Hilton Hotel


Minet El Hosn
Beirut Central District - Beirut, Lebanon


http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/8605/hiltonuy1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
5-Star Hotel
8 Floors, 162 Rooms

http://www.davislangdonlb.com/hilton.jpg



Owners: General Mediterranean Holding, Nadhmi Auchi, Issam Younes

Contractor: Butec SAL

Cost: US$ 70 Million

Status: Under Construction

Estimated completion: 2006-07


From IDAL's Fall 2003 report:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/be6efc74.jpg



For information on the old Beirut Hilton and to view its 2002 demolition, click here:

http://www.controlled-demolition.com/default.asp?reqLocId=7&reqItemId=20030324142951

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeK1kPvvawo

Construction Pictures


2005:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9454/10034939mb.jpg


May 7, 2006:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/9035/dscn07498dv.jpg


May 15, 2006:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/0ac53f21.jpg

For information on the old Beirut Hilton and to view its 2002 demolition, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeK1kPvvawo

The Grand Hyatt is coming up on the site of the old Beirut Hilton.

The current developers of the Grand Hyatt bought the old Hilton, demolished it and are the same ones building the Grand Hyatt.

The current Beirut Hilton is being developed by completely different developers.

The following excerpt from a recent Daily Star article is quite interesting considering what Issam Younes said here in 2003:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/68feec84.jpg



IDAL gets mixed reviews for ability to help cut red tape

Major investors report delays with permits


By Lysandra Ohrstrom
Daily Star staff

Tuesday, June 13, 2006


BEIRUT: The national development authority charged with facilitating major construction projects and other investments in Lebanon continues to have difficulty in coordinating permits and providing other services despite a 2003 law meant to empower the body, according to developers with current projects in the capital.

Investment Law 360 aimed to turn the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL) into a "one-stop-shop" for investors that would provide fiscal incentive packages and facilitate the licensing and registration process for investors.

But according to the leaders of some of IDAL's - and Beirut's - most valuable projects the organization, though no fault of its own, has been unable to obtain building permits in a reasonable time frame or effectively perform its administrative function.

The CEO of Ven Invest Holding, the group financing the $44.7 million Serai Gate hotel complex in Downtown Beirut, said on Monday that groundbreaking on the project was delayed by two to three years due to legal hurdles.
"IDAL is great at granting incentives, but we would have expected more help from them on the legal side," Pierre Abou Jaber told reporters at his construction site, the first of six stops on an IDAL-sponsored tour of its projects.

"IDAL is supposed to get you building permits, but they couldn't so we ended up having to obtain them ourselves," Abou Jaber said. "But this is not related to IDAL, the government needs to restructure its administrative procedures."

These "administrative procedures" have halted construction on the Hilton Hotel in Bab Idriss, which currently stands as a towering concrete skeleton without walls.

The hotel was supposed to be completed by 2006, but work has stopped on the project while contractors wait for a permit, according to Issam Younis, one of the hotel's owners. Younis was reluctant to talk about the length of delays or the amount of money that has been lost.

"Some work has stopped for two months, some for a day," he told The Daily Star before IDAL staffers said time was up and cut him off.

"Even if we lost a little money, this is still a good project and will give us a return of $20 million per year on a $70 million project," Younis said.

An IDAL official said that permits cannot be issued instantly and that construction on the Hilton site was generally moving forward. "If you'd come yesterday, they would have been working on it," he said.

Here is an alternative rendering of the Hilton posted on the General Mediterranean Holding website, (www.gmhsa.com):

http://www.gmhsa.com/HiltonBeirut.jpg


It appears this was an earlier version... I happen to prefer this one to the current design, what do you all think?

i like the front of this Building much better then the one there building now

wasnt the old Beirut Hilton was only open for a week b4 the war broke out

Thanks Beirut! for this thread.

About the design, both of them seem to be fine. Maybe I'll chose the earlier old version...

hilton is one of the best hotel empires in the world

most cities have the four season hotel ..soo..hope that soon we have a four season hotel....

I like the current design(white).it really means alot to me,this hilton hotel.as u may all know.the 1st hilton beirut was meant to open ONE DAY b4 the civil war started in beirut in 1975.i really need to see this one ALIVE.

^^ hehe yeah ur right, I prefer the older one more, it goes well with the Grand Hayatt Design

I said that before it was open for only a week.

Construction as of 29/06/2006.

http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/4381/dscn09841xm.jpg

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/5659/dscn09828oa.jpg

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6977/dscn09855sf.jpg

WOW,thanx nareg. :) i really like the front of this building.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h118/arzliban/558.jpg

Nice update :) thanx Arzliban :)

Here are my updates for this project:

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3695/dscn3779tq4.jpg

http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/4008/dscn3780qs0.jpg

The construction for this hotel has progressed a lot. 75% of the facade work has been accomplished.

Gr8 news :) thanx nareg.
I believe that once this HOTEL opens his doors for guests,,the whole problems in lebanon will vanish.

This hotel chain hasn't made any profit from Lebanon.
Before the inauguration of the old Hilton, the war started (civil war). The other Hilton in Hamra was halted. Hope that this one succeeds.

Exactly,that's what i meant.

Maybe its cursed.... !

Well, I guess this thread needs updates with pics. So here you go.

11/01/2007
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/5359/dscn1098cq6.jpg

http://img115.imageshack.us/img115/1161/dscn1116hb3.jpg

Tnxs for the pics Nouggy, not the most impressive Hilton Hotel I've seen but it's ok.

^^ I agree, this hotel doesnt appeal to me much at all... but we should wait and see when it is complete.

That's true. Wish they chose the facade of the old render.

oh, i am a little disappointed.

me too really its ugly i hope it improves.

As Beirut! said,we've to wait and see.
Thanx nareg. :)

16/03/2007

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/7657/dscn1205editedxb0.jpg

That is quite discusting, whats up with the red and the old styled looking building, what a shame. It looks NOTHING like the render. In any case tnxs Nareg for the pic.

Thanks for the update, but I agree with Nadini, this building just keeps getting more ugly...what a disappointment!

It looks like a bldg from the 60's. However this is the back side that's shown in the last pics and its view will probably be obstructed when the building in the adjacent lot is built. The part that is still covered in green is what matters.

Thank you very much Nareg. for the update :)

And i don't agree with you guys,i like this one and regarding the colours of the Building,i think it fits in the surroundings,,,mmm,i donnu,but it's not UGLY.

Does anyone know if Hilton Beirut already opened or still under construction?

Still underconstruction,soon to be open though.

I saw "Hilton Hotel" construction site at the end of Hamra,
near Clemenceau Street..

Does it mean that two Hilton Hotels are under construction in Beirut?

http://lh3.google.co.jp/image/foxtale2007/RiTzIPpSu6I/AAAAAAAABSw/TUJnxDfUXw0/s800/05618s_2005-09-10_beirut.jpg

^^ ohh thats interesting, when exactly did you take this picture fox-tale?

After some research, I found that yes the Hilton company are building two Hilton Hotels in Beirut!! Did you see any renders Fox-tale about that hotel when you took that picture?

Hilton International has made its debut in Kuwait with the opening of the US$100 million 147-room Hilton Kuwait Resort in Mangaf. Hilton announced in May that it intended the resort to be the first of 11 hotels which it would open in the Middle East. The company is set to open its first hotel in Qatar in 2004, and is developing six hotels in Egypt and two in each of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. It was in Lebanon where Hilton finally said farewell to the ill-fated Beirut Hilton. Thanks to the civil war the hotel never welcomed a paying guest in its entire 27-year existence, and has now been demolished. The hotel's owner Société Méditerranée des Grands Hotels has plans to bring in an as yet unnamed international operator to take charge of the US$100 million 420-room, five-star hotel which will rise on the site by mid 2004.

^^ ohh thats interesting, when exactly did you take this picture fox-tale?

sorry the photo above was taken on September 10, 2005.
and that photo is the one of Downtown Hilton, not Hamra one.


Hamra Hilton looked much smaller in size, and I think I forgot to take photo..
or if I find any photo of Hamra Hilton on my PC I will upload later.

Hamra Hilton logo was half erased by someone when I visited Beirut
last time in October 2006,
but the Hilton logo was clearly visible before, and the logo was the same with the photo above.

alright after re reading this thread, Nareg on top confirmed (and I didnt even ask lool) that the Hilton Hotel on Hamra was halted

You guys, I made a thread a while ago about the other Hilton that was halted:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=378237

whats happening with this hilton, is it also on hold ?

^^ No Jayme.

This Hilton is not on hold. Works are going on a daily basis. But still they haven't removed the green clothing.

I heard a rumor that Hilton Hotels are Jew-owned chain -- that is why their hotels are often targetted by islamists in Islam countries.

I am sure the rumor is false, because the founder Conrad Hilton is not Jew.
I think Hilton is often targetted just because it is an American chain.
What do you think?

By the way, another Hilton hotel is under construction in Amman, Jordan now.
It is constructed right next to Crowne Plaza Amman.

doubt it...there are SOOO many american-based companies in lebanon.

Hilton set to open four new hotels in Egypt, Levant


Hilton Hotels in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon has revealed that its four new properties under development will open within the next two years.

This follows a successful Q1 performance by its 19-strong Egypt portfolio with average occupancies in the high 70s.

While Hilton’s first Lebanon property in Beirut is set to open later this year with 162 rooms, the new-look Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa in Egypt will re-open in the first quarter of next year with 235 rooms, said Simon Hasdell, vice-president, operations, Hilton Hotels, Egypt, Lebanon & Jordan.

Further down the line, Hilton will make its foray into Jordan with the Hilton Amman, at the mixed-use Gate development, and the Hilton Tala Bay Aqaba, in a new area of the Aqaba Riveira, both opening in 2009.

"We are exploring a number of other opportunities as well, and will disclose details as soon as agreements are signed. Our priority is also to our current portfolio to ensure the highest standards of quality in line with Hilton brand standards worldwide," said Hasdell.

Hilton has a total signed pipeline of 11 properties in the Middle East, and a development goal of an additional 20 new signings over the next five years.
Asked about openings in the new hot spot of the Levant, Syria, Hasdell said the brand was mulling opportunities in the market, as well as considering the country’s long-term stability.

Meanwhile, Hilton Egypt saw revenues rise eight per cent year on year for Q1, RevPAR (revenue per available room) increased by ten per cent, and EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization) by 20 per cent - in comparison to 2006. Hilton has 19 properties in Egypt, including two Conrads.

Tourism continues to drive income in Egypt with the GCC, Europe, US and Japan as key source markets. This is estimated to touch 11 million tourists by 2011.

The integration of Hilton Hotels and Hilton International last year, has not only created the largest chain of hotels worldwide by profit, but has also opened up significant opportunities for growth and expansion across all brands within the Hilton Family.

Asked about the regional debut of other Hilton-owned brands, Hasdell told TTN that the entire region is ripe for Hilton to expand its mid-market brands, such as Double Tree and Hilton Garden Inn.

Hilton’s current development pipeline, the largest ever, consists of signed contracts for 775 hotels totalling more than 110,000 rooms, of which 75 will be located outside the US.


http://www.ttnworldwide.com/Articles.asp?Article=6472

So later this year :) Good

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/3374/hhjw8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ Not bad,looks so down-town,i like it,Am i the only one who likes it here ???

i like it too. though it looks diferent to the very first rendering of it on the first page. still good.

Great news.
I hope it will open successfully this time.

By the way there is "Hildon Hotel" on Australia Street
in Raouche.
http://www.bookinn.com/homepage/hildon/pic6.jpg
That Hildon has a long history and seems more reasonable.:)
http://www.bookinn.com/homepage/hildon/index.html

^^


I always passed by this hotel and wondered if it was deliberately a rip-off of the real Hilton (taking advantage on name-recognition). But I cant seem to find any history info from the link you posted...

Well I m not so sure but I hear it has more than 20 years of history.
It is older but cheaper than Lancaster Hotel, which is near the Hildon Hotel.

This Hilton Hotel is owned by the same owner of "Le Royal Beirut".
So I guess some of the hotel staff will be transferred from Le Royal Beirut
at the opening.

http://www.gmhsa.com/hotels_main.html

LOOKS like Completed :)

November 18th

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2049036347_d363499dc8_b.jpg

Any news on when this Hotel is gonna be open to Guests??I always thought if this hotel was open and operational in 1975 there wasn't going to be a civil war,if it's going to open soon,that means the political crisis will come to an end,i believe so :S

DELTED

^^ It is now clear from these pictures that the facade color/texture is very different from the original rendering -- unfortunately, in my opinion.

^^Wasn't it supposed to be blue, or glass cladding??

i like it now
it maches the surronding better i gess

^^Me too,i like it more now.so i assume the opening will be b4 this summer??

^^ it should be but we never know

A lot of hotels I know are being delayed because of the political situation.

While the Hilton may be finished now, they may not opt to furnish it and prepare it for opening until Lebanon stabilizes.

Other hotels that are under construction have significantly slowed down their progress. The Four Seasons is a great example. It should have opened last year but it is still under construction and there is still quite a bit more work to do before it would be ready to open.

^^ ur right.............

A lot of hotels I know are being delayed because of the political situation.

While the Hilton may be finished now, they may not opt to furnish it and prepare it for opening until Lebanon stabilizes.

Other hotels that are under construction have significantly slowed down their progress. The Four Seasons is a great example. It should have opened last year but it is still under construction and there is still quite a bit more work to do before it would be ready to open.

But doesnt slowing down construction actually cost them more?

But doesnt slowing down construction actually cost them more?

Actually it costs less (up until at least a certain point). I'll try finding my Operations Management book and give you an example.

Expediting a project usually costs quite a bit more. This not only applies to project management but also logistics. For a simple example, compare the costs of shipping something using FedEx 2Day shipping versus FedEx Ground shipping.

This is why projects that are backed up with a lot of money usually finish quite quickly. Dubai is a great example. Look at how fast they finish their massive projects that dwarf any of Beirut's projects.

^^ But what about rental of construction equipment and paying workers? I know that they cut down on construction workers when they slow down the progress, but I know for instance, developers pay thousands for each day they have a crane on their site...

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/6820/2269648036f0c9cc113ebzw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/5508/hilton1hy6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/4900/holton2pq1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

June 1st 2008

http://www.nowlebanon.com/Library/Images/MainPagePictures/marathon-2.jpg

During Run For Peace Marathon.

Is it openning anytime soon?

^^ Well,Hopefully this Summer , it's gonna be a good start for this Hotel.

Its not listed on there website yet

Hopefully the opening will happen this time around. It just doesn't look like a 5 star :S

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5298/lebanon361qc4.jpg

The logo is still awaiting the opening ceremony to be unveiled...hopefully it will be soon!

Here is a pic I took on Aug. 28, 2008:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/P8270074.jpg

Not sure when I took this
http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/1227/p1040675yd2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

^^ I don't think it's anytime soon as u can notice,ground floor is in noway near completion.

that is not true anmore. A few days ago I just passed by and I saw furnishers in the foyer. I think that in the last floor is the fitness studio. I saw some devices there.

I am sure that they will open in the coming months. Maybe in the first quater of 2009.

I think this is officially opening in May now

Beirut Hilton, Lebanon
Thirty two years ago in 1975 just days before the grand opening, the Hilton Hotel became the site of fighting in Lebanon’s Civil War. The building was one of the three major hotels badly damaged but not rebuilt.

Today, the refurbishment of the 5 star hotel Beirut Hilton, in Beirut Central District is almost complete and ready to open its doors at the end of 2007. It is located next to what will become the modern Souks of Beirut. Hansgrohe partnering with George Khoury of Khoury & Co. had the pleasure of garnishing this redeveloped high-end landmark site with both Hansgrohe and Axor products extensively veiled across the halls of the hotel.

Guestrooms throughout the Beirut Hilton will be supplied with Axor Uno and Axor Starck by Philippe Starck products with single wall mounted basin mixers. You can also find Hansgrohe’s award winning Raindance 24cm overhead showers that have concealed thermostat including diverters. The exclusive 24 suites are equipped with Hansgrohe’s i-module boxes. Combined, Hansgrohe and Axor products are available for guests to indulge throughout the 152 rooms.

The rebirth of the Beirut Hilton project is not only significant because of its luxurious appeal but because of the overwhelming attention it’s drawn that will soon accommodate tourists and local guests alike in the most minimalist design hotel in Beirut.



http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb2/Htlebmn/ScreenHunter_02Mar071342.gif

^^ How did you know it's gonna be in May ?

I read it somewhere but it wasnt in an article..it was part of a search...

It should be opening soon, I saw people cleaning the entrance and the sidewalks around the hotel the other day
Taken may 19, 2009
Courtesy of Nadini
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/P1120291.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb215/daschma/Lebanon2009-08120.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb215/daschma/Lebanon2009-08117.jpg

What is the yeallow stone delabrated building in the middle of the first pic by Ainmreisiot?

^^This building will be part of the Northern Souks. It will be renovated.

What is the yeallow stone delabrated building in the middle of the first pic by Ainmreisiot?

It's often identified as the old L'Orient-Le Jour building

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7335/231b.jpg

I would like to see recent photos of this zone...
Is incredible how many buildings UC!!!


May 15, 2006:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/0ac53f21.jpg

the hotel built is more beautiful than the render.
:cheers:

courtesy of me:

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/2879/hilton.jpg

Why isn't it open yet? The logo is not even revealed yet!

Why isn't it open yet? The logo is not even revealed yet!
because there was a conflict between the partners of hilton...
but i think i heard talks that they will be opening it soon

Why isn't it open yet? The logo is not even revealed yet!

I think you can the logo hidden behind the white cloth in the left side of the hotel. :D

This Hotel is Cursed,remember the old one that was supposed to open one day before the civil war erupted in 1975?

^^ They're unrelated. The Grand Hyatt is being built where the old Hilton was.

This new Hilton has no relation with the old one. Different owners and developers.

^^ I meant the name Hilton Beirut.

^^ I know, I'm talking about the Hilton Beirut.

Oh never mind, you meant the actual name.

walla this is cursed.

Hyatt has speed up and construction is progressing.
Four Seasons is opening
Le Gray opened

And this crap, has been done for 2 years and its still not opened!!

^^ I believe it's cursed too.

^^ Does anyone know what the exact problem is.

I think this hotel is being sold for 30 million dollars!! This was posted on ahlein.net(prominet real estate Lister) on November 14,2009

The Hotel is classified as a four star Deluxe "A" Hotel. It is located in one of the most prestigious areas of Beirut ( 5 min away from Beirut international Airport ) . The hotel has a ninety - two room Hotel and suites . The Hotel is located on a plot of land which is approximately 2500m2


The areas of the hotel that are considered are :
Land : 2500 sq meters

2nd Basement 816 sq. meters
1st Basement 1118 sq. meters
Ground Floor 1061 sq. meters
Mezzanine 220 sq. meters
Banquet Room 1031 sq. meters
1st + 8th Floor 3904 sq. meters
9th Floor 394 sq. meters
Presidential Suites 403 sq. meters
Roof top 280 sq. meters
Terrace 520 sq. meters
Total 9747 sq. meters


Could they be talking about the Hilton there is 9 floors, and its in a prominent area of Beirut, if not then what are they talking about??

Link: http://www.ahlein.net/Lebanon/Beirut/Hotel-rooms/3162.aspx

[Off topic] 5 minutes away from the airport? Are they serious?[/off topic]

Maybe its the old marriot(galleria)

If it is 92 rooms as they say, then it is neither the Hilton nor the old Marriott.

I doubt its the Hilton.... wouldnt the land value of the Hilton be way higher then
$40 million and the Hilton is 5 star.

I'm not loving the building design too much.. The facade has a slight cheapness to it...

They could've done better..

so now the sign is up?

courtesy of belmdesigner
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/belmdesigner.jpg

so now the sign is up?

courtesy of belmdesigner
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/belmdesigner.jpg

the cladding in previous pics looks yellow but it looks differently now...

So they unveiled the sign but didnt have an opening ceremony??

I don't think that's a revealed sign, possibly the "H" letter was uncovered but "ilton" is still wrapped with that blue sheet.

so now the sign is up?

courtesy of belmdesigner
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/belmdesigner.jpg

Larger Version :D

http://i46.tinypic.com/ml3zw3.jpg

It's UGLY! What's with the wooden strips? On the original render it was covered with glass. They could have at least used stone, not wood!

^^ As least it's something different for the area.

Whats with the sign?

courtesy of sameer
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/14072009103.jpg

I think it'll look great once people are actually inhabiting it.

I like the mix of materials. The simple juxtaposition of materials and shapes is beautiful from various angles and under different lighting conditions.
But the use of wood in Beirut requires a great deal of upkeep. There is a building on the ring, in Saifi, that seems also (re)designed around wooden shutters, which are now worn down and in some cases falling apart. Some of the Hilton's wood looks like its varnish has been allowed to burn/wear off. I don't think wood will wear well under direct sun exposure and in the heat and humidity if it's not taken care of...

from the pic Nadini posted,looks like interior work is on hold.

ok,so rumors say the hotel didn't meet Hilton standards and that's why it won't open,wikipedia says it will open sometime in 2010.

^^ This makes sense, because I always felt it wasnt nice enough for the Hilton brand. But what is the next step? Do they re-model or sell it off?

^^ most likely selling it off.

Hilton on ice


By Rayya Salem on July 30, 2010

Business wrangling shutters the luxury hotel chain's Beirut branch
Lucas William, tapped to be the director of operations at the Hilton Beirut, is not talking about the elephant in the room. Indeed, most of the affiliated parties are keeping mum about the eight-storey, 158-room hotel in Minet a-Hosn that stands ready but is suspiciously closed. The hotel’s awkward silence in the midst of a buzzing touristic hotspot has lead many a curious mind to speculate what went wrong.

Davis Langdon Lebanon (DLL), the hotel owner’s representative during the construction phase, which ended in January of 2007, abruptly left the Hilton party when its contract was up. A spokesperson from the group declined to comment, instead referring queries to the “sole owner,” Nadhmi Auchi, chairman of General Mediterranean Holdings (GMH) — an expansive holding conglomerate made up of 120 companies in 28 countries, with more than 11,000 employees and assets worth over $4 billion. However, the Iraqi-born businessman — most well known in Lebanon for his Dbayeh landmark, Le Royal Hotel, and its Watergate theme park – also shied away from an interview with Executive after originally accepting the proposal in early July. However, Nizar Younes — the original owner of the central district land behind Beirut Souks and president and founder of Butec engineering firm, which constructed the Hilton — and the commissioned architect, Younes’ daughter, Hala Younes of Atelier d’Etudes techniques et d’Architecture Beyrouth (AETA), responded to interview requests regarding the five-star hotel’s nearly three-year delay and the tangle of legal disputes.

In 2005, Nizar says Auchi was brought in as a partner in a holding company Nizar had started, called Sharikat Al Ikarat Wal Abniat (SIWA), which owned the Hilton property in full. As construction of the $70 million hotel project neared the halfway point, Nizar says he needed extra capital. He and his brother Issam retained a 49 percent share of SIWA (29 percent and 20 percent respectively), and sold 51 percent to Auchi, making him the majority stakeholder.

Auchi heralded his new stake in SIWA in GMH’s 2005 chairman’s statement, which read: “Through subsidiaries we own controlling interest in the Beirut Hilton, located in the center of the city, which is in the final stages of construction and is expected to be ready by the end of 2006.”

Nizar claims that Auchi has the master key and is leaving the Hilton locked up until he can purge the Hilton’s management, obtain full ownership and have his Le Royal team manage the hotel instead.

On July 12, the International Court of Arbitration in Paris, under the International Chamber of Commerce, ruled that Auchi must pay compensatory damages for delaying the hotel’s opening, “which was estimated by the court for the whole period to be… around $40 million dollars,” said Nizar.

In 2007 Nizar says he sold Auchi his 29 percent share, but has yet to be paid in full, with this dispute now the subject of a pending legal battle in Lebanon in the Jdeideh Court of Arbitration.

Issam Younes has held on to his 20 percent share, despite several takeover attempts by Auchi. AETA’s Hala Younes says that her firm’s role in the project has dragged on for roughly 10 years, starting from the original contract signed with Hilton in 2000, to court arbitration in Lebanon with Auchi over lack of payment. AETA finally received full payment in 2009.

Hala claims that the GMH chairman was in agreement with the original layout for interior design, but later didn’t pay in full, claiming that the result deviated too much from the original agreement.

Refuting the rumors

Among the more persistent rumors regarding why the Hilton has remained closed is that it failed to meet Hilton’s construction standards. However, on Feb 21, 2007, Hilton International headquarters sent a letter of approval to the architect’s Verdun office, confirming that the hotel’s physical structure, surfaced in acid-etched glass to protect it from the sea climate and featuring custom-made interior design, was up to par. According to Hala Younes, Solidere signed the occupation permit in January 2008, verifying that the building meets legal standards. The hotel still doesn’t have a legal permit to operate, however, as SIWA has not signed it.

If, or when, the new Hilton Beirut does open, the Lebanese can be thankful that its delay was down to simple, old fashioned business wrangling, rather than an omen of imminent war like its ill-fated predecessor; the original Hilton was due to open one day before the start of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975.

Maybe the Hilton brand will forever be cursed in Lebanon.

2 interior photos i found on Butec website

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/6168/1516hiltonpic2.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/i/1516hiltonpic2.jpg/)

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6237/1617hiltonpic4.jpg (http://img299.imageshack.us/i/1617hiltonpic4.jpg/)

UGLY !!

Love the floors hate all the colors

Maybe the Hilton brand will forever be cursed in Lebanon.

with interiors like these ^^ it's doomed already

anyone else thinks that they are trying to bring the ''old'' hip Beirut back??? I've seen pictures of hotels in the 60-70's in Beirut that looks exactly like that... It's a daring thing to do but might be successful

dono but nadini ur right i remember from the pictures i saw of old beirut hamra etc that maybe theyre tryin but no wonder it stays closed!
remove it and furnish it with classy modern stuff and OPEN it ba2a hate to see empty buildings all around lebanon

September 2010

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/7601/img8248edited.jpg

Courtesy of me :)

is it opened?

Very nice project.

is it opened?

^^
Not yet...

perhaps we should change the status to on-hold?

^^ It's pretty much complete but they just wont open!

i did some googling on google news

In Lebanon, the company’s Hilton Beirut property is also beset with legal disputes, Jagersbacher said. “[The hotel] is 90 percent ready and has been ready for five years… [but] there is a dispute between owners and they are suing each others’ pants off,” he said.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/owner-disputes-delay-hilton-s-middle-east-hotel-launches-398709.html

The artcle is a couple of weeks old.

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/discoverlebanon/ByDay/BeirutSkylineView/Beirut_Skyline_View29.jpg

Can you see the pic? :S

WTH???!!!!

Images from inside

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere15.jpg

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere18.jpg

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere19.jpg

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere20.jpg

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere21.jpg

http://www.beirutnightlife.com/wp-content/gallery/2011/Various2011/HiltonWeeklyLeaks/Hilton_Beirut_Water_Front_Solidere29.jpg

more pics here: http://www.beirutnightlife.com/news/weekly-leaks-wheres-this-rooftop/

hahahahahaahaha what is this ? a half-star hotel ?

lol, i bet this is not freakin hilton standards.. DUH!

Really guys? I kind of like it. It's something different and modern, for once, compared to all the other hotels which basically look the same and have similar design themes.