What happened
The 297-room hotel that opened in Damascus in 2005 as a Four Seasons still markets itself with the brand even though Four Seasons left in June 2019, One Mile at a Time reports.
The chain cut ties after US sanctions on owner Samer Foz over alleged war-profiteering and ties to Bashar al-Assad. The property was financed by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. It does not appear on Four Seasons' website. Four Seasons no longer operates the hotel. Staff tags and on-property items still carry Four Seasons marks. Social channels use later campaign language from the chain.
One Mile at a Time says the hotel still appears to run at a high standard and has the best security rating in Damascus. UN agencies have used it heavily, spending an average of around $10 million per year over the past decade, reaching around $100 million. A stay will not book or credit as a Four Seasons stay.
Treat any listing that still uses the Four Seasons name in Damascus as unaffiliated.
- Numbers
- 297 rooms: hotel size when it opened as a Four Seasons
- $10 million: approximate average annual UN spend at the hotel over the past decade
- $100 million: approximate cumulative UN spend at the hotel over a decade
- Where
- Four Seasons Damascus, Damascus
- Takeaway
- Treat Damascus as unaffiliated: do not expect Four Seasons booking, elite credit, or award nights, and verify any listing that still uses the brand name.