Why are Ali Larter, Hilary Swank, Orlando Bloom going to Dubai?

Don't be surprised if you see photos of Hilary Swank, Ali Larter, Kate Walsh, Pete Wentz, Aaron Eckhart, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Panettiere and, heck, maybe even Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Dubai in a year or so.

Expect them right around the time Donald Trump's new Dubai luxury hotel and residences, reportedly to be the tallest skyscraper in the world, opens for business.

Last night, these celebs showed up in their best borrowed jewels, gowns and designer suits to walk a red carpet, talk about Dubai and pose for photos with the Donald.

"It was really weird," said one seasoned reporter. "Stars didn't do the line like they usually do. They were being taken to various press outlets. And no one wanted to talk about anything else else, even their upcoming projects. Just Dubai. It was like they were doing paid infomercials for Trump's hotel."

About that pay ... Asked if he'd ever been to Dubai, a powerful publicist for an Oscar-level star who attended the party told me, "Not yet! But with this party's free trip, I'm going real soon!"

So it wasn't just the stars who were getting freebies (free first-class air travel, luxury hotel/residence digs, free cars), it was also their reps who brokered the appearance deals. And this is on top of major cash outlays as well, according to participants.

This kind of party payola is pretty par for the course, but Trump, as usual, has taken it to a new level.

Which he also did when he introduced Christina Aguilera, set to perform later in the evening: “We just love Christina, and I’ve been with her many times. But not in a sexual way, though I wish, I wish.”

To see more stars in their Trumped-up style, keep reading ...

Photos: Donald Trump and Orlando Bloom. Christina Aguilera and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
WireImage