Many hotel buildings have been lost such as the Astor House on Broadway
between Vesey and Barclay that was designed by Isaiah Rogers and opened
in 1836 and was demolished in 1913, the Fifth Avenue Hotel on 23rd to
24th Streets that was designed by William Washburn and had the first
hotel elevator and opened in 1858 and was demolished in 1908. "There
are those who believe that the finest of all New York hotels was the
Ritz-Carlton, designed by Warren & Wetmore, architects of the new Grand
Central Terminal. The Ritz-Carlton, on Madison Avenue and 46th Street,
reached its fashionable heyday at about the time of the First World
War. Its ballrooms and lobbies, and some say its service and general
ambiance, where between than those furnished later elsewhere at the
Ritz Tower. The Ritz-Carlton, shown below, was razed in 1951 to provide
a site for an office building.

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The history of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. originates with The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. The standards of service, dining 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 celebrated hotelier Cesar 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 each guest room
Lighter fabrics in the guest room to allow for more thorough washing
White tie and apron uniforms for the waitstaff, black tie for the Maitre d’ and morning suits for all other staff, conducive to a formal, professional appearance
Extensive fresh flowers throughout the public areas
A la carte dining, providing choices for diners
Gourmet cuisine, utilizing the genius and cooking methods of Auguste Escoffier
Intimate, smaller lobbies for a more personalized guest experience

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Cesar Ritz died in 1918 but his wife Marie continued the expansion of hotels bearing his name. In the United States, The Ritz-Carlton Investing Company was 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. However, by 1940 none of the hotels were operating except The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. The hotel embodies the vision of Cesar Ritz, Yankee ingenuity and Boston social sensibilities.