Omni Austin Hotel: Spy Kids

The Omni Austin Hotel is located at 700 San Jacinto Boulevard at 8th Street in my personal favorite city we stopped in. It was staged as 'Hotel Belen' in none other than just about every millennial's favorite film: Spy Kids (2001).

Hotel Belen is where Ingrid (Carla Gugino) and Gregorio Cortez (Antonio Banderas,) parents of Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni (Daryl Sabara,) first meet face-to-face. The couple are consultants who had not admitted to their children that they used to be secret agents, until the kids then find out at the beginning of the film.

"My parents can't be spies -- they're not cool enough!"

Ingrid and Gregorio's story line starts off in the airport with her following him. She shadows him all the way to Hotel Belen. The first scene here is recognizable by the open glass windows that view downtown Austin (it's just as stunning in real life.)

Shots of the elevator are then shown, which is also made out of beautiful transparent glass. The cinematographers chose to portray Ingrid through a low angle shot, which also including Gregorio continuing up the elevator simultaneously.

This location essentially looks exactly the same in the film as it does in real life, except for the obvious addition of the Hotel Belen sign at the front reception desk.

It is a beautifully built hotel, and the actual concierge there was incredibly helpful and nice about helping me with my project. My dad and I ended up talking to him and the main manager of the hotel for at least thirty minutes just about the filming that took place there and other filming locations around Austin!

If you ever get a chance to go to this beautifully unique city, I highly suggest exploring the area and maybe even staying at The Omni!

Sources:

http://www.slackerwood.com/node/4360