LONDON - Sept. 16, 1999--The Ritz, London announced it has received
the �Best UK Business Hotel� award from the readers of Conde Nast Traveller,
British edition.
The annual Readers� Travel Awards took place in London on Sept. 15,
1999, when The Ritz received its prestigious award.
�We are absolutely delighted and honored to receive such an outstanding
distinction,� stated Ruth Jones, director of Sales and Marketing for The
Ritz, London. �With the recent renovation of the property and the emphasis
we have placed on corporate sales, we are extremely pleased that our efforts
have been recognized.�
The Ritz scored an astounding 99.5% for standard comfort of accommodation,
more than 90% for impressive business systems and 90% for the value for
money it offers clients. The hotel was judged by a series of categories
including location, ambiance/decor, environmental friendliness, service/staff,
standard comfort of accommodation, food/restaurants, conference facilities,
business services/systems available, leisure facilities and value for money.
Conde Nast Traveller magazine, which prides itself on editorial independence,
received 26,000 responses to the Readers� Travel Awards questionnaire.
The nominations were sent to an independent market-research company, which
collated and analyzed the data to produce the list of the top recommendations
in world travel.
In
addition to the best �UK Business Hotel,� The Ritz ranked 18th in the �Best
of the Best� Top 100 in the World category and 15th in the highly competitive
�UK Leisure Hotel� category.
One of the world�s most legendary hotels, The Ritz opened May 24, 1906,
at the height of the Edwardian heyday. From its very beginning, the hotel
received the patronage of Britain�s monarchy and aristocracy. The popularity
of The Ritz has endured throughout the ages with Hollywood celebrities,
royalty and world leaders still frequenting the hotel.
Situated in the heart of London, The Ritz enjoys views of Green Park
and historic Piccadilly. Guests of the hotel, which has recently been redecorated
and refurbished from top to toe, are surrounded by comfort and elegance
with marble columns, individually decorated rooms and an opulent Louis
XVI decor.
The Ritz History
The Ritz opened on May 15th, 1906 at the height of the
Edwardian heyday with its first sales brochure offering a double bedroom
with private bath for thirty shillings a night. Right from this beginning,
the hotel benefited from royal patronage, including the Prince of Wales
(later Edward VII) and the English aristocracy. The restaurant also was
immediately adopted by those for which it was designed, with the German
and Austrian embassies retaining a table for all meals.
The Ritz became synonymous with glitter and highlife,
attracting the high society of London. 1910 marked the death of King Edward
VII, however the exorbitant lifestyle of the �Edwardian� era continued
until the �lights went out over Europe� with the outbreak of World War
I. The war had a significant impact on the prosperity of The Ritz. The
management of the hotel decided that employees of English, French or Belgium
nationality who joined the military with over a year�s service at the hotel
behind them, would be paid half of their salaries in their absence. In
addition, England passed a law requiring all hotels to accept English officers
or member of their families for ten shillings a day each, including room
and board. In effect, by 1915 The Ritz had a deficit in excess of £50,000.
The Ritz managed to survive the travesties of war, however, and then entered
a decade that although had little taste for opulent Edwardian grandeur,
had an almost desperate appetite for excitement and novelty. After the
end of the war, The Ritz became the social mecca for the young and wealthy.
Afternoons at the Palm Court meant socialising with friends and the opportunity
for women to meet available young men. During the era of the �roaring twenties�
the hotel became the haunt of the new aristocracy, the stars of Hollywood.
The depression in the late 1920s and early 30s inevitably
caused a serious decline in business at The Ritz. Staff wages were cut
and even directors took a 25% reduction in pay as the number of American
visitors greatly diminished. By the mid-1930s the economy had somewhat
revived and The Ritz became the venue for London�s Cafe Society and literary
set as well as member of the Royal family. The Queen Mother used to go
to The Ritz - she still attends the occasional party there - and it was
at The Ritz that she is said to have ordered a meal from a menu for the
first time.
With the onslaught of World War II, the hotel endured
shortages of such basic necessities as food, soap and linen. Life at The
Ritz, however, appeared much the same as the hotel became a crowded safe
haven for many. The fall of France led to a fresh influx of residents,
and The Ritz became home to refugee royalties, aristocrats and politicians.
This included King Zog of Albania who stayed at The Ritz until 1941. Other
fugitives included King George of Greece, King Peter of Yugoslavia, Queen
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, King
Haakon of Norway, King Christian of Denmark and Dr.Benes , the Czech president.
During the course of the war the hotel was the target of Nazi bombs on
nine different occasions, but it managed to withstand the assault due to
its steel structure.
At the end of the 1940s, the war had ended and the situation
had much improved. In 1948, the hotel showed a profit for the very first
time in its history. In the 1950s the hotel flourished, continuing
to attract the aristocracy and nobility that it always had.
However, times began to change with the onset of the 1960s.
In 1961 Marie-Louise Ritz, Cesar�s widow, died in Paris at age 94. That
decade of the �new classless aristocracy,� as dubbed by the gossip columnists,
heavily influenced society in London. Those of the �Beatle Age� adandoned
traditional aristocratic values in favour of the fashion and manners of
the new �swinging� elite.
The 1960s and 70s were a relatively quiet period at The
Ritz until 1976 when the property was bought by Trafalgar House. The Ritz
then underwent its first renovation, replacing carpets, curtains and other
furnishings in addition to upgrading and replacing the wiring and plumbing
elements. Unfortunately, the reconstruction of the bedroom floors led to
the loss of many of the original suites and it included the destruction
of the old bathroom fittings. However, the property benefited from the
computerisation, centralised purchasing and the active marketing of their
new owner.
The 1980s saw yet another resurgence in the popularity
of the hotel among Britain�s royals. The hotel was the location to such
functions as the 50th Birthday party for Princess Margaret and the Royal
Wedding Gala following the marriage of HRH Prince Charles to the late Princess
of Wales, Lady Diana Spencer. The restaurant, too, regained its popularity
after the appointment of Chef Michael Quinn who became somewhat of a celebrity,
introducing the hotel to Nouvelle Cuisine and prix fixe dinners.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s the hotel�s popularity has
continued to increase. A dramatic, yet sensitive refurbishment has
taken place, restoring both the public spaces and the guestrooms of the
property to the grandeur of the original Louis XVI decor of its 1906 opening.
Much consideration has been given to the authenticity and beauty of the
new fabrics, furnishings and fixtures.
Now one of the world�s legendary hotels, The Ritz continues
to provide its guests with glamour, style, and traditional hospitality.
The legacy of this historic hotel will no doubt continue to endure long
into the 21st Century.
The Ritz
150 Piccadilly
London
W1V 9DG
Tel: +44 (0)171 493 8181
Fax: +44 (0)171 493 2687
E-mail: [email protected]
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