Wanted: party organiser able to wow A-list guests of London’s latest hotel
A hotel is searching for London's "ultimate" party animal to organise entertainment for A-list guests.
W Hotel, which has hotels in New York and Hollywood and hosts stars including Gwyneth Paltrow, Cindy Crawford, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tiger Woods, is opening a branch in Leicester Square next year.
Managers at the chain want to speak to thousands of Londoners about their knowledge of the city's party and fashion scene with the aim of finding a winner who will cater for the whims of clients — no matter how far-fetched.
The W hotel motto is: "Whatever, whenever, as long as it's legal."
Hopefuls will have to apply for the role — known as the W Insider — online, with the best earning an audience with a panel of four judges who will set them tasks to test their knowledge and initiative. On the panel are model and catwalk coach J Alexander, co-owner of cabaret bar Bistroteque David Waddington, art curator Libby Sellers and hotel manager Kevin Rockey.
J Alexander, star of America's Next Top Model, said: "This is a little bit of Top Model, a bit of X Factor, a bit of Britain's Got Talent — do you have the talent to be the ultimate insider?
"They'll need to know where the best clothes shops are, where the coolest bars are, and where to find specific items at any time of day.
"We are going to come up with a series of questions for the finalists and judge people on how useful and innovative they can be. Some of the questions are really going to come from left field as people could ask for anything. I want to find a person who has a confidence and humour about them. And they have to be well presented."
Mr Rockey added: "The W Insider is different from a concierge — it's somebody who pre-emptively looks to wow our guests."
Mr Waddington said the winner should "go out every night", adding: "They know duchesses and drag queens, they can get a table on Friday at 8pm anywhere, their parties always finish the next day. They can tell you what's hot and who's where and who they're with."
To apply, enter the hotel's website at www.wlondon.co.uk/casting
