Beirut – Living the InterContinental Life
When the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel celebrated its 50th anniversary in December 2011, Area General Manager Georg Weinlaender expressed his wish that the iconic luxury resort in the heart of Beirut would have many more decades to come.
Beirut – Living the InterContinental Life
When the Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel celebrated its 50th anniverasary in December 2011, Area General Manager Georg Weinlaender expressed his wish that the iconic luxury hotel resort in the heart of Beirut would have many more decades to come. That hope was music to the ears of the Lebanese hospitality industry, which suffered a bit of a blow due to the ongoing unrest in neighboring Syria.
In order to mark the jubilee, the resort underwent an extensive renovation worth 50 million U. S. dollars. “Phoenicia and Le Vendome are world renowned luxury brands,” Weinlaender said in an exclusive interview with Marcopolis. Both houses offer guests a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean coastline.
For at least $385 per room a night, visitors can expect a touch of class in the Phoenicia, whose name is derived from Lebanon’s ancient name. It is the Cedar state’s most well-known hotel and regarded by many as one of the best addresses in the Middle East.
While the Phoenicia resort is located at Beirut’s famous corniche promenade, the boutique hotel Le Vendome is just a 10-minute walk from Rafiq El-Hariri Street, named after Lebanon’s former prime minister and situated at the corniche. Both 5-star hotels have reached cult status.
Both hotels are only a 20-minute drive away from Rafiq Hariri International Airport.
The Phoenicia resort is so huge that from afar it looks like a small city within a city. For at least $385 per room a night, visitors can expect a touch of class in the Phoenicia, whose name is derived from Lebanon’s ancient name. It is the Cedar state’s most well-known hotel and regarded by many as the best address in Beirut and one of the best addresses in the Middle East.
“Our main clientele is coming from the Gulf region,” Weinlaender said. “With the support of the Ministry of Tourism, MEA and our partners, we actively cooperate to develop new markets promoting Phoenicia, Le Vendome and Lebanon as a luxury destination.”
InterContinental Hotel Group, or IHG, which has taken over the Phoenicia a couple of years ago, would like to position the luxury resort into a global address. Global branding is simple if the product offers a touch of class, and this elegance is what the Phoenicia hotel delivers. The main challenge is reaching a global clientele.
Phoenicia from the ashes
The Phoenicia Intercontinental Hotel’s history is intriguing. Founded in 1961 by Lebanese tycoon Najib Salha, founder of La Société des Grands Hotels du Liban, the Phoenicia quickly became a hotspot for stars and starlets like Brigitte Bardot, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Mickey Rooney and various Arabic members of the high society like Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafis (“the Arab Elvis”) or Warda Aljazairia (literally “the flower of Algeria”). American actor Rooney was part of the film “Twenty-Four Hours to Kill” which shot at the hotel’s premises in 1965.
Then in 1975, the civil war broke out. The sectarian battles lasted for 15 years, found their culmination in the Israeli invasion in 1982, and left the Phoenicia in total ruins. Only in the 1990s did Marwan and Mazen Salha, members of the board of directors of La Société des Grands Hotels du Liban, decide to rebuild the symbol of oriental hospitality.
“A visit to Beirut has to include Phoenicia even for those Lebanese returning home for vacation. As the best address in Beirut with a reputation of hosting heads of states, celebrities, trade and diplomatic delegations visiting from around the world, Phoenicia remains a living legend to enjoy and rediscover,” Weinlaender said.
What is new in the hotel? Weinlaender answers, “The Phoenicia just completed renovating three presidential suites that offer the premium luxury product for Beirut. As the home to Head of State and official delegations, celebrities and industry leaders, a new luxury lifestyle experience awaits them.” In addition, “Our Mosaic restaurant has been nominated for Best Restaurant in the Middle East by Middle East Hotel Award (MEHA).”
Le Vendome also has some surprises in store. “We are very proud to say that as of mid-October, we will be opening a restaurant in Le Vendome which is from the world-famous chain La Petite Maison,” Weinlaender explains. “It originally started in Nice, and then restaurants opened in London and Dubai. This is the first time one of the brand restaurants is being offered within a hotel.”