Four Seasons Hotel Damascus

Four Seasons Hotel Damascus
فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, 2008
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus is located in Damascus
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus
Location within Damascus
General information
LocationDamascus, Syria
Coordinates33°30′50″N 36°17′28″E / 33.51389°N 36.29111°E / 33.51389; 36.29111
Groundbreaking2001
Opening2005
OwnerSamer Foz
Syrian Ministry of Tourism
Height82.54 meters[1]
Technical details
Floor count23
Design and construction
Architect(s)Dar Al-Handasah (Shair and Partners)
Main contractorFouad Takla
Other information
Number of rooms297
Number of suites66

The Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (Arabic: فُنْدُق فَوْر سِيزُون دِمَشْق, romanized: 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]

  • The hotel viewed from a distance
    The hotel viewed from a distance
  • The Barada River near the hotel
    The Barada River near the hotel

References

  1. ^ "Damascus Four Seasons Hotel". Emporis. Emporis. Archived from the original on May 26, 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Power cuts impact daily life in Damascus". Gulf News. 27 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Four Seasons Hotel Damascus". Five Star Alliance. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
  4. ^ Slackman, Michael. "What if They Open This Hotel and Nobody Comes?". New York Times. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  5. ^ Rosenthal, Victoria. "Saudi Prince Alwaleed sells Four Seasons Hotel Damascus stake". Hotel Management. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. ^ Foroohar, Kambiz. "How Assad's Allies Got $18 Million From the UN". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  7. ^ a b Rose, Sunniva. "Four Seasons cuts ties with Damascus branch following Samer Foz sanctions". The National. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
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