Around WW II - The Truly Great Place

第二次世界大戰(zhàn)爆發(fā)期間，歐洲大陸幾乎全部淪陷，倫敦遭受大規(guī)模的空襲轟炸。倫敦薩伏伊酒店克服了炸彈損毀、食品短缺、人手不足、旅客絕跡等種種困難照常經(jīng)營(yíng)著，正如倫敦這座城市和她的人民一樣，在人類文明的緊要關(guān)頭顯出絕不屈服，堅(jiān)守自由的韌性。酒店更成為戰(zhàn)時(shí)國(guó)家領(lǐng)袖的會(huì)議場(chǎng)所，首相丘吉爾經(jīng)常率領(lǐng)內(nèi)閣成員在酒店午餐，還包括領(lǐng)導(dǎo)自由法國(guó)抵抗侵略的戴高樂(lè)將軍。美國(guó)參戰(zhàn)后，酒店又成為美國(guó)軍官、外交官和記者的駐地，倫敦薩伏伊酒店見(jiàn)證了盟軍的合作，并積極配合并支持著政府的工作，例如，酒店一頓餐食堅(jiān)決不超過(guò)5先令，以此響應(yīng)政府的戰(zhàn)時(shí)物資配給制度。

二戰(zhàn)結(jié)束后，世界步入我們所熟悉的現(xiàn)代化時(shí)代。倫敦薩伏伊酒店一如既往地成為風(fēng)流人物流連忘返的國(guó)際舞臺(tái)，這些耀眼的明星迅速撫平戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)帶來(lái)的創(chuàng)傷，用自身魅力為人們勾勒出一個(gè)充滿希望的未來(lái)。通過(guò)老照片，我們可以看到在1950年代，伊麗莎白·泰勒微笑著在酒店房間打開(kāi)行李箱，約翰·韋恩和酒店的一位小伙計(jì)相談甚歡，瑪麗蓮·夢(mèng)露和奧利弗·勞倫斯在酒店宣傳他們的新電影，還有迪奧創(chuàng)始人克里斯汀·迪奧先生為模特們打造的新潮時(shí)裝……

倫敦薩伏伊酒店的服務(wù)水準(zhǔn)也再上一個(gè)臺(tái)階。酒店會(huì)記錄客人的喜好，事先準(zhǔn)備好定制化的服務(wù)。曾有一位作家入住酒店后，發(fā)現(xiàn)床上的鴨絨被是防火的，原來(lái)酒店知道作家有在床上吸煙的習(xí)慣。2016年有位客人留言直呼驚喜，說(shuō)自己被酒店的一位工作人員認(rèn)出來(lái)了，而他兩次入住之間隔了兩年，殊不知這并非意外，而是酒店傳承的待客之道。

During World War II， almost the whole continent of Europe fell into flames and London was under massive air attack. The hotel coped with bomb damage， food rationing， manpower shortage and a serious decline in the number of visitors. The whole city and its people showed the spirit of never giving in. The hotel became a meeting place for war leaders. Winston Churchill often took his cabinet to lunch at the hotel， including General Charles de Gaulle. After the US entered the war， the Hotel became a favorite of American officers， diplomats， journalists. The hotel witnessed the cooperation of two nations and gave full support to the government. For example， the price of its restaurant meal was limited to five shilling as respond to government's wartime restrictions.

After World War II， the world came to the modern age we were familiar of. The Savoy London as always became the international stage for shining stars who swiftly healed the wounds of war by their unparalleled charm and outlined a future full of hope. Through the old photos from 1950s， we can see Elizabeth Taylor unpacks in her suite， John Wayne and a Savoy pageboy discuss headgear， Marilyn Monroe and Laurence Olivier at The Savoy for a press conference， and Christian Dior with his models showing a new look.

The level of service lifted to a new level. The hotel kept records of its guests' preferences， so that it could provide for them in advance. Once a writer found his bed quilt was fireproof since the hotel knew he always smoked while reading in bed. In 2016， a guest was surprised that he was recognized by one of the hotel staff and treated as old friend， and the last time he checked in was two years ago， such is the Hospitality of The Savoy London.