This famous hotelier was highly appreciated, because he had a principle that the customer is always right. If one of the guests conveyed any complaint about the food, it would immediately be replaced with a new dish, no questions asked.
On this day one of the most famous hoteliers in world history, whose name “Ritz” itself today symbolizes luxury, was born. It is interesting that César Ritz was actually born in very humble circumstances, one could say in poverty. He was born in the small Swiss village of Niederwald, surrounded by the high Alps. His parents reportedly had as many as thirteen children, so little César had to participate in chores already in his childhood.
At the age of 15, Ritz started working as an apprentice in a Swiss hotel. Over the years he advanced. Eventually he became the director of the hotel restaurant, and later he was given an entire Grand Hotel in the city of Lucerne to manage. He was highly appreciated, because he had a principle that the customer is always right. If one of the guests conveyed any complaint about the food, it would immediately be replaced with a new dish, no questions asked. The important thing for Ritz’s career was his cooperation with renowned chef Auguste Escoffier, who is considered one of the most influential in the entire history of French cuisine. The two of them opened a restaurant together in Baden-Baden, and were later invited to London to run the famous Hotel Savoy.
The turning point in César Ritz’s career came when he finally opened his own hotel in 1898. It was the famous “Hotel Ritz” in Paris, which remained famous till today as one of the best in the world. The famous Coco Chanel lived for years in this Hotel. Apparently it was the first hotel in the world in which every room had a bathroom, telephone and electricity.
After Paris, Ritz also opened a hotel in London, equally famous, and afterwards in Madrid, inspired by the desire of the Spanish king that Madrid gains even more luxurious hotel than the Paris Ritz. César Ritz died at the age 68 in his native Switzerland. It is interesting that he was buried in the same place where he was born – the small Niederwald.
