Latest news with #FyreHotels
Metro
03-06-2025
- Business
- Metro
Fyre Festival launches tropical hotel this summer with $1,500 stays
It's not often that an event synonymous with disaster manages to revive itself continuously, but the Fyre Festival brand has consistently defied expectations. Yesterday, the infamous brand announced the Fyre Hotels experience, scheduled to take place from September 3 to September 10 at the Coral View Utila in Honduras, the Caribbean. According to a new website, the hotel experience stems from the initial 2013 incident that inspired Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland's original festival: 'A software engineer and hobbyist pilot challenged Billy to leave NYC and to try and fly a small plane from NYC to a remote Caribbean island.' 'Along the way, Billy overshot, ran out of gas, and was saved by a landing strip on a remote island. The magic of the island created a legend that quickly spread back home. These trips grew from a single engine propeller plane with four crazy entrepreneurs to the talent lead and adventure infused trips that became FYRE Festival.' For those not in the know, FYRE Festival was a 2017 luxury music event in the Bahamas that disastrously collapsed. Marketed by influencers and co-founded by Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule, it promised lavish villas, gourmet food, and top artists – but delivered disaster tents, cold sandwiches, and chaos. Attendees were stranded, and the event quickly became a viral scandal, with McFarland later being convicted of fraud and sentenced to six years in prison. The festival sparked multiple lawsuits and became a symbol of social media deception, later chronicled in two popular documentaries. So is this new hotel scheme redemption or just another ruse for McFarland? At this point, it's hard to say for sure. Hotel packages range from $200 (£147) to $500 (£370) a day – making the entire trip cost around $1500 (£1,109) – with packages supposedly including boat excursions, guided snorkelling, beach fitness sessions, kayaking, beach volleyball, nightly entertainment, and beach bonfire parties. The island reached out to the brand specifically. The website states: 'They have tapped FYRE to bring global attention to this off-the-map gem, programming unforgettable experiences, and simply enjoying life at the edge of the reef.' While the original disastrous festival touted a luxury experience, this is intentionally more rustic: 'We're not chasing luxury. We're chasing stories. Our trip is about deep dives, street food, late night bonfires, and waking up to something unexpected. This location is the essence of beauty, energy, and potential for adventure.' The news of the hotel comes shortly after Fyre Festival 2 was officially canceled. It may not have existed at all. The festival was reportedly due to take place in Isla Mujeres, Mexico, from May 30 to June 2. However, the local Playa del Carmen government said there is 'no event of that name' expected to take place in the city, as per The Times. It remains unclear whether he was referring to the new hotel experience when he insisted it was 'all real' on social media. Still, given McFarland's track record, many are skeptical about the brand's new venture. More Trending But Heath Miller, former New York concert promoter and one-time vp and talent buyer at Webster Hall in New York, who reached an agreement with McFarland for the hotel pop-up, is optimistic. He told Billboard: 'This event isn't for an artist looking for a $100,000 fee. Honestly, for me, this is a promotional vehicle for my hotel and it plays into my grand plan — I'm working on writing a book on my music career, and the book was supposed to end last June [with a story about] Jack Antonoff in Asbury Park. But instead, I guess Fyre is going to be the final chapter of the book.' He went on to say that though Fyre Festival has a bad reputation as a brand, it's valuable in its ability to drum up publicity. He added: 'Billy has issues and one of his biggest flaws is that he tends to trust people more than he should,' before going on to explain that he has personally ensured all of the pop-up's permits and other paperwork are in order. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: SXSW London: Five live performances, film showcases and talks you must see MORE: SXSW London: Everything you can expect from festival's inaugural week in the Capital MORE: British rockers step in for Kings Of Leon at upcoming festivals after 'freak accident'
Hypebeast
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hypebeast
After Cancelling Fyre Fest 2, Billy McFarland Announces New Fyre Event in Honduras
Summary Billy McFarlandcontinues his attempts at revivingFyre Festivalwith the announcement of the a new event in the Caribbean. The upcoming 'Fyre Coral View Pop-Up in Utila' will take place on September 3 to September 10 in Utila, Honduras — a small, undeveloped island. A statement from the Fyre Hotels website reads, 'After news broke a few weeks ago that we were putting the FYRE IP up for sale, we got a message. A small beach resort and the island of Utila, Honduras had seen the headlines — and they had an idea. They have tapped FYRE to bring global attention to this off-the-map gem, programming unforgettable experiences, and simply enjoying life at the edge of the reef.' 'This was a no-brainer for us, so just like that, FYRE has found its way back to the spark that started it all,' the statement continued. 'In early September, FYRE returns to the Caribbean for the FYRE Resort Pop-Up at Coral View Utila—a weeklong escape blending adventure, spontaneity, and paradise. What better way to make our return to the Caribbean after 8 years?' As history remembers it, the original 2017 Fyre Fest took place on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. McFarland recently tried to host Fyre Fest 2 and was scheduled for April 25 to April 28, this time on Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It waspostponed indefinitelyin mid-April thensubsequently cancelledby late April. McFarland also announced that the brand was up for sale.
