HotelChatter - Melbourne

And In the Flash of an Eye, A Banksy Got Stolen

ASchechter — 2011-12-27T09:35:02-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/BanksyStolen.jpg" class="top">Two weeks ago, we found out about a contest going on at Melbourne's Art Series Hotels (<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/11/9/211910/275/hotels/Melbourne%27s+Third+Art+Series+Hotel%2C+The+Blackman%2C+Is+Open+%28And+Three+More+Are+On+The+Way%29">The Blackman</a>, <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/4/15/95553/5983/hotels/Melbourne%27s+Latest+Art+Hotel%2C+The+Olsen%2C+is+Now+Open">The Olsen</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/12/17/111156/90/hotels/Introducing+The+Cullen+Hotel+%28R-Patz+Not+Included+With+Room+Service%29">The Cullen</a>). Per the contest's rules, anyone who was able to steal a Banksy painting from one of the hotels, and not get caught in the act, could rightfully claim it as their own. Well, someone's done it. Last week, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/stealbanksy">@stealbanksy</a> alerted us to a spectacular heist pulled off at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/11/9/211910/275/hotels/Melbourne_s_Third_Art_Series_Hotel_The_Blackman_Is_Open_And_Three_More_Are_On_The_Way_">The Blackman</a> by Maura Tuohy and an accomplice by the name of Megan Aney. Apparently, quite a few attemps were made at stealing the artwork, including dismantling the hotel's CCTV cameras, wiring the Front Desk with a listening device, and overloading the

For Once, A Hotel Is Actively Encouraging Guests To Steal Something

ASchechter — 2011-12-16T09:00:02-05:00

Over in Melbourne, a trio of hotels known as the Art Series Hotels (The Blackman, The Olsen and The Cullen) are running a rather bizarre contest that rewards the burgling abilities of its guests. Which is probably something The Carlyle or The Ritz-Carlton wouldn't consider in a million years.

Hidden somewhere inside one of the buildings is an authentic Banksy painting titled "No Ball Games" (above). The guest who manages to find it, grab it, and of course, not get caught, gets to go home with the $15,000 prize.

The most important part? You gotta be cool. Among the contest's rules: each participant must "be a polite, respectful and sophisticated art crook."

Even Oprah Gets Excited About Hotel Bathrooms

MsRebecca — 2011-04-14T12:46:58-05:00

You've heard us rave about fancy Hotel Bathrooms before. But it's not just us, you know. Even with all her millions, Oprah gets excited about hotel loos, too!

We caught the behind the scenes of O's Season 25 on OWN recently, and followed her December trip through Australia. In between pow-wows with her producers in her Crown Towers suite, she led the cameras to her favorite part of her digs ...

Melbourne's Third Art Series Hotel, The Blackman, Is Open (And Three More Are On The Way)

MsRebecca — 2010-11-10T09:05:36-05:00

We love us some Art Hotels, but we're starting to think Melbourne loves 'em even more. Three Art Series Hotels--cool boutique hotels, each designed around the work of an iconic Australian artist--have opened in the past year, and three more are in the pipeline for 2011.

The latest to join the family is The Blackman, located on St. Kilda Road, not far from the center of Melbourne. So, what's this one all about?

The Downside of Fancy In-Room Technology

lenakit — 2010-06-16T11:55:53-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/crowntowersmelbourne.jpg" class="top"> There is a point at which in-room <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/hotel technology">technology</a> goes from being convenient to confusing in a way that makes you feel like youve turned into Woody Allen in the movie, "Sleeper." (I.e. youve stumbled into the future, totally unequipped to deal with even the most mundane things like turning on a light or wiping your bottom.) We often experience these moments in Asia and Scandinavia, but had one at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/CROWN+TOWERS/local/1778">Crown Towers Melbourne</a> recently. The Cisco-designed "smart room" system used in Crown Towers guest rooms doesn't require an advanced degree to master. In fact, the interfaces are touch-screen, both on the plasma television screen and on the high-tech phones. Really, this is