Thank you for calling. Your call is important to us. Please hold. Dial 0 for the operator. These familiar expressions began 150 years ago when Alexander Graham Bell made the first telephone call in Boston. It didn't take long for luxury hotels to adopt the technology, and eventually the phone became a commonplace amenity used to request room service, wakeup calls, and extra towels. But behind the hotel's phone lines were the women running the switchboard... and keeping the secrets of their celebrity guests.

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"Mining by Moonlight" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0.

"analogic_dial_telephone" by trip_sound is licensed under CC-3.0.

"phone-pickup-click-22" by Adam_Joseph is licensed under CC 3.0.

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It's Christmas Eve, and we're taking you to divine lodgings, aka hotels in monasteries. Some of these hotels may not offer room service, wifi, or even bellhops (though some definitely do). Instead, they offer the chance to walk in the footsteps of pilgrims, stroll sacred hallways, spend time in quiet reflection, and contemplate life's big questions. From Mt. Sinai to Montserrat, you can sleep near the saints and dream of miracles.

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📰 Sign up for our free newsletter, The CHECK-IN.

📖 Join our free book club here.

📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores!

☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon.

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🎶 Music

"Church Bells at noon from the top of the Cathedral of Bern (Switzerland)" by felixblume is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

"Eternal Praise (Original Short)" by Pony Boy is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

"Agnus Dei X" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0.

“Gregorian Chant” by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0.

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NOFO Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, is making all the right moves. From interesting room design to curated activities for guests to a hip wine bar, this boutique hotel experience might just make Stockholm your next destination.

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📖 Join our free book club here.

📚 Shop our bookshelves here.* Support indie bookstores!

☕️ You can support Hotel History (and our caffeine addiction) here or on Patreon.

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🎶 Music

"Backbay Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under CC-4.0.

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