Kiwi Curated
Iconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
by Joy PecknoldGiven famous people’s penchant for travel and luxury, it’s no wonder their storylines often intertwine with fabulous hotels. Beyond raging parties and trashed rooms, funny, fascinating and downright historic celebrity moments happen at hotels. Here are nine of the most iconic.
Iconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
In May 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous week-long bed-in for world peace at Montreal’s Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Apparently, the housekeeping team had their work cut out for them, as Lennon loved to scatter flower petals on the ground. Now named for the couple, suite 1742 immortalizes their stay with permanent versions of the “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace” signs they put up. Other inspired décor, artifacts and objects fill the room, including a copy of Alice in Wonderland, one of Lennon’s favorite books.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Long before Will Smith’s fictional Fresh Prince relocated to Bel Air, the Hotel Bel-Air had already put the prestigious neighborhood on the map for its long list of celebrity guests. Grace Kelly moved in before her wedding and following her Oscar win for The Country Girl. For a Vogue shoot in June 1962, six weeks before she died, Marilyn Monroe was photographed by Bert Stern at the hotel. Those images went into the book The Last Sitting.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Not only were John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy repeat visitors to the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, but JFK also edited and practiced his 1961 inauguration address here, in Villa 25. Along with a private pool and views of the Caribbean, the present day three-bedroom villa includes artifacts from the 35th president of the United States’ speech and visits.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Before delivering his historic “I Have A Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked on it at The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. According to the hotel, the civil rights activist and his advisors put the finishing touches on the speech in a secluded area of the lobby. The room Dr. King stayed in at the time, 310, now bears his name.
VIEW HOTEL
Iconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Taking a cue from the song’s opening lyric “I want to kiss you in Paris,” Madonna filmed her 1990 “Justify My Love” music video in the hallways and rooms of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. Directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the black and white vid features her, her then-boyfriend fashion model Tony Ward and others engaging in a little BDSM—its raciness got it banned from many networks at the time.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Since the Taj Mahal Palace opened in 1903, its glittering guest list has grown long, from the Dalai Lama to Barack and Michelle Obama. In 1966, former Beatle George Harrison checked in and ended up taking sitar lessons from Indian music icon Ravi Shankar. Harrison’s bandmate John stayed in Rajput Suite with Yoko (the couple sure had great taste in hotels), and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie followed in their bare-footsteps.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
The Lobby Lounge and Bar at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills was once known as the Writer’s Bar and for good reason. It’s here that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck polished off their Oscar-winning script for Good Will Hunting. It’s not the only one—The Godfather and The Graduate scripts were also penned here.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Is it possible to be distraught when vacationing in a two-story presidential suite in Bora Bora? Kim Kardashian found a way. While at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in 2011, all caught on tape for an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kim loses her diamond earring when Kris Humphries tosses her in the ocean prompting her famed “ugly cry.” But because it was shallow, crystal clear water, Kylie Jenner quickly found it and they didn’t have to file an insurance claim. Disaster averted.
VIEW HOTELIconic Celebrity Moments That Happened at Hotels
Recounting all the celebrity stories attached to The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows’ 109-year history would take up too much space. But one of the most interesting ones belongs, unsurprisingly, to Howard Hughes. The reclusive, eccentric millionaire lived here on and off for 30 years, occupying as many as nine bungalows at one time, but favouring Bungalow 4. He had staff leave his roast beef sandwiches in the crook of a tree and hide pineapple upside-down cakes for him to find on 2 a.m. treasure hunts.
VIEW HOTELIn May 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono staged their famous week-long bed-in for world peace at Montreal’s Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Apparently, the housekeeping team had their work cut out for them, as Lennon loved to scatter flower petals on the ground. Now named for the couple, suite 1742 immortalizes their stay with permanent versions of the “Hair Peace” and “Bed Peace” signs they put up. Other inspired décor, artifacts and objects fill the room, including a copy of Alice in Wonderland, one of Lennon’s favorite books.
VIEW HOTELLong before Will Smith’s fictional Fresh Prince relocated to Bel Air, the Hotel Bel-Air had already put the prestigious neighborhood on the map for its long list of celebrity guests. Grace Kelly moved in before her wedding and following her Oscar win for The Country Girl. For a Vogue shoot in June 1962, six weeks before she died, Marilyn Monroe was photographed by Bert Stern at the hotel. Those images went into the book The Last Sitting.
VIEW HOTELNot only were John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy repeat visitors to the Round Hill Hotel and Villas, but JFK also edited and practiced his 1961 inauguration address here, in Villa 25. Along with a private pool and views of the Caribbean, the present day three-bedroom villa includes artifacts from the 35th president of the United States’ speech and visits.
VIEW HOTELBefore delivering his historic “I Have A Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worked on it at The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. According to the hotel, the civil rights activist and his advisors put the finishing touches on the speech in a secluded area of the lobby. The room Dr. King stayed in at the time, 310, now bears his name.
VIEW HOTEL
Taking a cue from the song’s opening lyric “I want to kiss you in Paris,” Madonna filmed her 1990 “Justify My Love” music video in the hallways and rooms of Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris. Directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, the black and white vid features her, her then-boyfriend fashion model Tony Ward and others engaging in a little BDSM—its raciness got it banned from many networks at the time.
VIEW HOTELSince the Taj Mahal Palace opened in 1903, its glittering guest list has grown long, from the Dalai Lama to Barack and Michelle Obama. In 1966, former Beatle George Harrison checked in and ended up taking sitar lessons from Indian music icon Ravi Shankar. Harrison’s bandmate John stayed in Rajput Suite with Yoko (the couple sure had great taste in hotels), and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie followed in their bare-footsteps.
VIEW HOTELThe Lobby Lounge and Bar at the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills was once known as the Writer’s Bar and for good reason. It’s here that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck polished off their Oscar-winning script for Good Will Hunting. It’s not the only one—The Godfather and The Graduate scripts were also penned here.
VIEW HOTELIs it possible to be distraught when vacationing in a two-story presidential suite in Bora Bora? Kim Kardashian found a way. While at the Conrad Bora Bora Nui in 2011, all caught on tape for an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians, Kim loses her diamond earring when Kris Humphries tosses her in the ocean prompting her famed “ugly cry.” But because it was shallow, crystal clear water, Kylie Jenner quickly found it and they didn’t have to file an insurance claim. Disaster averted.
VIEW HOTELRecounting all the celebrity stories attached to The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows’ 109-year history would take up too much space. But one of the most interesting ones belongs, unsurprisingly, to Howard Hughes. The reclusive, eccentric millionaire lived here on and off for 30 years, occupying as many as nine bungalows at one time, but favouring Bungalow 4. He had staff leave his roast beef sandwiches in the crook of a tree and hide pineapple upside-down cakes for him to find on 2 a.m. treasure hunts.
VIEW HOTEL