Who We Are: History

St. Regis. Its name alone is beguiling, conjuring up images of discerning service and gracious surroundings. From its flagship hotel in the heart of New York City to a growing collection of exceptional hotels and resorts in the world’s most fascinating locations, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts draws on more than 100 years of experience in providing quintessentially exceptional experiences for its distinguished clientele.

The company’s legendary reputation is built on the history of one of America’s oldest families, the Astors. Colonel John Jacob Astor IV envisioned a hotel where gentlemen and their families could gather as if guests in a private home. In 1902, on one of the most commanding corners in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, construction began on The St. Regis New York. At a cost of $5.5 million, the classic Beaux Arts landmark opened its doors in 1904, and a legend was born.

Uncompromising attention to detail, exceptional architecture, and bespoke service are all hallmarks of St. Regis. The company’s penchant for innovation is rooted in its culture, with Astor having introduced such ‘modern’ conveniences as telephones in every room, a fire alarm system, central heating and an air-cooling system that efficiently pre-dated modern air-conditioning and allowed each guest to control the temperature of individual rooms. Other progressive ideas included mail chutes on each floor – quite newsworthy at the time, and one of the first central vacuum systems, a housekeeper simply had to plug a vacuum hose into sockets strategically placed throughout the hotel. 

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts has invariably attracted the most glamorous, creative and intriguing personalities of each era. In New York alone, Marlene Dietrich, William Paley and his wife Barbara ("Babe") lived at The St. Regis, as did Salvador Dali and his wife Gala. And actress Gertrude Lawrence instructed her agent to arrange all her press appointments at The St. Regis.

Tragically, just eight years after the opening of The St. Regis New York, Colonel Astor became the Titanic’s most famous victim, leaving behind a legacy that would grow into an elite collection of distinctive hotels and resorts around the world. Even today, Colonel Astor’s well-mannered influence is felt at every St. Regis.

In order to maintain Colonel Astor’s exacting standards of comfort and elegance for which it had become recognized, The St. Regis New York closed from 1988 through 1991 for extensive renovations. After a $200 million restoration, the legendary hotel reopened its doors and once again welcomed guests in true St. Regis style.

Only five years shy of its 100th anniversary, St. Regis embarked on an aggressive and strategic expansion that welcomed new hotels and resorts into its privileged fold.  Naturally, each new property lays claim to the best addresses worldwide.

1999

  • The St. Regis Washington, D.C. becomes the first hotel to join the New York flagship.
  • The St. Regis Aspen Resort follows in the same year.

2000

  • Following an extensive yearlong $35 million restoration, Rome’s Grand Hotel officially becomes The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, making it the first St. Regis to open in Europe.
  • In February, The St. Regis Houston (formerly The Luxury Collection Hotel) is introduced, marking an important milestone in the brand’s development.
  • March sees the addition of The St. Regis Beijing (formerly the Beijing International Club, part of The Luxury Collection), becoming the first St. Regis in Asia.

2001

  • The St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort opens in August with a commanding 200 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
  • The St. Regis Shanghai debuts in September providing China’s most international city with a hotel combining the best of both Eastern and Western ambience and hospitality.

2002

  • Considered one of London’s most prestigious addresses, the world-renowned The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel opens its doors in May, strengthening the brand’s overall presence in Europe.

2005

  • The height of San Francisco style can also be a daily way of life. The St. Regis San Francisco opens in November and, in addition to 260 luxurious rooms, offers 102 private residences. St. Regis Residences occupies 19 floors of magnificent views atop the hotel, offering the ultimate in urban living.

2007

  • The St. Regis brand begins the most significant phase of its expansion with the opening of the spectacular St. Regis Singapore and the reopening of the fully restored St. Regis Washington DC.

Today & Tomorrow

  • Bali, Atlanta, Punta Mita, Mexico City, Deer Crest and Princeville established St. Regis as a truly global luxury hotel brand with 19 hotels in nine countries open at the end of 2009.

With further exciting projects like Osaka, Lhasa, Mauritius, Abu Dhabi and Bangkok under construction and many more about to commence; will you be a part of the next chapter of St. Regis history? To learn how your future might align with that of St. Regis, search for current job openings.