Welcome
Dear Esteemed Travelers, Devoted Hotel Aficionados, and Diligent Researchers,
This site offers three categories: the list of the most famous HOTELS and the database of their histories, READING reports and essays from the library of hospitality, and all hotel history BOOKS from our publishing activities.
Step into a world where history is not just told but meticulously uncovered. We explore the grand halls of the world’s most famous hotels with the precision of scientific researchers—verifying every fact, following strict historical guidelines, and preserving the truth behind legendary hospitality. Whether you are a globetrotter seeking timeless elegance, a scholar devoted to accuracy, or a dreamer enchanted by storied walls, we welcome you to join us on this extraordinary journey.
Founded in 1986, The Most Famous Hotels in the World stands as the leading authority in defining historic hotels, ensuring that only establishments with genuine continuity, identity, and significance earn a place among the greatst.
Where history meets hospitality, every stay becomes a story. Welcome aboard!
Talk of the Day
Amazing Tales of the East 
BANGKOK "THE ORIENTAL"
Preparing for its "official" 150th anniversary this hotel has a fairy tale history which dates back even further. There is a unique charm over this exceptional hotel complex situated directly on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Romantised in 19th century paintings predicting ladies in elegant dresses and men in white suits with tropical helmets. Today, the Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok is not only one of the best hotels in the world but also a preserver of a unique history closely tied to the Thai royal family. Bangkok Thailand: The Oriental Bangkok - The Amazing Tale of Thailands most Famous Hotel
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: MANDARIN ORIENTAL SAVOY
Every city in the world has a hotel legend. The Sacher of Vienna, Meurice in Paris, the Raffles of Singapore. The list is long. But Zurich has not one, but two hotels that still enjoy worldwide fame after nearly 200 years, both founded by the same hotelier and both – in their early years – bearing his name. HOTEL SAVOY BAUR EN VILLE (today Savoy Mandarin Oriental) is Zurich's oldest grand hotel, followed by BAUR AU LAC. Austrian baker turned hotelier Johann Baur (inset) opened HOTEL BAUR as the first of his two world class hotels of the city on December 24, 1838. Situated opposite the main post station it was quintessentially a coach inn disguised as a grand hotel. Practically it set new standards in the city's history of the hotel industry. More ...
HALF MOON, JAMAICA: Since 1954, Half Moon has stood as a beacon of style, tradition, and Caribbean heritage. This thoughtfully composed book presents an engaging exploration of Jamaica's colourful history, centuries of sugar trade, and Half Moon's relatively young history, from the resort’s founding vision to its rise as one of the world’s most admired destinations—all without relying on the overused term ‘luxury.’ Go to the book
GRAND HOTEL in the city of LVIV, UKRAINE — in 1894, one of the places of longing of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Lviv, capital of Galicia. University city. Intellectual hotspot. Symbol of the anti-russian politics of Austria. Venue of the 1894 grand international exhibition. Right on time, the Grand Hotel opened in April 1894. Admittedly, there will be better times to write a book about a hotel in Ukraine. Nevertheless, we have explored the history of the Grand Hotel in Lviv. More
CAMBODIA: RAFFLES
An exciting story of a hotel born in the famous twenties. Travel was still in its infancy. Great ocean liners, luxurious trains, the first airplanes with seats as wide as armchairs in an English club, where lobster, caviar, and roast beef were served from the trolley. And then the thrilling news: in the jungles of Cambodia, a 1,000-year-old city had been rediscovered. The temple complex of Angkor Wat. Everyone had to go there. Absolutely! Two hotels keep this story alive. — A Tale of Two Hotels: Raffles Le Royal and Grand Hotel d'Angkor
For many artists, TRAVEL has been a synonym of lifestyle and a permanent source of inspiration. The Singing Butler (1992), for example, is an oil-on-canvas painting by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano. More in Art in Hospitality
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA: Galle Face Hotel
To the right you see the Indian Ocean. Its "rollers" were praised by Sherlock Holmes inventor Arthur Conan Doyle while staying at the Galle Face Hotel. In 1864, on 31 December, the name Galle Face was first mentioned in connection with a proposed hotel building in that location. We have researched the history of this splendid palatial hotel along the shores of the Indian Ocean, and found more than one gem of fabulous history telling.
USA CHICAGO, Ambassador East hotel: Is the hotel's restaurant more famous or the hotel itself? A hotel at the crossroads between East and West, between New York—the First City—and Los Angeles, San Francisco, and of course, Hollywood. Thus, Chicago became known as the Second City. When the continent was still traversed by train, everyone had to pass through here. The Pump Room in the Ambassador East Hotel Chicago, however, was definitively the number one stop on the route between the Atlantic and the Pacific for decades. Our picture above: Marilyn Monroe on the terrace of her suite. She was in town to promote her latest movie "Some Like It Hot".
Fascinating Exhibitions
At some point we have started putting our books up on walls. We create bespoke exhibitions called "Path of History"— Walls TALK! - visit our exhibitions
