From name to brand name

In 1896 César Ritz created in London The Ritz Hotel Limited, the company which operates the Ritz Hotel Paris.
He registered the Ritz brand name in Paris and Berne in 1908. In 1920 his widow sold the brand name rights to The Ritz Hotel Ltd. which still owns them to this day.
 
The Ritz brand name is now protected by over 500 registrations around the world, both in the hotel and restaurant sector and in the field of spin-off and food products.
 
Any unauthorised use of the Ritz brand name by third parties is strictly prohibited.