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Hospitium Gaudium Maximum Est

Hospitium Gaudium Maximum Est
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Welcome

grand hotel rome

The Grand Hotel Rome shortly after its opening in 1894. A brainchild of hotel-genius César Ritz it .... more 

Imperial Arrival in 1903: Emperor Francis Joseph I. of Austria arrives at the Grand Hotel Pupp at Carloy Vivary (Karlsbad), today Czech republic. A corridor of devotion is formed by the hotel's staff to welcome His Imperial Highness.

Amazing Tales of the East —2021: The Oriental Bangkok - The Amazing Tale of Thailands most Famous Hotel

2021: Cambodia — A Tale of Two Hotels: Raffles Le Royal and Grand Hotel d'Angkor

Fascinating Exhibitions

Path of History — Walls can talk! - our exhibitions

Jamaica — Half Moon Treasury — Dreams of the Caribbean 

Paris — Hotel Prince de Galles — limited edition 

News

Say Good Bye to starred Hotel Restaurants Andreas Augustin

Say Good Bye to starred Hotel Restaurants

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Spurred by the recent crisis the cost-intensive luxury 2-3-starred hotel restaurants will become a thing of the past.  The hotels are saying goodbye to the great gastronomy, a trend that began a decade ago.

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Bond of Brothers — the First Asian Hotel Chain PERSONALITIES

Bond of Brothers — the First Asian Hotel Chain

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Arriving from Armenia, settling on the island of Penang, the Sarkies created the first Asian hotel chain — The Story of A Family

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The Driskill - Austin’s oldest operating hotel Stan Turkel

The Driskill - Austin’s oldest operating hotel

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The Driskill, a Romanesque-style building completed in 1886, is the oldest operating hotel in Austin, Texas. In 1934, a young Texas congressional aide named Lyndon B. Johnson met Claudia Alta Taylor for their first date: a breakfast at the Driskill Dining Room. He was so enamored that he proposed marriage that very day. He and Lady Bird continued to have a strong relationship with the hotel, even watching election returns for his vice presidential and presidential campaigns. And today guests can stay in a room named after him.

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Theresa - the Waldorf Astoria of Harlem Stan Turkel

Theresa - the Waldorf Astoria of Harlem

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In 1960, Fidel Castro arrived in New York City for the 15th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He first checked into the Shelburne Hotel at Lexington Avenue. When the Shelburne demanded $10,000 for alleged damage that included cooking chickens in their rooms, the Castro entourage moved to the Hotel Theresa in Harlem.

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Astor, John Jacob IV Andreas Augustin

Astor, John Jacob IV

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With the launch of the latest edition of our book St. Regis (Grand Hotel) Rome we have a look at the legendary man behind this name. Colonel John Jacob Astor IV was born in Rhinebeck, New York on July 13th, 1864, the son of William Astor and great-grandson of John Jacob Astor, the German immigrant who made himself the richest man in America by investing in fur trading and real estate.

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Historic Hotel Names Andreas Augustin

Historic Hotel Names

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This growing log explains the origins of names of hotels, frequently used in history. We are constantly expanding this list and you are invited to share your knowledge.

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2021 Spring News Andreas Augustin

2021 Spring News

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With 2020 over, and Corona not, new steps are taken to restore global travel. In contrast, history is a stabile source of information. Our history books present the best stories and a solidly researched history of each hotel, its location and its people. In 2020, our online bookstore has received an unprecedented run of interested readers, who didn’t want to spend endless months at home without visiting their favourite hotel – and be it from their rocking chair.

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Oberoi Mohan Singh PERSONALITIES

Oberoi Mohan Singh

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The story of the Oberoi emporium is the saga of a famous family, an important part of the heritage of India. And it is the story of M.S. Oberoi.

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Snippets from History: The Savoy London Andreas Augustin

Snippets from History: The Savoy London

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In 2000, I lived at The Savoy London and researched its history. After a few weeks I had a very clear understanding of the historical dimensions of the house, where the old courtyards have been hiding, where they are today. 

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Galle Face - Pimm’s o’clock Andreas Augustin

Galle Face - Pimm’s o’clock

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We mustn’t forget: there have been days and times of frolic and laughter — and they will return. A look in the more recent history of one of our hotels — history researched — book prepared — launch postponed.

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The Façade Competition: does Size matter? HOTELS

The Façade Competition: does Size matter?

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The Façade Competition: famous hotels are sometimes architectural giants in every respect. Often their façade dominates the surrounding. Does size matter? We have meassured and listed the most famous protagonists of the trade.

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Hanoi: The Opening Riddle Andreas Augustin

Hanoi: The Opening Riddle

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The Metropole in Hanoi confronted us with the most challenging project. The research material was scattered all over the world, from London to Paris, from Washington to Aix-en-Provence in the heart of France. It was basically everywhere but neither at the hotel nor in Vietnam itself.

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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 all...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

Le Royal

Le Royal

In 1923/24, the construction of a 55-room hotel in Phnom Penh was proposed, with Ernest Hébrard as architect. A visionary planner, he was in...Read More

Galle Face

Galle Face

The Galle Face Hotel was established in 1864, five years before the Suez Canal came into operation. A journey through the Suez Canal was a...Read More

Half Moon

Half Moon

In 1954, a group of wealthy individuals including Donald Deskey, the fabled designer (among his works the Radio City Music Hall); Harvey Firestone,...Read More

Your Next Trip

Half Moon
(1954)

In 1954, a group of wealthy individuals including Donald Deskey, the fabled designer (among his works the Radio City... Read more

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