Tanios Hotel

Aley, Lebanon

...

Saudi plans 'modern tourism center' on site of Aley landmark

By Maher Zeineddine

Daily Star correspondent

Wednesday, April 02, 2008


ALEY: The historic "Tanios Hotel" located in the Chouf region of Aley is being pulled down to be replaced by a modern tourist center which a Saudi businessman has invested in, a well-informed source in the region told The Daily Star on Tuesday. "A Saudi businessman bought the hotel more than a year ago in a bid to invest in it. But studies of the project have shown that a traditional internal rehabilitation process will be useless," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the source, tourism in Lebanon should be modernized. "The majority of renowned hotels in summer [vacation spots] have been turned into furnished apartments while offering visitors wider services," he said.

The source said this hotel would be a "modern tourist site," where the investor would blend modernism with some of the hotel's traditional features.

"Four floors are expected to be built underground. They will be dedicated to parking lots, pools, gymnasiums and other public halls," he said. "The number of rooms will not exceed 70, as attention will be concentrated on utilities that ensure sustainable tourism, such as the building of a commercial center, conference rooms with modern equipment and other services that catch the interest of businessmen and ordinary tourists at the same time."

Aley Mayor Wajdi Mrad told The Daily Star that the project "is of great importance as it will provide sustainable tourism in the region."

"The municipality is doing its best to facilitate the work," Mrad said.

According to Mrad, "several investments in tourism will see the light of the day soon."

"After clearing the Ras al-Jabal area of mines, more than one project by Lebanese, Saudi and Qatari investors will be implemented," he said. "The projects consist of building residential units for villas and mansions."

Aley resident Zahi Baraka said the hotel was named after its owner Tanios al-Chimaly.

"Chimaly used to work as a waiter in one of Al-Burj's [Downtown Beirut] cafes before he managed to have a hotel," Baraka told The Daily Star. "The hotel dates back to the 1950s."

http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/770/779/ludvigsen/private01/tanios01.jpg
So any news about the place, was it demolished, isnt there enough room for a new hotel?>

elie that is the old tanios hotel in saida !!
http://almashriq.hiof.no/lebanon/700/770/779/ludvigsen/private01/tanios01.html

Any updates on this project?

Qatari investors acquire Hotel Tanios in Aley
Cost of land in excess of $12 million

Hotel Tanios, a landmark in Aley from the late 1950s, will be revived after decades of abandonment. The hotel is now owned by Al Rayyan for Project Development, a Qatari-Lebanese real estate venture. The hotel will be reconstructed as a five-star hotel.

The hotel was pulled down in 2008 after being bought by a Saudi investor for around $6 million.

With the new development, Hotel Tanios will keep its name, which will be paired with that of a global hotel management chain. “The name of the management firm will be revealed at a later stage,” said Wissam Danaf, director of the office of Aley’s mayor.

“The project’s licensing fees (paid to the municipality) reached up to $747,000, a high fee for a project in the area,” according to Danaf. He said the hotel’s location is listed among the most expensive zones in the area, with prices reaching up to $3,000 per square meter.

The hotel will be constructed on a surface area of at least 4,000 square meters, with a 90-meter long façade overlooking Aley’s souk. The cost of the land alone is estimated at around $12 million.

The planned hotel will have around 70 rooms. It will have four underground floors dedicated to parking lots, pools, gymnasiums, and other recreational facilities. The development will also host a cinema theater, ballrooms, and a luxury suite.

“Investments in the tourism sector are always motivational and will revive the area,” said Nada Sardouk, director general of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). The new construction will preserve the hotel’s heritage and will add modern designs and architecture. “Preserving the hotel’s architecture is a way of paying tribute to its legacy; this is highly advised while renewing monuments with history,” said Sardouk. The project developers have acquired the approval of the MoT.

Qatari investors acquire Hotel Tanios in Aley
Cost of land in excess of $12 million

Hotel Tanios, a landmark in Aley from the late 1950s, will be revived after decades of abandonment. The hotel is now owned by Al Rayyan for Project Development, a Qatari-Lebanese real estate venture. The hotel will be reconstructed as a five-star hotel.

The hotel was pulled down in 2008 after being bought by a Saudi investor for around $6 million.

With the new development, Hotel Tanios will keep its name, which will be paired with that of a global hotel management chain. “The name of the management firm will be revealed at a later stage,” said Wissam Danaf, director of the office of Aley’s mayor.

“The project’s licensing fees (paid to the municipality) reached up to $747,000, a high fee for a project in the area,” according to Danaf. He said the hotel’s location is listed among the most expensive zones in the area, with prices reaching up to $3,000 per square meter.

The hotel will be constructed on a surface area of at least 4,000 square meters, with a 90-meter long façade overlooking Aley’s souk. The cost of the land alone is estimated at around $12 million.

The planned hotel will have around 70 rooms. It will have four underground floors dedicated to parking lots, pools, gymnasiums, and other recreational facilities. The development will also host a cinema theater, ballrooms, and a luxury suite.

“Investments in the tourism sector are always motivational and will revive the area,” said Nada Sardouk, director general of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT). The new construction will preserve the hotel’s heritage and will add modern designs and architecture. “Preserving the hotel’s architecture is a way of paying tribute to its legacy; this is highly advised while renewing monuments with history,” said Sardouk. The project developers have acquired the approval of the MoT.

i was about to have a internship there ^^ instead i am working with the same company on another project for the qatari prince in aley as well gd to know there is a thread for that ...