13 Lifestyle Features Monday, August 24, 2020 View of the pool and bungalow area and Sunset strip from Chateau Marmont View of Chateau Marmont on Sunset Strip, in West Hollywood, California. — AFP photos penthouse. or nearly a century Chateau Marmont has been just a decade ago. At Chateau Marmont, shielded-off an adopted home and playground for private quarters will serve an “essentially nomadic” FHollywood’s elite, discreetly hosting sophisticat- wealthy and creative elite tired of traditional luxury ed Golden Age icons and raucous Brat Pack celebri- hotels, Balazs said. But Balazs insists media reports ties. Etched into Tinseltown folklore, it is where James that “the Chateau” is set to ape “exclusionary clubs” Dean crashed director Nicholas Ray’s bungalow to like White’s in London, are wide of the mark. bag the lead in “Rebel Without a Cause,” Jean Harlow Those reports triggered a backlash in Los Angeles and Clark Gable allegedly conducted a torrid affair, among stargazers fearful they will no longer be able and comedy legend John Belushi died of a tragic drug to dine across from their favorite celebrities. “There overdose. More recently, the imposing Gothic hotel will always be a public component” to Chateau perched above the famous Sunset Strip has become a Marmont, Balazs told AFP, including “probably the hub for swanky showbiz parties, from Leonardo restaurant... and then maybe some public aspect to View of the entrance of the lobby from the restaurant DiCaprio’s 21st birthday bash to Beyonce and Jay-Z’s the rooms as well.” “Something that’s become as, if View of the Chateau Marmont Bungalow living room. in Chateau Marmont on Sunset Strip. secret Oscars after-parties. not more, symbolic of Hollywood than the Hollywood The hotel is so synonymous with Hollywood glam- sign itself... making that inaccessible is not the right our that it has its own film credits, appearing in thing to do,” he added. Yet as a Los Angeles Times movies from 2018’s “A Star is Born” remake to the op-ed recently pointed out, Chateau Marmot has musical “La La Land” and Sofia Coppola’s “long been a VIP club that only pretends to be open “Somewhere.” But the storied institution that prides to the public,” catering largely to a closely guarded itself on being highly selective about who it admits- list of repeat guests. and then keeping their secrets closely guarded-is Shawn Levy, author of “The Castle on Sunset,” about to get a whole lot more private and discerning, also noted that “an infusion of initiation fees and its owner told AFP. Later this year, it will become a membership dues would be a godsend, as the member-owned hotel, offering dedicated domestic Chateau, like most hotels, has withered during the staff, private dining and long-term personal belong- pandemic.” The vast majority of hotel staff were laid ings storage to an invitation-only, financial-stake- off in March. “We’ve seriously had to downsize, obvi- owning inner sanctum. “I’d compare it to a supery- ously,” said Balazs, who donated $100,000 to a staff View of the penthouse terrace in Chateau Marmont acht... you can only deliver that kind of service-and fundraiser. on Sunset Strip. have people on deck-if they’re almost hand-selected,” said Andre Balazs, the Boston-born hotelier who once ‘Shenanigans’ dated Uma Thurman. The new, member-owned model is a return to No details are yet available on the costs of mem- Chateau Marmont’s original roots. It was constructed bership. But Balazs had been mulling the transition for as a high-end apartment building in 1929, modeled years, with that process now accelerated by the coro- after the Chateau d’Amboise in the Loire Valley. navirus pandemic. “Common sense, and even a mod- Balazs intends to roll out the scheme to cities such as icum of understanding of health, requires that you London and New York-where he already owns surround yourself with less people,” he said. “In this hotels-and rural outposts including, ironically, “a time, it allows you to be safer, and curate a more spectacular chateau in the south of France.” But the interesting crowd.” hotelier, 63, insists it is mere coincidence that he is starting the experiment at the legendary Marmont-his ‘Symbolic of Hollywood’ first hotel, purchased in 1990, long after many of its The concept of members-only institutions offering fabled Hollywood “shenanigans.” “We don’t traffic in accommodation is well established in cities like glamour,” said Balazs. “We traffic in service to our View of part of the restaurant at Chateau Marmont on London, but newer to Los Angeles, where Soho guests-discretion and service and safety, privacy. View of part of the restaurant at Chateau Marmont on Sunset Strip. House launched its buzzy West Hollywood outpost “That’s what we make our money on.”—AFP Sunset Strip. View of the Chateau Marmont penthouse living room on Sunset Strip. View of one of the Chateau Marmont Bungalow bedroom. View of the Chateau Marmont penthouse kitchen. View of the Chateau Marmont Bungalow bathroom. he Copacabana Palace, an iconic luxury online reservation system ranged from less hotel on the Rio de Janeiro waterfront, than $300 to $1,653 a night. A symbol of a Treopened Thursday after the coron- city known for its breathtaking beauty, sultry avirus pandemic forced it to close for the first nights and bossa nova beats, the Copacabana time in its 97-year history. Four months after Palace has hosted the likes of Rita Hayworth, closing to all but two long-term residents- Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, Princess Diana musician Jorge Ben Jor and the hotel’s own and Madonna. The reopening comes amid general manager, Andrea Natal-the soaring uncertainty over when and how Rio and art-deco building opened again for travelers Brazil-the country hit second-hardest by and even locals looking to escape the daily COVID-19 after the United States-will return grind of the coronavirus pandemic. to normal life. The country has registered Precautions for the reopening include “social nearly 3.5 million infections and more than distancing in high-traffic areas, such as the 111,000 deaths in the pandemic. Rio has pool and restaurants,” the hotel’s owners, the already announced it is seeking a new format Belmond group, said in a statement. The hotel for its traditional New Year’s Eve party, which is offering four packages, including a 30-hour usually draws millions of revelers to stay, “perfect for anyone seeking rest and Copacabana beach for a fireworks show. The tranquility in the city.” city’s world-famous carnival, held in February, This file photo shows a general view of Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Palace Hotel, an official FIFA hotel during the Weekend prices for August in the hotel’s also risks being canceled. — AFP World Cup Brazil 2014. — AFP.