Hotel El Mirador, Colonia.

Jose Sande, current Director of Hotel El Mirador, was born into a very humble family in La Piedra, a tiny village in Galicia, Spain. He was called Pepe.

„Pepe“ was never an ordinary child, and his parents knew it. One spring day in 1951, with his thirteen years of age, he unhesitatingly posed to his family the desire to travel to America in search of a better future.

His plan was to arrive in Uruguay. Once in Castillos, he took a bus to Rocha, where Pepe still remembers eating the tastiest sandwich of his life, made with a can of sausages and a „flute“ bread. After the lavish banquet, he set off on his train journey to the capital.

He loved Uruguay from the moment he stepped on its soil, and decided that he would build his life in this country. Driven by a great desire to „become the America“. He began to work without pause, taking advantage of every opportunity that presented itself. Nothing frightened him or diverted him from his great desire.

  Hotel El Mirador in the 1970’s.

In the Bar and Warehouse Los Montaneses he began, gradually, to approach his work destiny, since there he was hired as a waiter and in charge of the purchase of fruits and vegetables, to continue in the same function in the Hotel Osran during a year and a half.

His wife, Adela Maite, whom he married at the age of 19, also became involved in the hotel industry at a young age, gradually moving into the gastronomic area. The Hotel Osran was also his first experience in the hotel business, and then at the Hotel Verdun in the City of Minas, where they began to work together during the 1959 carnival.

The great opportunities were not far away, and Pepe was not willing to let them pass by, so he quickly accepted the proposal of being in charge of Hotel Verdun along with Mr. Montiel, who shortly afterwards proposed to travel around the interior of the country to expand and look for new horizons through new undertakings.

  Hotel El Mirador today.

Colonia del Sacramento made an impact and instantly made Pepe fall in love with it and El Mirador was the hotel chosen to rent. They decided to form a partnership: Pepe would provide work and Mr. Montiel would provide capital. A short time later Montiel retired from the partnership and Pepe continued with El Mirador for a year until he decided to buy it together with Adela.

With highly complementary areas of expertise and pure breed fighters, it took a short time for them to start receiving recognition for the level of services, the gastronomy and the innovation of their hotel. From 18 to 101 rooms, from a dining room with capacity for 50 guests to the current 500, from a non-existent infrastructure to the current swimming pools, tennis and paddle courts, barbecue and spa, there is a long way to go. Pepe and Adela have been an example of struggle, motivation, attitude, vision and intelligence. Therefore, this is a story worth telling.

Golf Palace Hotel Atlantida.

This eye-catching structure is noticed at first sight, maybe due to its extravagant appearance or due to its Martian antenna. The truth is that no one can avoid looking at it and falling in love.
One of the distinguished citizens Uruguay has ever had was Natalio Michelizzi. Born in Southern Italy, in Calabria, he was an immigrant who settled down in neighboring Buenos Aires, where he became an essential member of the company that produced printing presses under the Planeta label. His well-known financial skills, along with his ideas and achievements, soon made his business thrive incredibly. His wealth multiplied every day.

In 1935, he arrived in Atlántida –which was just starting- as another tourist and he began to realize that the place had a certain magic. It was just what he needed to settle down and develop his ideas. He stayed at Hotel Atlántida, opposite the beach, where he could smell the pine tree wood and hear the roaring of the waves. He immediately resolved to purchase several pieces of land facing the sea immersed in a young pine tree forest.

The famous Planeta Palace Hotel would be raised there by the company called Pérez Butler y Pagano, one of the best-known at the time. In less than one year of construction works, the hotel became worldwide famous, as it featured the most luxurious amenities available in those days.

His architectural ideas went beyond the hotel and spread throughout the City of Atlántida. Its rare shape makes it extraordinary in the eyes of visitors. Its white stateliness and the amazement it provokes make it seem from out of this world. Its aspect, with balustrades teeming with tourists, and its position make everyone think this beautiful „ship“ is about to cast off into the sea.

Nevertheless, those who are already used to watching it consider this venue just as an old hotel that once lodged the most aristocratic families in Uruguay and Argentina early in the XX century. Especially when it was renamed to „Golf Palace Hotel“, located next to the only and largest 18 hole golf course in whole South America. It was once just THE BEST !

It is said that the most influential characters of the time stayed there, from worldwide known rulers to actresses, boxers, sportsmen and artists of the most varied genres. Even today, this place goes almost unnoticed, but whoever is familiar with Atlántida knows that reasons are more than enough to come close to this beautiful city.

Hotel Casino Carrasco.

The hotel – built in 1912 – is part of Dr. Alfredo Arocena’s project, inspired by the elegant and aristocratic European spas, where sumptuous residences, parks and gardens with trees and luxury hotels abounded. Built according to plans by Architects Munart and Mallet, it is located on the Rambla República de México between streets of Arocena and Costa Rica.

In 1915 it was acquired by the municipality of Montevideo along with 12 hectares of land destined for a public park, since the Society that projected it and began its construction could not overcome the crisis that produced the First World War. The emblematic Hotel Carrasco went from apogee to decay, and was, after years of renovation, reborn in 2013 by the French hotel chain Sofitel.

Its construction started in 1912 and finished in 1921, after 9 years work.

For decades it was a landmark of luxury for tourists visiting Montevideo. Because of eventual deterioration of the building, it was closed in the late 1990s.

In 2007 started the bidding for a public contract for its restoration and operation. By the end of 2009, it was finally adjudicated to Carrasco Nobile SA, a consortium led by the Codere Group together with international investors Global Partners and AGG. They designated Sofitel of the French chain Accor as the hotel operator. The hotel re-opened its doors in March 2013.

According to El País, the opening of this building brings with it a whole revolution in the neighborhood of Carrasco, with many real estate and business investments.

Grand Hotel Oriental.

Hotel Oriental, street corner of Solis and Piedras. Towards the end of the sixties of the 19th century, 25 de Mayo Street maintained the urban prominence that Sarandí would soon assume, concentrating a good part of its banking activities and export businesses to the south.

The section of Piedras between Zabala and Solís, near the port, acquired a particular rank at that time, with the disappearance of the colonial houses that were surveyed around 1860 in the Capurro Cadastre to make way for large works, among them the Stock Exchange and the internationally famous Hotel Oriental, occupying the entire front of the north sidewalk in two adjacent blocks.

  Two city-blocks of Hotel Oriental.

In both cases, this scenario of active life was losing prominence as the centrality of the city changed, in an accelerated process around 900 and the first decades of the 20th century. In 1925 the hotel was already occupied by the Bank (BROU), which moved all its offices there, but its demolition was only decided when the project of half a block was changed to that of the entire block, which in turn imposed the annexation of the stock exchange register.

  Since the mid-1920’s headquarter of BROU.

The Hotel Oriental is undisputed as one of the first establishments of its kind. Its spaciousness – it occupies an area of two thousand two hundred and fifty-six square meters. The comfort of its facilities that allow it to easily accommodate over two hundred guests, its comfort, and the series of advantages it offers, suffice it to consider it a traveler as in its own terminal advantageously highlights it, making it the favorite of those who know how to travel and wish to have a spacious and comfortable facility.

       The BROU transformation and inside courtyard of the bank. Click on pics.

The Hotel Oriental has twenty-four luxuriously furnished apartments, consisting of living room, bedroom and attached bathroom, all of the most modern and elegant. As a complement to its comfort, and in order to offer the amenities that the most existing guest may desire. It has a magnificent reading room with all kinds of national and foreign publications, newspapers and weekly magazines, as well as an excellent library with a very select collection of ancient and modern authors.

  The Courtyard.

But what stands out as a special note of this Hotel is its magnificent Hall (Solis Street) that has been converted into a tuxedo room, stern and comfortably furnished in the English style. Most of its rooms have a balcony overlooking the street, since the Hotel Oriental dominates the corner of Piedras and Solis streets, all spacious, with hot and cold water pipes, heating, electric light, elevators for all floors, and wide staircases. There is also a music room and reception rooms, etc. The alma mater of this establishment is Mr. Juan Fiandesio, of the firm J. Fiandesio y Cía., owner of the Hotel.

   Old postcard from Grand Hotel Oriental.

With a cultured, innovative and progressive spirit, Mr. Fiandesio has added a section to the Hotel Oriental that complements, in a sumptuous and elegant artistic form, the facilities of the House. Referring to the special premises, European style, which will serve for the great social events, weddings, dances, banquets, teas and other parties of this genre. The premises are formed by a large and elegant Wintergarden, a spacious and splendid White Room, Louis XVI style, a large Hall, an annex and several small meeting and conversation rooms.

        The Wintergarden (left).   The Ballroom (right).

It is easy to understand the immense advantages that Montevideo’s society will obtain in celebrating, as it is done in Europe and in Buenos Aires itself, the weddings in that place. Apart from the trouble that always causes the transformation of private houses to receive a lot of guests, the wear and tear of furniture in the dismantling, the expense required to decorate the upholstery and flowers, you will find a real and convenient advantage in the reasonable prices indicated for these parties. Attached to these luxurious facilities, there are some apartments for brides and grooms that are decorated with exquisite taste.

More Uruguayan Hotel Labels out of my collection, without closer information, some are still existing as shown, just click on pic’s:

Hotel London Palace, Montevideo.

Hotel Lancaster, Montevideo.

                

Hotel Centenario, Montevideo and California Hotel, Montevideo.

The Oxford Hotel, Montevideo and The Hotel Solis, Montevideo.

Hotel Nirvana, Colonia Suiza.

Grand Hotel Casino, Carmelo.

Hotel Playa Portezuelo, Punta Ballena.

Grand Hotel Paysandu.

Grand Hotel Salto.

Hotel Cantegril and Hotel Las Delicias, both Punta Del Este.

Hotel Crillon and Hotel del Nogaro, both Montevideo.

Hotel Aramaya, Montevideo.

               

Grand Hotel Espana, Montevideo.

  Now the Holiday Inn Montevideo, on two locations/addresses.

Hotel Presidente, Montevideo and The Perla Hotel, Piriapolis.

Hotel La Cigale, Punta Del Este.

Beautiful example of an old hotel luggage label. Notice all the flags around and the details of Punta Del Este peninsula with the light tower and an old steamship.

One could find, swimming in the waters of the hotel label fashion, also involved industries as well as the travel agencies, airlines etc. See down here:

Extremely rare labels of, once existing, Uruguayan services PLUNA, CAUSA, TUDET !

A fascinating, „Tour of the World“, book to read.

This article was one example of hotel label collecting. If you are much more interested in this amazing hobby and the picture of worlds travel and hotel heritage, you should read the following book.

      Title: „World Tour“.

Vintage Hotel Labels from the Collection of Gaston-Louis Vuitton (grandson of „the“ Louis Vuitton himself) . If you like travel and may be dreaming of destinations you’ll never visit.
By Chilean author Francisca Matteoli.
Imprint: Abrams Books
Publication Date: March 5, 2013
Price: about US$60.00
Illustrations: 800 color illustrations and photographs.

Amazing book to read! A fun collection of hotel labels from all over the world plus interesting history and vintage photos of exotic destinations. Enjoyable and a great gift idea. I saw this book in the Hotel Adlon Kempinsky in Berlin and started reading it, thought it would be very expensive, so I had a look on Amazon, it was a bargain! A good book definitely worth to buy and read it.

„What do we find on old luggage? We find the traces of… the places visited. We will follow these, and with them, we will tour the world, not in 80 days like Phileas Fogg, but much faster still.„ Gaston-Louis Vuitton.   I hope you enjoyed this excurse into history.