An ‘Ocean Front Penthouse’ at the Cardozo Hotel in Miami. Photo: Supplied
Most hotels are owned by faceless corporate chains and venture capital groups. But every once in a while, someone much more famous decides to give it a try. They don’t tend to linger long – the likes of Olivia Newton-John, Robert Redford, Russell Crowe and Bono have sold theirs in recent years. But sometimes the stars are not limited to the rating of the hotel…
The Greenwich Hotel
Where? New York City
Photo: Supplied
The Greenwich Hotel really doesn’t mesh well with the surrounding hipster lofts in Tribeca. It relies heavily on decoration, with flowery sofas, Moorish tiling, oak parquet floors and palm trees galore. The tropics, Arabia and the Far East influence the wonderfully quirky look. And that was the opening salvo for Robert De Niro’s growing hotel empire, which includes Nobu Hotels. To see thegreenwichhotel.com
Margherita Palace
Where? Bernarda, Italy
De Niro’s occasional collaborator, Francis Ford Coppola, also has his fingers in the hotel business. The Palazzo Margherita in southern Italy has a godfather-worthy opulence, following Coppola’s comprehensive restoration of the 19th-century villa. There’s a pool amid sprawling gardens, and one bedroom was designed by Coppola’s daughter-in-charge, Sofia. To see thefamilycoppolahideaways.com
Rival Hotel
Where? Stockholm, Sweden
Photo: Supplied
When it opened in 2003, Hotel Rival boasted that it was Stockholm’s first boutique hotel. The rooms are deliberately colorful, with massive walls with pictures behind the beds, and the art deco cocktail bar is a delight. Most unusual, however, is the Rival’s 735-seat theatre. All the flamboyance comes into its own when you learn that co-owner is ABBA’s Benny Andersson. To see rival.se
Cromlix
Where? Perthshire, Scotland
Photo: Cromlix House
In 2010, tennis player Andy Murray witnessed his brother’s wedding at Cromlix House, just outside his home town of Dunblane. Three years later, Murray bought the 15-bedroom Victorian mansion and turned it into a five-star hotel. Cromlix is set in 34 acres of woodland and has a restaurant overseen by TV chef and Michelin Guide regular Michel Roux. To see Cromlix.com
The Cardozo
Where? Miami Beach, United States
Photo: Supplied
This classic Art Deco hotel, built in 1939, features in films such as There’s Something About Mary and Any Given Sunday. Directly on Ocean Drive, the Cardozo is now owned by Gloria Estefan, and has undergone a major makeover to put it in the luxury category. Expect lots of white, lots of natural light, and the feeling that you’re on a film set. To see cardozohotel.com
Hotel MiM Ibiza Es Viva
Where? Ibiza, Spain
Photo: Supplied
The all-white art deco seems popular among celebrity owners, as exactly the same applies to football superstar Lionel Messi’s hotel in Ibiza. Rooms are small, but you can take yoga classes on the rooftop and DJs spin soft music by the pool. Messi’s hotel empire now numbers four – he also owns MiM hotels in Sitges, Mallorca and Baqueira. To see mimhotels.com
Hotel Soccer
Where? Manchester, England
Photo: Supplied
Not all footballer-owned hotels take the terrifically cool approach. Hotel Football in Manchester shamelessly throws football fans off. Some rooms have views of the Old Trafford football stadium, while the rooftop event space is covered in artificial grass. It’s no surprise to learn that he’s owned by five former Manchester United players – Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs. To see hotelfootball.com
Musha Cay
Where? The Bahamas
Illusionist David Copperfield isn’t exactly subtle about his ownership of this upscale resort. He even renamed the nearby bay to Copperfield Bay. You can only stay if you book the whole island, which gives you a private chef, 40 beaches, a heated pool and a two kilometer sandbar all to yourself. If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it. To see mushacay.com
Hotel Villa Angela Taormina
Where? Sicily, Italy
Photo: Supplied
Romance is the sought-after vibe at this 27-room hotel in Taormina. There are splendid views of the Ionian Sea and Mount Etna from furnished balconies and the hilltop pool. Surprisingly enough, the owner is Jim Kerr, lead singer of rock band Simple Minds. He first visited Taormina in 1982, fell in love with the place and regularly stays at his own hotel. To see hotelvillaangela.com
Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat
Where? The Gold Coast, Queensland
Of course, Australia has its own fair share of hotel owners far better known for something else. Hugh Jackman is the originator of this spa retreat in the Tallebudgera Valley, where the focus is on deliberate low-tech, wellness seminars and all things organic. Customers are not allowed to bring cigarettes, alcohol or even caffeinated beverages onto the premises. To see gwinganna.com
See also: The 10 places to visit before the return of international tourists
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