- Title: Beirut's iconic Phoenicia hotel reopens amid crisis
- Date: 13th October 2022
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 6, 2022) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MANAGER OF PHOENICIA HOTEL, MANRIQUE RODRIQUEZ, SAYING: "And it was a miracle that we didn't have any casualties. I am telling you, it was a miracle, because the hotel was badly damaged, you know there were rooms... where you enter in a room and you would say if one would be here, will be dead., I mean no question. It was very bad but we didn't have any casualties, thanks God and then we have some injuries." VARIOUS OF PHOENICIA HOTEL CORRIDOR VARIOUS OF INTERIORS OF PHOENICIA HOTEL ROOMS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MANAGER OF PHOENICIA HOTEL, MANRIQUE RODRIQUEZ, SAYING: "I hope that by opening our hotel... that optimism and hope that we are giving to the country will help others, entrepreneurs and other businesses to go and to take a risk. It's a risk, of course it's a risk, it's a risk, when you open back it's a risk because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. But if we don't take risks, we don't win and we are winners, we want to win." VARIOUS OF LOBBY OF THE PHOENICIA HOTEL FOUNTAIN INSIDE THE LOBBY BAR AT PHOENICIA HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EMPLOYEE AT PHOENICIA HOTEL, GRAZIELLA HANNA, SAYING: "Phoenicia means Beirut. What does Beirut mean? it means Phoenicia. Everyone comes to Phoenicia which means in Beirut and I am Phoenicia. The guests we are seeing again and who are welcoming us with 'Thank God for your safety' and 'Thank God', this is hope. We couldn't wait to open again to see our loyal guests again and the same work, they made me forget the trauma that I have to face and see in front of me everyday. I thank God for everything." VARIOUS OF THE INTERIOR OF PHOENICIA HOTEL BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 7, 2022) (REUTERS) STAIRS AT THE ENTRANCE OF PHOENICIA HOTEL BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 6, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOTEL GUEST RENATO DEVERE AND PEOPLE SITTING IN PHOENICIA HOTEL LOBBY (SOUNDBITE) (French) PHOENICIA HOTEL GUEST, RENATO DEVERE, SAYING: "It is a pleasure to come back here in this beautiful hotel, with a very welcoming staff. It really is a pleasure to come back here and to share the life that there is here in Lebanon, with the hospitality, the culinary arts, the culture, being able to speak to people, everyone is very very nice. It is a destination that I really like even if it has only been twice, to also visit all around. It is really a joy to come back here after all this." PEOPLE EXITING THE HOTEL SITE OF 2005 ASSASSINATION OF FORMER PRIME MINISTER RAFIK AL-HARIRI, AS SEEN FROM PHOENICIA HOTEL VARIOUS OF BEIRUT VIEWS, AS SEEN FROM PHOENICIA HOTEL / LEBANESE FLAG BEIRUT, LEBANON (OCTOBER 7, 2022) (REUTERS) PHOENICIA HOTEL BUILDING SIGN READING (English): "PHOENICIA"
- Embargoed: 27th October 2022 13:11
- Keywords: Beirut Lebanon Phoenicia hotel blast crisis hotel tourism
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Middle East,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA003173512102022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Beirut's iconic Phoenicia hotel reopened its doors to the public after more than two years of closure following the damages it witnessed from the August 2020 Beirut port blast.
The October re-opening comes as Lebanon enters the fourth year of a financial collapse, the country's worst crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.
"This is an institution and by opening now, we are showing the country that we believe in Lebanon, and believe in the Lebanese people," general manager of the hotel Manrique Rodriquez said, as he flipped through a book showing photos of Phoenicia hotel throughout the years, including of celebrities who visited.
For most Lebanese, the buildings of the hotel in central Beirut are more than just structures. Phoenicia is considered a landmark of the Lebanese capital, and many have special memories in it.
The historic luxury hotel first opened in 1961. Among many incidents, it survived the 1975-90 civil war, the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri just a few meters away and lastly the August 2020 Beirut blast at the port nearby.
Phoenicia had to close its doors on the three occasions, but resumed hosting guests each time.
"I hope that by opening our hotel... that optimism and hope that we are giving to the country will help others, entrepreneurs and other businesses to go and to take a risk. It's a risk, of course it's a risk, it's a risk, when you open back it's a risk because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. But if we don't take risks, we don't win and we are winners, we want to win," Rodriquez said.
Lebanon's financial meltdown has severely devalued the country's pound and drained state coffers, pushing 80% of the population into poverty and gutting public services including water and electricity.
One of the three buildings of Phoenicia hotel remains under renovation - but the hotel was already at more than 50% occupancy in its first week of re-opening with many event bookings until the end of the year.
"Phoenicia means Beirut," said Graziella Hanna, a 17-year-employee of Phoenicia hotel, speaking from where she was standing on August 4, 2020 when the blast hit through and injured her.
Hanna underwent treatment for months but was eager to come back to what feels home to her.
"We couldn't wait to open again to see our loyal guests again... they made me forget the trauma that I have to face and see in front of me everyday," she said.
Phoenicia hotel is also considered a favorable place for many foreigners. Among celebrities who visited were late iconic Egyptian singer Oum Kalthoum, French activist and former actress Brigitte Bardot, late American actor Marlon Brando, Lebanese pop star Nancy Ajram and various royal figures and heads of states.
(Production: Ahmad Al Kerdi, Mohamed Azakir, Maria Semerdjian, Emilie Madi, Yara Abi Nader) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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