Four Seasons Hotel Damascus Explained

Hotel Name:Four Seasons Hotel Damascus
Native Name:فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق
Native Name Lang:ar
Location:Damascus, Syria
Pushpin Map:Syria Damascus
Pushpin Mapsize:260
Coordinates:33.5139°N 36.2911°W
Groundbreaking Date:2001
Opening Date:2005
Architect:Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners)
Owner:Samer Foz
Syrian Ministry of Tourism
Number Of Rooms:297
Number Of Suites:66
Height:82.54 meters[1]
Main Contractor:Fouad Takla
Floors:23

The Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (Arabic: فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق|Funduq Fawr Sīzūn Dimašq) is a 297-room five-star hotel[2] and was part of the Toronto-based Four Seasons luxury hotels and resorts from 2005 to June 19, 2019. It is located in the central district neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, near the Barada River, on Shukri Al Quatli Street.[3]

History

The hotel was financed by Saudi prince Al-Waleed bin Talal and was constructed by the local Fouad Takla Company. It opened on December 1, 2005.[4] Al-Waleed later sold his stake in the hotel to Syrian businessman Samer Foz. The Syrian government is the second largest stakeholder in the hotel.[5] [6]

Four Seasons Hotels severed its management contract with the property effective June 19, 2019, due to US sanctions on Foz. The US government accused Foz of war-profiteering and doing business with the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad.[7] In 2021, the United Nations spent $11.5 million at the hotel.

As of 2023, the hotel continues to operate using the Four Seasons name and logo, though it is no longer recognized as part of the chain.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Damascus Four Seasons Hotel . https://web.archive.org/web/20190526223856/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/134885/damascus-four-seasons-hotel-damascus-syria . dead . May 26, 2019 . . Emporis . 26 May 2019.
  2. News: Power cuts impact daily life in Damascus . Gulf News . 27 December 2015 .
  3. Web site: Four Seasons Hotel Damascus. Five Star Alliance. 26 June 2016.
  4. Web site: Slackman . Michael . What if They Open This Hotel and Nobody Comes? . New York Times . 10 January 2021.
  5. Web site: Rosenthal . Victoria . Saudi Prince Alwaleed sells Four Seasons Hotel Damascus stake . Hotel Management . 26 May 2019.
  6. Web site: Foroohar . Kambiz . How Assad’s Allies Got $18 Million From the UN . Bloomberg . 26 May 2019.
  7. Web site: Rose . Sunniva . Four Seasons cuts ties with Damascus branch following Samer Foz sanctions . 21 June 2019 . The National.