Eight years later, in December 1961, the Phoenicia InterContinental opened its doors!
Combining a unique elegant exterior with a fabulous majestic interior, the hotel became in the blink of an eye, a reference in the world of hospitality: 446 luxurious rooms and suites, a wide choice of restaurants, shops and two swimming pools, indoor and outdoor, made the Phoenicia everybody's elite destination. Its reputation for class and luxurious living echoed around the globe.
Kings, queens, world leaders, celebrities, businessmen and the jet set alike, made Phoenicia InterContinental their home away from home, contributing to the country’s golden age, an upswing period during which Lebanon was known as the “Switzerland of the Middle East”.
After years of closure due to Lebanon’s tragic war, Mazen and Marwan Salha, Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors of “La Société des Grands Hotels du Liban” respectively, decided to rebuild Beirut’s gracious “Grand Dame”.
As a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the hotel reopened its doors in March 2000. Again attracting the rich and famous from the world over, Phoenicia InterContinental effortlessly retook its position as the region’s top-notch hotel.
