Meghan Markle’s event is reportedly not generating much interest in Australia (Image: Getty)
Meghan Markle’s upcoming Australia event is being met with silence as influencers fear it will impact their brands, according to PR firms down under. Next weekend, the Duchess of Sussex will appear as a guest speaker at a three-day retreat dubbed ‘Her Best Life’ at Coogee’s InterContinental Hotel.
The lack of interest reportedly means that VIP guests will now be treated to their own rooms, having previously been told they would have to share for the $3,199 (£1,682) price tag. The event organisers said the hotel had « kindly released a handful of extra rooms » in an email last week. But NewsNation reported this was because the organisers had expected many more attendees previously.
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Australian royal commentator Shauna Kay, who spoke to contacts in Sydney’s marketing and PR sector, told the outlet there was an « influencer blackout ».
She said: « There is no excitement, there’s no buildup. There’s no one willing to break their silence, anyone of note, to say that they’re actually going to the event.
« It’s almost like they don’t want to be associated with her, with Meghan Markle, because it’s really bad for their brands. »
Ticketholders who do attend will experience a « gala dinner featuring an in-person conversation with Meghan », access to « speaker sessions, experiences and wellness activities », meals and alcohol, and two nights’ accommodation at the five-star hotel.
The standard holders, who paid $2,699 (£1,419) for the two nights, will still have to fork out the extra $500 (£262) to get some privacy. They will be put up in a twin-share hotel room with a stranger.
Reports emerged that prior to the announcement that VIPs would get their own room, the company had told attendees to pay double so they could secure a room to themselves, triggering backlash.
People shared their disappointment online, with one writing on Reddit: « Yes, I’d love to room with some random woman. Sleep in the same room, share a bathroom, let her have access to all my personal belongings. How relaxing. »
« The sheer audacity of these people saying pay double or suck it up. And where is Meghan staying?! Not at that hotel, let alone sharing, » fumed a third.
Meghan reportedly won’t be staying with her guests at the InterContinental Hotel next weekend, with sources telling Radar Online that she will be whisked away to stay in one of Sydney’s « finest hotels ». It is unknown whether she has booked a private room.
The « luxury » retreat is being organised by Gemma O’Neill’s Besties events company, which will co-host.
The Express has contacted the Sussexes for comment.
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