Star Power: Hotels Owned By Celebrities

by McLean Robbins on

As we’ve learned in the “Birth of a Hotel” series, a crucial part of a hotel’s pre-opening phase involves effectively marketing and creating “buzz” around a new or refurbished property. And when you have a celebrity in your ownership group, that job becomes just that much easier.

That’s the case with the soon-to-open Nobu Hotel (now accepting February reservations), where Robert De Niro is a critical partner in the renovation and re-branding of a tower within the Caesar’s Palace complex. An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal this past weekend discusses De Niro’s hands-on (but not obsessive) involvement with the project, as well as the brand’s planned expansion to Saudi Arabia, London and Bahrain in the coming months and years. This isn’t his first project, either. He also owns The Greenwich Hotel in New York City.

Designers have long been involved in special partnerships with hotel brands – Diane Von Furstenberg has designed several hotel suites, including a new penthouse on Australian private island Hayman, Trina Turk designed beach cabanas for the St. Regis Princeville, and Lenny Kravitz (yes, the singer) was a key collaborator on the hot new South Beach hotel SLS South Beach. That of course doesn’t exclude big fashion houses like Ferragamo, Versace and Moschino, which have collaborated in design or ownership of luxury properties throughout Europe and the Middle East.

But is De Niro the only celebrity involved in the hotel ownership craze? Not at all. The properties below are owned (in whole or in part) by big name individuals.

Trump Hotels, Worldwide
Perhaps the most famous is The Donald himself, founder and partial or full owner of many of the eponymously named Trump Hotels. While the name is technically that of a management firm, Trump does own portions of several of his properties.

The Clarence, Ireland
Rock star Bono and band mate The Edge invested in this luxurious city property in 1992 during its refurbishment. Today, the 49-room boutique hotel draws a number of well-heeled guests each year.

Sundance Resort, Utah
Purchased by Robert Redford in 1969, what was once a sleepy local ski resort called Timphaven has become a worldwide mecca for film and fun every winter.

Bedford Post Inn, New York
This recently renovated eight-room inn is a favorite of celebrities like Martha Stewart, but it also boasts a similarly A-list owner, Richard Gere. Known as much for the food as for the rooms, the Relais & Chateaux hotel also boasts an in-house yoga studio.Coppola Resorts – Belize, Argentina, Guatemala, Italy
Famed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola has more than just a vision for film. His resort company has launched a number of luxury projects, including hotels in Belize, Guatemala, Argentina and Italy.

Ariel Sands, Bermuda
Imagine liking a hotel so much, you decided to buy it. That’s exactly what Michael Douglas and wife Catherine Zeta-Jones did with this 14-acre resort in Bermuda. The couple technically owns shares of the property, not the entire thing, but they are also frequent guests.

Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco
We all know about Richard Branson’s famed Necker Island, but what about his luxury retreat in Morocco? It should come as no shock that the Virgin founder has more than one resort at his disposal.

Hotel Tetiaroa, French Polynesia
While filming a movie here in the late 1960s, Marlon Brando purchased the property now known as Hotel Tetiaroa. An eco resort called The Brando is also being built on the site currently.

Mission Ranch & Cypress Inn, Carmel-By-The-Sea
Carmel is a happening celebrity hotel town it seems. Clint Eastwood owns Mission Ranch, while Doris Day is the proprietor of the Cypress Inn.

Have a favorite we missed? Leave it in the comments, below.

[Image Credit: The Clarence Hotel]

Birth Of A Hotel: Washington Area Hotels Primp For Inauguration

by McLean Robbins on

It isn’t just the Capella that is racing to spruce up their hotel before the 2013 inauguration. Hotels all over the nation’s capital are preparing to greet visitors with new welcome spaces, updated decor, special amenities and in-house food extravaganzas.

Inauguration is one of Washington’s biggest hotel events. In 2009, when more than one million people journeyed to the inauguration of President Obama on the National Mall, DC hotel rooms generated more than $100 million in revenue, states data from Destination DC, the city’s marketing organization. Since that time, more than $250 million has been spent to refresh or update hotels throughout the city.

Although the Capella Washington, D.C. Georgetown is the only hotel scheduled to open between the election and the inauguration, other area properties have also made efforts to step up so that guests will “elect” them for their inaugural home away from home.

More than a dozen properties are expected to be refreshed or updated in time for the inauguration. As we already know that you’ll be shelling out the big bucks (often more than $300 per night) to stay in the city during this prime time, you might want to consider those properties that have had a recent update, including:

  • W Washington DC
    This hotel just barely missed the last inauguration, opening in summer 2009. Previously the Hotel Washington, the Starwood branded hotel has played host to Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift since its reopening.
  • Avenue Suites completed nine months of renovations early this year, including its façade, lobby and patio and rebranded from the Washington Suites. The property has quickly become a local favorite, and draws a crowd at its on-site bar, A Bar.
  • Capital Hilton spent two years completing its $30 million in renovations, including a new spa, lobby and the Statler Lounge, its lobby bar. This centrally located hotel is often a popular location for inaugural events.
  • The DoubleTree by Hilton Washington finished a design of its lobby, lounge and entrance. This hotel is likely one of the more reasonably priced in the city during inauguration.

  • Embassy Suites D.C. Convention Center is in the midst of a 384-room update, as well as changes to its lobby and reception area. Conveniently located in downtown, this hotel is walking distance from many inaugural events as well as public transportation.
  • The Fairmont Washington D.C. invested $2.6 million in its function space including its meeting room and ballroom. The hotel’s proximity to posh Georgetown is a draw for many guests.
  • The Four Seasons Hotel Washington DC invested $1 million to expand and update Seasons Restaurant, a noted power breakfast spot, this year. The hotel completed a massive overhaul before the 2009 inaugural, and is likely the pre-eminent “see and be seen” spot for celebrity spotting during the 2013 inauguration.
  • The Hamilton Crowne Plaza Washington, DC was refreshed in the spring-summer of 2012 and shows off its Art Deco form to great advantage.
  • The Hay Adams transformed their rooftop deck into an enclosed private events space atop the historic Hay-Adams Hotel was so extensive that the hotel essentially added a ninth floor and a dedicated elevator. If you can attend an inaugural event here – do it.
  • The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel invested $6 million in updating its guest rooms. Conveniently located near the hill, this hotel is walking distance to the actual inauguration.
  • The Madison is the final stages of completing a $22 million revamp of its entire property, including its restaurant and guest rooms. The hotel will celebrate its 50th birthday throughout 2013. A bit “under the radar” in DC’s luxury hotel scene, this hotel hosts an annual inaugural event that is one of the city’s most coveted.
  • The Mayflower Renaissance Washington, D.C. re-opened the Promenade Ballroom, the site of presidential affairs including Calvin Coolidge’s inaugural ball. This hotel is just a few blocks from the White House.
  • The Park Hyatt Washington updated their lower level last year, and recently unveiled catering from their famed Blue Duck Tavern (where the Obamas celebrated their 17th anniversary).
  • The Renaissance Washington Downtown will finish up a multi million-dollar renovation of its 804 guest rooms by mid-October. The proximity to public transport and the ability to use your Marriott Rewards? A match made in bi-partisan heaven.
  • The Washington Hilton, whose $150 million redo wrapped up before this year, added a coffee shop – the first Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in the city – this spring. Angelenos, take note. You’re also likely to find at least one inaugural event in this hotel’s ballroom.

We’ll be bringing you lots of news about what’s happening in DC over the coming weeks and months, both as our focus property, Capella, prepares to open, and as hotels unveil their over-the-top packages and events surrounding the big day. In the meantime, remember to get out and vote tomorrow!

[Image Credit: Nick McKeta Photography]

Hotel News We Noted: November 2, 2012

by McLean Robbins on

We’d like to begin this week’s column by sending out our thoughts to all of those who have been without power or homes since Sandy tore through the East Coast earlier this week. While we escaped the worst of the storm in D.C., we know that many of our friends and colleagues in the Northeast were not so lucky. We’ll be reporting on ways travelers can help throughout the coming weeks.

The hotel news, however, must go on. So, without further ado, here is this week’s issue of “Hotel News We Noted.”

If you’re interested in sending us newsy tidbits or comments, please do so via email. We welcome reader mail! We’re also seeking hotels and travel companies offering Black Friday and Cyber Monday specials for an upcoming special edition.

Storm Loss: $700 Million In Business Lost
A new Wall Street Journal article estimates that the one-day loss totals from Hurricane Sandy equaled 600,000 business trips lost and $700 million in associated spending loss. Significant, sure, but not compared to the $50 billion plus expected to clean up the damage as a result of the storm. Still, for the tens of thousands of travelers still stranded in airport hotels waiting to get home and those who are currently staycationing because their buldings lack power, we hope you get home soon.

Hotel Openings: In North Korea?
We all knew those crazy North Koreans were on a power trip. Now the AP is reporting (see the full story over on our friends at HuffPo) that the “world’s tallest hotel,” Pyongyang’s Ryugyong Hotel, will likely open next year. The 105-story hotel will partially open more than two decades after initial construction began, via a management contract with European hotel chain Kempinski.New Hotel Partnership: Gaylord Joins Marriott
Marriott now has a 14th brand. As of early 2013, Gaylord Hotels’ four resorts in the D.C., Orlando, Dallas and Nashville areas will be part of the Marriott Rewards program. Members earn 10 points per dollar spent at Gaylord Hotels on room rate only or two airline miles per dollar spent on room rate only. That’s a good deal for business travelers, many of who find themselves at these massive conference centers for events.

Haute Hotel Package: Holiday Prep at the White Barn Inn
Learn how to be the “Hostess with the Mostess” this holiday season. On November 10, The White Barn Inn, the boutique Relais & Chateaux property in Kennebunkport, ME, is offering guests a Holiday Workshop, complete with a baking class in the new bakery (with champagne, of course), lunch at the famed White Barn Inn restaurant where guests can try their baked creations, and a cocktail class by White Barn Inn expert mixologists to learn to make the hottest holiday cocktails of the season. Rates start at $760 for an overnight plus breakfast for two. Pricey, but if it gets you any closer to Martha Stewart-like fame for your domestic skills, the investment might be worth it.

Hotel Deals of the Week
It seems like even hotels are getting in the holiday spirit early this year. Arizona’s Biltmore is offering an incredible $89 holiday rate for stays booked between Nov. 2 and 9 for stays between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1 or between Dec. 14 and Jan. 1.

[Image Credit: Arizona Biltmore]

Cruise Lines And Vegas: Once Foes, Now Friends

by Chris Owen on

In the past, cruise lines would recoil at being compared to a floating ’70s Las Vegas, even with their ships complemented with neon lights and production shows that featured plumed fan dancers. That belly-up-to-the-buffet stereotype was a bad rap that cruise lines tried to shake for decades.

But that was before both the world of Vegas and the world of cruise vacations survived the worst economic period since the Great Depression, grew up and figured out that they could help each other. Formerly seen as foes, competing for the same polyester-clad vacationer, the two popular travel options are now working together.

Royal Caribbean International and MGM Resorts International have announced an unprecedented strategic relationship that will allow members of both companies loyalty programs to share benefits. Beginning in January 2013, members of Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society and MGM’s M life will receive top-shelf offers and benefits, growing as they prove loyalty by giving either company more business.”Whether on land or at sea, Crown & Anchor Society and M life members will enjoy unprecedented recognition for their dedication to our brands,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Sales and Marketing for Royal Caribbean International in a Miami Herald report. “We are delighted to be an M life preferred partner and welcome M life members aboard to experience our world-renowned Gold Anchor Service, innovative cruise ships, unexpected onboard amenities, and unforgettable itineraries to exciting destinations.”

MGM’s M life members will receive offers with a range of benefits when sailing with Royal Caribbean. As members advance to the next M life Tier Level, their cruise offers and benefits will grow. International and domestic cruises will be awarded during special MGM Resorts’ promotions and slot tournaments.

Royal Caribbean’s Crown & Anchor Society members will receive M life offers and benefits including pre-sale access to tickets for A-list concerts and championship boxing matches, priority reservations, priority hotel check-in, room upgrades, VIP services and more, based on their Royal Caribbean loyalty level.




[Photo Credit: Flickr user disneybrent]

Birth Of A Hotel: No Sandy Setbacks On Hotel Construction, At Least In DC

by McLean Robbins on


Our featured hotel in the Birth of a Hotel series, Capella Washington, D.C., Georgetown, narrowly escaped major damage during Hurricane Sandy. The hotel secured much of its construction equipment in advance of the storm, as shown in the photo above, but also was lucky to be just before “closing” stage, when the building is finally sealed and the roof finally put into place.Georgetown also escaped much of the predicted damage, as the photo below indicates. While water levels did rise significantly, the nearby waterfront didn’t flood to the extent forecasted.

We can just see a bit more mud than usual in the C&O Canal, behind the hotel.


Compare this situation with that of another hotel in the construction phase, the future Park Hyatt New York. Readers have likely seen the photo of the crane dangling above One 57th. We’re fairly confident that this will delay that hotel’s opening by a few months.

The Birth of a Hotel” is a Gadling-exclusive series that details what happens as a hotel prepares to open. Follow along with the articles and updates at “The Birth Of A Hotel” page, here. We’d also love to hear from you, our readers. If you have a topic about hotel development or trends that you’d love to see explored, email us or leave a comment below.

[Image Credits: CapellaDC, General Manager Alex Obertop, CarolJoynt, JessyeAnne]