The Importance of Being Earnest*,Testimonials (2)
Since 1986, we have listed over 400 hotels. They all qualify: 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 certain demand to take history earnest, with a certain twist of entertainment. Our readers are educated, intelligent 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 is at the doorstep. It needs to be developed with expert advise, carefully nourished and accompanied for ever.
Andreas Augustin
President
famoushotels.org
Here is what some of our partners have to say about our work.
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).
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
"Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok will be celebrating its 
135th anniversary in 2011. Over the years it has become an integral part of Thai history. Since its opening in 1876, "La Grande Dame" has played host to many of the world's most famous Who’s Who, and is highly respected globally for its legendary service, therefore we have a great responsibility to honour this reputation, and what better way than to have its unique heritage recorded and commemorated by Andreas Augustin's world-renowned, well crafted and beautifully illustrated 'The Most Famous Hotels in the World' book series which is widely read and enjoyed by all.
Jan Goessing
General Manager, The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
'The
result of the history project conducted about The (Mandarin) Oriental
by The Most Famous Hotels in the World was outstanding.
'Not only am I a great fan of 'The Most Famous Hotels in the World'
history research and books, I also consider the existence of these
publications to be extremely important. In an industry that is as
fast-moving as ours, determined as it is by so many different economic
factors, it is tremendously important that we do not lose touch with the
basics.
"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
"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.
"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
'Time freezes and smiles back with wisdom. History is one of our strong marketing points.'
Gilles Cretalaz
Hotelier
"History is key and in particular for our leisure guests from Europe and the USA, this is a key selling point."
Adrian Ellis
General Manager
Grand Hotel Royal, Budapest
The Most Famous Hotels in the World (famoushotels.org) have researched this hotel's history, and produced a book about it).
"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 Bristol, Vienna
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."
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.
"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
"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."
"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 Importance of Being Earnest, A Trivial Comedy for Serious People is a play by Oscar Wilde. First performed on the 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London.__________________
Testimonials - part 1
