Hotel Phoenicia

This article is about the hotel in Floriana, Malta. For the one in Beirut, Lebanon, see Phoenicia Hotel Beirut.
Hotel Phoenicia

Hotel Phoenicia with the Malta Memorial in the foreground
Former names Le Méridien Phoenicia
General information
Status Intact
Type Hotel
Architectural style Art Deco
Location Floriana, Malta
Coordinates 35°53′43.8″N 14°30′25.3″E / 35.895500°N 14.507028°E / 35.895500; 14.507028
Construction started 1936
Completed April 1948
Opened November 1947
Technical details
Material Limestone
Grounds 7.5 acres (3.0 ha)
Design and construction
Architect William Binnie
Other information
Number of rooms 137
Website
www.phoeniciamalta.com

Hotel Phoenicia, formerly called the Le Méridien Phoenicia, is a 5-star hotel in Floriana, Malta. The Art Deco hotel was built in the 1930s, and was opened in November 1947. It is regarded as one of the top hotels in Malta.[1][2]

History

Hotel Phoenicia is located just outside the capital city of Valletta, close to the Triton Fountain and City Gate. It was built upon a place-of-arms which was part of the outworks of the fortifications of Valletta.[3]

Plans to build a luxury hotel outside Valletta began in 1935, and a year later, the Scottish architect William Binnie was commissioned to design the building.[3] Construction began soon after, and it was almost complete by 1939. With the outbreak of World War II, the finished parts of the hotel were requisitioned by the British military to be used by the Royal Air Force personnel.[4] On 27 April 1942, the hotel suffered extensive damage when it was hit by aerial bombardment. Reconstruction of the damaged parts began in 1944, and was fully complete in April 1948.[5]

Main entrance to Hotel Phoenicia

The hotel officially opened in November 1947. The opening ceremony was attended by Lady Margaret Strickland, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi and Governor Francis Campbell.[4] Some of the official functions relating to Malta's independence in 1964 were held at the Phoenicia. The hotel was acquired by Charles Forte in 1966, and it was refurbished between 1968 and 1970.[5] Further modifications, including the construction of an additional floor, were made between 1990 and 1994.[6]

On 8 November 1997, the hotel was rebranded as Le Méridien Phoenicia, following Forte's acquisition of Le Méridien.[6] It was put on sale in late 2006,[7] and was purchased by the Irish company Heuston Hospitality in 2007, who renamed the hotel back to Phoenicia Hotel Malta.[8] In June 2014 the hotel was purchased by Hazeldane Group.

Under restoration and construction of another floor

The hotel is currently closed as it is undergoing a €15 million restoration and refurbishment.[9] The refurbishment was expected to be complete by March 2016,[10] but works are still underway as of November 2016.

Throughout the years, the Phoenicia has hosted a number of distinguished guests, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Edwina Mountbatten,[11] Alec Guinness, Jeffrey Hunter, Gérard Depardieu, Oliver Reed, Derek Jacobi, Joaquin Phoenix and Arnold Schwarzenegger.[5]

Architecture

Hotel grounds findings

Hotel Phoenicia is an example of Art Deco architecture,[12] although it is built in Maltese limestone and has a number of elements typical of Maltese architecture. The building has a chevron shape, and its grounds contain extensive gardens.[5]

The building is scheduled by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Phoenicia gets top rating". Times of Malta. 2 March 2014. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Hotel Phoenicia among TripAdvisor's top hotels". Times of Malta. 26 January 2015. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Prime Minister visits Phoenicia". Times of Malta. 12 November 2010. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 "The Phoenicia Story". phoeniciamalta.com. Archived from the original on 10 March 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hotel Phoenicia – A Brief History. Hotel Phoenicia. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Le Meridien Phoenicia Story". lemeridien-phoenicia.com. Archived from the original on 7 December 2002.
  7. ↑ "Phoenicia sold to Irish buyer". Times of Malta. 21 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015.
  8. ↑ Macdonald, Vanessa (28 June 2007). "Heuston calling". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Leone-Ganado, Philip (19 November 2015). "Phoenicia Hotel to get two additional wings". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Phoenicia Hotel to undergo €15 million restoration programme". Times of Malta. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015.
  11. ↑ Morgan, Janet P. (1991). Edwina Mountbatten: A Life of Her Own. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 439. ISBN 9780002175975.
  12. ↑ Schembri Bonaci, Giuseppe (14 June 2009). "Art Deco hotel's Buġibba-isation". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015.
  13. ↑ "Mepa schedules ex-military buildings, chapels, towers and villas". Times of Malta. 5 August 2008. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
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