HotelChatter

During the Sunday ceremonies attended by US Ambassador Anne W. Patterson, the owner of the hotel and Pakistani business tycoon Sadruddin Hashwani said of the renovation: "I have made this hotel a fortress." Indeed this is what is seems, with the installation of a bomb-proof wall around the perimeter of the hotel as well as a bomb-proof security room for all entering the hotel compound. All in all, the improvements are hardcore meant to keep the uninvited out.

Let's talk about their new parking situation; there isn't one! There will be no more parking area and even your private, chaffeured bulletproof SUV will have to drive on after dropping you off to reception. On the bright side, all eight restaurants, coffee shops and business facilities are back up and running, ready to regain international clientele.

While there's no word yet on room rates, and only 60 of the 289 rooms are available until the full grand re-opening in March, we don't foresee them charging upwards of their standard $350 a night until the hotel has put significant space between its new image and September's tragedy.

[Photo: mahatschma]