Some 17 years ago, on 27 January 1994, the management of the Sandy Lane Hotel applied to become a Select member of The Most Famous Hotels in the World. At that time the application was shelved because the hotel was not yet 50 years old. Now our membership secretary presented us with the application, a faded page, typically from an old fax machine. Today, in 2011, the hotel fully qualifies for a Select Membership: it opened in 1961, exactly 50 years ago.
Our Vienna (Austria) based global non-profit organization THE MOST FAMOUS HOTELS IN THE WORLD was established in 1986 to research and document the history of famous hotels. Every year the organization announces its annual selection of new Select Member hotels.
The membership is an honorary affair, hotels can neither buy it nor do they have to pay for it.
Tentative members are accepted for a trial period of six months. Within this time sufficient proof of the hotel's history must be submitted to the committee.
New number of Select Member Hotels: total of 437
Number of new Select Member Hotels 2011: total of 14 (5 tentative)
With the inclusion of these hotels into the list of famous historic hotels, famoushotels.org starts a process of researching and presenting the hotels' history.
With over 10m hits in 2010 we are the leading independent website about famous historic hotels in the world. I have all intentions to continue to maintain a high standard of research, information and presentation.
All 14 new Select Member Hotels sorted by country; city; name of the hotel; opening year:
Barbados, West Indies; St. James; Sandy Lane; 1961
Since the heady days of the sixties and seventies, celebrities treated Sandy Lane as their home away from home. Aristotle Onassis being rowed in from his yacht while Maria Callas swam ashore with a pet marmoset on her back; David Niven inventing his own cocktails at the bar; Elton John ...
China; Tianjin; Astor Hotel; 1863
Herbert Hoover, US president and a onetime Tientsin resident during the Boxer rebellion, called Tienstin an universal city, “like a world in miniature with all nationalities, all architectural styles, all kitchens.” The Astor became its first Western hotel.
England; Oxford; The Randolph; 1864
The long association with TV’s Inspector Morse consolidated the hotel’s role as Oxford icon. The Randolph appeared in more episodes than any other Oxford building and author Colin Dexter is often to be spotted in the hotel’s Morse Bar.
Germany; Kronberg im Taunus; Schlosshotel Kronberg; 1954
! Schlosshotel Kronberg was b! uilt in 1893 and opened as a hotel in 1954. You rarely get the opportunity to sleep in the bed of Queen Victoria of England.
Germany; Weimar; Russischer Hof; 1840
The classicist facade of the Russischer Hof suggests that it ranks among the oldest hotels of Weimar. In fact, the historic part of the elegant building dates back to the year 1805.
Netherlands; Den Haag (The Hague); Kurhaus Hotel; 1885
Stylish, grand seaside hotel, a definite landmark at the Dutch coast, a monument since 1818.
Scotland; Glasgow; Grand Central Hotel; 1883
In 1927, John Logie Baird transmitted the world’s first long-distance television pictures over 438 miles (705 km) of telephone line from London to the Grand Central Hotel.
Slovenia; Portoroz; Kempinski Palace Portoroz; 1910
The Palace Hotel was built during the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and opened in 1910 as the largest hotel along the Adriatic coast.
Viet Nam; Ho Chi Minh City; Grand Hotel; 1930
Since 1930, it is one of the city's revolving points. It was completely restored in 1997, nestled in Saigon's riverside area.
Tentative Memberships** have been awarded to:
Germany; Frankfurt; Hessischer Hof; 1952
The Hotel Hessischer Hof is the only privately run five star property in Frankfurt.
England; London; Jumeirah Carlton Tower; 1961
According to unconfirmed sources The Carlton Tower was the tallest hotel of London when it opened in 1961.
Japan; Hakone; Fujiya Hotel; 1878
Since 1878, Fujiya Hotel has been renowned globally as one of the most classical resort hotels in Japan.
Mozambique; Maputo; Polana Serena; 1922
Built in 1922 along sweepingly splendid lines, the magnificent Polana Serena Hotel has long been considered one of Africa’s finest hotels.
Peru; Lima; Grand Hotel Bolivar; 1925
The Bolivar offers a decadent portion of glory, but is still the grand old lady among hotels in Peru.
* these hotels were elected by the jury in November 2010. 35 hotels had applied.
** Tentative memberships are issued for a trial period of six months, based on current fame and significance. Within this time sufficient proof of the hotel's history must be submitted to the committee.
