hollywood billionaire

Chapter 557 Royal Suite
As the most famous luxury residence in the British capital, the Ritz is not only a London landmark, but also a shining beacon in the hotel industry, radiating influence around the world.

Unlike the Shangri-La in The Shard or the Mandarin Oriental in Hanover Place, customers who spend lavishly to check into the Ritz are not seeking the most cutting-edge hospitality concepts of the 21st century. On the contrary, everyone who comes here is pursuing authentic British aristocratic style.

They wanted to sit on the sofas Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe had sat on. They wanted to see the round table Mahatma Gandhi used when hosting Aga Khan. They wanted to eat the banquet Churchill hosted for de Gaulle and Eisenhower in the Marie Antoinette Ballroom. Therefore, the Ritz Hotel in London needed no changes, and could not change at all. The waiters' Ritz blue uniforms, the signature dishes of the Louis XVI restaurant, and even the Versailles-inspired interior of the Marie Antoinette Ballroom could not be altered in the slightest.

To change is to disregard the laws of our ancestors. To change is to destroy the historical customs and traditions.

In a long-established capitalist country like Britain, generations of guests have voted with their feet, ensuring that the Ritz Hotel has only dared to do renovations and not innovations for 110 years.

This also includes the room design of the Ritz Hotel.

As a top-tier hotel representing a city, the Ritz London surprisingly lacks a single presidential suite exceeding 200 square meters, or even an ambassadorial suite exceeding 100 square meters, a fact that surprised many, including Han Yi. However, this isn't surprising when considering its construction date. The Ritz London was built in 1906, at a time when the concept of a presidential suite didn't even exist.

Presidential suites have become a hot topic in the luxury hotel industry until Woodrow Wilson is sworn in as the 28th President of the United States.

This Scottish-born man, born on a Virginia farm and without any royal lineage, grew up in the American South during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. A Princeton University professor whose entire family supported the Confederate States, he had extremely demanding requirements regarding his living standards.

From 1913 onwards, whenever he left Washington for a political visit, he insisted that his hotel rooms meet certain standards. For example, if the hotel was in the Northern Hemisphere, the suite had to face south; if it was in the Southern Hemisphere, the suite had to face north. It had to have an ensuite bathroom—a feature uncommon in Woodrow Wilson's time—a walk-in closet, a formal meeting room or at least a dining room with a large conference table, a fully equipped separate study, and dozens of other luxurious amenities.

As a representative of classic European hotels, the Ritz London naturally wouldn't cater to the president across the ocean by adding these modern office facilities to a hotel that should be a place of leisure and relaxation.

Indeed, for the nobles and royalty most frequently served by the Ritz London, the idea of ​​working while staying in a hotel was a shockingly modern trend.

When it comes to luxury accommodation experiences, these extremely wealthy individuals, who have been rich for generations, even dozens of generations, have their own set of theories.

And this is the Royal Suite.

The concept of royal suites originated in the Belle Époque of Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. A hallmark of this era was the unprecedented scale of transnational travel undertaken by the aristocracy, known as the Grand Tour. When kings, queens, princes, and dukes left their palaces for London, Paris, Vienna, or Rome, they needed more than just a place to stay; they needed a temporary residence that could sustain their courtly lifestyle and be befitting their noble status.

Hotels like the Savoy, Clarridge, and Ritz in London were designed with this need in mind from the outset. Their Royal Suites are not simply individual rooms, but rather interconnected apartment-style spaces. They perfectly mimic the wing of a noble mansion or palace, accommodating members of the royal family, their entourage, secretaries, and even bodyguards.

In other words, the royal suites rented by nobles when traveling were not single hotel rooms in the modern sense, but rather many suites, each with its own independent functional area. This led to a rather awkward situation for classical hotels in the mid-to-late 20th century, as aristocratic tourism began to decline and the middle class and wealthy non-aristocratic classes became the main consumers in the tourism industry. These new generations of wealthy people did not have entourages and would not book an entire hotel corridor as their temporary palace. At this point, the drawbacks of the royal suite design concept became apparent.

The biggest drawback is that the master bedroom, used by the nobility and royalty, is much smaller than the self-contained presidential suite.

Therefore, the Ritz London has 111 standard rooms and 25 suites. The largest room is only 80 square meters.

Yes, the world-renowned Royal Suite at The Ritz London is located within the William Kent House, an 18th-century building connected to the hotel. This opulent private suite, once the private residence of Lord Pelham, the third Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, features a luxurious living room adorned with genuine gold leaf, an elegant dining room perfect for private dinners, and a beautifully crafted oval bedroom, along with a study, two dressing rooms, and a luxurious marble bathroom.

It sounds like it has a lot of amenities, but the core problem is that it's only 80 square meters.

This is the core reason why Han Yi, who had enough cash to squander, ultimately didn't choose to experience the Royal Suite. After all, the Royal Suite was located on the second floor of the hotel, directly facing the Green Garden, and its view wasn't as good as the corner suite he had booked.

Oh, by the way, this corner suite is exactly 80 square meters in total.

The lack of clear tiered room types means that even the most prestigious flagship rooms can't command high prices. Royal Suites start at £3485, and Deluxe Suites at £3370, a difference of less than £100, which is a characteristic of this long-established, classic hotel.

"As you can see, the highlight of this suite is its unique two-way view. From the living room on this side, you can overlook the vibrant Piccadilly street and truly feel the pulse of London."

Winter sunlight streamed through the tall floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing everything in a soft, golden glow. The living room wasn't particularly large, but the high ceilings and clever layout created a sense of spaciousness without feeling cramped.

The walls were covered with hand-painted silk wallpaper in a light cream color, adorned with delicate rose wreath patterns. In the center of the room, a magnificent crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, refracting a dazzling light. The floor was covered with a thick, soft wool carpet that made no sound underfoot.

All the furniture was designed in the classic Louis XVI style, including a curved sofa with velvet cushions, several exquisite armchairs, and a small mahogany writing desk in the corner.

The focal point of the room is a decorative fireplace crafted from white marble, above which hangs a large, gilded-framed mirror that reflects the street scene outside the window alongside the interior's opulence, creating a play of light and shadow that extends the depth of the space. A delicate floral fragrance permeates the air, emanating from a crystal vase of fresh white roses on the mantel. Despite the view of one of London's busiest streets, the thick double-glazed windows isolate the city's clamor, allowing only a subtle, background pulse to permeate the atmosphere, thus emphasizing the tranquility and grandeur of the interior.

"Then, please follow me this way... The bedroom offers a more tranquil view, with a vast green garden right outside the window. It's very peaceful here, and it's quite rare to have two such different experiences in one suite."

The bedroom's color scheme shifts to a softer, more tranquil rose pink and ivory white. The walls are also covered in silk, but the pattern has changed to a more delicate classic scrollwork. A large four-poster bed occupies the center of the room, with an intricately carved wooden headboard wrapped in soft fabric. The bed is covered with snow-white, meticulously ironed high-thread-count Egyptian cotton linens, and the plump down comforter pillows look so inviting that one longs to sink into them for a peaceful sleep.

For Han Yi, who was weary from his journey, the temptation was considerable.

Opposite the bed is a smaller marble fireplace, adding a touch of symmetry and warmth to the space. In the corner of the room, beneath the window facing the Royal Green, sits an elegant chaise lounge, the perfect spot for an afternoon nap or quiet reading. Sunlight streams in through this window, much softer than in the living room, filtering out the sharp edges of the metropolis and leaving only the tranquil warmth of nature. Standing here, the view outside is no longer of the endless stream of red double-decker buses and hurried pedestrians, but of a vast expanse of green. The centuries-old trees of the Royal Green, with their lush foliage, form a natural barrier, completely blocking out the city's clamor. Beyond the lawn, one can even vaguely see a corner of Buckingham Palace in the distance. Here, there is no sound of traffic, only the rustling of leaves in the wind, occasionally punctuated by the crisp chirping of birds.

"Your luggage will be delivered shortly, and the Ritz Hotel also offers a luggage unpacking and unpacking service if needed. Your assistant said you will decide on-site whether you require this service."

"need."

Han Yi thought about it for a moment and finally gave an affirmative answer. Although it felt a little strange to have a complete stranger help him pack his luggage, Han Yi, who had never experienced this before, really wanted to try this service that was said to be offered only by classic luxury hotels.

The origins of luggage unpacking and unpacking services naturally stem from the grand travel fashion of the aristocracy that emerged in the 19th century. In that era, long-distance travel by steamship and train was a symbol of high society. They did not travel with one or two suitcases as we do today, but with mobile wardrobes consisting of as many as a dozen or even dozens of huge hard-sided travel trunks.

The pampered nobles, of course, wouldn't handle these luggage matters themselves. This task was entirely handled by their personal male and female servants. Upon the master's arrival at the hotel or manor, the servants' first task was to open all the trunks, remove the wrinkled clothes from the long journey, steam-iron them, then categorize and hang them in the wardrobe, fold them into drawers, put the jewelry in the safe, and arrange toiletries and perfumes on the dressing table. The entire process was silent and meticulous, ensuring that the master, upon entering the bedroom, found everything in perfect order, as if he had never left his own home.

As times have changed, even the wealthy no longer travel with large entourages of servants as they once did. To continue this seamless and prestigious experience, top-tier classic luxury hotels have internalized this responsibility, which originally belonged to private servants, into their own service standards, with highly trained hotel butlers leading service teams to carry it out.

The most representative example is the legendary hotel on the French Riviera, known as the premier retreat in southern France: the Eden Corner Roque in Antibes. For centuries, it has been a secluded haven for royalty, celebrities, and billionaires, representing the pinnacle of old-fashioned luxury in continental Europe. There, unpacking and organizing guests' luggage is not an optional service, but an essential task.

While the Ritz London also adheres to a classic service philosophy, it's far less rigid and meticulous than Eden Rock, treating every guest like a 19th-century aristocrat. Again, at the Ritz, any service beyond the standard procedures requires payment. Fortunately, however, this luggage unpacking and unpacking service is already included in the £360 per day private butler fee.

"I'll take a shower first, then head out to run some errands. If possible, please arrange for unpacking and packing services after I leave."

"No problem, Mr. Han, I'll give the order immediately. I'll quickly introduce the rest so you have enough time to recover... All drinks in the minibar are completely complimentary and will be replenished daily, except for alcoholic beverages. The bathroom is over here, paved with Italian Carrara marble and equipped with a full set of Asprey toiletries. For your comfort, the floors are heated. As a suite guest, you also enjoy complimentary ironing service for two items of clothing daily during your stay; please let me know when it's convenient for you."

"The controls for the lights and indoor temperature are right here by the door, and they're very easy to operate. But if you need any assistance, please feel free to call me."

"Well then, I won't bother you any longer. Please settle in. Finally, is there anything you'd like me to prepare for you right now? Perhaps a cup of coffee or tea to refresh you after your long journey?"

"If possible, please fill my takeaway cup with a hot Moroccan mint tea for me to drink on the way."

"Of course, with great pleasure."

"Thank you, Ian."

"You should be thanking me, Mr. Han. I'll go back to the lobby right away and make all the arrangements for you. Please get some rest."

Ian bowed and took his leave, gently closing the suite door behind him and leaving the entire quiet space to Han Yi.

Less than two minutes later, the doorbell rang softly, and a doorman in a Liz blue uniform pushed in a luggage cart, bringing in Han Yi's two Rimowa suitcases, one large and one small. He quickly placed the large suitcase on the luggage rack in the bedroom and the small suitcase on a low stool in the dressing room, then quietly slipped out.

Looking at the suitcase lying quietly on the luggage rack, and then glancing back at the large bed behind him that seemed to exude a magical allure, Han Yi sighed deeply. He longed to simply collapse into it, draw the heavy curtains, and sleep soundly for a long time. But he couldn't; he had to finish what he had promised to do. That was just his personality; as long as he had a mission, he couldn't completely relax. He had to achieve his goal before he could truly unwind and enjoy a rest.

So, after wearily rubbing his eyes, Han Yi turned and walked into the bathroom, which was entirely paved with Carrara marble. He finished a quick, intense shower in just five minutes, washing his hair as well, which washed away some of the dust and fatigue from his journey.

After drying his hair, Han Yi walked to the luggage rack, opened the large suitcase, and changed into an outfit that, in his opinion, was more suited to the city. A light gray turtleneck cashmere sweater from Brunello Cucinelli, charcoal gray flannel trousers from Kiton, dark brown Chelsea boots from John Lobb, and finally a navy blue double-breasted cashmere coat from Loro Piana, would perfectly blend into the London winter.

Not bad.

Han Yi looked at himself in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. After becoming a billionaire, Han Yi gradually abandoned his previous trendy aesthetic, which favored Neil Barrett and Alexander McQueen, and began to lean towards a low-key, understated, and luxurious old-money style. It was the same principle as how he initially had no interest in classical-style mansions, but after buying the Passaraqua Manor, he became increasingly interested in this type of architecture.

Money can completely change a person, inside and out.

It will get better in some ways and worse in others.

Her fashion sense is a good thing, but as for her bad side...

Just 24 hours ago, he was embracing his girlfriend, tenderly saying goodbye. And 24 hours later, he's on the other side of the ocean, running errands for another girlfriend.

Indeed, the reason Han Yi couldn't stay in the suite and sleep soundly was a request from Barbara Pavin.

(End of this chapter)