Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tetras — Photo by Historic Hotels of America®
LasCasas_Filipinas — Photo by Historic Hotels of America®
Cooper and Lumber Store — Photo by Historic Hotels of America®
Old Course Hotel — Photo by Historic Hotels of America®
Historic Hotels Worldwide

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Historic Hotels Worldwide® has inducted 30 historic hotels into its registry in 2017. The 30 iconic hotels represent more than 10 brands, chains, and collections from 14 countries. The oldest historic hotel inducted in 2017 is the NH Collection Porta Rossa which includes a building that dates back to the 13th century.

Historic Hotels Worldwide is an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation (United States of America) for recognizing and celebrating the finest Historic Hotels around the world. Historic Hotels Worldwide promotes heritage and cultural travel by featuring a prestigious collection of historic treasures including historic hotels spanning more than 10 centuries. Many historic hotels are located in buildings constructed for another intent such as former castles, chateaus, palaces, academies, government buildings, warehouses, monasteries, haciendas, villas, and homes for nobility.

Historic Hotels Worldwide has inducted these iconic hotels in 2017:

Hotel fun fact: The windows of the hotel bear an inscription, in Italian, "Per non dormire "[A reward] For not sleeping," the motto of the Salimbeni family, the first owners of the ancient palace. This hotel is thought to be among the oldest in Italy.

Hotel fun fact: The Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the oldest golf courses in the world. Golf became popular in the middle ages, so much so that the game was banned in 1457 by King James II of Scotland, who felt it was distracting young men from archery practice. Succeeding monarchs retained this ban until James IV became a golfer himself.

Hotel fun fact: Located across from Amsterdam Central Station, the heart of the hotel is built from several 17th century Dutch townhouses that have been seamlessly combined. The hotel's predominant meeting space is the 15th century St. Olaf Chapel. The chapel, named for the Norwegian monarch from 1015 to 1028, is believed to be one of the oldest standing structures in Amsterdam and is accessible through an underground passageway.

  • NH Collection Turin Piazza Carlina (1580) Turin, Italy

Hotel fun fact: When it was a residential building, one of its most famous residents was Italian Marxist theorist and politician, Antonio Gramsci, who was a founding member and one-time leader of the Communist Party of Italy.

Hotel fun fact: For centuries, Chania Harbor served as the first defense against invading armies from the Roman Empire, the Byzantine peninsula, and the Ottoman Empire. The entire Chania area, including its classic architecture, spectacular towers, awe-inspiring gates, tranquil monasteries, opulent palaces, and clandestine underground exits and entrances, and historic fortifications, is pending approval and designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel complex that houses the palazzo, constructed in the beginning of 15th century, is also home to a small family chapel, the Panagia of Renier, which is located on the back side of the mansion itself. This chapel, as well as the Gate to the palace, have remained untouched. They have been preserved and are in magnificent condition.

  • Chablé Resort & Spa (1650) Yucatan, Mexico

Hotel fun fact: Chablé Resort welcomes local artisans to the hotel once a week to share their unique talents. Guests may purchase hand-made bags, shawls, hammocks and more from the featured artists themselves, all without having to leave the resort.

  • Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (1780) Batann, Philippines

Hotel fun fact: The resort's famous "Tulay ni Lola Basyang" (Lola Basyang's Bridge) pays tribute to the famous Filipino story-teller Lola Basyang, the pseudonym of writer Severino Reyes. Sculptures under the bridge feature Basyang's recurring characters: the kapre (tree giant), manananggal (vampire-like creature), and tikbalang (half-man, half-horse).

  • Cooper and Lumber Store Historic Inn (1789) Nelsons Dockyard, English Harbour, Antigua and Barbuda

Hotel fun fact: Each of the fourteen guest rooms within the Inn are named for ships under Vice-Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson's Royal Navy command. One example is the Ajax, a Georgian Suite. The HMS Ajax was a 74-gun third rate ship of the British Navy, launched March 1798. The Ajax participated in the Egyptian theater in 1801, took part in the Battle of Trafalgar, and other campaigns until she was destroyed by fire in 1807.

  • Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden (18th century) Dresden, Germany

Hotel fun fact: Taschenbergpalais has had a prominent role in the history of the Saxony region and the city of Dresden. Originally built by a celebrated patron of architecture, and King of Poland, Augustus II the Strong, the palace became the home for generations of Crown Princes and their families. Following an incredible restoration that began in 1992, the palace was transformed back into a luxurious celebration of its royal past and opened as a luxury hotel.

Hotel fun fact: Located in Barrio de las Letras, Madrid's literary district, and first built for the last Viceroy of Spain in Mexico, the hotel is a former, neoclassical palace. Genuine 16th century artifacts are displayed behind glass panels at the reception desk. The hotel sits in front of the Church of San Sebastian, built in 1554.

  • NH Collection Amsterdam Doelen (1815) Amsterdam, Netherlands

Hotel fun fact: Overlooking the beautiful Amstel River and dating from the 15th century, the original building, The Swych Utrecht tower, was built in 1481 as part of the complete defense wall that protected the city. The tower was used as a military training space, or a "doelen," for the Kloveniers, who were civic militia guards. In 1642, the civic guards assigned Rembrandt van Rijn to produce a group portrait of their militia company. This painting was later called The Night Watch and became one of the most famous paintings in the world. By the 17th century, the tower had been expanded into the City Hall, and in 1815, it was transformed into a hotel. The hotel's Rembrandt Suite is along the wall where The Night Watch was first displayed.

Hotel fun fact: The hotel is located in a former Venetian palace, overlooking the Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge, and built on the site of the former Teatro San Angelo (1676). Famous composer Vivaldi premiered many of his well-known operas in this theater Today, the images that line the walls of the hotel are all historic Venice from the Alinari collection; Fratelli Alinari being the world's oldest photography studio dating back to 1852.

Hotel fun fact: Grand Hotel Kempinski High Tatras consists of three parts, all of which were established in different periods. The oldest is the Jánošík, which was completed in 1894, followed by the Kriváň, which was completed in 1906, and finally the Hviezdoslav, completed in 1923. All of these buildings were eventually linked together to form one hotel complex.

  • NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquecento (1900s) Rome, Italy

Hotel fun fact: Originally built as a post office in the early 1900's this historic hotel overlooks an idyllic garden. In front of this garden is a section of the Servian Wall, which was constructed to protect "The Eternal City" in the 4th century BC.

Hotel fun fact: Hotel Adlon Kempinski is one of the most legendary hotels in Germany. The list of famous guests that stayed at the original Hotel Adlon is a virtual "who's who" of celebrities and entertainers. Albert Einstein could often be seen in the window of his corner suite, which overlooked the Brandenburg Gate, waving to pedestrians on the Pariser Platz below. Suite 101-114 was the preferred room of Charlie Chaplin. Other famous guests include industrialists Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, Presidents Herbert Hoover, Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt; and Hollywood luminaries Mary Pickford and Josephine Baker. The Hotel Adlon re-opened after an extensive renovation on August 23, 1997 and celebrates over 100 years of history.

Hotel fun fact: This Art Deco hotel near the Rune Neuve, was built for visitors to the 1930 World Exposition. In honor of its centennial, Belgium welcomed guests from around the world to two massive fairs in Liege and Antwerp. The hotel was designed by Michel Polak (1885-1948), a famous Belgian architect recognized for his art deco, classicism and modernism architectural styles. He is credited with numerous projects within Europe including the renovation of the personal Villa for Henri Nestlé, founder of the Nestlé Company, in Montreux, Switzerland.

  • Kinnitty Castle Hotel (1928) County Offaly, Ireland

Hotel fun fact: The first Castle at Kinnitty was destroyed in 1209 and was later rebuilt by the Normans in 1213. In 1811, the famous Pain Brothers, architects of Dromedary Castle and Adare Manor, were commissioned to expand the Castle to what it is today, a gem of neo-gothic architecture. Following a fire that destroyed most of the building, Kinnitty Castle was rebuilt in 1928.

Hotel fun fact: The Tivoli Lisboa is just a short walk from traditional Portuguese neighborhoods such as the Bairro Alto and Chiado. Its name is from the landmark music hall/cinema (Teatro Tivoli) that still occupies the western corner of the Avenida da Liberdade. Beatriz Costa was the biggest star of musical theatre in Portugal and Brazil. She lived the last 30 years of her life in room number 600 and is the "soul" of the hotel.

  • Casa Fayette (1940s) Guadalajara, Mexico

Hotel fun fact: Designed by Grupo HABITA, with local architectural firm Estudio5, and interiors by Dimore Studio, the hotel renovation displays the history of the region through locally sourced materials and pieces, as well as spectacular views of Guadalajara.

"Imagine discovering, experiencing, and exploring a hotel in a former castle, chateau, palace, academy, hacienda, luxury manor home, or monastery," said Lawrence Horwitz, Executive Director, Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. "These 30 historic hotels demonstrate the tremendous stewardship of their owners, leadership, and employees in preserving these wonderful historic treasures and the many centuries of stories of the people that previously lived, worked, socialized, or visited. Many are tremendous architectural and heritage landmarks. Each is worth exploring and visiting."

About Historic Hotels of America

Historic Hotels of America® is the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing, celebrating, and promoting the finest historic hotels in the United States of America. To be nominated and selected for membership in this prestigious program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old; designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places; and recognized as having historical significance. Of the more than 300 historic hotels inducted into Historic Hotels of America from 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, all historic hotels faithfully preserve their sense of authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. For more information, please visit HistoricHotels.org

Heather Taylor
Manager, Marketing Communications
+1 202 772 8333
Historic Hotels of America®