Hospitium Gaudium Maximum Est

Hospitium Gaudium Maximum Est

Welcome

Dear Traveller,

Welcome to Famous Hotels, your guide to the world's legendary hotels. Founded in 1986, we are the only independent organisation dedicated to the well-researched histories of these iconic establishments.

Our focus is on hotels that, while historic, continually innovate to stay at the forefront of modern hospitality. We are not a reservation platform or affiliated with any hotel group. Instead, we delve into the rich legacies of over 450 renowned hotels worldwide. Independent and reliable.

Led by the esteemed hotel historians Andreas and Carola Augustin, our expert team crafts engaging narratives that bring these stories to life. We are grateful to the grand hotels worldwide for preserving and advancing the tradition of exceptional hospitality.

So much more „About“ us

SPOILER ALERT: We are not supporters of false claims, fabricated opening dates, invented histories, or any such nonsense that is occasionally published. We take every notification of potential misinformation very seriously, pursue it diligently, and strive to find a solution in cooperation with the hotel concerned.


In Print


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. 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. Once again Andreas Augustin spins a tale of hospitality. More


hotel baur und johann baur in zurich

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: MANDARIN ORIENTAL SAVOY 

Every city in the world has a hotel legend. The Sacher in Vienna, the Ritz in Paris, Raffles in 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 BAUR (today Savoy Mandarin Oriental) is Zurich's oldest grand hotel, followed by BAUR AU LAC. Austrian hotelier Johann Baur (inset) opened HOTEL BAUR as the first of his two world class hotels of the city on December 24, 1838. It would become a milestone in the history of the hotel industry. More ...


CAMBODIA: RAFFLES 

An exciting story if you (as a hotel) were 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


Travel is not merely a transfer from A to B, nor is it about ticking off landmarks. For many artists, it has been a source of inspiration. The Singing Butler (1992) 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. 


VIENNA, AUSTRIA: Hotel Imperial, 1873: What would the Austrian capital be without its imperial Habsburg' history? This is another imperial tale. To the left the former palace of the Prince of Wuertthemberg, transformed into the Hotel Imperial (right). Can you spot the difference? One "storey" had been added! The full "story" can be read here.


USA CHICAGO, Ambassador East hotel: 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".


Amazing Tales of the East

BANGKOK "THE ORIENTAL"

There is a unique charm over this exceptional hotel complex situated directly on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. It began with women 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


Fascinating ExhibitionsAt some point we have started putting our books up on walls. We create bespoke exhibitions called "Path of History"— Walls TALK! - visit our exhibitions


 


News

Formality vs. Function: Western Attire in the Tropics, 1900 Style Book

Formality vs. Function: Western Attire in the Tropics, 1900

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Step back to 1900, where Western men venture into the sweltering tropics, dressed head-to-toe in wool and collars as if still strolling European streets. What happens when rigid formality meets relentless heat? Join us in this article series as we unveil the sartorial clash between colonial formality and native function. Discover how cultural perceptions, misconceptions, and a touch of stubbornness shaped the dress—and discomfort—of a bygone era. From pith helmets to chong kraben, this is the story of style, adaptation, and survival in the tropics.

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Lucien Fournereau: “Bangkok: Distractions? None!” PERSONALITIES

Lucien Fournereau: “Bangkok: Distractions? None!”

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The display of monumental architecture was a powerful Western means of visualising the East as a land of lost civilizations. ‘Ruines Khmères du Cambodge’, a water colour by Lucien Fournereau,is a perfect sample of this theory.

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Famous Hotels Awarded! PERSONALITIES

Famous Hotels Awarded!

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Austrian Hotel Historians Andreas and Carola Augustin to Receive 2024 Historic Hotels Worldwide® Historian of the Year Award

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Oriental-Mania Andreas Augustin

Oriental-Mania

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Around 1900, the Orient was a myth to many. Hotels were baptised 'De L'Orient' or 'Oriental' and inspired legends and fables. For most of us, today, the term Oriental Hotel appears to be linked to the city of Bangkok. That lead to the believe that there always was only one Oriental Hotel.

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Ralph Hitz, the Austrian who changed American Hospitality Stan Turkel

Ralph Hitz, the Austrian who changed American Hospitality

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Rarely has the creativity of a single personality left such a deep impact on an industry. At 14, he was a lift boy at the Viennese Hotel Sacher. From there he took a large portion of Austrian wit across the Atlantic. At 30 he managed the largest hotel chain of the United States.

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Books for Students

Books for Students

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Education is part of our mission. Various hotel management schools, colleges and universities are stocked with our books on a regular base.


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ANNA SACHER: How to not Eat Caviar Style Book

ANNA SACHER: How to not Eat Caviar

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Think you know how to eat CAVIAR? Wrong! Forget bread, onions, or that fancy silver spoon—it’s time to shatter everything you thought you knew. Anna Sacher of Hotel Sacher Wien fame had it right: caviar is a ritual, not a snack for amateurs. Real connoisseurs don’t mess around. Flip your world upside down and learn why licking caviar off the back of your thumb beats any wannabe gourmet move. Ready to leave your sardine paste and strawberry jam sandwiches in the dust? Let’s get wild.

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From Trunks to Trolleys - A Short History of Luggage Andreas Augustin

From Trunks to Trolleys - A Short History of Luggage

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From lavish trunks carried by porters to sleek trolleys gliding over marble floors, luggage has always been more than just baggage—it’s a symbol of status and style. Explore the evolution of luxury travel, where craftsmanship and elegance meet modern convenience. Discover the stories behind the world’s most iconic luggage brands.

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“I hope he is not going to die at my hotel!” Andreas Augustin

“I hope he is not going to die at my hotel!”

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Welcome to another Hôtelière nightmare. "See Naples and Die". Enrico Caruso, star-tenor of the 20th century, took this catch phrase to heart and died at the Grand Hotel Vesuvio in Naples on 2 August 1921 In Austria one hotel even has its own cemetery.

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ÜBER TOURISMUS Andreas Augustin

ÜBER TOURISMUS

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Austria currently offers three very different EXHIBITIONs focusing on Tourism: „ÜBER TOURISMUS“ at the Museum of Architecture in Vienna, and later in Vorchdorf, explores tourism’s benefits and challenges, focusing on sustainability, environmental impact, and the future of travel. ZIMMER FREI runs at the Museum Niederösterreich in St. Pölten. A personal trip through post-war Austria 1953/54 is on show at the Hofburg HAUS DER GESCHICHTE in Vienna.

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The Peace of Zurich — a rolemodel for the Swiss Ukraine Peace Conference? Andreas Augustin

The Peace of Zurich — a rolemodel for the Swiss Ukraine Peace Conference?

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Switzerland, a neutral haven, is renowned for hosting international peace negotiations. In 1859, the Peace of Zurich, facilitated by hotelier Johann Bauer, led to the formation of modern Italy. Sardinia, France, and Austria were the key players, staying in Bauer's Zurich hotels during negotiations. His Hotels were fully booked: the Baur au Lac today run by legendary family of hoteliers Kracht, and Baur en Ville, todays Savoy Zurich of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.

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Guertler-Mauthner, Elisabeth PERSONALITIES

Guertler-Mauthner, Elisabeth

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She could be enjoying her retirement, but that's not Elisabeth Guertler: she tirelessly sets new standards in hospitality at her luxury hotel Sacher Astoria in the Tyrolean mountains.

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Most Popular

Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich (former Savoy Baur en Ville)

Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich (former Savoy Baur en Ville)

Johannes Baur, born in Austria in 1795, was a visionary entrepreneur who profoundly shaped Zurich’s hospitality industry. In 1837, at the age...Read More

Raffles Hotel

Raffles Hotel

The historic building (top, slide to the right): The "new" Raffles main building in 1899. It opened on 18 November 1899, featuring the all new...Read More

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

Since decades “The Oriental”, as it is affectionately known by travellers from all over the globe, leads the lists of most...Read More

Half Moon

Half Moon

In 1952, a group of wealthy individuals including Donald Deskey, the fabled designer (among his works the Radio City Music Hall); Harvey Firestone,...Read More

Mount Kenya Safari Club

Mount Kenya Safari Club

You don your safari gear during the day, but you always dress for dinner. Because Mount Kenya Safari Club Nanyuki is an exclusive retreat. High on...Read More

Your Next Trip

Galle Face
(1864)

We found records of the Galle Face Hotel dating back to 1864, five years before the Suez Canal came into... Read more

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