The Age: May 2009

THE British boutique hotel directory, Mr & Mrs Smith, hosted a swanky cocktail soiree complete with bedding at The Prince to launch their Asia-Pacific arm under the helm of former Lonely Planet publisher Simon Westcott. The British founders and exponents of upmarket dirty weekends, James Lohan and Tamara Heber-Percy, started their business under the Mr & Mrs Smith pseudonym long before Brad Pitt did the dirty on Jennifer Aniston and hooked up with Angelina Jolie while filming the 2005 movie of the same name. But although the British couple are no slouches in the glamour stakes, they have grown wearily accustomed to people expecting a Hollywood connection as they accrue global branches as fast as "Brangelina" adopt international orphans. But Lohan concedes it's not all bad. "There are worse things than being associated with one of the world's most glamorous couples," he said.