http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2009-11-25T18:40:54Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Hotel%20Renovation http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/1/2/1226/06007 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6193/Savoy_Cat.jpg" class="top"> <p>London's iconic <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Savoy%2C+A+Fairmont+Hotel/ian/172847">Hotel Savoy</a></b> may be under renovation until May 2009, but that doesn't mean the stories of its legendary past must be put on hold. Since the hotel's opening in 1889, it has served as more than just a temporary home, but as inspiration, to many luminaries including Monet, Oscar Wilde, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe and Frank McCourt. <p>It was in the 1920s, however, that the hotel's most famous resident checked in and never left. <b>Kaspar the Cat</b>, a 3-foot-high wood sculpture of a regal feline, was expressly created to ward off any superstitions of guests dining at the hotel's Savoy Grill. Apparently, to dine with only thirteen guests is ominous, and the first to JetSetCD 2009-01-02T12:53:11-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/