Hotels Old and New

Last week I saw the new movie The Grand Budapest Hotel. The story is rather quirk, following the escapades of a concierge of exceptional talent and diplomatic skill. The story takes place in a fictional Eastern European country. The concierge, Mr. Gustav H., over the course of the movie, is accused of a murder, thrown into an Eastern European prison, escapes, and is on the run. I won't give away the story, but visually it is stunning. The director depicts the times (most of the story set in the early 1930's) most excellently. And, the director gives a glimpse of the five-star hotel in all its glory, and then, as the towering institution becomes a decaying relic, a shadow of its former self. It is an interesting two-hour ride.

The word "hotel" comes from the French, "hote" meaning host. Originally it referred to any building that had frequent visitors. Today it represents an establishment that provides accommodations, meal, services to travelers. The earliest record of a "hotel or inn" comes from the Bible, with Mary and Joseph finding "no room at the inn".

As far as our 18th Century focus is concerned, I found the City Hotel, the first publically held hotel, open in New York in 1792. The Tremont Hotel opened in Boston in 1809. Prior to this time, it was not a particularly attractive thing to stay in a hotel. If it was necessary, sure, but generally the well-to-do stayed with friends in their manor house, country estate, etc. But, inns began to cater to richer clients by the mid 1700's, growing in grandeur, with concierge and staff to cater to the wishes and whims of its clients. America had hotels, but the best and most enduring are from Europe. Many of these had their hayday, and then closed, but some, remain to this day. And, one of the most famous that still remains is, of course, in London! With Londoners famed attention to every detail, courtesy and discretion, Claridge's fills the bill.

Claridge's opened in 1812 as Mivart's Hotel, but later the name was changed. Located on Brooks Street, in Mayfair, London, it is a luxury hotel par excellence. For the discerning guest, it offers the best of everything in a hotel experience. The building is a terraced house/hotel, its owner, Mr. Mivart, sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Claridge, who owned a smaller hotel next door. The two operations were combined, and the name changed to Claridge's. It's reputation was sealed in 1860 when the Empress Eugenie made a visit to London and entertained Queen Victoria at the hotel. It is known for Royal Family guests, and for its famed Christmas tree, decorated each year by a notable like John Galliano, or Kally Ellis from McQueens.

By the way, the word CONCIERGE is French, comes from the old French "cumcerges" which is related to the Medieval Latin "consergius" or the Latin "conservus" meaning "fellow slave"!