Derby Hotels Collection began in Barcelona in 1968 with the opening of Hotel Derby, a real Barcelona icon. Since then, under chairman Jordi Clos, a Catalan businessman with close ties to the Barcelona tourism sector, the collection has grown to include establishments in Barcelona, Madrid, London and Paris. Why Collection? Because each of our hotels is unique, different from the rest, a piece of art in our collection. With an emphasis on quality, service and differentiation, other hotels have been added to the collection: the Gran Derby in 1983, the Astoria in 1987, the Balmes in 1989, the Claris in 1992, the Villa Real in 1996, the Urban and The Caesar in 2004, Granados 83 in 2006, the Banke, Suites Avenue and Balmes Residence in 2009, and the La República, Bagués and Arai were open in 2011. The project continues with the latest generation of Clos family, who share the same passion for art, design and fine hospitality.