I have always been fascinated by the quality standard of the service at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC and many articles I read about the formula for the success but it was not until recently that I really understood why this hotel built in 1900 is still today in the XXI century the greatest icon of the art deco style and a reference for luxury and customer service.
Its first location was Fifth Avenue and 34th Street but in 1930, the hotel was dismantled and replaced by the Empire State Building. This famous hotel was then rebuilt at 50th St. and Park Ave.
It all started in Philadelphia, on a thunderstorm night at the end of the XIX century.
In a small hotel, an old couple walks in and asks for a room. The receptionist kindly informs they are sold out as well as all hotels in Philadelphia due to many conventions in the city.
The receptionist see the worried faces of the old couple and decided to offer them his own room for the night and says he says:
- Its a thunderstorm night you can't go outside now, I am glad to sleep in the coach!
The couple refuses the offer but the receptionist insists and they end up accepting.
Next morning, the man asks to speak to the receptionist and says to him:
- One day , I will built an hotel and you will be the right person to manage it.
The young man took this phrase as a compliment and returned to his work without thinking more about this.
Years later , the young receptionist receives a letter together with a train ticket to NYC. Surprised he starts his journey and waiting for him was the old man from the thunderstorm night that took him to the corner of 5th Avenue with 34th Street and said pointing at the magnificent red stone builing:
- This is the hotel I built for you to manage.
This old man was William Waldorf Astor and the hotel was the recently opened Waldorf Astoria.
More than one Hotel , a Legend!
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