Liverpool hotels roll out red carpet for MTV music awards

Nov 4 2007 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL’S most exclusive hotels are on stand-by to welcome the biggest names in the music world when the MTV Europe Music Awards come to the city next year.

The Daily Post can reveal that the Crowne Plaza and 62 Castle Street will be taken over by celebrities for the week of the ceremony at the Echo Arena, Liverpool.

And virtually all rooms in the Malmaison are booked for stars for days either side of the EMAs, which will be held on November 6, 2008.

As revealed earlier this week by the Daily Post, more than 2,500 hotel room nights have already been booked in the city for guests, crew, and other staff.

About three weeks ago, scouts acting as booking agents for the event checked on the accommodation available.

Hotels were allocated scores in tiers with those named as “talent” hotels to host the most famous names.

The Crowne Plaza, 62 Castle Street, and Malmaison were all given the sought- after title and will now welcome the biggest names in pop.

“We are fully booked for the whole week,” said Rachel Brown, manager of 62 Castle Street.

“As far as we are aware we will be having one star and their entourage to stay.”

Miss Brown said the hotel was already very exclusive with only 20 rooms, 24-hour service and private dining areas.

Although the names of stars attending next year’s bash are not yet known, Liverpool can expect top celebrities to be in attendance.

This year’s star-studded EMA in Munich was attended by Amy Winehouse, Avril Lavigne, Joss Stone, Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton, and REM’s Michael Stipe to name just a few.

Adam Bell, business development manager at Malmaison, said his staff will be ready to welcome the celebrities as they do all their clients.

“The booking agents wanted to have exclusive use of the hotel but we could not give them everything because of our corporate clients.”

“When the stars arrive, it will be very much business as usual though.

“We are so popular in the industry because all our clients are treated the same – everyone is treated like a star.

“During training, our staff are taught not to ask for autographs.”

One feature which may attract the security conscious celebrity is the hotel’s penthouse apartment which includes a vestibule from where bodyguards can mind the suite’s entrance.

He said the hotel would expect to receive “rider” forms from celebrities detailing their every requirement when they arrive in the hotel.

“Bands spend a lot of time on the road, so we try to make their stay as comfortable as possible.”

At the Crowne Plaza, the hotel’s 159 rooms will be occupied by stars and their entourages.

“We are delighted that we were approached. We have catered for sporting and music stars in the past so our guest relations team is clued up to look after the celebrities when they arrive,” said Stephen Roberts, manager of the Crowne Plaza.

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