While politicians may look to George Washington, chefs to Alain Ducasse and writers to Ernest Hemmingway, businesswoman Tamie Adaya looks to 18th century courtesan and mistress to Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour, for inspiration.
Madame de Pompadour used her position at court to assemble great artists and intellectuals, and similarly Adaya has managed to gather artists, stylists, jewelers, fashion designers, entertainment execs, musicians singers and more into salon-type gatherings at Santa Monica's Hotel Shangri-La.
"Salons are a vehicle for creativity and ideas," says Adaya. "A good host or hostess creates the right blend of personalities and vocations to create an experience for all the guests that will either educate or amuse."
She continues, "I want Hotel Shangri-La to be a place where you can indulge your senses with a little bit of debauchery and decadence."
Adaya was one of the driving forces behind Hotel Shangri-La's $30 million renovation. Her legendary salon nights pull together culture's best and brightest and many of the event have carried on to the wee hours of the morning.
Visit www.shangrila-hotel.com.
