 William Brownlow , 3rd Baron Lurgan , who succeeded Harry Higgins as chairman of the Ritz upon his death in 1928 , was especially keen on attracting American guests to the hotel . He was a close friend of the Earl of Carnavon and his American wife Catherine Wendell , and at times the couple were freely given the entire second floor of the hotel to accommodate guests . Upon the death of Lord Lurgan in 1937 , Carnavon was told that he had to begin paying for his staying at the hotel , but was given a " slight reduction for old time 's sake " . Carnarvon later remarked : " The Ritz has been my London home for over fifty years . I 'm very fond of the place . Nobody knows it better " . In 1931 , the Aga Khan was involved with organising the Round Table Conference at the hotel , which was attended by Mahatma Gandhi and many others . On one occasion Khan took over the Palm Court to hold a meeting with his followers . 
