Wanderwell, Aloha PERSONALITIES

Wanderwell, Aloha

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Aloha Wanderwell – nomen est omen – was a Canadian adventurer and the first woman to drive around the world in a customised Model T Ford.

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Carte, Richard D’Oyly PERSONALITIES

Carte, Richard D’Oyly

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Richard Carte – D’Oyly was his middle name – was born in London’s Soho on 3 May 1844, The entrepreneur built The Savoy Hotel, London.

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The Cover Artists The Making Of Books

The Cover Artists

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They are no ordinary artists — they capture the essence of a hotel in one single piece of art. The cover artists of famoushotels.

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The Lady’s True Age HOTELS

The Lady’s True Age

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‘How old is this establishment?’ is often one of the first questions asked about any famous historic hotel. Modesty is not a consideration when answering: the older the better. The Oriental in Bangkok had its very own way of handling this affair.

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William Cornelius Van Horne (1843-1915) PERSONALITIES

William Cornelius Van Horne (1843-1915)

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If you can’t export the scenery, we’ll import the tourists." William Cornelius Van Horne, renaissance man — amateur geologist, first-rate gardener, caricaturist, conjuror, mind reader, violinist, practical joker, gourmet and marathon poker player.

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The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee Stan Turkel

The Peabody Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee

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The Mississippi Delta begins in the lobby of the Peabody. The Peabody is the Paris Ritz, the Cairo Shepheard's, the London Savoy. If you stand near its fountain in the middle of the lobby, where ducks waddle, ultimately you will see everybody who is anybody in the Delta.

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Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong HOTELS

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong

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A video from Mandarin Oriental Dream Wonderland — this time a most realistic affair — pre checking in a very special client. Enjoy a smile but don't forget: they are dead serious about all this..

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Raffles Singapore — A Literary Journey The Making Of Books

Raffles Singapore — A Literary Journey

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The very first book in the series The Most Famous Hotels in the World® was launched in 1986, at Raffles Hotel in Singapore. I was living right above the Tavern and remember a friend who almost fell over the balustrade of my terrace watching one of the serving girls.

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Writers at Hotels: Thomas Mann PERSONALITIES

Writers at Hotels: Thomas Mann

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For many writers a hotel was the ideal refuge from their daily life. Often a necessity, sometimes a treat, always an inspiration.

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Tchaikovsky & Strauss at Grand Hotel Europe HOTELS

Tchaikovsky & Strauss at Grand Hotel Europe

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Since its official opening in 1875, Grand Hotel Europe in the former Russian capital St Petersburg is the meeting place for the most famous figures of history.

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Xian: People’s Grand Hotel Gardens HOTELS

Xian: People’s Grand Hotel Gardens

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The gardens of the People's Grand Hotel in Xi'an, China, are home to over 10,000 plants representing over 70 different species.

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A Brief History of Time Zones TRAVEL

A Brief History of Time Zones

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Before the 19th Century many cities around the world kept their own time by using some type of instrument to observe the sun’s zenith at noon.

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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