As the hotel industry continues its construction boom, several
hotel chains are making their debut in the Holy Land.
The Atlanta-based USFranchise Systems operates 27 Hawthorn
Suites properties in 15 states and chose downtown Tel Aviv as the
site for its first property overseas.
Hawthorn Suites: Web site: www.hawthorn.com.
The Isrotel Tower, a Hawthorn Suites Hotel, opened last month
and is managed by Isrotel Hotel Management. The building is located
on Ben Yehuda Street, two blocks from the Mediterranean beach, near
the commercial areas and directly across from the American
Embassy.
Isrotel: (201) 816-0830 or (800) 552-0141; fax (201) 816-0633.
Switzerland-based Movenpick Hotels and Resort's first hotel in
Israel is under construction in Jerusalem, about half a mile north
of the Old City, on the line that divided Israel's capital prior to
1967's Six Day War. It is expected to open in late 1999 or early
2000. The chain is also expected to open properties in the cities
of Tel Aviv and Ashdod by the turn of the millennium.
Call (203) 222-9314 or (800) 34-HOTEL; fax (203) 454-8840.
On the domestic front, a new chain opened in January with two
existing properties, two under construction and another on the
drawing board.
The Royal Plaza Israel Hotels & Resorts is intended to be an
Israeli chain of nearly deluxe hotels, where public spaces will be
smaller than at deluxe hotels but rooms will feature American-style
furnishings.
The two existing properties are Jerusalem's Lev Yerushalayim
all-suite hotel and the Royal Plaza Tiberias, which was totally
renovated and reopened in October.
Next to open will be the Royal Plaza Jerusalem, where
construction is scheduled to be completed in July 1999.
Located in the neighborhood called the American Colony, it will
stand near where, until 1967, the Mandelbaum Gate regulated the
border crossing between east and west Jerusalem.
The chain's fourth property, set for completion later in 1999,
will be the Royal Plaza in the Park of Palms area of Eilat, a few
blocks away from the Red Sea or the desert.
On the drawing board is an additional property in the Gilo
section of Jerusalem, on the south end of the city on the way to
Bethlehem, to be ready by late 2000.
Call: (718) 338-6537 or (800) 538-4683; fax (718) 951-9197;
levyerushalayim@attmail.com or roylplza@netvision.net.il.