SYDNEY'S old-style celebrity hotels may soon be a thing of the past following word this week that Sheraton on the Park is for sale. Hot on the heels of the closure of The Sir Stamford Hotel, formerly the Ritz Carlton, at Double Bay in March (a hotel favoured by Madonna and George Bush Sr and where Michael Hutchence died) and the closure a few years back of Kings Cross' most famous celebrity doss The Sebel Townhouse, comes news Starwood Pacific Hotels has put the Elizabeth St establishment on the market.
Long before Michael Jackson started dangling babies from windows, he married nurse Debbie Rowe at the 557-room hotel overlooking Hyde Park. In 1996, hours after his Sydney concert, Jackson surprised the world with his civil ceremony wedding. A pregnant Rowe was later spotted contemplating the view from a Sheraton on the Park balcony.The luxury hotel has continued to house international celebrities on their Sydney stopovers. John Travolta and pop star Justin Timberlake have also enjoyed the room service at the city venue, as have lovebirds Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom.
Hotel managing director Sean Hunt said that although the hotel was for sale, the landmark hotel would not be closing. It was on the market as part of an asset sale by Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide and Starwood would continue to manage the hotel for the new owners. It is one of a number of hotels in the group up for sale.
"The hotel has been a strong performer and has fared particularly well during the current global economic crisis," Hunt said.
