The story of hotels in America, and the origins of hospitality in this country, take root in the late 18th century and progress at a stunning pace, thanks in part to rivalry, ego, and an intense competition to build bigger, better, and more luxurious accommodation for a new class of travelers. At the forefront of this Gilded Age race for hotel superiority were the Astors, whose high-stakes family drama plays out across Manhattan, culminating in the era's most spectacular accommodations. Best-selling author Lesley Blume and historian A. K. Sandoval-Strausz join host Tina Edmundson–Marriott International President, Luxury–to unpack America’s hotel evolution and the singular family of headliners and adversaries that thrust it forward. Plus, author Jessie Gaynor kicks off our series of original short fiction, six new stories based on a legendary St. Regis elevator ride with Alfred Hitchcock.