Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul

Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul is a landmark hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan, situated on a hill near Bagh-e Bala Palace in the Karte Parwan area. It opened on 9 September 1969 after construction began in April 1967. Developed through Pan Am's InterContinental Hotels division and built by the British construction company Taylor Woodrow, it was intended to provide Kabul with an internationally recognizable luxury-hotel destination. At its opening, it became Afghanistan's first international luxury hotel and subsequently served foreign visitors, diplomats, journalists, aid workers, and other international travelers. The property was designed as a substantial full-service hotel, with approximately 200 rooms, a swimming pool, a gym, and several restaurants offering dining and room service. Its rooms were equipped with amenities associated with international hotels, including air-conditioning, heating, television, minibars, telephones, and radios. The building also included an internet cafe and retained a manual telephone switchboard manufactured by Siemens. The hotel became a visible meeting point in Kabul and was used as the starting landmark for weekly Hash House Harriers events. From 2005 to 2007, its top-floor presidential suite was converted into offices for the Senlis Council, later known as the International Council on Security and Development. The hotel's identity became complicated after its formal association with InterContinental Hotels ended in 1980, in the context of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. Despite no longer being affiliated with the international hotel company, the Kabul property continued using the Inter-Continental name and logo. It therefore became a locally operated hotel with a historically inherited international brand identity rather than a current InterContinental Hotels property. The property is identified as being owned by the Bakhshisade family. The hotel suffered extensive damage during Kabul's civil war in the 1990s. By 1996, only 85 of its 200 rooms were considered habitable because of rocket and artillery damage. Nevertheless, it remained one of the few large hotels operating in Kabul and was heavily used by Western journalists during the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Accounts from 2003 describe a property still affected by conflict and infrastructure problems, including frequent power cuts, bullet damage, an unused swimming pool, and a poorly equipped gym, although the rooms were described as simple and clean. A gun battle in the hotel in February 2003 resulted in the deaths of two Afghans. The hotel later underwent a reported renovation costing $25 million, carried out by a Dubai-based company. Its modernized facilities and prominent hillside location did not remove the security risks associated with operating a major hotel in Kabul. On 28 June 2011, armed suicide attackers initiated a five-hour siege that killed at least 21 people, including the nine attackers; the Taliban claimed responsibility. On 20 January 2018, four or five gunmen attacked the property, leading to a battle lasting approximately 12 hours. At least 42 people were killed and more than 14 were injured. These attacks made the hotel internationally known not only as a historic hospitality site but also as a symbol of the security challenges facing prominent civilian properties in Afghanistan. The hotel's present operating status is not established by the supplied reference material.

Construction of Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul began in April 1967, during a period when Kabul was developing facilities intended to receive international visitors. The project was developed by the InterContinental Hotels division of Pan Am and constructed by the United Kingdom-based company Taylor Woodrow. The hotel opened on 9 September 1969 and became Afghanistan's first international luxury hotel. Its hillside position near Bagh-e Bala Palace gave it a prominent setting, while its scale and international operating concept made it one of Kabul's principal destinations for foreign visitors. The property was built as a large, full-service hotel with approximately 200 rooms. Its facilities included a swimming pool, gym, and about four restaurants serving guests in the dining rooms or through room service. Hotel rooms were fitted with air-conditioning, heating, television, minibar, telephone, and radio equipment. The building also had an internet cafe in the basement and used a manual Siemens telephone switchboard. In addition to accommodation and dining, the property functioned as a meeting point for international organizations, journalists, and expatriate communities. The landmark served as the starting point for weekly Hash House Harriers events. Between 2005 and 2007, the presidential suite on the top floor was converted into office space for the Senlis Council, subsequently rebranded as the International Council on Security and Development. The hotel's corporate identity changed after 1980. Following the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, the property ceased to have an association with InterContinental Hotels. It nevertheless continued to use the Inter-Continental name and logo, creating a distinction between the hotel's historical identity and the current international hotel company. The property is identified as being owned by the Bakhshisade family rather than by InterContinental Hotels Group or its hotel brands. During the civil war of the 1990s, the building was damaged by street fighting, rockets, and shells. By 1996, only 85 of the original 200 rooms were habitable. The hotel's continued operation was significant because large, secure, internationally recognizable accommodation was scarce in Kabul. During the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the hotel was widely used by Western journalists and was described as the only large hotel still operating in the capital at that time. Reports from February 2003 portray a property still bearing visible evidence of the conflict. The swimming pool contained no water, the gym lacked its furniture, power failures occurred several times a day, and bullet holes remained in parts of the building, including the first-floor restaurant windows. The rooms were described as basic but clean. A gun battle at the hotel in February 2003 involving British intelligence agent Colin Berry resulted in the deaths of two Afghans. The hotel later received an extensive renovation reportedly costing $25 million and undertaken by a Dubai-based company. The refurbishment restored or improved the hotel's role as a major hospitality venue, but Kabul's continuing conflict environment created persistent security risks. On 28 June 2011, armed suicide bombers attacked the property and a five-hour siege followed. At least 21 people were killed, including the nine attackers, and the Taliban claimed responsibility. On 20 January 2018, a further attack began when four or five gunmen entered or assaulted the hotel. A battle lasting roughly 12 hours followed, leaving at least 42 people dead and more than 14 injured. The two attacks reinforced the hotel's status as both a historic Kabul institution and a prominent target associated with foreign visitors and international activity. The available reference material does not establish the hotel's present operating condition or ownership changes after the Bakhshisade family's reported ownership.

• 2018

  Second major attack

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  A gun assault and battle lasting about 12 hours killed at least 42 people and injured more than 14.

• 2011

  Deadly militant attack

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  A five-hour siege involving armed suicide attackers killed at least 21 people.

• 2001

  Used by foreign journalists

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  During the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan, the hotel became a major base for Western journalists because it was reportedly the only large hotel still operating in Kabul.

• 1996

  Civil-war damage limits usable rooms

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  Rocket and shell damage left only 85 of the hotel's 200 rooms habitable.

• 1980

  InterContinental affiliation ends

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  The property's association with InterContinental Hotels ended in the context of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan, although the hotel continued using the inherited name and logo.

• 1969

  Hotel opens

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel opened on 9 September and became Afghanistan's first international luxury hotel.

• 1967

  Construction begins

  [1]Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Kabul hotel began in April under a development project associated with Pan Am's InterContinental Hotels division and Taylor Woodrow.

Historic, full-service luxury hotel serving international visitors and Kabul's diplomatic, media, business, and hospitality communities.

• Hotel accommodation · 1969

  Guest rooms

  The hotel was built with approximately 200 rooms intended for domestic and international guests. Room amenities described in reference material included air-conditioning, heating, television, minibar, telephone, radio, and access to international television channels.

• Food and beverage · 1969

  Restaurants and room service

  The property included approximately four restaurants and offered dining both on site and through room service. The restaurants were part of the hotel's full-service positioning for international visitors and Kabul residents.

• Recreation and fitness · 1969

  Swimming pool and gym

  Recreational facilities included a swimming pool and gym. Accounts from 2003 reported that the pool was not in use and that the gym was missing its furniture, illustrating the effects of conflict and infrastructure disruption on the property.

• Premium accommodation and office space

  Presidential suite

  The top-floor presidential suite was a premium hotel space. From 2005 to 2007, it was converted into offices for the Senlis Council, later known as the International Council on Security and Development.

• Business and communications services

  Internet cafe

  An internet cafe operated in the basement, adding a communications facility for guests and the international community using the hotel.

• 1980

  Continuation of the inherited Inter-Continental identity after affiliation endedStrategy

  Background

  The hotel's formal relationship with InterContinental Hotels ended in 1980, but the property continued to use the Inter-Continental name and logo.

  Action taken

  The Kabul property retained its established name and visual identity despite no longer being affiliated with the international hotel company.

  Aftermath

  The hotel continued to be commonly identified as Hotel Inter-Continental Kabul, while its corporate relationship to InterContinental Hotels remained separate.

  Source

• Post-conflict renovationOther

  Background

  The hotel suffered extensive damage and operating disruptions during years of conflict, including damage to rooms and common areas.

  Action taken

  A Dubai-based company carried out an extensive renovation reportedly valued at $25 million.

  Aftermath

  The renovation supported the property's continued role as a major Kabul hotel, although the reference material does not specify its completion date or detailed results.

  Reported renovation cost. 25000000 USD

  Source

1. 1Hotel Inter-Continental Kabulen.wikipedia.org