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HOTEL

‘World’s worst hotel’ set for demolition

Geneva's far-from-iconic Hotel Nash Ville is to be reduced to rubble, a move that is unlikely to be mourned by the establishment's many detractors.

'World's worst hotel' set for demolition
The 92-room Hotel Nash Ville is set for demolition. Photo: TripAdvisor

To say the Hotel Nash Ville in Geneva's Pâquis district has seen better days would be an understatement.

Built in 1967, the ugly concrete block with its worn-out rooms finally closed its doors in June, and few will shed tears over the loss if comments on the holiday review site TripAdvisor are to be believed.

Of the 341 archived reviews for the Hotel Nash Ville, 118 rate the hotel as terrible.

The review below, meanwhile, speaks for itself.

But the hotel is now set for a complete revamp, starting with the demolition of the existing premises.

“The hotel was very cramped and none of it — the stairs, the emergency exits or the size of the bedrooms was up to standard,” Patrick Devanthéry, the architect in charge of the overhaul told the Tribune de Genève.

“Renovations were impossible, they said it made more sense to demolish.”

The 92-hotel room hotel will now be replaced by a 24-room version with the company NHDB SA  footing the estimated 12 million franc bill.

The new design will be all aluminium and glass and is to feature a bar that will be open to the public.

Even the name of the hotel will revert back to its original form of Hotel Berne leaving Nash de Ville a mere dark tale among travellers. 

 

 

 

TRAVEL

Merkel slams state plans to open hotels for families over Christmas

Chancellor Angela Merkel has reportedly slammed plans by state leaders to allow families to stay over the festive period.

Merkel slams state plans to open hotels for families over Christmas
Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: DPA

What's happening?

Contact restrictions will be relaxed over Christmas and New Year to allow for low-key celebrations in Germany.

But will people be able to travel and stay in hotels while visiting their family and friends? The federal government and states are in disagreement about this.

Currently, hotels throughout Germany are only allowed to accommodate people travelling for essential reasons such as business. That's because during the partial lockdown, which has been extended until at least December 20th, there is a ban on tourist overnight stays throughout the country.

However some states have decided to go their own way and allow relatives to stay in hotels over the festive season.

IN DETAIL: Germany extends coronavirus shutdown and tightens restrictions

 

Which states are offering hotel stays?

Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony announced they will allow hotels to open over the holiday break.

Other states are considering this move too.

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What's the reaction?

Chancellor Angela Merkel and the government are not happy about this move.

Merkel warned that it risked worsening the coronavirus resurgence hitting Germany, participants in a conservative party meeting said on Monday.

According to Reuters, Merkel said she couldn't understand why states are allowing hotels to accommodate family, particularly in large cities and regions with high infection numbers.

She also criticised that state premiers had not informed her about this plan.

“Citizens remain called upon to avoid tourist trips,” said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert later on Monday. Travel for family reasons is difficult to distinguish from this, he added.

A hotel in Cologne. Photo: DPA

Seibert then referred to last Wednesday's meeting at the government and states summit – the decision did not include “private use” of hotels, he said.

Despite Merkel and the government's comments, the state leaders have the final say on what happens to hotels under the federal system.

Skiiing holidays 'could worsen situation'

Seibert also said that the German government was sticking to the goal set by Merkel of limiting the skiing season in cooperation with neighbouring countries because of the pandemic. Seibert said that the number of infections could rise again “by starting the skiing season too early”.

The closure of ski resorts is the subject of fierce debate in the EU. Austria and Switzerland want to open their slopes. Besides Germany, Italy is also in favour of closure. France does not want to ban skiing holidays, but wants to prohibit the operation of lifts.

 

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