A powerful change of thinking

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KILLINGER: high-level meetings are now being booked in Alexandria.

The new supply of luxury room products to Alexandria's inventory is causing a slight shift in the mindset of Egypt's big decision makers, according to Four Seasons Hotel at Alexandria San Stefano general manager Stephan Killinger.

Killinger said the city, which historically has been a powerful political base in Egypt's past, was regaining some of its reputation.

"Last summer since we opened we have had some high level government meetings here," he said.

"In the past what happened was that when the meetings took place here people was shuttled back and forth to Cairo because there was no suitable accommodation, so I think that will happen more and more.

"The President also opened this hotel, so he knows it very well and he feels very comfortable with the property."

"Traditionally he spends his whole summer in Alexandria, so what I see now is the shifting of a lot of the government business during the summer months up to Alexandria."

Killinger said the hotel was unable to host conventions as it had 118 rooms, but said the ballroom could hold functions of up to 900 people.

"If there is a convention in town normally the top VIPs can stay with us, and some smaller high-level meetings will take place here," he added.

After several years of being overlooked in favour of tourism destinations like Sharm El Sheikh, Cairo and the Valley of the Kings, Alexandria was working to market itself as a destination, Killinger said.

"My dream is - and this depends on the airlines which are starting to service Alexandria - to one day start your journey into Egypt via Alexandria, like the old days when you used to arrive by ship and then travel down to Cairo," he said.

"We would like to start this idea again."

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