War Hotels: Europa features in new book on hotels in global conflicts

‘War Hotels’ by Kenneth Morrison and Abdallah El Binni is an exploration of hotels in wartime that were frequented by foreign correspondents, politicians, paramilitaries and spies in conflicts in Northern Ireland, Vietnam, Cambodia, Lebanon, Iraq, and Bosnia.

Building upon the research undertaken for the Al Jazeera documentary series of the same name, War Hotels includes interviews with those who witnessed the tumultuous events that took place in and around the buildings including Martin Bell, John Simpson, Jonathan Dimbleby, Peter Arnett and Robert Fisk.

The Europa, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, was built on the site of the former Great Northern Railway Station and was opened in 1971 by Grand Metropolitan Hotels. It was purchased by the late Sir William Hastings in 1993.

While it is known as the world’s most bombed hotel, having been targeted 33 times between 1970 and 1994, the Europa is part of the peace story of Northern Ireland and has transformed into an iconic symbol of Belfast’s survival.

In 1995, President Clinton became the first US serving president to visit NI and stayed at the Europa. 110 rooms were booked for his entourage and Clinton returned to the hotel in 1998 during Belfast Agreement talks.

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