Modern hotels offer a range of comforts including mini bars, suite bathrooms, and air conditioning, making stays more enjoyable and convenient. However, these amenities weren’t available from the start; they were gradually introduced by leading hotels to meet the high expectations of their guests — and they succeeded!
Celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, a charming seaside resort made history in December 1904 by showcasing the world’s first outdoor Christmas tree adorned with electric lights. At a time when candles were the standard for holiday decoration, this innovative use of electric lights amazed visitors and set a trend for the impressive holiday displays we now see in many hotels.
The Goring, known for hosting royalty and even serving as Kate Middleton’s accommodation the night before her wedding to Prince William, is considered one of the world’s top luxury hotels. When it opened in 1910, it surprised the hospitality industry by offering a bathroom with every bedroom, an unprecedented feature at the time.
The luxury Waldorf Astoria hotel is renowned not only for its Art Deco style and famous guests but also for revolutionizing the hospitality sector with the introduction of room service in the early 1930s. The concept of 24-hour room service was a delightful innovation for affluent guests and quickly became a standard offering in hotels around the globe. Today, you can easily enjoy food and drinks in your room with just the push of a button.
The mini bar, now a staple in hotel rooms, was thanks to a Hilton manager and the German company Siegas, which invented the mini fridge in the 1960s. In 1974, the Hong Kong Hilton, which closed in 1995, introduced the idea of stocking these mini fridges with overpriced drinks in 840 rooms, leading to a significant boost in beverage sales and a notable increase in the hotel’s overall profits. Even though the Hong Kong Hilton has closed, its legacy continues at the Conrad Hong Kong hotel.