Two hotels owned by the Al Habtoor Group in Dubai – the Metropolitan Palace Hotel and the Habtoor Grand Hotel, both in the Sin El Fil district of Beirut, have been awarded the classification of ‘Five Star Superior’, putting them on an above average international rating.
The official classification was awarded independently by the Lebanese Ministry of Tourism, following intensive research by the International Bureau Veritas, which took into account 500 different factors.
The classification is recognised in over 122 countries around the world and signifies the very best of treatment of customers, in the most luxurious surroundings.
It was noted that the Habtoor Grand Hotel, Beirut, not only has a ballroom which can accommodate up to 1,000 people at a time, it also houses the largest spa in the whole of the Middle East – the Elixir spa.
The Metropolitan Palace Hotel, Beirut too was singled out for its luxurious 1,000 square-metre penthouse suite.
Only nine hotels in the city were given the prestigious honour and the awards were handed out a special ceremony at the Phoenicia Intercontinental, by the Minister of Tourism, Fadi Abboud on May 23, 2011.
Khalaf Al Habtoor, Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, commented on the achievement: “We’re delighted that both of our hotels in Beirut have been recognised as above average, a factor which we have long been aware of.
Such recognition is a great honour, as there are few such establishments in Lebanon and indeed around the world, that have achieved it.”