The latest and greatest celeb-owned hotels
From De Niro's London lodgings to DiCaprio's Belizean eco-resort, celebrity-backed boltholes are the hottest trend for the Hollywood set
Many of us aspire to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, with plenty of destinations around the globe playing up their illustrious clientele in the hope of offering a taste of this exclusive world. However, there's no better way to truly get into the mindset of Hollywood's biggest names than to head to the hotels they own.
There's a plethora of new openings on the horizon that promise far more than just star appeal. Robert De Niro has a slightly rocky history as an hotelier – on paper, his joint venture with Michelin-starred chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the Nobu Hotel Manila in the Philippines, should have been a roaring success, but ended up being voted 2015's worst new luxury hotel. Despite this, he is sure to be looking to replicate the success of his more well-received offering – the highly rated Greenwich Hotel in New York's trendy Tribeca – as he opens his first London hotel this year. The 83-roomed The Wellington Hotel will take over six grand buildings in Covent Garden, three of which are Grade II-listed, with amenities including two restaurants, a members' club and a courtyard conservatory.
For those seeking out sunnier climes, one to keep an eye out for is Leonardo DiCaprio's ambitious eco-resort off the coast of Belize. The actor purchased the island of Blackadore Caye for $1.75 million and is transforming it into a destination that promises guests both ecological and personal restoration. The former aim is two-fold, focusing on progressive green construction practices and technologies – the development will be powered by solar energy – while also designing the site with preservation of the island's incredible wildlife in mind. The latter encompasses LA-style wellness, from opportunities to partake in meditation and personal health programmes down to the architecture itself, which incorporates advanced air filtration and water purifications systems alongside state-of-the-art lighting that encourages optimum sleep cycles.
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When it completes in 2018, DiCaprio will join esteemed company in Belize. Late last year, Francis Ford Coppola opened up the private island of Coral Caye to the public for the first time. Those who book have the two-acre secluded spot all to themselves, save for the "island caretakers", who can whip up a fresh-caught al fresco seafood dinner at a moment's notice. It's just a short boat ride away from another of the Coppola's idyllic beachfront hideaways, Turtle Inn, a 25-room resort comprising individual thatched cottages looking out to the crystal-clear Carribean Sea.
More curious are the rumblings of a new project from Brad Pitt, who is set to put in place a $1.5 billion resort in the small coastal town of Zablace in Croatia, which he described as "the most beautiful country he has ever visited". While details are scarce, in addition to a luxury hotel, golf course, shops and restaurants, the plans are reported to also place importance on the impact on the local community, including the building of schools and a clinic.
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