Beirut's iconic Phoenicia hotel reopens
STORY: Beirut's iconic Phoenicia Hotel has reopened its doors
It was closed in August 2020
after suffering damage in the city’s major port explosion
[Manrique Rodriquez, General manager, Phoenicia Hotel]
"95-90 percent of the people I have met in Lebanon, Lebanese, they have something to do with the (Phoenicia) hotel. They got married here, their parents used to come here for diner, baptism of the child, 'I came here to see when (Spanish singer) Julio Iglesias came here' or 'I was invited to a dinner when the King of Spain was staying in the hotel' or 'with (when) (American actor) Marlon Brando was here, I was a kid and I was crazy screaming at the hotel'. So I realised that this is... you have to have respect for this institution. This is an institution and by opening now, we are showing the country that we believe in Lebanon, and believe in the Lebanese people."
Hotel employee Graziella Hanna was working on the day of the blast
[Graziella Hanna, Hotel employee]
"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."
The historic luxury hotel first opened in 1961
The recent reopening comes as Lebanon enters the fourth year of a financial collapse
the country's worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war
[Renato Devere, Hotel guest]
"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."
