Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the re-opening, "the Pera Palace Hotel was the scene of many significant events throughout its history. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk used to stay at this hotel. This hotel also hosted many Turkish and foreign statesmen."
The Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul's Beyoglu neighborhood was renovated from its parquets to its external walls without harming its historical structure. It has begun serving as a museum-hotel.
The Pera Palace Hotel has hosted many guests from statesmen to high-level executives since 1892.
It was in 1917 when Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, first stayed at the Pera Palace Hotel. Returning to the hotel many times during times of war and peace, room 101 soon became his favourite room.
In 1981 on the occasion of his 100th birthday anniversary, the great leader's room was turned into a museum in which many of his personal belongings are now exhibited.
Agatha Christie, Ernest Hhemingway, Greta Garbo were the other famous guests of the hotel. The Pera Palace Hotel is said to be where famous thriller writer Agatha Christie got the inspiration for her famous novel "Murder on the Orient Express" and a small key, probably the key to her diary was found in her favourite room 411.
On September 15, the hotel hosted an event in which Christie was commemorated on the 120th anniversary of her birthday.
Altin Kitaplar Bookstore, publisher of Christie in Turkey, hosted the event in which Mathew Prichard, the grandson of Christie, was also in attendance.
Christie, whose books broke sales record died on January 12, 1976.
Along with politicians, artists and writers, kings and queens have also strolled through the halls of Pera Palace Hotel - King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Emperor Franz Joseph, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Sarah Bernhardt, Alfred Hitchcock, Pierre Loti, Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis.
The Pera Palace Hotel has been under restoration for two and a half years. The renovation cost 23 million Euro.
With 115 rooms and two outbuildings, the hotel has Agatha Restaurant, an orient bar, Patisserie de Pera, "Kubbeli Salon" (Tea Lounge), gym hall, swimming pool, spa center, special care and ball halls.
