Hôtel Montana on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
The Hôtel Montana is a four star luxury hotel in
The complete demolition of hotel buildings still rising among the ruins began on 28 January, 2010. With the encouragements of staff and guests, the hotel's reconstruction was set in motion. As of April 2011, the hotel underwent reconstruction, with the bar, pool, restaurant and some rooms already being open to guests.
The hotel dedicated a quiet garden on-site for those who were victims of the tragic earthquake. Fifty-two people lost their lives, including a seven-year-old member of the owners' family. Every year, a mass is held on the memorial in remembrance of the victims tragedy.
The hotel reopened with eight rooms, but eventually added dozens more.
"Fearful relatives focus on collapsed hotel"
''thestar.com'', 15 January 2010 – includes video clip
Lonely Planet hotel profile
* {{2010 Haiti earthquake Hotels in Haiti Hotel buildings completed in 1946 Hotel Montana Hotels established in 1946 Hotel Montana 2010 disestablishments in Haiti Buildings and structures demolished in 2010 Pétion-Ville
Haiti
Haiti (; ht, Ayiti ; French: ), officially the Republic of Haiti (); ) and formerly known as Hayti, is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea, east of Cuba and Jamaica, and ...
. It is located on Rue Frank Cardozo, Bourdon on one of the only three main roads connecting the capital to its southeastern outskirt city Pétion-Ville.
It was one of the most luxurious hotels in Haiti until it was destroyed by the 2010 Haiti earthquake
A disaster, catastrophic Moment magnitude scale, magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake struck Haiti at 16:53 local time (21:53 UTC) on Tuesday, 12 January 2010. The epicenter was near the town of Léogâne, Ouest (department), Ouest department, a ...
. It opened in 1947 and remained a family-owned institution. It welcomed international personalities (heads of State, ministers, diplomats, famous actors and businessmen).
History
Hotel Beau-Site
The hotel was built in 1947 on the plans of the architect Franck Cardozo and inaugurated on the occasion of the bicentenary of the foundation of the city of Port-au-Prince. The establishment was then called the "Hotel Beau-Site" (English translation "Beautiful Site Hotel") and stood on the hillside, rue Franck Cardozo. It offered 12 rooms with views of the Haitian capital and the bay that opens off onto the Caribbean Sea.
Hôtel Montana
Subsequently, the hotel's popularity grew and its installations followed suit. By 2005 the building stood on seven floors and had 145 rooms. By 2009, the hotel had a swimming pool, shops, eight conference rooms and a small chapel. The flagship of hotels of Haiti, it was classified four-star hotel. The hotel accommodated the internationaljet-set
In journalism, jet set is a term for an international social group of wealthy people who travel the world to participate in social activities unavailable to ordinary people. The term, which replaced "café society", came from the lifestyle of tra ...
as well as politicians and businessmen from around the world. The former US President Bill Clinton, the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, and the actor Brad Pitt
William Bradley Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and film producer. He is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a British Academy Film Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. ...
had stayed there among others.
On 12 January 2010, at 4:53 pm, a 7.0M earthquake shook Haiti. The 45-second shock-wave caused the collapse of the hotel and many other landmarks. The government of Haiti estimated that 250,000 residences
A residence is a place (normally a building) used as a home or dwelling, where people reside.
Residence may more specifically refer to:
* Domicile (law), a legal term for residence
* Habitual residence, a civil law term dealing with the status ...
and 30,000 commercial building
Commercial may refer to:
* a dose of advertising conveyed through media (such as - for example - radio or television)
** Radio advertisement
** Television advertisement
* (adjective for:) commerce, a system of voluntary exchange of products and s ...
s had collapsed or were severely damaged. In just a few minutes, the hotel became a heap of white stone and twisted steel wires causing an estimated 200 of 300 guests to be reported missing the day after the collapse.
The hotel donated what could be salvaged from its freezers to restaurant Muncheez, which was at the time working as a community soup kitchen, serving free meals.
The complete demolition of hotel buildings still rising among the ruins began on 28 January, 2010. With the encouragements of staff and guests, the hotel's reconstruction was set in motion. As of April 2011, the hotel underwent reconstruction, with the bar, pool, restaurant and some rooms already being open to guests.
The hotel dedicated a quiet garden on-site for those who were victims of the tragic earthquake. Fifty-two people lost their lives, including a seven-year-old member of the owners' family. Every year, a mass is held on the memorial in remembrance of the victims tragedy.
The hotel reopened with eight rooms, but eventually added dozens more.
References
External links
"Fearful relatives focus on collapsed hotel"
''thestar.com'', 15 January 2010 – includes video clip
Lonely Planet hotel profile
* {{2010 Haiti earthquake Hotels in Haiti Hotel buildings completed in 1946 Hotel Montana Hotels established in 1946 Hotel Montana 2010 disestablishments in Haiti Buildings and structures demolished in 2010 Pétion-Ville