Recently I had an artist, who is now climbing the charts, ask me for a list of hotels I would recommend if money was not a major factor. I pulled up some previous tour itineraries of several artists I have handled as their tour manager over the years. It is a tour manager’s job to book hotels that the artist prefers in addition to a thousand other requirements of the artist……
Of course there is always a band accountant that keeps his eye on the numbers, but surprisingly enough, I was able to secure good deals because of the size of our entourage. Of all the artists that I have worked with. Manhattan Transfer probably had the most demanding tastes when it came to hotels, matter of fact the four principles were demanding about everything…… I just forwarded my artist itinerary from a world tour I did with The Transfer in 2005, the band had to settle for 5 stars because there wasn’t a “6” 🙂
Hotel Montreux, Montreux. Swisterland Famous for hosting Montreux Jazz festival guests, Crosby Stills & Nash, Manhattan Transer, Joe Samples, etc.
SANCTUM SOHO HOTEL – LONDON, ENGLAND Iron Maiden’s boutique hotel opened on March 21, 2009. Located in the heart of London’s West End, the hotel features 30 individually-designed rooms, private cinema, roof top garden with open air hydro spa, restaurant and 24-hour members- and guests-only bar. The hotel feature heavy security to keep the paparazzi, groupies and fans at bay.
SUNSET MARQUIS – LOS ANGELES Since 1963, the Sunset Marquis has served as a safe refuge for the famous, the infamous and the nearly so,. For nearly two decades, the likes of Jeff Beck, Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Ozzy Osbourne, Phil Collins, Sheryl Crow, Bono & U2, etc,
EDEN ROCK – ST. BARTHS Villa offers its own state-of-the-art recording studio, a music room and a 20-seat Cinemascope home theatre. Besides that, it contains four super deluxe suites, two staff cabins, swimming pool, spa pool, gym and every other thing you’d expect from an $18 million dollar villa
THE CLARENCE – DUBLIN, IRELAND Owned by Bono & The Edge of the Irish rock group U2. The duplex Penthouse Suite on the rooftop 5th/6th floors of the hotel offering river & mountain views from its many windows.
THE SETAI – MIAMI, FLORIDA The Setai is set in a prized location on Miami’s South Beach and this ultra-luxe hotel a host of plush amenities including the Lenny Kravitz Recording Studio situated in the two-floor Penthouse Suite. The recording studio has ocean views and a private outdoor patio. The 2,500 sq.ft. space has state-of-the-art equipment, two “live” rooms, a vocal booth, control room, lounge and conference rooms.
THE PALMS CASINO RESORT – LAS VEGAS Rock stars, movie stars, sports stars, poker stars all stay at the Palms. The brainchild of George Maloof, whose family owns the Sacramento Kings basketball team, The Palms hotel and private recording studio has been frequented by many artist, including Britney Spears. It is the largest recording facility in Las Vegas.
HARD ROCK HOTEL – SAN DIEGO One suite has a fire pit and deck seating for 20 while another features 270-degree views of the San Diego Bay and an outdoor hot tub. One extraordinary Rock Star Suite has been designed by the Grammy® Award-winning Black Eyed Peas.
THE EDGEWATER – SEATTLE The Beatles stayed in here 1964 while touring America. The hotel’s Beatles Suite caters to rock n’ roll aficionados with fascinating portraits, memorabilia, Beatles history and music and state-of-the-art stereo system with Beatles CDs. Three bay windows offer unobstructed views of Seattle’s Elliott Bay and the Olympic Mountains. Guests can still fish from their windows.
COMPASS POINT RESORT – BAHAMAS The famous Compass Point Studio is located across from the hotel. Started in 1977 by Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and producer of Bob Marley, the studio has hosted the Rolling Stones, Robert Palmer, Lenny Kravitz, Bono & U2, etc.
GEEJAM HOTEL – PORT ANTONIO, JAMAICA Gwen Stefani and No Doubt, India.Arie, Björk, etc. have written and recorded at the property. The hotel is known for its top-of-the-line technology,
The Highland Gardens Hotel Formerly known as the Hollywood Landmark hotel, The Hotel opened its doors in the mid 1950’s The Highland Gardens (Landmark hotel) quickly became home to many famous Hollywood stars. Guests have included members of: The Rat Pack, Jim Morrison, Jefferson Airplane, Moody Blues, C Train, Pulse, Shep Gordon, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Butterfield Band, Ten Years After, Joe Cocker Group, Siegfried & Roy, plus many more. Janis Joplin died only a few months into the 1970s from an accidental overdose of heroin. She spent her last moments in room #105.
The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel The hotel hosted the presentation of the 1st Academy Awards in 1929 inside its Blossom ballroom. Actress Frances Farmer was the guest of honor in 1958 after appearing on This Is Your Life. Marilyn Monroe was a resident at the Hollywood Roosevelt for two years when her modeling career took off. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard paid five dollars a night for their penthouse, now named the Gable & Lombard Penthouse. Actress Elizabeth Patterson lived in the hotel during her 35-year motion picture career.
Le Parc Suite Hotel An intimate West Hollywood retreat well known to musicians on tour, and trendsetting celebrities in search of a few days off the grid, Its 154 suites are spacious enough for extended stays.
Mondrian LA Rejuvenated by Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz, this boutique hotel is in the heart of West Hollywood located across the street from the famous House of Blues venue.
L’Hôtel, Paris Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Al Pacino, Lenny Kravitz, Frank Sinatra and Quentin Tarantino have all frequented this hotel.
Phoenix Hotel, San Francisco Mötley Crüe, David Bowie, REM, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, the Psychedelic Furs, Norah Jones, Maxïmo Park, the Killers, Bloc Party, and the Shins have all frequented this hotel.
The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville Previous guests include: President John F. Kennedy, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Jimmy Carter, Jerry Lee Lewis, Al Capone, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Bette Davis, Greta Garbo, Charlton Heston, Bono & U2, Linken Park
Few groups have a more distinguished musical career than Manhattan Transfer. Widely renowned for broadening the musical landscape with their innovative, genre defying sound, the Platinum-selling jazz/pop group has won 10 Grammy Awards and earned 17 nominations.