Labor Day is often referred to as the unofficial end of summer. How were your dog days? Did you check anything off your summer bucket list? Travel anywhere exciting (like our art team)? Catch any good movies?
Speaking of movies, according to ScreenDaily, the summer box office had its share of hits and misses. But we're not too concerned with the here and now. Instead, let's have some fun with a look back at the big screen and the hotel.
A rich canvas for visual storytelling, hotels set the stage for various characters—each bringing with them their own baggage (both literally and figuratively). We've compiled a list of U.S. hotels from cinema that actually provide accommodations.
Photo courtesy of IMDb1. The Stanley Hotel
"Here's Johnny!" Located in Estes Park, Colorado, the historic Stanley Hotel served as the inspiration for the Overlook Hotel in Stephen King's novel The Shining (1977), not to mention its movie adaptation in 1980.
Immerse yourself in all the paranormal allure by staying in room 217, also known as The Stephen King Suite, or experience the beautifully restored 1909 Caretaker's Cottage during The Shining Tour.
Photo courtesy of IMDb2. Mountain Lake Lodge
"Nobody puts Baby in a corner." Have the time of your life at Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke, Virginia. Dirty Dancing (1987) fans may recognize this picturesque setting as Kellerman's, the fictional resort in the Catskills of upstate New York where Francis Houseman falls in love with "bad boy" Johnny Castle.
Designated Dirty Dancing Themed Weekends are available throughout the year, but any stay at Mountain Lake Lodge will have you carrying watermelons.
Photo courtesy of IMDb3. The Plaza Hotel
"What kind of hotel allows a child to check in alone?" Apparently the iconic 5-star, timelessly elegant Plaza Hotel kind. Kevin McCallister is at it again in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992). His $967.43 room service bill would be three times as much today!
You, too, can get lost in New York, Kevin McCallister-style. Book the Home Alone 2: Fun in New York package which includes a limo ride, large cheese pizza and a 16-scoop ice-cream sundae.
By 2000, The Plaza became New York's most popular film site. See a few more of those featured films here.
Photo courtesy of IMDb4. Beverly Wilshire
"Big Mistake. Big. Huge," to miss out on the Pretty Woman for a Day experience at this Beverly Hills landmark. It was 1990 when the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, appeared in Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Hollywood magic at work, only exterior shots of The Beverly were used while interior scenes were filmed at the former Ambassador Hotel.
Photo courtesy of IMDB5. The Bellagio
"Ten oughta do it, don't you think?" The Bellagio Hotel, one of the most famous and luxurious hotels along the Las Vegas Strip, had plenty of momentum before the 2001 heist film Ocean's Eleven was released. The remake of the 1960's film of the same name, however, only validated the resort's sense of style and swagger that much more. And while the property has undergone updates over the years, many shots are still recognizable. One of the most memorable scenes is the last one—the gang gazes at the dancing waters of the Fountains of Bellagio.
Photo courtesy of IMDb6. Fontainebleau Miami Beach
"Say hello to my little friend." Fontainebleau Miami Beach is anything but little. A perfect backdrop for 1983's infamous gangster flick, Scarface, this 20-acre oceanfront oasis offers over 1,500 guestrooms, six pools, private cabanas, a trendy nightclub and pampering spa.
Al Pacino isn't the only actor to share the screen with Miami's iconic resort. Who else? Find out more here.
Photo courtesy of IMDb7. Turtle Bay Resort
Even Count Dracula might risk sun exposure for a visit to paradise. The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay is a full-service resort capturing the essence of Hawaii's natural beauty, boasting ocean views from every room, and the setting for the comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008).
It's no surprise that this picturesque getaway has been on film numerous times, but it was because of Forgetting Sarah Marshall that the property achieved a unique kind of fame: playing itself in a major motion picture.
Photo courtesy of IMDb8. Caesars Palace
"This isn't the real Caesar's Palace, is it?" 2009's comedy about a bachelor party in Vegas—go figure—used Sin City's actual Caesars Palace in several scenes of The Hangover. The front desk, lobby, corridors, elevators, pool and rooftop are the real deal, but the wolfpack's swanky suite was actually a Burbank soundstage.
Photo courtesy of IMDb9. Waldorf Astoria
"And above all, a Beresford maid strives to be invisible." Jennifer Lopez's character in Maid in Manhattan (2002) is anything but. This rom-com about a single mom working in housekeeping at a first-class Manhattan hotel was filmed at a first-class Manhattan hotel. Playing the part of The Beresford Hotel was in fact the world famous Waldorf-Astoria, currently undergoing a transformative restoration set to reopen later this year.
Interior scenes were filmed at the historic Roosevelt Hotel which closed in 2020.
Photo courtesy of IMDb10. Hotel del Coronado
"Nobody's perfect." Some Like It Hot premiered in 1959, and has since been considered one of the most beloved comedy films of all time. Filmed at Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, this classic flick showcases the talents of Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis (Jamie Lee's dad) and Marilyn Monroe, while also highlighting the hotel's assets. Find out more about how the stars aligned at The Del here.
An eclectic list, there's one thing in common—other than you can stay the night—each hotel setting plays a supporting role in its respective movie, it becomes part of the story.
We can say the same thing about hospitality art. Each piece plays a supporting role in its respective hotel, telling a story, becoming part of the guest experience.
Allow Spacia Group to part of your design narrative, elevating your space with bespoke art.