History
• 1910: The UK based Palace Hotel company comissions the construction of the Hotel Astoria.
The architect is Fyodor Lidval.
• 1912 December 23: First opening of the Hotel.
• 1913 May: Tercentary of the Romanovs – the Hotel is involved in the celebration festivities. According to the legend Raspoutin stayed there during the event.
• 1919: After the Revolution Lenon appeared on the balkony of the Royal Suite to make a speach.
• 1941 June: Leningrad was besieged by German forces.
The siege lasted 872 days from September 1941 to January 1944. The city became largely depopulated.
• 1999 January: Acquisition by Rocco Forte.
• 2012: Renovation for the centennual of the Astoria.
• History of the Rocco Forte Collection
• 1935: Charles Forte, an Italian immigrant to the UK, opens a « Milk Bar » on Regents street in London … the company becomes the Forte Hotel Group (Trusthouse Forte)
• 1993: the Forte Hotel group faces a hostile takeover bid from the Media Conglomerate Granada the founding family is ejected with a settlement payment of £350 million. Two of the 6 children, Rocco Forte and his younger sister Olga Polizzi decide to reinvent their fathers Hotel business.
• 1996 May: Sir Rocco Forte founds RF Hotels.
• 1997 Frebuary: Opening of Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh..
• 1997 December: Acquisition of Hotel Savoy in Florence.
• 1999 January: Acquisition of Hotel Astoria in St Petersburg.
• 2000 January: Acquisition of Hotel Amigo in Brussels.
• 2000 April: Opening of Hotel de Russie in Rome.
• 2003 July: Acquisition of Brown’s Hotel in London.
• 2006 March: Opening of Villa Kennedy (Villa Speyer) in Frankfurt.
• 2006 October: Opening of Hotel de Rome (formally seat of Dresdner Bank) in Berlin.
• 2007: Rocco Forte Hotels are renamed Rocco Forte Collection.
Article by « Grand Hotels of the World & VB.com », written from « Cremerie de Paris ».
