Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten

February 24: Friedrich Haerlin is born into a restaurateur family near Stuttgart.

The Haerlin family loses their business after a stock crash.

Young Friedrich Haerlin moves to Switzerland where he starts a waiter in a restautrant, followed by a Hotel.

Haerlin’s career continues at to the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich

Haerlin becomes manager of the « Bellevue » in Bern, today the Bellevue Palace .

Herlin and his wife Thekla Touissant lease Hotel Bellevue at Lake Thun in Switzerland. Haerlin Era

Friedrich Haerlin buys the small « Hotel zu den Vier Jahreszeiten » located on the Alster for 420,100 Mark. The Hotel has only 11 rooms, Haerlin invests another 100,000 Mark to renovate the Hotel.

Acquisition of the adjascent building Neuer Jungfernstieg N° 12.

Grand Opening of the enlarged Hotel with 57 rooms.

Opening of the Hamburger Hauptbahnhof, the Railway station, more people travel to the Hansestadt.

The brother of the German Emperor Wilhem II, Prince Heinrich of Prussia and his wife Princess Irene of Hessen-Darmstadt fall in love with the Hotel. They become friends with Friedrich Haerlin and promote him around their circles.

Acquisition of more neighbouring properties, the Four Seasons grows to 140 rooms and 50 bathrooms.

Hamburg’s port is ranked the 3rd important in the world after London and New York, opening of the U Bahn, the Hamburg Underground.

Outbreak of the First World War, guest are missing.

November 2: End of World War I.

November 9: Abdication of Emperor Wilhelm II and end of the monarchy in Germany. Revolutionary sailors were in Hamburg, heavily armed « Workers & Soldiers » took over the hotel.

March: End of the occupation of the Hotel which is left in a demolished condition. Founding of the compay Haerlin Junior & Co. GmbH including Friedrich Haerlin’s 21 year old son Fritz. Renovation of the Hotel and opening of Restaurant Haerlin.

Princess Soraya stays at the Vierjahreszeiten. 13:29 min Video in German by Raffles Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten (2010)