The massive explosion that ripped through former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri’s motorcade also damaged the nearby Phoenicia Intercontinental, arguably the jewel in Lebanon’s post-war tourist sector. On the day of the bomb, was running at 80% occupancy. Since then, the hotel has been losing tens of thousands of dollars a day and when EXECUTIVE visited the site he only occupants were the orange-jacketed “Crisis Response Team.” General Manager Pascal Gauvin – also clad in an orange Crisis Response jacket – gave an exclusive interview and spoke about the impact of the assassination on his hotel and the sector. How did you, as manager of the Phoenicia hotel, respond to the bombing? My immediate reaction was concern for the customers and staff, a sudden realization that all the emergency drills now had to be put into practice, and an effort to recall every aspect of the crisis management plan. It
