We visited the famous Lausanne Palace Hotel, a hotel frequently mentioned in books and films and home to Turkish, French, and Japanese delegations, specifically to experience its historic atmosphere. Unfortunately, my experience far exceeded my expectations.
The hotel's historical past, which included hosting post-World War I peace negotiations during the founding of the Republic of Turkey and where the Turkish delegation spent months there, is unfortunately largely unknown to the current staff. Instead of answering every question, I was forced to explain the historical details. It's truly sad that a hotel with such a storied past is represented by such an uninformed staff.
There's a small museum section in the lobby, but even the most important frame related to the Treaty of Lausanne is poorly positioned in a display case, displayed at an angle. Furthermore, the name of Room 210, where İsmet İnönü, the second President of the Republic of Turkey, stayed for six months, is missing from the door. On the other hand, the fact that Coco Chanel's name is written in her room demonstrates the lopsidedness of the value placed on history.
While we wanted to experience the hotel's historic spirit, unfortunately, customer service representative Lea's rude attitude and her treatment of our questions as if we were criminals overshadowed the entire experience. It truly gave off a negative vibe. However, I'd like to especially thank Alejandro at the front desk—he was incredibly friendly, positive, and professional, and was a great help to us.
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