ROSEWOOD Hotels has been chosen to manage the landmark St Georges Hotel in Beirut when it is restored by March 2000.
The 1930s property has been an empty shell since 1975 when it was damaged in the civil war in the Lebanon.
Now its owners, the Lebanese Elkhoury family, are investing an undisclosed sum to rebuild the 128-room property, located in the city’s marina area which is being redeveloped.
Rosewood president and chief operating officer Jim Brown said:”Beirut will be the Paris of the Middle East within two years. This is a landmark property that is part of Beirut’s history.”
He said Rosewood beat off bids from a number of other key upmarket chains to win the management contract.
Rosewood will also operate the Rivatel, an 86-room property in the mountains outside Beirut near to the ruins of Byblos.
The hotel is being developed by Satco of Saudi Arabia and is due to open in the early part of 2001.
Rosewood has 11 hotels, including the Lanesborough in London, and another seven are in the pipeline.
It is close to finalising a contract for a property in Switzerland as part of its plans to have 30 hotels within five years.