Not sure why I didn't think of this before but, you remember me asking about getting permission to use song lyrics etc? Well, I'm wondering if the same applies to places like hotels and shops. I think maybe it's ok and it's just my brain going on one as I have used the 'real' names of certain places (restaurants) in my first book but something at the back of my mind is niggling at me as I'm about to write a large section featuring a rather lavish hotel. What do you guys think?
It is absolutely fine to use real names, as long as you don't write something slanderous. For example, if your hotel has rats, it's probably best to invent a name then use a known hotel. As long as it doesn't compromise the brand in some way, it's fine.
Trouble is there is always someone who knows that place better than you, and they will be the type to nit pick. Using your own creation means you own it and you control it. Plus you could always a version of the name, instead the Hilton call it the Rilton lol
spoiler. Wanted to use the Empire Room at the Waldorf-Astoria. So far, I've changed it to the Imperial Room at the Majestic Stellar Hotel. Other suggestions welcome! (I like the name 'Imperial Room' but not sure about 'Majestic Stellar Hotel') (Nothing slanderous at all but like @SuperVenom said, someone out there will know it better than I do and there's only so much research you can do from photos, websites and wiki!)
Yeah, I agree the Majestic Stellar Hotel is a bit OTT ...unless you're being intentially satirical. Just do what Waldorf-Astoria did. Take two surnames and combine them. The best thing about creating a fictional hotel is that you won't be handicapped by any real characteristics of the hotel. You can create any set of circumstances you want that will fit your story. Opening hours, rules, stratification by social class, carpet fittings, chandeliers, wait-staff uniforms ...all these things can be molded to the needs of your story. You just use what you have learned about the real Empire Room as a template.
To be honest, I almost always use 'real' places; for most of my characters, I know which street they live in, which shops are in their vicinity, and whatnot--though I rarely mention it. Google Maps and realtor's websites make it much too convenient. It's not that I can't think up of an imaginary apartment building for myself, I just want it to be as representative of the city as possible. It helps me travel several thousand miles across the sea into the place, become part of a ramshackle brick building in midst of a Chinese takeout place. As for using the names of actual places, I've done that too, but not as much. I guess the above posters' advice on this issue is better than mine. XD
In my old town (Belgrade) there's a hotel simply called 'Majestic'. Another one is 'Metropol' (the metropolis) . It's best to keep it simple, as long as it sounds 'refined' but subtle and in good taste too
Soundle like I was right, Majestic Stellar does sound a bit naff. (It was the middle of the night when I came up with that one) so I guess I need to go back to the drawing board. Feel free to shoot names at me, I've a feeling I won't be able to move forward on this until I get the name right!
