For many years, Iranian travelers stayed in Caravanserai (a roadside inn) where they could rest, pass nights, and recover from the day's journey. It was not until the late Qajar period that modern and European hotels opened in Iran and changed the story gradually hotels and the way they profit the hotels. As one of the first European hotels, the Grand Hotel of Qazvin is a modern one that is reminiscent of the Qajars.
The story of building modern hotels is about Nasser al-Din Shah's trips to Europe. After he was confronted with a phenomenon called the hotel, he tried to build similar examples in Iran. The first example was founded in Qazvin and then, there were some alike in Bandar Anzali and Tehran.
Qazvin, known as the capital of one of the most powerful states in the history of Iran, has many touristic attractions that most of them are Safavid, Gajarid, and Pahlavi. Having three stories near Dolat-Khaneh of Safavids, Grand Hotel in Qazvin is one of the visiting places in this city.
In the south of the Grand Hotel, a cinema called Tabestane (summer) was built in 1310 SH and it caught fire nine years later. After that, the cinema was restored until 1356 SH that it caught fire again and destroyed completely. The summer cinema has not been rebuilt after the second accident and the process of its reconstruction has begun recently. This building is one of the oldest remaining hotels in the whole country. According to the travelers who have personally resided in the hotel and based on the itineraries, all the furniture and appliances of the hotel have had a European style and interior decoration has been fully luxurious.
Grand Hotel has observed different historical events. At the time of the coup d'état that a few years later led to the reign of Reza Khan, the British Commander-in-Chief was staying at the hotel. The final decision to design and to commit this coup d'état. It is for this reason that Grand Hotel is considered as an important place during the history.
Unfortunately, the status of the Grand Hotel was not good during these past years. However, there are rumors that the old hotel will be rebuilt.
Situated in Peighambarieh in Qazvin, Grand Hotel is registered on the list of Iranian Cultural Heritage.
