Hotel Story
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Predecessor | The Box |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Crawford Productions |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Television series |
| Parent | Crawford Productions (Crawfords Australia) |
Hotel Story was an Australian TV series created by Crawford Productions (currently known as Crawfords Australia) for the Ten Network in 1977.
Developed as a successor to The Box, the narrative took place within an upscale international hotel. The storyline focused on the hotel employees and their interactions with high-profile guest stars, blending continuous staff-related plots with standalone guest-centered episodes, in a format reminiscent of The Love Boat.
The principal cast included Terence Donovan portraying the hotel manager, supported by Carmen Duncan, George Spartels, and American actor Richard Lawson.
The opening credits were filmed at the Old Melbourne Inn located on Flemington Road, North Melbourne, which currently serves as an RMIT University residence. Interior sequences were recorded on video at Channel Ten's studios in Nunawading, contributing to the show's soap opera aesthetic.
Although the series was initially intended to run for a minimum of 26 episodes, production ceased after seven episodes were completed and prior to their broadcast. In Melbourne, ATV-O marketed it as "The most discussed TV series produced this year" on its premiere day. While the show itself did not proceed further, its concept was later reimagined in Holiday Island. Six out of the seven episodes were aired in Sydney across two weeks beginning 27 December 1977.
In 1978, June Salter received a Sammy Award for Best Actress in a Single TV Performance for her guest appearance as Annabelle Lee, the head of an American cosmetics company. Additional noteworthy guest stars included former The Box regular and Network Ten weather presenter Christine Broadway, as well as future actress and animal rights advocate Lynda Stoner, both featured in guest roles.
Main cast
- Terence Donovan as Hotel manager
- Carmen Duncan
- George Spartels
- Richard Lawson
Guest cast
- Chelsea Brown
- Christine Broadway as Beauty pageant contestant
- Chuck Faulkner
- Clare Binney
- Diane Craig
- Elli Maclure
- Frank Taylor
- Jane Harders
- Jon Fabian as Detective
- June Salter as Annabelle Lee
- Lynda Stoner
- Maurie Fields
- Max Meldrum
- Moya O'Sullivan
- Patsy King
- Peter Aanensen
- Peter Adams
- Rod McLennan