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1890: Arrival at the Grand Hotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland by A.L.Henderson

In 1890, Queen Vitoria's court photographer A.L.Henderson recorded this wonderful scene at the Grand Hotel Belvedere in Davos, Switzerland. A true treasure of photography and hospitality. 

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Grand Hotel Belvedere Davos Switzerland

At the WEF World Economic Forum, former soccer president Joseph "Sepp" Blatter meets UN Secretary General Kofi Anan at the Grand Hotel Belvedere Davos Switzerland.
Photograph by Marcel Giger, 2015 > More

Richard Nixon and Zhou En Lai at Peoples Grand Hotel Xian, China (1972)
1932: Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy at the Caledonian Edinburgh
Paris: Best dressed American Barry Wall and Frank of the Ritz
People’s Grand Hotel Xian

During the research for his new book People's Grand Hotel Xi'an (China) Andreas Augustin explores a secret underground tunnel, which served as a path between the People's Grand Hotel and the next "Building No 2". The hotel was built in 1953, and this tunnel is today closed. More

The Marriott Definition Statement PERSONALITIES

The Marriott Definition Statement

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2016 Marriott issued this mission statement. We also present some interesting videos, offering interesting insight in the life and development of a hoteliers' family.

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SO SINGAPORE — COME NOW STOP DON’T STOP STOP The Making Of Books

SO SINGAPORE — COME NOW STOP DON’T STOP STOP

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In 2014, project manager Tony Chisholm invited us to Singapore. COME NOW– STOP–DON’T STOP–STOP was the message. A brand new hotel in a historic building. Could we please research the history of the building?

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Ritz Madrid - The Birth of a Hotel The Making Of Books

Ritz Madrid - The Birth of a Hotel

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1906: With its Prado Museum, its Asturias quarter, its medieval and baroque landmarks and the close proximity of attractions such as the Escorial, Madrid was becoming an attractive destination for the rich new tourists. But there wasn’t a hotel in the city up to their discerning standards.

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Radisson, Pierre Esprit PERSONALITIES

Radisson, Pierre Esprit

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When a fine hotel opened in downtown Minneapolis in 1909, the manager sponsored an essay contest with high school students on what to name this great new hotel. The winning name was 'Radisson'. Who was Pierre Esprit Radisson?

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Arrividerci Grand Hotel, buongiorno Beauty Clinic HOTELS

Arrividerci Grand Hotel, buongiorno Beauty Clinic

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How to save a Grand Hotel — the (1906) Palace Hotel Meran, South Tyrol, survived after a rejuvenation cure in its own hotel based clinic. Like it or not, there was only one way.

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The Savoy London - the making of The Making Of Books

The Savoy London - the making of

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In 2000, Michael Shepherd, General Manager of The Savoy (later GM London Hilton Parklane) invited us to research the history of THE SAVOY in London.

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This Concept called ‘Grand Hotel’ HOTELS

This Concept called ‘Grand Hotel’

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First developed on a private non-profit base, later as a business the history goes back to ancient rituals. In classic Greece, the term Xenia stood for 'guest-friendship', ...

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Roosevelt Hotel, (1893), New Orleans, Louisiana Stan Turkel

Roosevelt Hotel, (1893), New Orleans, Louisiana

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The original Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel was built in 1893 by Louis Grunewald, a German immigrant, as the Grunewald Hotel. In 1908, it was expanded with a fourteen-story 400-room annex.

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George Bernhard Shaw at the Reid’s Palace in Madeira PERSONALITIES

George Bernhard Shaw at the Reid’s Palace in Madeira

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On  30 December 1924, Irish Dramatist George Bernhard Shaw arrived on the island of Madeira (Portugal). At the age of 68, he checked into the Reid's Palace Hotel. His new hobby was dancing. His instructor Max Rinder became ‘the only man who ever taught me anything.’

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Reid’s Hotel, Madeira: Could I bring my bush pigs with me? HOTELS

Reid’s Hotel, Madeira: Could I bring my bush pigs with me?

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Yolanda and Boris, my two bush pigs, have been travelling with me for years. Sadly, their brother Edgar died in the sauna at the Mandarin five years ago. Yolanda has a tendency to gain weight if I don't keep an eye on her asparagus intake.

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The Rise of the Swiss Grand Hotel (2) HOTELS

The Rise of the Swiss Grand Hotel (2)

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In the mid of the 19th century, Switzerland had narrowly avoided financial ruin. In the years leading up to 1880, Switzerland was a classic emigration land. Due to the influx of tourism a great emigration could be stopped.

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The Vietnamese at the Ritz PERSONALITIES

The Vietnamese at the Ritz

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It is one of those "what would have been if ..." footnotes of history. In 1919, Ho Chi Minh, who was then living in Paris and working as a kitchen assistant at the Ritz, sent in a petition asking America for help. America’s President Wilson didn't care to respond.

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Bayerischer Hof

Bayerischer Hof

The Bayerischer Hof was opened in 1841 - on the wishes of King Ludwig I, who wanted a comfortable place for his guests to stay. The Bayerischer Hof...Read More

Baur, former Savoy Baur en Ville, today Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich

Baur, former Savoy Baur en Ville, today Mandarin Oriental Savoy Zurich

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

Oriental Hotel (Mandarin Oriental Bangkok)

Oriental Hotel (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