Georges Nagelmackers

Georges Nagelmackers (1845-1905), a Belgian engineer born in Liège, founded in 1872 the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, behind the Orient Express launched in 1883. To accommodate his wealthy clientele, he created the Compagnie Internationale des Grands Hôtels, tasked with operating luxury hotels along the railway lines, linking hotel luxury and international travel across Europe.