HOTELS
March 2025
FATTAL TO THE COMPETITION AUTHORITY: Approve the Purchase of the Luxury Hotel:- The Jaffa
The luxurious “The Jaffa” hotel, owned by Jewish- American businessman Ivy Rosen, was built after an investment of approximately 180 million USD and a construction and preservation process that lasted over 12 years
PR
T he Fattal Hotel chain has applied to the Competition Authority to approve the purchase of the luxury hotel The Jaffa, located in Jaffa in a historic 19th-century building that previously served as the city’s French hospital, which we will discuss in more detail later in the article. The hotel, owned by Jewish- American businessman Ivy Rosen, was built after an investment of approximately 180 million USD and a construction and preservation process that lasted over 12 years. The project involved renowned British architect John Pawson alongside Israeli architect Rami Gil. The hotel has 121 rooms
and suites, along with 34 residential apartments, with the deal also including the sale of the luxurious penthouse in the adjacent residential building. The purchase is estimated to be approximately 350–400 million ILS. The magnificent building, which now houses the hotel, has a fascinating story that begins somewhere in 1875 when a ship approached the shores of Jaffa and on board were dozens of excited pilgrims influenced by the wave of religious revival that swept the Christian world at the end of the 19th century: from Orthodox Russians to German Templars, French nuns and Mormon
missionaries. Also present on this ship was François Guinness, a wealthy businessman from Lyon, France. They saw a land flowing with milk and honey, he saw desolation and filth and decided to build a guesthouse in Jaffa worthy of pilgrims making their way to Jerusalem. A place that would welcome commoners and members of the nobility with a meal and a soft bed. Upon his return to France, determined to fulfill his vow, he managed to raise donations to carry out the holy mission. A pair of architects are sent to Jaffa. The two climb to the highest point in the area at 85 feet above sea level and at the
summit they shake hands with representatives of the Ottoman government on the purchase of 1.2 dunams of land. Construction lasted 4 years, at the end of which one of the first buildings erected outside the walls of the Old City stood. A U-shaped building with an internal courtyard and two floors 20 meters high and with a spectacular chapel inside. In 1879, the building was inaugurated with a ceremony. Later, it also functioned as a French hospital named after the King of France who led two Crusades in the 13th century.
32 • www.itn.co.il
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