Record producer Lisa Voice has become an expert on luxury hotels after
temporarily moving in to The
Dorchester in London following a fire at her house.
“It was an electrical fire in my bedroom and it was very frightening. I woke
up at 3am to get some toast, thank God, and when I came back the whole room
was in flames,” she says. “So I moved into a two-bedroom suite in the
Dorchester for a few months while repairs were being carried out. It’s OK,
although there is no cloakroom and I don’t really like the food in the Grill
Room, because they don’t even have steak on the menu. But it is very
central. I could do you a critique of luxury hotels, if you like.”
Voice, 53, is estimated to be worth around £30 million, making her fortune
from music and property. For 12 years she was the girlfriend of 1950s pop
star Billy Fury, and last year shot to fame when she appeared on a
television programme and revealed she spent £250,000 a year on private jets
for business and leisure travel. She is writing an autobiography and a film
of her life and travels all over the world for business.
Which other hotels do you like?
I’ve heard the Lanesborough
in London is rather good, so I might have to give that a try. I went to the
Cannes film festival in May and stayed in the Hotel
du Cap, which is marvellous. I love the service and it’s just such a
beautiful place. All the stars go there and it’s very safe.
The Oriental
in Bangkok is another fabulous place. You put a pair of shoes outside and by
the morning they are polished. You can’t beat that kind of service.
What do you look for in a hotel?
I just like luxury and being spoilt. I’m not interested in the sauna, spa or
gym, which may seem unusual for a woman, but life is too short. I love Las
Vegas because you really get looked after there. I took the penthouse suite
in the Mirage on the
same floor as Bill Clinton. That hotel is like a home from home, I just love
it even though there are now far newer properties. I don’t really like the Bellagio
or the Venetian,
because the rooms seem so dark.
Do you always travel by private jet?
No, but it’s such a great way to go, so I do it as often as possible. It’s so
quick to get to the aircraft and back and there’s none of the hassle you get
at most airports. The security at regular airports drives you insane. If I’m
on a commercial flight, I always go British
Airways. I have a back complaint after having two discs removed and I
need a flat bed on long haul. The food is edible on BA and the service is
excellent. I have a couple of glasses of wine, a bowl of soup, a couple of
sleeping pills and I’m away. I take all the magazines to read with me but
usually fall asleep without looking at them. I’ve been on Virgin
Atlantic but I wasn’t that impressed.
Have you met famous people on your flights?
I was flying from London to Miami and I saw Judith Chalmers. I think she
thought I was going to be a nightmare, but I just said ‘cheers and see you
in Miami’. Richard and Judy were very sweet. Richard asked me a question and
five hours later he was still waiting for a reply because I’d fallen asleep.
I sat next to Sean Connery and found him as dull as ditchwater. He just
looked at me and didn’t say a word.
