Residents (and aspiring residents) complain about the rising cost of housing in West Hollywood. But in the U.K., critics of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) are complaining about the cost of a WeHo hotel room.
London’s Telegraph reports that a recently released report of expense accrued by BBC senior managers shows that three of them spent more than £8,000 ($11,680) on rooms at the Sunset Marquis in May.
The managers stayed at the Sunset Marquis at 1200 Alta Loma Rd. while attending LA Screenings Week in May. LA Screenings Week is an annual event in May that attracts as many as 1,500 television program buyers from around the world to screen the new season of U.S. television networks. Danny Cohen, director of BBC Television from 2013 to 2015, spent £3,826 ($5,586) for a 13-night stay and another £2,374 ($3,466) of his own money to upgrade his room, the Telegraph reported. Kim Shillinglaw, is controller of BBC Two and BBC Four, spent £2,235.66 ($3,264) for a seven-night stay. And Charlotte Moore, controller of television channels, spent £2,374 ($3,466)for a week at the Sunset Marquis. Both Cohen and Moore had come under attack for a less expensive stay at the Sunset Marquis for LA Screening week in 2014.
The Sunset Marquis describes itself as a “home away from home for actors, comedians, writers, artists, filmmakers, fashion designers, supermodels, restaurateurs, billionaire entrepreneurs, and the newest breed of entertainer when the hotel opened its doors in 1963: rock stars”.
The Telegraph quoted a BBC spokesman as saying: “The LA Screenings is a key TV industry event and British broadcasters attend every year to do business, buy programmes and keep abreast of major TV releases. Hotel costs are higher than usual during the screenings due to the level of demand.
@ToddBianco Maybe that was their “business plan” .. for one day,but when I walked by, they put a gun to my head and I said I couldn’t afford the cost of valet, let alone a room. So maybe they were their that morning, before people like me foiled their GUN TO THE HEAD business model. 🙂 I agree with your point – and don’t understand the article or the complaint. NY hotels are more expensive than LA (I gather), I don’t get the Sunset Marquis – I can’t get past the original 1960’s Front Hotel, and the “bungalows’ yeah look… Read more »
BUT WAIT! London is literally The Most Expensive City (or Paris) in the World for property and Hotel Room in luxury Hotels in London (I have to make an educated GUESS) are at LEAST as expensive, but I suspect MUCH MUCH more expensive that a comparable level of status of any weho hotel.
(but you can actually get an affordable room in Paris all over the East Bank – though not quite comparable the the Sunset Marquis (nor very close to what Americans consider basic standards for bathrooms)
The London or the Chamberlain are also great alternatives for the out of town business clientele…..why stay at one of the most expensive when you are staying for almost 2 weeks. their own fault
have they seen the price of hotels in London that would put people in a similar location? makes West Hollywood cheap in comparison.
youth hostel? RV? dorm? park bench?
Being lazy and not researching for best cost hotels in the area before coming is NO excuse! Stop blaming others for your stupidity and laziness! Take responsibility for your spending! ugh!!!!!!
the ramada is much cheaper………
just did a quick survey of 4star rated hotels in London for a 13 day stay in June, average price, US $8680.00
I wonder if they have checked the price of comparable hotels at peak times in London, crybabies!
Why is this a news story? Who cares?
But did they try the Holiday Inn Express?
The article didn’t state if someone from the Sunset Marquis held a gun to their head, and forced them to stay there. I guess they decided voluntarily to stay there. Isn’t it interesting to note that London has the highest hotel rates IN THE WORLD. The 5 star Sunset Marquis is ALL SUITES, and the rates start at under $400 a night. In London, $400 a night might get me the Comfort Inn. A suite in London is likely going to start at around $1,000 a night, in a 4 star property. Odd that these visitors from London expect to… Read more »