PERSONALITIES

Hoteliers About Our Work

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augustin

Since 1986, we have listed over 450 hotels: over 50 rooms, over 50 years old, open more than 50% of the year.

We have researched the history of numerous individual hotels, recorded their history, and published it in our library.

There is a global demand to take history earnest, with a certain twist of entertainment. Our readers are educated, travellers. They want well researched information. So we are as diligent, profound and thoughtful as possible. We know this makes THE MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD such a successful library.

We should not forget that we have inherited the responsibility to research and record the history of a famous hotel. It is an asset which needs to be developed with expert advise, carefully nourished and accompanied for ever.

We have the honour to be working with the most legendary hotels in the world, meeting the most famous hoteliers in the world — here's my salute to them all!

Andreas Augustin
President
famoushotels.org

'Time freezes and smiles back with wisdom. History is one of our strong marketing points.'
Gilles Cretalaz
Vice President Operations Luxury Brands
Accor & Raffles

Here is what some of our partners have to say about our work.

" ... And the book is a big success — in fact a bestseller." Kurt Wachtveitl, Mandarin Oriental Bangkok

The history of the hotel is an integral part of the hotel's identity. The book and related exhibits are prominently presented throughout The Oriental.

"As of 1986, Andreas Augustin has been instrumental in documenting and featuring our rich history through his wonderful publication “The Oriental” – The Amazing Tale of Bangkok’s Legendary Hotel.

The path of history* that Andreas has created in the hotel compliments perfectly the bestselling book he has authored. Guests from across the globe continue to be delighted in taking home with them a piece of The Oriental’s history."

Greg Liddell, General Manager, The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

* The Path of History is "The Oriental's Journey" a permanent exhibition presenting the rich history of the hotel.

'The result of the history project conducted about The (Mandarin) Oriental by The Most Famous Hotels in the World was outstanding. We thought we knew a lot about our history, but Andreas Augustin and his team unearthed new material all over the world. And the book is a big success — in fact a bestseller. An excellent job! We are in particular impressed by the yearly updates of the book, where new historical material is added, the VIP lists updated and new photographs are published. Every edition is a 'new book'.'

Kurt Wachtveitl

General Manager (1967–2009),

The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

Our book on the history of the hotel receives a regular up-date, with new research material added.

Left: William Haandrikman, today General Manager Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi & Area General Manager AccorHotels North VietNam

Richard Kaldor (right), General Manager of the historic Hotel Metropole Hanoi in 1996: 'Maybe the most striking fact was that when we took over the hotel from the former owners all archive material was lost. When we decided to launch the history project very little of the hotels history was actually known, and none was collated. We had no opening date, all material had either left Vietnam or was lost.

Andreas Augustin and his team put our history together like a jigsaw puzzle. They unearthed 100 years of history. Today we know when it all started, who was here and when things happened. This hotel now has a document that goes far beyond any usual hotel publication, and can consolidate the Metropole as one of Asia's grand old hotels. We rightfully celebrated our centenary in 2001 in a part of the world where historic hotels are few and far between.'

cornelia kausch

Jean Pierre Mifsud, General Manager, Corinthia Hotel Budapest

Famoushotels provides outstanding references on the truly great Hotels of the world. The research is thorough and the attractiveness of each book combines tradition and history in the settings of todays competitive environment. Keep up the traditions, each book is a unique piece of history in its making.
Cornelia Kausch
(was the general manager of the Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest when famoushotels researched and produced the book about the history of this icon of Hungarian hospitality).

vijay wanchoo on famoushotels.org

The Imperial's pillared verandahs, dining rooms, tea lounges, Royal Ballroom, cool and verdant gardens have been witness to the venue of many celebrated encounters between the British and Indian aristocracy and gentry. If only walls could speak, here indeed was a repository of fascinating anecdotal material for authors of romantic and detective fiction.
Andreas Augustin's books The Most Famous Hotels in the World featuring The Imperial is definitely an invaluable asset since history is a very important facet of The Imperial. It has made a huge impact coming from the most renowned keeper of grand traditions and heritage in luxurious hospitality.
Vijay Wanchoo
Sr. Vice President & General Manager
The Imperial
New Delhi

missing image of Ulisses Marreiros "Reid's Palace is one of the most famous hotels in the world, and as such, we bear a great responsibility for our heritage and history. We are delighted about the research made in cooperation with famoushotels.org, that has enabled us to highlight even further this beautiful hotel and its landmark experiences, like the afternoon tea. It is with great pride that we have been welcoming and pampering guests since 1891!"
Ulisses Marreiros
Acting General Manager
Reid’s Palace, Madeira, Portugal

Oleksandr_Lytvyn - missing image

"The Premier Palace, as Kyiv's oldest existing luxury hotel, is one of The Most Famous Hotels In The World. Opened in 1912, this legend of Ukrainian hospitality has set all standards for tourism in the country. The saying goes that he who does not appreciate the past has no future. And as such the hotel’s team bears a great responsibility for our heritage and history.
Andreas Augustin - with the help of local professionals - made a deep professional research of the historic data of the Premier Palace and of Kyiv life, as well. After one year of solid work a complete history was established and the author had a clear picture of the development of hospitality industry in Ukraine. The elegant, individual book illustrated with unique historical photographs, published in 2009, became a result of detailed work."
Oleksandr Lytvyn
General Director
The Premier Palace Hotel
In 2009 - to serve the logical language request of the hotel's guests - we published three edtions of this book: one in English, one in Ukrainian and one in Russian.

michel rey

"I love this 'philosophical air of history', and I am sure many of our guests feel the same! A great challenge: a responsibility towards our founders linked with the promise to continue their work in the same spirit whilst at the same time allowing for the changes and developments of our generation.
When you run a hotel where the Treaty of Zurich has been signed, the concept of the Nobel Prize has been conceived, Austria’s Empress Elisabeth “Sisi” held her banquets – to mention just three of hundreds – one cannot ignore this abundance of history in marketing."

Michel Rey
General Manager
Baur au Lac, Zurich, CH

"History is key and in particular for our leisure guests from Europe and the USA, this is a key selling point. Our book by Andreas Augustin and his team is a great success with our guests."
Adrian Ellis
General Manager
Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest
The Most Famous Hotels in the World have researched this hotel's history with Hungarian author Sally Noemi.

krischek

"The history of a place gives it a soul and makes it unique. Our hotel has a long history and with it many interesting stories have been developed and collected over the years. A luxury brand has in most cases a longstanding tradition. History becomes part of the DNA."

Gerald Krischek
General Manager
Hotel Goldener Hirsch Salzburg, Hotel Bristol, Vienna and Hotel Prince de Galles, Paris
Since 1998 The Most Famous Hotels in the World are researching and publishing the history of the hotel in a successful book.

Famoushotels' support of our hotel school is a wonderful example of the commitment our alumni and industry friends have to our teaching mission. Thank you again for the thoughtful generousity.
David W. Butler, Dean,
Cornell School of Hotel Administration
FAMOUSHOTELS books are found in the libraries of hotel management schools all over the world.

"History is a unique selling opportunity to transmit reliability, tradition and charm. We have been successfully working with Andreas Augustin on his Roman history book about the Grand Hotel — today's St. Regis."
Michele Frignani
General Manager
Hotel Excelsior, Rome

famoushotels researched the history of the Grand Hotel (St Regis) and the Excelsior, both books published in the library THE MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD.

reichel "History makes the difference for me. New Hotel Projects might invest more or try to be even more luxuries than others, but they don’t have history. For every guest in a hotel it is interesting to know where they are and what has happened at the property. We as the professionals on property need to make personal contact to and with our guests. History is most helpful in this respect. No one will really remember the color of the carpet in his room, but the history of the hotel and place where they stayed will be in most cases unforgettable, if someone tells you about it."
Henning Reichel
General Manager
The Falkenstein Grand
Villa Rothschild (both Königstein, Germany) - both books were published in 2009

del campo "The hotel has a very rich history and has also played an important part in the history of the city. This adds an additional dimension – you are not only enabling your guests to experience a delightful hotel but also a part of the history of the city. It does of course also come with the great responsibility to maintain and preserve such an architectural treasure."
Oscar del Campo
General Manager
Hotels Imperial and Bristol, Vienna
Our books HOTEL IMPERIAL and HOTEL BRISTOL VIENNA are both part of the hotel's history and heritage concept since 1996.

Under the management of Kempinksi, we have produced a book about the Grand Hotel Europe, St Petersburg. After the hotel was passed on to Orient Express Hotels, we produced the next editions of this rather successful history of this legendary hotel.
Former general manager Thomas Noll remembers: "Famous Hotels have produced the Grand Hotel Europe St Petersburg history, a book that proves to be very successful from the PR and commercial point of view. We receive very positive comments and we also had excellent international press coverage initiated by famoushotels themselves. Our guests love the book, and it has become a best-seller among our various souvenir items. We appreciated the good, professional cooperation and the efficient delivery to Russia."

Thomas Noll

Former General Manager, Grand Hotel Europe, St Petersburg, Russia

The third edition of this successful book is currently in circulation. We recently discovered a rare historical letter, posted in 1912 on original stationary of the Grand Hotel del'Europe. (see more)

Kai Speth hands the history book of the Grand Hotel Metropole, A Sofitel Legend, to former US president Bill Clinton, who posseses a whole collection of famoushotels books.

"History is not a burden but a responsibility. The Metropole is more than just a historical hotel, it is an integral part of the city, a landmark where many historical events took place. It will be here hopefully for future generations to enjoy and that is a big responsibility for us to keep the building in shape.
For the leisure market history is a decision maker. Not too many hotels like this one here are left in this part of the world.
Kai Speth
General Manager
The Metropole Hanoi
Vietnam (2010)

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The Most Famous Hotels in the World is the publisher of the Metropole's history. Today the book is in its 10th edition. New historical and contemporary material is added with every edition.

'It has been a pleasure working with Andreas Augustin and I am delighted he involved a well known local face, Roddy Martine, in the creation of our beautiful history book. Roddy added the local Scottish humour and I am impressed with the amount of research and quality of information that has gone into this book. The quality of pictures, paper and print is excellent and everyone who has read it so far confirms to me what a pleasure it has been to stroll through 100 years of history illustrated by lively photos and reflecting the glorious times the Caledonian Hotel has seen over one centenary.'

Dagmar Muehle was General Manager of the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh when The Most Famous Hotels in the World conducted the history project from 2002-2003. The book was presented in 2003.

Here is what some of our partners have to say about our work.

With the help of The Most Famous Hotels in the World we were able to put together a puzzle of historical and entertaining facts. Today we have wonderful books about our hotels, and a competent historical data base! Sensitivity and sound knowledge were combined with highest quality. The books are updated with every edition. The digital press kit TRAVELLER'S NOTE PAD has been handed out over thousands of times, presenting all our hotels the way WE want it.'

Erhard Noreisch

Former Vice President

Starwood East and Central Europe

General Manager, Imperial Hotels AG Austria

Since 1997 The Most Famous Hotels conducts historic research for the hotels Imperial and Bristol in Vienna and the Hotel Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg, resulting in three individual books about each hotel. Every book receives yearly updates.

Michael Shepherd (right) and Andreas Augustin discussing picture material of The London Hilton on Park Lane

"Grand Hotels still play a significant part in the evolution of society and contribute significantly to local economies.The series of The Most Famous Hotels in the World make a wonderful set of chronological history of some unique trophy palaces. The team of The Most Famous Hotels in the World capture beautifully not only the history, but the vibrancy of many such intriguing organizations, in a well presented format. Our guests have passed much praise and credit on the book in relation to quality, presentation and content."

Michael Shepherd
was General Manager at The Savoy, London, The Most Famous Hotels in the World conducted this history project from 1999-2001. The book was presented in 2001.

Following this we were called again by Michael Shepherd to assist with the history of The London Hilton on Park Lane to research the history of this 50 years old hotel, and establish its significance in the history of English hospitality and the development of British hotel keeping.

'Somebody like me, who happens to know a lot about the history of his hotel and successfully makes a selling point of this history, is always suspicious about a "stranger" who arrives to research this history again. But the way Andreas Augustin and his team tackle the subject is very impressive.

'Their research methods are very precise and cover everything from the ancient records of building authorities to interviews with retired members of the staff. No source is left untouched. From the results of all this research a perfect biography of the hotel is composed, taking its place between the prehistory of the country, Mozart and the present.'

Count Johannes Walderdorff was General Manager of the Hotel Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg while famoushotels conducted a history project and produced a book about its history.

'A book of this calibre emphasizes the tradition, history and splendour of a hotel that new advertising and marketing campaigns can not touch.'

Cindy Novotny
Master Connection Associates, US

'I would first of all like to congratulate The Most Famous Hotels in the World for the terrific and incredible work you have done up to now and for what all this really means for anyone interested in the history of hospitality.'
Peter Wirth, hotelier.
(from the Hotel Hassler, Rome; former General Manager of Waldorff Towers, New York)

The Grand Hotel Vienna edition of "The Most Famous Hotels in the World" books is an invaluable asset for the hotel.

Since the hotel was not open to the public from 1958 to 1994, few people realize its historical value.

Under my management of this hotel the book had become a major marketing tool, as it highlights 130 years of history to be proud of. The research completed for this hotel was most impressive.

Franz P. Donhauser

General Manager (today: ShangriLa, Sidney)

famoushotels researched the history before the hotel was reopened in 1994. The resulting book laid the cornerstone to its historic marketing strategy, which it uses today.

It was a pleasant experience to work with the team of The Most Famous Hotels in the World. They unearthed lots of material here at the Kronenhof – we do have a large archive – and they found even more material outside of the hotel.

The book about the Kronenhof has become our major tool of sales and PR. It is both a history and a picture book of the past and the present of the hotel.

Xaver Stocker was General Manager at the Grand Hotel Kronenhof-Pontresina / Switzerland and invited famoushotels to conduct historic research.

'The Mena House Treasury book is greatly appreciated by our guests as well as members of the local community and press. It chronicles the history of this legendary royal residence in an informative and interesting manner. We are delighted to offer the history of the last 137 years to our guests in this well researched capsule.'

Sanjiv Malhotra

Executive Vice President

Oberoi Hotels Egypt

& former General Manager, Mena House Oberoi Hotel

Over one year of detailed research went into the production of the Mena House Treasury. Finally it was possible to establish the real opening date of the hotel, and to unearth photographs long lost.