At Stage and Screen we know a work trip is a very different undertaking from a holiday, and we know exactly what we’re looking for when scouring out the best accommodation for our screen and entertainment clients.
The travel needs of the entertainment industry are constantly changing and there’s never a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Whether a film crew needs to shoot at a remote location or an A-list actor needs sanctuary away from the press, we can deliver bespoke solutions for every client.
Here are seven of Australia’s best five-star hotels for those in screen and entertainment.
SYDNEY
QT SYDNEY
This opulent boutique hotel is made for creative guests. Devoted to design, art and entertainment, the beautifully designed property shares a building with Sydney’s State Theatre. The heritage interiors are filled with objets d’art, fashion-inspired displays, design features, colour and craftsmanship. The flamboyant Gilt Lounge is a popular venue for opening night and movie premier after-parties, and Robert Marchetti’s acclaimed Gowings Bar & Grill satisfies the most discerning palate with its produce-driven fare. No wonder Ben Stiller gave QT the thumbs-up.
THE LANGHAM SYDNEY
If Johnny Depp’s dogs had been allowed to stay in Australia they would have been spoiled as royally as their owner at The Langham Sydney. This sumptuous harbourside hotel, recently transformed by a 30 million dollar renovation, is Sydney’s only luxury hotel offering pet-friendly accommodation. A full Pet Room Service Menu features chef-created treats such as Lassie’s Favourite beef steak with chunky vegetables for dogs and Meow Meow grilled salmon with green beans, quail egg, tuna, potatoes and olives for cats. Don’t worry; humans fare well too, with one of the city’s most indulgent spas, Chuan Spa downstairs, boasting a 20m pool. Features in the lavish Observatory Suite include a dining room for eight with private wine cellar and butler service.
MELBOURNE
CROWN TOWERS MELBOURNE
Melbourne’s Crown Complex is rarely without a contingent of visiting high profile guests. The hotel’s villas on the 30th and 31st floors are a true home-away-from-home designed to resemble the ultimate penthouse residence and boasting 130sqm of exclusivity. The massive two-bedroom Tower Suite is another popular option – especially for guests travelling with family. When Crown Casino hosts the Logies, the Australian TV industry’s annual awards show, the entertainment industry takes over Crown Towers. Security is watertight and there are plenty of discreet back entrances and exits to avoid the paparazzi.
GRAND HYATT MELBOURNE
A classic property and benchmark for timeless luxury in Melbourne, the Grand Hyatt cocoons its guests in opulence framed by grand entrances and an elegant lobby. The glamour persists in sumptuous rooms with floor to ceiling windows, custom-made beds and marble bathrooms. The two Ambassador suites are perfect for extra pampering and come with walk-in wardrobes big enough to boast their own postcode. Despite the grandeur, visitors quickly feel at home here. Last year Justin Bieber got so comfortable he skateboarded around the marble-floored lobby.
GOLD COAST
SHERATON GRAND MIRAGE RESORT
The awe-inspiring proportions of this beachside hotel’s grand lobby – one of the biggest you’ll see in this country – scream status! Guests here will be looked after by famously solicitous staff and can unwind in the huge Royal Suite, with 180-degree sea views, walk-in wardrobe and designer, beach-chic furniture. The lagoon pool and resort feel have you believing you’re on an island retreat, when you’re actually up close to all the Gold Coast entertainment venues.
BRISBANE
SOFITEL BRISBANE CENTRAL
As the name suggests, this hotel is right in the heart of Brisbane, with direct access to the Central Railway Station – ideal for seamless transfer of people and equipment. Celebrity guests are partial to pampering in the discreet surrounds of the level three Stephanie’s Spa Retreat and those in search of further indulgence opt for the Opera Suite, with its 28th floor views of the city skyline through 14m-wide gallery windows, a library/study, dining room and deep bath with Hermès ammenities.
PERTH
COMO THE TREASURY
Perth’s 140-year-old state buildings form the graceful skeleton for this property regarded by many as Australia’s best city hotel. Visitors love the sympathetic restoration from Kerry Hill architects, the sybaritic Shambhala Spa, and the rooms’ rainforest showers, heated stone floors and tranquil feel, helping you to forget you’re right in the city centre.
By Amy Cooper