Hotel History

How did a boy who grew up hearing UFO stories and watching nuclear testing during the Cold War make his childhood dream of exploring space come true? He founded a wildly successful short-term hotel chain and funneled his profits directly into an aerospace company that would eventually partner with NASA. But that's not all he used his fortune to do. Summer is coming to a close, but we still have a...

June 1, 2026, marked Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday. Her life made her a star, but her untimely death made her a legend. And almost 64 years later she is still an enigma. From the first time she walked through the Ambassador Hotel's doors to sign a modeling contract in 1945, hotels became her classroom, her stage, and often her home. We’re looking back at the way her presence—sensual, glamorous,...

From Hollywood Westerns to working cattle ranches, the dude ranch has been part of the American travel story for more than a century. In this episode, we sit down with Bryce Albright, executive director of the Dude Ranchers' Association, to explore the origins of the dude ranch, how these iconic destinations evolved into a uniquely American hospitality experience, and the role the association play...

We love a candid and meaningful conversation with someone in hospitality, so lucky us (and you) that Susan Barry of Top Floor Podcast is both of those—and warm and funny to boot! We tackle working your way up in hospitality, trends that just might make history, and some of her favorite hotels and hotel stories. Listen to her weekly conversations with hospitality insiders here . Follow us: TikTok |...

Something strange happened in Roswell, NM, many years ago, and we don't mean the famous flying saucer story. In this episode we discover how a small Southwest town known for ranching and rockets transformed its tourism industry by making the most of a Cold War government cover-up, This episode is part of our Cosmic Summer series. Be sure to check out our other UFO- and cosmos-themed episodes! Foll...

"We know we are approaching the grandest of mysteries," said Carl Sagan in his seminal PBS series, Cosmos . Hotels throughout the world have tapped into our desire to contemplate those mysteries under dark skies with open-sky villas and domes, telescopes, and on-site observatories, where you can gaze into the night sky with wonder (and a convex lens). Coincidentally, nearby some of those same hote...

Welcome to Cosmic Summer, where we'll be exploring strange skies all over the world and the hotels that cater to them. First up is the lonely road that crosses south central Nevada and runs parallel to the secret base the U.S. government swore didn't exist for decades—Area 51. On our way there, we stopped in Tonopah, NV, a former mining town with gorgeous historic hotels and an even more beautiful...

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 R...

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...

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: Tik...

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 t...

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 t...

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 als...

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...

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...

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 .* Suppor...

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...

From having a hearty stew sent to your room in the local inn to scanning QR codes, room service has changed its form but never its allure—tasty fare with minimal effort. One hotel in particular made modern room service a necessity for luxury establishments, and others quickly followed suit. What are the most common and most bizarre room service orders? And how do some hotels elevate their offering...

Rob Hart's The Paradox Hotel is a genre-bending sci-fi thriller with an arsenal of mystery, action, heart, and, um, dinosaurs? We discuss our love/hate relationship with the main character, how a hotel dedicated to helping the uber wealthy time travel might run a little differently than a normal one, and the theory of time travel itself, naturally. Pick up a copy of The Paradox Hotel here .* 📖 Jo...

Footsteps in the hallway. Cold spots in your room. A child's laughter bouncing off the walls. And phone calls full of static. Learn about the hauntings in one of Denver's oldest luxury hotels, the Brown Palace, and a century-old double homicide that could account for some of the paranormal activity. Read more about the Brown Palace murders here .* Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTub...

As the veil between worlds thins, the ghosts come out to play. And the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, has so many, it's been named the most haunted hotel in America by a number of ghost hunters. From a hopeless romantic Victorian gentleman to the notorious "Doctor" Baker, you'll meet these ghosts and more in this aubergine castle in the Ozarks. Read more about the haunt...

When Shamim Ehsani and his brother envisioned a brand new luxury hotel for Kenya's capital city of Nairobi, they knew exactly what they wanted: A creative outlet for chefs, designers, and other visionaries. A platform for the arts. A place of authenticity. And most importantly—a home for the human tribe. They built all those things and more at Tribe Hotel, a five-star boutique hotel that has woven...

Hollywood thinks it knows drama? It could take a page from the Beverly Hilton's book. From star-studded events to political scandals to celebrity tragedies, few hotels have packed quite so many sordid happenings into seven decades of history. Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏻 Want to collaborate ? 📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN . 📖 Join our free bo...

Not too long ago, jets from TWA airline ruled the skies, and its terminal at JFK was a marvel of futuristic design. Its name conjured images of fashionabLe flight attendants, first class service, and eccentric billionaire owner Howard Hughes. Today the airline is no more, but its terminal lives on as the TWA Hotel, where you can travel back in time for a night or just a layover. You can learn more...

For our latest bookclub episode, we discuss Ann Hood's memoir of her time as a TWA flight attendant at the end of the "glamorous" Jet Age in Fly Girl . To stay up to date on our current read, join our book club here . 📖 Pick up Fly Girl here .* 📖 Join our free book club here . 📚 Shop our bookshelves here .* Support indie bookstores! Follow us: TikTok | Instagram | Pinterest | YouTube 👩🏽‍🤝‍👩...