21 Comments
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Shaurya's avatar

Thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! 😍 I feel a little stupid for not knowing that Marie-Louise Ritz contributed immensely to the Ritz, helping manage and expanding the hotel legacy. Also omg the peach towels were HER??? Love it. As always, women as co-creators are routinely sidelined / rarely discussed because historical narratives heavily focus on their male counterparts! Idk if it’s the cultural bias of the era or the cult of the “great man” or something else. Regardless, thanks so much for mentioning about her, Emma, I learnt something new today.

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

I was so disappointed but not surprised to find out as well… like she’s the soul of the Ritz essentially! And I actually didn’t care much for the peach towels until I found out it was her, now I get it🧎🏼‍♀️‍➡️and sooo happy you enjoyed!

Hotel History Podcast's avatar

Fantastic post! Illustrating perfectly why we’re so obsessed with this subject. 😍🤩

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

I love what you guys do! Perfect media destination for us hotel obsessives 🤍🤍

The Upgrade | Anne Marie's avatar

This was just delightful! I loved the historical overview

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

Thank you so much my girl!

The Atlas Brief's avatar

Love this, great read!

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

So glad you enjoyed! I had so much fun putting it together

Mila Stolk's avatar

how have i never thought about the history of hotels?!! i loved reading this and see your touch in so many lines and obv love the hotel as a shrine of devotion!!

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

So interesting right??!! Thank you so much for reading Mila and yesss we love a good shrine for devotion 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

Mila Stolk's avatar

haha yesss and yesss! and thank god for the trailblazers, so we can have dinners with our men

Asia Saltanat's avatar

Now I’m even more curious about boutique hotels as those have always felt so intimate and incomparable..like they have this consistency for uniqueness (maybe bc they are small and can focus on the unexpected elements tailored to a particular niche) Anyways, lovely read! 🪽

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

So glad you enjoyed Asia! 🤍 And yes boutique is often synonymous with a) being independently run hotels b) unique design, although big chains are trying to replicate something that feels like boutique but ultimately fail 🧸

Emily @ Elevate Hospitality's avatar

Great job summing up thousands of years of hospitality ;) my favorite nerd hospitality podcast was: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/hilton-vs-marriott-wake-up-call/id1335814741?i=1000623852822 - Business Wars - Hilton Vs. Marriott I still also feel hotels CAN be so much more - but no; one massage is not wellness :-)

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

Thank you Emily! I will definitely give this a listen <3 and yesss hotels just need to realize the massive potential, but also do things well!

little nemo's avatar

This is fantastic. So well researched and informative. I love your writing.

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

Thank you lil nemo <3!! So happy to have you here 🐰

jocelyn | for sé's avatar

I absolutely loved this, Emma! And as I started reading I couldn’t help but think that there has to be somewhere in between hospitality as a transaction and a moral obligation… which you took us to so elegantly in your conclusion. Brilliant writing and inquiry.

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

Thank you so much Jocelyn! I’m so happy you enjoyed! There is indeed so much nuance and trying to pin it down (impossible) is what keeps me up at night hahah

Aqualien 💦's avatar

Such a great read Emma! Thanks for the walk-through

Emma Näpänkangas's avatar

Thank you for reading 🩵