Author's Notes

The man with the sign ‘Grand Hotel Royal’ awaits me on the platform at Keleti station. He takes my bags and me to the hotel. The doorman opens the car. Arrived – home. Tamás Ungár, the chief concierge greets from the concierge box, the reception produces my keycard. Bell captain József Rácz sends my luggage upstairs. Arrived. Checked-in. Back home
While collecting my breakfast, I read newspapers and E-mails at the business centre, overlooking the lobby. The reception is busy checking guests in and out. A photographer tries to persuade a model to pose for the Hungarian edition of Vogue and a friendly waitress asks me if I’d like some more juice.
There never was a better time to write a book about the Grand Hotel Royal. Hungary has finally returned into the arms of Europe, Budapest is sparkling and shining as it used to a hundred years ago, the hotel has been saved and reopened by Alfred Pisani, the far-sighted owner of Corinthia hotels, and tourism is booming.
I have chosen a selection of anecdotes and stories, mixed with facts, to paint a colourful picture of this grand hotel. Noémi Saly, a notable Hungarian writer and expert in hospitality and coffee-house culture, has given me countless lessons in Budapest style, history and anecdotes. Although I am Viennese, I do not speak Hungarian. Noémi’s explanations brought me much closer to the Hungarian sole. I discovered countless similarities. In fact our cities are only 250 km apart. Once upon a time these countries shared one government for a notable period of time. Our greatest composers, musicians, writers and artists are household names in Hungary as well as in Austria. And so are our greatest hotels.
Let me take you on a journey through the history of the Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest. Let’s go back to the year it all started. To 1896. May I go ahead?

» Add to cart for 28,00 EUR | View Cart