Hotel History | Podcast on RSS.com

Hotel History

by Yael & D’Etta

History Places & Travel

Season 4

Route 66: One Hundred Years of Roadside Motels and Funky Americana (recorded at The Eden Hotel)

Route 66—perhaps the world's most famous patch of asphalt—is turning 100 year this, so we sat down with LA Times travel writer Christopher Reynolds to discuss his 2,400-plus-mile journey from Chicago to Santa Monica. This episode was recorded at the Eden Hotel, which overlooks the Pacific and sits across the street from the unofficial end of Route 66 at the Santa Monica Pier. To read more about Route 66 (or anywhere else Christopher has traveled), go here. Check out our bookshelf about Route 66 here. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music: Blues Got a Groove On by Vocalista from Uppbeat. License code: GOZSBXVLINAISMQI *affiliate link

The Art of Hotel Design

What exactly goes into designing an iconic hotel? How do hundreds of design decisions—some tiny, some substantial—shape the guest experience? We interview Paige Byrd of Thiel & Team, the design firm behind the restoration of the historic Baker Hotel, to dig into the details that make you want to check in... or out. Learn more about the restoration of the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells, TX here. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music: "Coffee 2 - Cafe" by Cliff Patrick *affiliate link

The Sheraton Stockholm

Fresh off a three-year renovation, the five-star Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is combining its reputation for international elegance with its Scandinavian roots. In a conversation with the hotel's general manager, Elin Roquet, we discuss this national landmark 's redesign, from the smallest details like texture and scent to the hotel lobby bar, Sally's, a glamorous nod to the Disco Era. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Trip" by Scandinavianz is licensed under CC BY 3.0. *affiliate link

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Looking for a pink palace perched on the shores of paradise? Welcome to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki aka the Pink Palace of the Pacific. Once the playground of Hawaiian monarchs, it soon became a premiere destination for the well-heeled, followed inevitably by Hollywood celebs. Its doors have seen everyone from World War II sailors to American presidents and from child star Shirley Temple to the Shah of Iran. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "A Little Bit of Fun" by Jonny Boyle *affiliate link

Hidden Hospitality: The History of Black Hoteliers

As we wearily check into our hotels, BnB's, and roadside lodges after a long day of travel, we seldom stop to think about the difficulties minority travelers faced doing those exact things in the not-too-distant past. Calvin Stovall Jr. is the author of Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era, a book that explores the often-overlooked experiences of Black travelers and the entrepreneurs who created the thriving businesses that catered to their needs. From the days of wagon trails all the way to the Civil Rights Act, Black hoteliers faced down discrimination to build vibrant hubs of culture across the country. Buy your copy of Hidden Hospitality here. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Lounge Cruisin" by Airstream. *affiliate link

Book Club: Last Call at the Savoy with Brisa Carleton

Our first live episode! We got to interview the queen of literary cocktails (and acclaimed Broadway producer) Brisa Carleton live at the Algonquin Hotel's historic Round Table, where literary greats like Dorothy Parker once lunched and quipped. We discuss Carleton's debut novel, Last Call at the Savoy, which spotlights the forgotten history of London's first female bartender, Ada Coleman. She also lets us in on her writing process along with some extra history tidbits about the Savoy and the Algonquin. Buy your copy of Last Call at the Savoy here.* Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Opportunity Walks" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. *affiliate link

Secrets on the Line: The Life & Times of the Hotel Phone

Thank you for calling. Your call is important to us. Please hold. Dial 0 for the operator. These familiar expressions began 150 years ago when Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call in Boston. It didn't take long for luxury hotels to adopt the technology, and eventually the phone became a commonplace amenity used to request room service, wakeup calls, and extra towels. But behind the hotel's phone lines were the women running the switchboard... and keeping the secrets of their celebrity guests. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Mining by Moonlight" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. "analogic_dial_telephone" by trip_sound is licensed under CC-3.0. "phone-pickup-click-22" by Adam_Joseph is licensed under CC 3.0. *affiliate link

Cloistered for the Night: Hotels in Monasteries

It's Christmas Eve, and we're taking you to divine lodgings, aka hotels in monasteries. Some of these hotels may not offer room service, wifi, or even bellhops (though some definitely do). Instead, they offer the chance to walk in the footsteps of pilgrims, stroll sacred hallways, spend time in quiet reflection, and contemplate life's big questions. From Mt. Sinai to Montserrat, you can sleep near the saints and dream of miracles. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Church Bells at noon from the top of the Cathedral of Bern (Switzerland)" by felixblume is licensed under a Creative Commons License. "Eternal Praise (Original Short)" by Pony Boy is licensed under a Creative Commons License. "Agnus Dei X" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. “Gregorian Chant” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. *affiliate link

The Key to Söder: NOFO Hotel 🇸🇪

NOFO Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, is making all the right moves. From interesting room design to curated activities for guests to a hip wine bar, this boutique hotel experience might just make Stockholm your next destination. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 🎶 Music "Backbay Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. *affiliate link

Where Hemingway Sat: Stories from Iconic Hotel Bars

Ah, the hotel bar—a traveler's best friend. Over the years, they've made a name for themselves outright and are sometimes more famous than the hotel that spawned them. We take you from Hollywood to New Orleans to Europe to tell the stories of some of the most iconic hotel bars in the world, where celebrities hide their misdeeds, writers look for inspiration, and a martini is always stirred. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate? 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN. 📖 Join our free book club here. 📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores! ☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon. 🎶 Music "Study and Relax" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0. *affiliate link

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