Tourism Rapid Recovery Program Firms
Tourism Rapid Recovery Program
The tourism industry in the West Bank and Gaza, as around the world, experienced a near-total shutdown during 2020 and much of 2021 as a result of COVID-19. The Tourism Rapid Recovery Program, launched in November 2021, supports the Palestinian tourism industry by identifying and mobilizing potential and existing market demand among Arab citizens of Israel, while simultaneously supporting hotels and handicraft producers to restart operations from low or non-existent levels.
The Palestinian Tourism Sector is Getting Back to Business
SMART’s Recovery Plans have made it possible for 33 hotels and two handicraft cooperatives to mobilize $2.57 of private investment. 24% of these client firms are women-owned and/or managed, and 7% of them are youth-owned and/or managed. The Recovery Plans for the two handicraft cooperatives provide export market access and improved livelihood resiliency for 180 micro-sized enterprises. The Recovery Plan for hotels provide repairs and replacement of critical equipment, refurbishment and renovations of facilities, as well as training and technical assistance.
This support aims to help these tourism enterprises to:
A four-star luxury modern venue, located in Bethlehem, with 222 rooms designed to make the visitor’s stay beyond enjoyable, Bethlehem Hotel offers luxury spacious rooms and suites with amazing views of the city of peace.
Haddad village is considered one of the largest resorts in Palestine, where it contains several utilities including a modern hotel specially designed to receive local and foreign tourists looking for comfortable accommodation and a cozy stay. The hotel is made ready to host local and international meetings with four-star services provided. A variety in room sizes helps meet the needs of visitors of all tastes and tendencies.
Al Mashtal Hotel is located on the Mediterranean seafront with a magnificent location. Established with distinctive services, amenities, as well as facilities that have been carefully selected to meet your needs and provide a memorable stay.
Taybeh Golden; a family-owned four-star hotel, owned by Mr. Daoud and Nadeem Khoury, was established in 2015. It started by offering families traveling from the US a place to stay, then gradually established connections with local and international tour operators commencing Hotel business in 2017. Taybeh Golden Hotel is located in the center of Taybeh in the Ramallah governor. It is strategically located for easy access to Jerusalem (thirty minutes), Ramallah (twenty-five minutes), and Jericho (fifteen minutes) with numerous religious and archaeological sites. Taybeh Golden Hotel offers spacious 70 rooms, and friendly and efficient service, combined with the warmth of traditional Taybeh hospitality in one of the most ancient places in Palestine known as Ephraim in biblical times.
Queen Plaza is part of the Hirbawi family business group working in different sectors. The four-star hotel located within a commercial center consists of 45 rooms divided among four floors, as well as parking, a lobby, and a multi-functional hall used to accommodate corporate events which is another source of revenue. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking, Expedia, Agoda to increase sales and welcome international tourists as well as local tourism directly to their hotel. Historically the hotel’s clientele includes incoming international tourists with overnight stay schedules to either visit Hebron and Jerusalem for Islamic pilgrimage or visiting Bethlehem once the Bethlehem hotels are fully booked.
The Diamond Hotel is a new four-star property that is owned by local families from Bethlehem. The hotel is located on the entrance of Bethlehem city in a quiet area with easy access to both Jerusalem and Bethlehem city centers as it is a minute away from the crossing point of Jerusalem-Bethlehem. The hotel consists of 94 well-furnished and equipped rooms spread on six floors, a dining room, lobby café-bar, and laundry services with free Wi-Fi throughout the premises.
Gloria is owned by the Farwaji family and managed by Mr. Samir Farwaji. This old hotel is located within the city walls of Jerusalem, very close to Jaffa Gate and in the heart of the Christian quarter. It welcomes international tourists and pilgrims. Gloria consists of 104 rooms. It boasts an old Jerusalem ambiance with renovated facilities. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking and Expedia to increase sales and welcome international tourists.
The City Inn Hotel through its 18-year journey has maintained solid standards and a reputation. This intimate boutique hotel continues to make a huge impact on the status of tourism, government, and private sector businesses and events. The hotel is famous in Ramallah and West Bank for its authentic simple design and accessibility. Its lobby is a relaxing and calming atmosphere, away from the city noise. The hotel consists of 47 rooms.
A family-owned hotel, located in East Jerusalem, very close to Mount of Olives and a 15-minute walk from Jerusalem’s old city. It caters to international tourists and pilgrims. The three-star hotel and consists of 45 rooms, a capacious lobby and lounge, a dining room, a kitchen, an small terrace, as well as a wedding hall for local events. There is a travel agency office within the hotel premises that is managed by the family. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking and Expedia to increase sales and welcome international tourists.
The Ritz is a three-star hotel that is located in close proximity to the ancient Garden Tomb and offers views of the Jerusalem city center. Al-Aqsa Mosque is 1.9 km from the property and Dome of the Rock is 1.4 km away. It is about 3 km away from the center of Jerusalem. Ritz Hotel is a short driving distance from the Church of All Nations. The Ritz hotel consists of 104 rooms divided into 4-floors, a lobby with a huge kitchen and multipurpose hall and dining areas, a separate floor that includes management offices in addition to two meeting rooms that are used for workshops and corporate activities
A family-owned hotel, located in old city in Nablus City, welcomes international tourists and pilgrims. The Hotel is considered one of the oldest hotels in Palestine, where it contains several utilities, a restaurant that serves various kinds of western and eastern food, and indoor hall to host different kinds of occasions. Al Yasmeen is an old-style hotel specially designed to receive local and foreign tourists looking for comfortable accommodation and cozy stay. The hotel is made ready to host local and international meetings with three-star services provided. A variety in room sizes helps meet the needs of visitors of all tastes and tendencies. The hotel consists of 27 rooms.
The Caesar hotel is located in a prime location in Ramallah. It is surrounded by dining restaurants, groceries shops, embassies, missions, and NGOs. The Caesar hotel is a four-star hotel and consists of 43 rooms divided among 4-floors, a full lobby floor, in addition to two big halls and four small workshops and conference rooms, a central kitchen, five management offices on the second floor, and a rooftop restaurant. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking, Expedia, Agoda, and trip advisor beside their own website to welcome international religious pilgrims, as well as local tourists.
A four-star hotel that is located in the heart of Bethlehem downtown; at the entrance of historical Star St. The hotel is a five-minute walk distance from the Church of Nativity which also can be seen from the hotel’s dining room. The hotel has modern rooms, and a rooftop restaurant and bar with an extraordinary view over the cities of Bethlehem and Jerusalem. The ambassador City hotel consists of 107 rooms divided among 7-floors, a lobby floor that consists of seven additional rooms and management offices, a rooftop kitchen, dining hall and Resto-Bar at the 7th floor, and a full floor that consist a central kitchen, meeting room and bathrooms.
Orient Palace Hotel is one of Bethlehem’s finest four-star hotels offering world-class accommodation in the heart of the city and twenty minutes away from the Nativity Church. The hotel features 170 bedrooms designed to the highest standards and 2 executive suites, a dining room with an open buffet style serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, room service, a lobby lounge & cocktail bar, two state-of-the-art with audio-visual aids meeting rooms, a large banquet hall for your special occasions, and easy access to shopping stores in the hotel.
Addar Hotel is an exclusive family-run boutique hotel owned by Jerusalem's oldest and best-known family. The historic 19th-century building was completely rebuilt as a hotel with the highest standards in 1997 retaining the original entrance and façade. Since its opening, Addar has attracted the most sophisticated travelers.
A family-owned three-star Hotel consisting of 45 rooms, that includes a meeting hall and is conveniently located across from the H-Clinic Hospital in the city of Ramallah. The hotel is registered on a few platforms; however, their main clientele are family of patience who visit the Hospital across the street.
The Grand Hotel in Bethlehem rich in history and tradition, high-profile events and everyday good living, more than 34 years situated in the prime position on one of the hilltops of the Holy City, with a panoramic view of all Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Situated in the heart of the city of Peace where Jesus Christ was born, located in, Grand hotel Bethlehem is just a short walk to Nativity Church and other important holy cultural, and educational sites, the main shopping center, and local transportation and contains 107 hotel rooms.
Nativity hotels is a four-star hotel with 168 rooms spread across nine floors and is a member of the Arab Hotel Association. The hotel has a unique location, at the edge of the little town of Bethlehem, and has professional and welcoming staff.
Saint Joseph Hotel is a new hotel that is owned by both Mr. Nabil and Waleed Abu Rumman. St. Joseph Hotel consists of 149 rooms distributed among nine floors; as well a two-level parking garage, one dining hall, and a lobby. The rooftop terrace is planned to become a café or restaurant in the future.
A three-star hotel located an eight-minute walk from the Nativity Church. The hotel consists of 105 rooms distributed among five floors. There are a total of nine floors including a roof, dining hall, multi-function hall and lobby area within their facilities. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking and Expedia to increase sales and welcome international tourists, and active on social media.
Al Mathaf is one of Gaza's most luxurious hotels, where hospitality is mixed with Gaza's magnificent ancient history and appreciation of its culture. The hotel supports a variety of cultural and educational activities. The hotel is embellished with traces of Gaza’s rich cultural history and a Mediterranean breeze, and contains 32 luxurious suites and rooms. The hotel also includes a restaurant and several spacious multipurpose meeting facilities and offers an exceptional view of the Mediterranean Sea.
Golden Walls Hotel is located a two-minute walk from the Damascus Gate, the main entrance to the Old City of Jerusalem. The hotel is a four-star hotel with 121 rooms spread across three floors and is a member of the Arab Hotel Association.
Victoria Hotel is located in the heart of Jerusalem within five minutes walking distance from the old city, and within walking distance from sites of historic and religious significance center and the central bus station. The Victoria hotel consist of 49 rooms divided among three floors, a lobby area, a separate floor that includes dining area and some rooms in addition to a stand-alone restaurant and multipurpose hall floor that accommodates 120 people. The hotel is registered on international platforms such as Booking, Expedia, Agoda and trip advisor beside their own website to welcome international religious pilgrims, as well as local tourism.
Holy Land Hotel is located in East Jerusalem overlooking the old city walls and in close proximity to the Holy Sepulchre and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Holy Land Hotel, caters to international tourists and pilgrims. The three-star hotel consists of 104 rooms that include a roof top restaurant and cafe, as well as two meeting rooms along with other basic hotel facilities.
Paradise Hotel is a family-owned hotel, located in Bethlehem in close proximity to the Nativity Church and welcomes international tourists and pilgrims. The four-star hotel consists of 310 rooms that include two buildings adjacent to each other with basic facilities such as a reception and dining room.
The Sancta Maria Hotel Bethlehem a three-star hotel that is located in the center of Bethlehem downtown. It is a two-minute drive to the old city and the Church of the Nativity. The Hotel consist of 100 rooms divided among three floors, a lobby floor that includes a dining hall and a resto-bar, and a full floor that consists of a central kitchen and a ground floor that consists of management offices and an additional ten fully renovated rooms.
Roots Hotel is a small seaside hotel located on the beach of Gaza city with 18 rooms and a restaurant. The hotel targets foreign visitors to Gaza Strip and local tourists.
Saint Gabriel Hotel is a family-owned five-star hotel, established in 2009, is owned by Abu Aita family. The hotel is located in Bethlehem in close proximity to the Russian Museum. Saint Gabriel historically welcomes international tourists and pilgrims. The hotel consists of 143 rooms and has a small meeting room that is used for small events.
Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA) was established in 2009, to represent and empower handicraft producers as well as develop social rights and communities. While working with producers specializing in olive wood, embroidery, mother of pearl, olive oil soap, felt wool, and recycled products, BFTA promotes and celebrates the Palestinian culture and traditions. "Through our mission of fair trade, we cherish these ancient crafts as we share their local stories with the world". BFTA aims to develop the local economy by creating more opportunities to the most marginalized producers, creating sustainable livelihoods.
BFTA became an umbrella of major support for: 53 family-owned olive wood workshops, ceramics and blown glass factories, 50 women’s cooperatives and groups working with embroidery, recycled glass, basket weaving and jewelry making, and 5 disabled groups making felt wool products and recycled cards. BFTA targets youth with its fair trade advocacy in the hope of creating more sustainable and equitable business models and a better working environment for the future.
Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society (HLHCS) was founded in 1981, to represent industry workshops and producers, preserve the handicraft tradition to future generations of Palestinians, alleviate local poverty, unemployment, decrease emigration and collectively market products locally and internationally. Currently, HLHCS represents 35 workshops of both olive wood and mother-of-pearl as well as sell other handicraft products such as ceramics, glass, embroidery, olive soap, candles, recycled glass and other products.
Holy Land Handicraft Cooperative Society (HLHCS) was the first handicraft trade center to become certified as a World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO) in 2015. HLHCS supports at least 35 active members and historically, benefiting more than 2000 individuals, who produce olive wood and mother-of-pear as well as buying from other handicraft products in the sector offering a collection of traditional products that are exported and sold locally.
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