A French hotel group will become the first western company to return to Syria’s tourist industry since civil war broke out in 2011.
The Louvre Hotel Group will operate Syria’s only two internationally-run luxury hotels on behalf of the local Nazha Investments Group, which is anticipating a wave of business visitors during the country’s reconstruction.
Although Damascus is stable, western companies are wary of returning to Syria. The Four Seasons Hotels group quit the country this year, despite operating throughout the war — it managed the Four Seasons Damascus owned by Syrian businessman Samer Foz, who was hit by US sanctions in June over allegations that he supported the regime financially.
