You Can Still Book The Marriott Resort In Cairo Where Freed Hamas Members Are Living In Luxury

by Gary Leff

Hamas finally released the remaining hostages they hadn’t killed as part of the latest ceasefire deal. They haven’t returned all of the deceased hostages, though. In exchange, Israel released convicted criminals – many terrorists and murderers among them, including some serving life sentences. 154 of the 250 released in the first stage were being hosted at Marriott’s Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel (the rest were returned to the West Bank).


Credit: Marriott

The Renaissance opened in 2013. The Mirage City complex is managed by Marriott Mirage City Management, Inc. The property is not Marriott-owned. It remains bookable by guests. Previously, released prisoners were taken to the current St. Regis New Capital in Cairo.

Not for nothing, but Egypt enthusiastically accepts Hamas terrorists in a Cairo hotel but was unwilling to allow any women or children as refugees to enter from Gaza through the Rafah crossing which they’d closed.

This isn’t the first time that Marriott has been silent as one of its properties has been used for such questionable purposes. The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh was used as a government torture site and Marriott never spoke up about it.

In fall 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman moved to consolidate power, arresting senior princes, the wealthy, and former government leaders under the banner of a new anti-corruption campaign. The high profile prisoners were held inside the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh. At least there, all guests on property were unilaterally kicked out, reservations dishonored. A second Marriott was commandeered by the Saudi government as well. One of the prisoners there reportedly died from electric shocks that had been administered to him.

My suggestion to Marriott leadership in Bethesda is for the Hamas hotel to serve as new inspiration in the chain’s quest for net rooms growth. As an offshoot of Renaissance they might launch Marriott Resistance, an independent collection which could include ISIS’s Ninawa International Hotel in Mosul.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. I guess we won’t hold our breath for that joint review trip with OMAAT, who I hear is a VIP at Egyptian airports.

  3. Oof. Yikes. No thanks. Marriott…

    @Peter — October 26th is upon us! CSR armageddon. Change your ‘travel’ to Strata Premier!

  6. Ok kick them out of the Marriott hotels in exchange for Israel to leave the West Bank completely.

  10. I would think Marriott could collect a larger resort fee at this property. After all, guests get to see real life terrorists in their natural habitat by selecting this property.

  12. Queers for Palistine! Now’s your chance to hobnob with your idols.
    Check in and let’s see how it goes….

  13. Kind of reminds me of the children being hosted in Gazan hospitals except that they got blown up by the neighbors.

  14. This kind of reminds me of the children being hosted in Gazan hospitals except that they got blown up by the neighbors.

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