< AUSTRIA | ZELL AM SEE: Grand Hotel Zell am See

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Situated in a unique location on a private peninsula directly at the shore of lake Zell, Grand Hotel Zell am See was built in 1896 by Carl & Therese Böhm. With the savings generated from his coffee shop and a clear vision, Carl Böhm built his dream hotel within 3 years. Originally known as the "Grandhotel am See," it was the best address during the Belle Epoque. In 1902, with the installation of electric light, modern luxury was introduced and that summer the hotel boasts 25,000 overnight stays.

Due to the First World War - the end of the Austrian Empire, as well as a general demise, tourism was suffering a great reversal and the Grand Hotel was sold to Karl Pischkittl in 1918. Also, at the end of the War, the Hotel was occupied by the US forces for ten years.

Following reconstruction after the war, tourism in Zell am See - including the Grand Hotel – enjoyed a previously unknown upswing. Several popular films of the time (”Allotria in Zell am See” with Harald Juhnke, ”Liebe, Schnee und Sonnenschein”) were filmed at the hotel.

In 1983, the Grand Hotel Zell am See was sold to a Swedish time-sharing company. While the hotel was in possession of a Swedish time-sharing company, it is completely torn down and rebuilt into a suite hotel with its’ original architecture.

In 1995 the Holleis family, which also owns the five-star Hotel Salzburgerhof in Zell am See, acquired the Grand Hotel and has run it in the spirit and tradition of refined Austrian hotel culture. The traditional ”Imperial Café Bar” was opened for Christmas 1998. The contemporary ”Austrian Fountain”, by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, was built in the hotel garden in the summer of 2003. The new exclusive 1.000m2 wellness area, located in the 5th floor, paved its way into the 21st century in Autumn 2008.

Since 1st January 2016, the roulette balls run in the Grand Hotel Zell am See. The Casinos Austria openend their 12th Casino in Austria in Zell am See an decided to establish it in the Grand Hotel Zell am See.

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