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Home / Travel

World's most expensive hotel room: Damien Hirst's Palm Springs Casino Empathy Suite opens

NZ Herald
14 Mar, 2019 08:12 PM3 mins to read

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The Empathy Suite: Las Vegas Palms Casino Resort has opened the doors on the world's most expensive hotel room. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images

The Empathy Suite: Las Vegas Palms Casino Resort has opened the doors on the world's most expensive hotel room. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images

Palm Springs Casino Resort is flush with excitement after unveiling the most expensive hotel room in the world.

The Las Vegas hotel has upped the stakes for high rollers by opening the $100000 ($147000) a night 'Empathy Suite'.

Designed by maverick British artist, Damien Hirst the 836-square-metre penthouse is a true statement piece. The mad pop-art and pharmaceutical inspired interiors are full of quirky features.

Unveiled on March 1, there has been little time to take it all in.

Shark tank: The Empathy Suite designed by Damien Hirst is full of signature pieces, such as a pair of preserved bull sharsk. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images
Shark tank: The Empathy Suite designed by Damien Hirst is full of signature pieces, such as a pair of preserved bull sharsk. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images
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Two bull sharks preserved in formaldehyde greet well-heeled guests, along with giant pills and butterflies. Hirst's signature features are all over the property.

While this might not make for a restful experience, guests will not be expecting to get much sleep in this hotel room.

Above the curved private bar, with room for 13, are the words "Here for a Good Time, Not a Long Time." With the price tag of $200k for a two-night stay, the motto seems apt.

The Empathy suite is also offered to guests who spend over $1 million in the Palms Casino.

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The expansive 'media lounge' has space for up to 52 guests, and two swordfish. (These marlin, in various phases of taxidermy, are another addition by Damien Hirst.) The place is perfect for the wildest of parties.

Another centrepiece is the games room with a psychedelic pool table and chrome table-top football game.

Here for a good time: The Media Lounge and bar has space for 52 guests, and two marlin swordfish. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images
Here for a good time: The Media Lounge and bar has space for 52 guests, and two marlin swordfish. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images

As you would expect from this outrageous suite, there are a bunch of additional features. The room comes with 24-hour butler and a chauffeur service to get guests to their VIP access entertainment events and $14000 in resort credit.

The Empathy suite knocks the previous most expensive room off its post, which was the $117000-a-night Royal Suite in Geneva's Hotel President Wilson.

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"I love what Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta have done with the Palms," said Damien Hirst regarding the Las Vegas hoteliers.

"… they are great collectors and totally understand art. They have allowed me to create a suite in the hotel and design everything and completely fill it with my art."

Tripping balls: Artist Damien Hirst, centre, with Frank Fertitta, left, Lorenzo Fertitta III at the opening of the Palms Empathy Suite. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images
Tripping balls: Artist Damien Hirst, centre, with Frank Fertitta, left, Lorenzo Fertitta III at the opening of the Palms Empathy Suite. Photo / David Becker, Getty Images

Jon Gray, general manager of Palms Casino Resort, said: "The Empathy Suite designed by Damien Hirst is the pinnacle of luxury combining museum-worthy art and a truly legendary hospitality experience for the discerning hotel aficionado and casino guest looking for a once-in-a-lifetime Las Vegas stay."

With these outrageous prices, few visitors will be able to afford to make it anything other than a once-in-a-lifetime.

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