The images today offer a glimpse into the past of Hotel Cecil in Delhi, captured in a postcard booklet published by the Hotz Trust Hotels. Established in the Civil Lines area, Hotel Cecil was designed to cater to European tourists who flocked to Delhi following the Delhi Durbar in 1903. This imperial spectacle provided the perfect opportunity to introduce high-quality accommodation for foreign visitors.
The hotel was part of the Hotz Trust, run by Robert Hotz, an Anglo-Swiss entrepreneur. By the early 1920s, the Trust operated a network of exclusive hotels across British India, with properties in Shimla, Delhi, Agra, and Murree (now in Pakistan). The Hotz family, including Robert’s siblings Florence and Edwin, successfully managed the business, offering luxury accommodation to an elite clientele. Hotel Cecil, while in competition with other prestigious hotels such as Maidens Hotel (now Oberoi Maidens), found a steady flow of business. Robert, also an avid photographer (the financial success, it seems, gave him a lot of time to pursue his hobbies), captured images of Delhi during this time, many of which were published in postcard booklets and tourist guides.
While the Hotz family’s business flourished during the colonial era, their fortunes began to change after India’s independence. By the late 1940s, the family was reportedly under investigation by India’s income tax authorities! This marked the beginning of the end for Hotel Cecil, which was sold off in the 1950s. Today, the site is home to Saint Xavier’s School.
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