Alhambra has experienced a growing population and growing tourists' pool, a pool from which to expect those important tourist dollars.