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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

Feuilleton

Feuilleton 347 - Ritzy Things You Should Know Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 347 - Ritzy Things You Should Know

( words)

Putting on the Ritz and others: Have you ever asked yourself what “Puttin' on the Ritz“ means? Or where the name „Ritz-Carlton“ originated. Glad you asked.

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Feuilleton 346 — Path of History Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 346 — Path of History

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This week's newsletter, if you wish, could occupy exactly 2 Minutes and 16 seconds of your valuable time. As many of you know, upon completion of a book, we are translating our research results into smashing exhibitions. We call them The Path of History.

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Feuilleton 345 – Because we Care - Galle Face, Quiz, Jumeirah Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 345 – Because we Care - Galle Face, Quiz, Jumeirah

( words)

On 14. March 1931, at the Galle Face Hotel in Colombo, Ceylon (today Sri Lanka), the restaurant served for Lunch … ——— Why do I tell you all this? Because details matter. Because history is the source of our future. Because we care.

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Feuilleton 343 — Like the Emperor of China Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 343 — Like the Emperor of China

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It is the best of all times to visit China. Trust me. Andreas Augustin presents PEOPLE‘S GRAND HOTEL XIAN in the library THE MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD®. Cover painting by Manfred Markowski.

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Feuilleton 342 — 1896: Destination Budapest Feuilleton

Feuilleton 342 — 1896: Destination Budapest

( words)

The Orient Express left Paris for Vienna and Budapest at 6.50 pm sharp. The train was full. There was a flutter of excitement in the air. All and sundry seemed to be travelling to Vienna or to Budapest. 

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Feuilleton 341 — Why not in the Grand Style? This winter: Egypt Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 341 — Why not in the Grand Style? This winter: Egypt

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With autumn / fall looming over the horizon, days are getting cooler, and so we are all looking forward to winter — but maybe in warmer places. We like to go South. Why not – in the classic style of the grand tour – to Egypt this year?

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Feuilleton 340   Austria — Hotspot of Europe Adrian Mourby

Feuilleton 340   Austria — Hotspot of Europe

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Austria is currently the hotspot of Europe, Vienna its capital. European summers are synonymous for visiting the countryside, sea- and lakesides activities, culture, festivals and, as I have explained earlier, a word as difficult to translate as Gemütlichkeit, “Sommerfrische”.

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Feuilleton 339 Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 339

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Sommerfrische Built as the retreat for a prince, converted into a hotel for the perfect vacation, grown into a world class resort. The history of Schloss Velden is the fascinating tale of one of the legendary and unique hotels of Europe.

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Feuilleton 338 Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 338

( words)

Our book GRAND HOTEL EUROPE, ST PETERSBURG, is an account of life and times at the former Russian capital and the story of Russia's most famous and oldest hotel. It was the playground of Russian aristocrats, artists and famous travelers. Until today it is the meeting point of a yearly gathering of the Romanov family.

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Feuilleton 337 Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 337

( words)

Maybe it was the exquisite cheesecake I had for tea this afternoon. At 4.30, to be precise (as you know, formal Afternoon Tea follows strict rules. Five o’clock tea, for example, starts punctually at four). However, I find this discussion very distressing and it is a great shame that it has spoilt what has otherwise been an extremely good day. A friend of mine has ...

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Feuilleton 336 Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 336

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With Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, detective extraordinaire Hercule Poirot returned to the screen. Andreas Augustin discovers large gaps between solid pillars of hard facts, hanging in thin air like suspension bridges between two solid rocks, which fluctuate violently in the wind of the researcher’s curiosity.

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Feuilleton 335 Andreas Augustin

Feuilleton 335

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Book enthusiasts know summer is high season for books. If you are „Couchsurfing in Iran“ (by Stephan Orth), enjoy „The Art of the Wasted Day“ (by Patricia Hampl) or the New York Times recommendation „The Milk Lady of Bangalore“ by Shoba Narayan, you might also like to put the following titles on your reading list. And there is Hotel Baron in Aleppo. ...

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