Iconic Hotel Ritz Madrid Celebrates 100 Years

One of Spain’s most coveted addresses, the Hotel Ritz Madrid, is turning 100 on October 2nd and the fiesta is on.

Madrid’s preferred hotel for 10 decades-worthy of dignitaries ranging from Salvador Dali and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor to George Clooney and Penelope Cruz, the Hotel Ritz Madrid is rolling out the red carpet for a new century of guests by offering special packages and hosting a slate of festive events including musical performances and parties.

Beginning October 1, guests booking a minimum three-night stay at the Hotel Ritz will receive a special rate of 100 Euro for the first night of the visit. Valid until September 2011 (excluding December 28 – January 1), the special centenary package rates for a classic room are priced from 535 Euros (approximately US $686) per room, per night inclusive of a daily buffet breakfast.

On the culinary front, Executive Chef Jorge Gonzales will pay homage to his predecessors by recreating a selection of dishes from the hotel’s Goya Restaurant that reflect the evolution of cooking styles throughout the century. Iconic dishes, such as the ‘Beef Tenderloin Centre Périgueux’ that was served for New Year’s Dinner in 1936, will take guests on a gastronomical journey from 1910 to the present day.

The property is also planning a year-long calendar of commemorative events, which begins next month when Hotel Ritz hosts celebrated Spanish songstress, Olga Maria Ramos, for several performances. Also slated for this year is a special Christmas gift for Madrid residents who are 100+ years old: Hotel Ritz will invite these select residents to the hotel for an afternoon tea party, featuring a specially created birthday cake. Celebrations will continue well into 2011, with the hotel hosting a 1920s-themed flapper carnival party in February, and also sponsoring the Madrid Masters Golf Championship in May 2011.

Originally built in 1910 at the behest of King Alfonso XIII, Hotel Ritz Madrid was created for the new century’s luxury travelers and was designed and built under the personal supervision of legendary hotelier, Cesar Ritz. A Belle Epoque gem, the hotel’s 167 rooms feature marble bathrooms, handmade carpets, embroidered linen sheets and stunning views of the Prado National Museum or gardens.