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A night with celebrities

"Cobbler, stick to your last", or rather: "Actor, stick to your (Hollywood) stripes"? This may be how expertise is created, but creativity usually lies outside this framework. The fact that wonderful things can be created when you leave your own box and switch to a different field is not only demonstrated by screen stars in their various films, but also when they suddenly feel called upon to open hotels. As visionary career changers, they are sometimes not deterred by conventions and allow fans to spend a night with "their" stars. These 10 celebrities are already successful hoteliers in their second careers:

Text: Claudia Hilmbauer'


Til Schweiger: barefoot hotels, South Africa & Germany

Created by German actor, artist and entrepreneur Til Schweiger ("Manta, Manta", "Keinohrhasen"), the "barefoot hotels" are intended to be places of relaxation where you can concentrate on the essential things in life. He himself acts as the licensor, while the arcona Hotel & Resorts Group is the operating company. The "barefoot Addo Elephant Lodge" in South Africa is already open. The "barefoot Hotel Tegernsee" is currently under construction. www.barefoothotels.de


Jessica Schwarz: Rêves Étoilés, Portugal

The German actress ("Perfume") took her first steps in the hotel industry back in 2008 when she opened a design hotel together with her sister. She was born with the necessary know-how. Her parents run a restaurant in Hesse. In December 2020, she and her boyfriend bought a small hotel in Portugal. With just three sleeping units, each with a whirlpool, the "Rêves Étoilés" is a magical glamping hideaway near Setúbal. www.reves-etoiles.com


Cristiano Ronald: Pestana CR7, Europe & USA

The Portuguese soccer star is investing in his future. Together with the Pestana hotel group, he has developed the "Pestana CR7" brand. The brand is intended to represent a sporty, cosmopolitan lifestyle, be modern and offer all the technical amenities that today's travelers expect. High-definition LCD televisions, high-speed Internet and contemporary furniture are just as much a part of this. After the Pestana CR7 hotels in Portugal (Lisbon & Madeira), the CR7 Times Square in New York, the Pestana CR7 Madrid in Spain and the Pestana CR7 Marrakech have also recently opened. www.pestanacr7.com


Pete Doherty: The Albion Rooms, Kent/UK
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Three years ago, The Libertines and their frontman Pete Doherty opened "The Albion Rooms" in Kent, UK. The hotel consists of seven individually furnished rooms. Some of them were personally themed by the Libertines members. The Victorian, five-storey villa also houses a restaurant, where changing guest chefs make their grand entrance, as well as a recording studio and a café. www.thealbionrooms.live


Francis Ford Coppola: Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize

It was probably love at first sight: When director Francis Ford Coppola first set eyes on Belize in the early 1980s, he was immediately so enthusiastic that he bought and renovated an abandoned lodge. Blancaneaux Lodge was reopened in 1993. Since then, it has been delighting guests with its jungle feel, waterfalls and mountains. Before it was opened to the public, Francis Ford Coppola and his family and friends spent relaxing days here. www.thefamilycoppolahideaways.com