The Hotel Assassination is the first Lester hit that GTA V forces you to play, and it puts Franklin right in the middle of the game's stranger money-making lessons. If you're jumping between saves, replaying missions, or even checking out GTA V Accounts for a fresh start, this job is one players tend to remember because it's not just about pulling the trigger. It's about timing, stocks, and knowing when to walk away with the profit.
Franklin Meets Lester at the Beach
The setup is simple, but it feels very Lester. Franklin meets him at Vespucci Beach, where Lester lays out the target: Brett Lowrey, the CEO of Bilkinton Research. According to Lester, Lowrey's company has been pushing unsafe medicine and leaning on regulators to keep the cash flowing. So, naturally, Lester turns it into a paid hit. The target is staying at the Von Crastenburg Hotel in Los Santos, and the best window comes when he leaves the building. It's a clean job if you don't panic.
How the Hit Usually Plays Out
Once Franklin reaches the area, the game points him toward a multi-storey car park across from the hotel entrance. From there, you can watch the front doors and wait for Lowrey to appear. Most players go with the sniper rifle because it's quick, controlled, and tied to one of the Gold Medal tasks. There's another way, though. You can plant a sticky bomb on the target's car and detonate it once he gets inside. It works, but it can feel messier. If nobody spots Franklin, he can leave without drawing police attention, which makes the escape much easier.
Gold Medal Goals and Story Reward
The mission's Gold Medal requirements are fairly direct. You need to finish within the required time, kill the target with a sniper rifle, and earn the required money from the assassination. The nice thing is that GTA V doesn't force you to nail every objective in one run. You can replay the mission and clean up whatever you missed. After the hit, Franklin calls Lester, who sounds pleased with how things are going. Lester then tells Franklin he's bought a house in Vinewood Hills and needs someone to live there for tax reasons. Franklin gets the place, and honestly, it's one of his biggest life upgrades in the story.
Stock Moves Players Should Not Ignore
The money side is the real reason veteran players pay close attention here. Before starting the mission, put all three protagonists' cash into Betta Pharmaceuticals on BAWSAQ. After the assassination, wait a few in-game days and sell when the return peaks. Then move the money into Bilkington on the LCN exchange and wait for its recovery. Sleeping or opening the save menu from a bed helps time pass faster. Players who like optimising runs, or who plan to buy cheap GTA V Accounts for another playthrough, should make a manual save before starting, because missing the peak can cost a lot of cash.