The Ritz!

The story of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC originates with The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. The standards of service, restaurants and facilities of this Boston landmark serve as a benchmark for all Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts worldwide.

The legacy of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston begins with the famous hotelier César Ritz, the "king of hoteliers and hotelier to kings." His philosophy of service and innovations redefined the luxury hotel experience in Europe through his management of The Ritz Paris and the Carlton in London.

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston revolutionized hospitality in America by creating luxury in a hotel setting:

Private bath in every room

Lighter fabrics in the guest room to allow for a more thorough washing

White tie and apron uniforms for wait staff, black tie for the Maitre d 'and morning suits for all other employees who contribute to a formal, professional appearance

Extensive fresh flowers throughout the public areas .

A la carte dinner, offering opportunities for Diners

Gourmet Kitchen, exploiting the genius and cooking methods of Auguste Escoffier

Intimate, smaller lobbies for a more personalized experience César Ritz died in 1918, but his wife Marie continued the expansion of hotels bearing his name. In the U.S., The Ritz-Carlton investment company established by Albert Keller, who bought and franchised the name. In 1927 The Ritz-Carlton, Boston opened, and other hotels followed in New York (at Madison and 54th), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Atlantic City and Boca Raton. Was, however, by 1940 none of the hotels that operate with the exception of The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. The hotel embodies the vision of César Ritz, Yankee ingenuity and Boston social emotions.

The Ritz Carlton, Boston

In 1927, said Edward N. Wyner, a local developer Boston, Mayor Curley to build a world-class hotel. Wyner, who were building a skyscraper, and was up to the second floor at the time agreed and changed the tower to a hotel. Because of the reputation of Ritz in Europe and the cosmopolitan community in Boston, knew Wyner Ritz-Carlton name would ensure an immediate success. He received permission from The Ritz-Carlton Investment Company and The Ritz Paris' for use of the name and set out to create luxury in the heart of Boston. The Ritz-Carlton, Boston opened May 19, 1927 with a room at $ 15.

In the tradition of César Ritz, Wyner was careful to maintain the privacy of its customers, a policy of strict observance of the day in all Ritz-Carlton hotels. And thus, the elite were drawn to his hotel. But he was also acutely aware of the role and reputation the hotel had in the community: during the Depression Wyner kept the lights on in vacant hotel rooms to create an aura of success.

The Ritz-Carlton, Boston was considered a private club for the very wealthy. Until the 1960s, the hotel was very formal. The guests were regularly checked to see if they were in the Social Register or Who's Who and the hotel sometimes went so far as to examine the quality of paper products, where customers wrote to the hotel requesting reservations (if it was not high enough quality, they become denied).

Dress codes were enforced for all guests, a large part due to the formality of Boston society. Restaurants were also very strict in terms of who they are admitted. Women were not allowed to lunch alone in the café. Unaccompanied women were not allowed to enter The Ritz Bar until 1970.

Kitchen in the hotel restaurants was created in the hallowed tradition of César Ritz's partner Auguste Escoffier. The kitchen at The Ritz-Carlton has always been a classic but never boring, innovative but never trendy. The popular entree Lobster au whiskey were served at the hotel's opening night in 1927 and is still a favorite dinner item today.

The combination of food and atmosphere resistant restaurants was "room" to swing, preview such musical greats as Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. The Roof closed in 1944 but was reopened with great success in summer 1995. Today, guests can enjoy gourmet dining and dancing under the stars with a live big band.

More plays were written or reworked in the Boston hotel than anywhere else in the U.S.. Richard Rodgers composed "Ten Cents a Dance" on the piano in a Ritz-Carlton suite, Oscar Hammerstein wrote the lyrics to "Edelweiss" in the shower during an overnight stay and Tennessee Williams wrote a part of "A Streetcar Named Desire" while a guest at hotel. In addition to hosting many famous people, the hotel also entertained an extraordinary number of animals including: Rin Tin Tin, Morris the Cat and Louis the Swan (the central character in EB White's classic children's book "The Trumpet of the Swan").

The hotel maintained its own upholstery and printers and even had a plumber in the house, whose sole job was to paint the gold stripes on the hotel furniture. As a result of this convenience, the hotel often catered to the whims of important guests. A suite for Joan Crawford was decorated with peppermint Lifesavers because it was her favorite candy and guest room furniture in Winston Churchill's room was reupholstered in red, his favorite color.

Edward Wyner died in 1961. Land developers Cabot, Cabot & Forbes and their chairman and major shareholder, Gerald W. Blakely, owned and operated by the hotel. But Ritz legacy endured with Charles Ritz, son of César Ritz, who was an active board member of The Ritz-Carlton until his death in 1977. In 1983, Blakely sold the hotel and the rights to The Ritz-Carlton name to William B. Johnson established The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

The Ritz-Carlton Logo

Lion and crown Ritz-Carlton logo is a combination of the British royal seal (the crown) and the logo of a Financial Backer (Leo). This logo was created by César Ritz. In 1965 decided Cabot, Cabot and Forbes (owners of the Boston hotel starts in 1964 after complex negotiations with the heirs Wyner Estate), the logo of the Boston hotel dates back to 1927 * "was not sufficiently noble." The revised logo for what is used today. It is interesting to note that The Ritz-Carlton hotels in Atlantic City and New York had similar logos on their hotels in the late '20s. While in Europe at the same time, The Ritz London logo of a lion and The Ritz Paris logo contained a crown.

In 1927, was when The Ritz-Carlton, Boston opened the permission to use the name from The Carlton Investing Company of New York, which was approved by The Ritz Hotels Development Company, Ltd. in London, England.

The cobalt blue Goblet

Many of The Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts throughout the world continue to set their tables with the signature cobalt blue glasses. These goblets were designed to match the blue Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers in the original Dining Room at The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. Randomly, blue glass was considered a status symbol in 1920s Boston. Window glass imported from Europe underwent a chemical reaction when they hit Boston the air and turned blue. Blue glass meant that homeowners can afford imported glass. The Ritz-Carlton, is quite modern, ordered glasses in this color.