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King Alfonso XIII was responsible for promoting the creation of a grand hotel to satisfy the needs of the wealthier classes who, like himself, would gather in Santander during the summer months. The Hotel Real opened its doors to the public on 13 July 1917, and the King arrived in Santander by sea on 27 July of that same year, being able to make out, as soon as he entered the bay, the white and stately figure of the Hotel Real. In the summer of 1987 the HUSA hotel chain took charge of the Hotel Real and in 1988 works began on the total refurbishment of the hotel in order to return it to the splendour and category that its origins merit. Today the Hotel Real, having maintained neo-French references in its architectural style and its initial decoration, has introduced those modern elements necessary to ensure the service and quality to make it into the centre for the main economic, cultural and social activities of the city,and participate in a very active way in Santander's touristic image and development. |