Key dates
A lot has happened at the Grand Hôtel over the years, but certain events and years stand out. Here is a brief overview of the key dates in history of the hotel.
18th century
The first faltering attempts to build up a system for accommodating foreign visitors in Stockholm are made.
1830
There are still no real continental-style hotels in Stockholm.
1832
The Hôtel Garni could be regarded as Stockholm's first real hotel in the modern sense.
1852
The Frenchman Régis Cadier arrives in Stockholm to work as a chef in the household of the Russian Ambassador, Count Dashkov.
1858
The Hôtel Rydberg, Stockholm's first continental-style hotel, is opened.
1859
Régis Cadier takes over the Hôtel Rydberg.
1866
The first Scandinavian exhibition of industry and art is arranged in Stockholm and leads to the building of several new hotels in Stockholm.
1872
Régis Cadier initiates the building of the Grand Hôtel.
1874
The first guests would appear to have moved in already in late spring, before the official opening of the hotel on June 14 in the presence of HM King Oscar II of Sweden.
1876
The Emperor of Brazil, Don Pedro II, visits the Grand Hôtel in August, as the first in a long row of celebrated personalities who have come to stay at the Grand Hôtel over the years.
1884
Régis Cadier converts his hotel business into a joint stock company and manages to raise new capital for the modernization of the hotel.
1890
Régis Cadier dies suddenly after a short illness. His wife, Caroline Cadier, takes over the hotel business.
1897
It becomes clear that no one in the Cadier family will be taking over the Grand Hôtel after Caroline Cadier decides to sell the business. The banker Axel Burman becomes the new majority owner after paying SEK 2,675,000 for the hotel.
1897
Nils Trulsson is appointed new president of the Grand Hôtel. He initiates a major refurbishment of the hotel.
1899
The refurbishment is completed and, once again, it is King Oscar II who opens the "new" hotel.
1901
The first Nobel Banquet is held in Spegelsalen at the Grand Hôtel.
1902
Wilhelmina Skogh storms into the Grand Hôtel and becomes its first female manager. Almost immediately, she initiates a series of building projects.
1909
Wilhelmina Skogh commissions and opens the Grand Hôtel Royal, at the center of which is a fantastic winter garden.
1910
Wilhelmina Skogh resigns and Nils Trulsson is called back to manage the Grand Hôtel.
1913
The first summer verandas, predecessors of the current Grand Veranda, are constructed for the first time. The assembling of these summertime verandas soon came to be regarded as one of the surest signs of spring in Stockholm.
1923
Nils Trulsson resigns.
1924
Torsten Segerstråle is appointed new president of the Grand Hôtel at the age of 35. One year later, he initiates a new refurbishment of the hotel. The hotel gets a new façade and several new guest rooms are built.
1929
A consortium led by Torsten Segerstråle takes over the Grand Hôtel. Ivar Kreuger and Axel A:son Johnson are two other members of the group of investors. This was also the last year in which the Nobel Banquet was held in Spegelsalen at the Grand Hôtel.
1930s
In the 1930s the Grand Royal's restaurant was almost always fully booked, and the dance floor filled up when Jazz and big band orchestras performed.
1942
Paul Meier, a former assistant manager at the hotel, and Emil Janson take over the Grand Hôtel after Torsten Segerstråle. The war casts a shadow even over the Grand Hôtel. Bookings decline and shortages of certain products make it hard to maintain standards.
1949
Wilhelm Meier takes over after his father and manages to increase visitor numbers again. The post-war years become a boom period for the Grand Hôtel.
1952
On May 1 the Grand Hôtel's two new floors with 67 new rooms are officially opened. The style of decoration is called "Swedish Modern" and is hailed by the critics.
1957
Prince Rainier and Grace of Monaco come to stay at the Grand Hôtel and cause great excitement in Stockholm. They are just two of the many celebrities who visited the Grand Hôtel in the 1950s and 1960s.
1964
After receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Martin Luther King Jr continues his Scandinavian tour with a visit to Stockholm, where for the first time in his life he is woken up by a Swedish Lucia and offered coffee and saffron buns in the morning.
Key dates
1968
Carlton Hotel, whose main owner and chairman is Dr Marcus Wallenberg, takes over the management of the Grand Hôtel. Sven Zetterberg becomes the hotel's new president but dies tragically in an accident only a year later and is succeeded by Artur Wahlstedt.
1974
On Friday June 14, 1974 the Grand Hôtel turns 100, a jubilee that is marked by the opening of two permanent summer verandas by Prince Bertil, who is attended by Dr Marcus Wallenberg.
1979
Sölve Persson, previously at Ronneby brunn, is hand-picked by Marcus Wallenberg in spring 1979 to become the new president of the Grand Hôtel.
1984
A new record is set for occupancy, which makes it possible to continue the renovation work that had begun two years earlier. Sölve Persson is replaced by Tord Smidt, who has experience from the US and Canadian hotel industries.
1988
The refurbishment, one of the biggest transformations ever of the hotel, is completed. Charles de Marie becomes new president of the Grand Hôtel.
1992
The early 1990s was a difficult period for the Swedish hotel industry. To see the hotel through the downturn, Peter Wallenberg Jr takes the helm at the hotel.
1993
Franska Matsalen, the "French Dining Room", which had been closed for a long period due to falling visitor numbers, is leased to the restaurateurs Jürgen Schaubach and Roland Persson.
1994
Grand Hôtel Holdings (GHH) is formed and becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Investor AB. Peter Wallenberg Jr becomes new chief executive of the holding company.
1995
A major refurbishment of the two top floors is completed. The old flag loft is converted into two exclusive suites, the Flag Suite and Nobel Suite.
1998
On January 1, 1998 Berns Salonger was incorporated into Grand Hôtel Holdings and thereby a sister hotel of the Grand. The Grand Hôtel celebrates its 125th anniversary and a new history of the hotel is published, "Grand Hôtel Stockholm" by Lennart Jarnhammar.
2001
Katalin Paldeak becomes the Grand Hôtel's second female president after Wilhelmina Skogh. Her predecessor, Peter Wallenberg Jr, decides to concentrate on his work as chief executive Grand Hôtel Holdings, which in addition to the Grand Hôtel runs and owns Berns Salonger & Co.
2004
Peter Wallenberg Jr returns to his previous assignments and becomes president again.
At the beginning of the year three properties were acquired on Blasieholmen, adjacent to Grand Hôtel Stockholm. On the main property, Burmanska Palatset, new guest rooms and conference and meeting facilities will be built. After the conclusion of the year the remaining two properties were sold. Grand Hôtel’s new main kitchen was opened after a five-year reconstruction. In addition, an extensive restoration of Spegelsalen was completed.
2005
Burmanska Palatset the property adjoining Bolinderska Palatset acquired in 2004, has undergone a major renovation and will be unveiled in 2006.
Berns Salonger, Berns Hotel and the China Theatre were sold to London & Regional Properties.
2006
In February 2006, Nils Axing was appointed new General Manager at Grand Hôtel. He succeeded Peter Wallenberg Jr, who became Chairman of The Grand Group.
Burmanska Palace was unveiled with 76 new hotel rooms and four new, modern conference facilities.
Successful re-opening of the Cadier Bar.
a great start of the day
The Cadier bar's à la carte breakfast is a fantastic way to start off your day, either with a business meeting, in the company of good friends or just with your morning paper. More breakfast options.
grand love 2010
With its beautiful interior and breathtaking view over the water and the Royal Palace, Grand Hôtel is the perfect setting for romance.
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