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Timeline

 

For over 65 years, Sonesta has owned, managed, designed, built and marketed hotels throughout the world. Sonesta International Hotels Corporation is an outgrowth of Sonnabend Operated Hotels and Childs Restaurant Company. The merger of these two companies led to the founding of Hotel Corporation of America, one of the first major hotel companies.
1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's 1990's 2000's
 
1943 A.M. “Sonny” Sonnabend purchased the Preston Beach Hotel in Massachusetts with 6 other investors.
1944 Newly formed Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Biltmore, Whitehall and Palm Beach Country Club in Florida.
1947 Roger Sonnabend became GM at Nautilus Hotel & Beach Club after graduating from MIT and Harvard Business School.
1948 Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago is purchased by Sonnabend Operated Hotels.
 
1950 Sonnabend Operated Hotels purchased the Hotel Cleveland and Terminal Tower.
Paul Sonnabend became GM at Hotel Shelton in Boston upon graduation from Cornell Hotel School.
1953 A.M. Sonnabend purchased the Plaza Hotel in New York from Hilton. This was followed by the sale of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC and long-term lease on the Roosevelt Hotel in New York.
1st specialty restaurant in a hotel opens; the Rib Room at the Somerset in Boston.
1954 Sonny Sonnabend named Director and then President - Childs Restaurant Corporation.
Stephen Sonnabend graduates from Harvard and joins Child Restaurant Group.
1955 Child Restaurant Corporation buys 3 Sonnabend Operated Hotels.
1956 Child Restaurant Corporation changes its name to Hotel Corporation of America, founded as a publicly traded company with A.M. Sonnabend as President.
1959 1st International hotel built by Sonesta opens in San Juan.
 
1963 Roger Sonnabend becomes President of Hotel Corporation of America and Sonny Sonnabend is elected Chairman.
1964 A.M. Sonnabend passes away and Roger, Paul and Stephen redirect the company to be a hotel management company, rather than a real estate or finance company.
Charterhouse/Hotel Sonesta/Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston opens.
1969 Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans opens.
 
1970 HCA renamed Sonesta International Hotels Corporation.
1976 Stephanie Sonnabend, upon graduating from Harvard, joins the Sonesta Hotel Atlanta as Director of Conference Services.
1978 Sonesta introduces 1st Travel Agent Advisory Board, meeting annually since.
1979 Stephanie rejoins Sonesta as Director of Planning after graduating MIT Sloan School.
 
1982 Sonesta Hotel Cairo opens.
1983 Sonesta introduces Meeting Planner Advisory Board.
1984 Stephanie becomes Vice President of Marketing for Sonesta.
1987 Peter Sonnabend joins Sonesta as Vice President and General Counsel.
1989 1st Sonesta Cruise Ship – Sonesta Nile Goddess is launched.
 
1993 Sonesta Hotel Port Said opens in Egypt.
Sonesta Sun Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt.
1994 Sonesta Beach Resort & Casino Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt opens.
1995 Stephanie assumes responsibilities as President of Sonesta.
1997 Sonesta St. George Hotel Luxor, opens in Egypt.
1998 Sonesta Club Sharm El Sheikh, opens in Egypt
Sonesta Hotel El Olivar Lima, Peru opens.
1999 Sonesta Posada del Inca Miraflores Lima, opens in Peru.
Sonesta Posada del Inca Cusco, opens in Peru.
Sonesta Posada del Inca Lake Titicaca Puno, opens in Peru.
Sonesta Posada del Inca Sacred Valley Yucay, opens in Peru.
 
2000 Sonesta Moon Goddess Cruise Ship launched in Egypt.
2002 Sonesta Posada del Inca Arequipa opens in Peru
Sonesta Hotel & Suites Coconut Grove opens in Florida.
2003 Stephanie and Peter become Co-CEO’s for Sonesta.
2004 Sonesta Beach Resort Taba opens in Egypt.
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino rebranded in St. Maarten.
Sonesta Hotel Sao Paulo opens in Brazil.
2006 Sonesta Star Goddess Cruise Ship launches in Egypt.
Sonesta St. George I cruise ship launches in Egypt.
Sonesta Hotel Brasilia opens in Brazil.
Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort rebranded in St. Maarten.
2007 Paul Sonnabend retires
2008 Sonesta Pharaoh Beach Resort Hurghada rebranded in Egypt.
Roger Sonnabend passes away.
2009

Peter J. Sonnabend becomes Executive Chairman of the Board.
Stephanie Sonnabend continues as President and CEO.
Sonesta Dahabeya Amirat launched on the Nile.
Sonesta Hotel Valledupar opens in Colombia.
Sonesta Hotels in Concepcion, Osorno and Calama, open in Chile.
2010 Sonesta Hotel Cusco rebranded in Peru.
Le Royale - A Sonesta Collection Luxury Resort opens in Sharm El Sheikh.
Sonesta Hotel Barranquilla in Colombia introduced.
Paul Sonnabend passes away.
2011

Sonesta Hotels in Bogota and Cartagena open in Colombia, and in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
2012 Sonesta International Hotels Corporation sold to a Newton-based affiliate of Hospitality Properties Trust. 
Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island reflagged in April. 
Royal Sonesta Harbor Court Baltimore reflagged in May.
Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia reflagged in June.
Royal Sonesta Hotel Houston reflagged in July.
Sonesta's newest brand the Sonesta ES Suites were introduced in Andover MA, Atlanta GA, Auburn Hills MI, Burlington MA, Charlotte NC, Columbia MD, Dublin OH, Flagstaff AZ, Houston TX, Orlando FL, Parsippany NJ, Princeton NJ, Malvern PA, Myrtle Beach SC, St. Louis MO, Schaumburg IL and Somerset NJ over the summer.
2013

Royal Sonesta Hotel & Casino Panama opens as the first international Royal Sonesta.