OREANDA-NEWS. May 07, 2013. The President Hotel has opened its doors to visitors in Minsk. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko.

The head of state was given a guided tour of the hotel. Alexander Lukashenko visited several rooms, the congress hall Minsk, a conference room, a swimming pool, restaurants, other facilities. The President was interested in the quality of the construction works and the payback period.

The 11-storeyed President Hotel was built at the site of the former hotel Oktyabrskaya. The construction began in January 2011. The Hotel Minsk acted as the customer of the reconstruction project, while a Turkish company was the general contractor. The project was financed through the loans from the Turk Eximbank (85% of the total expenses) and OAO Belarusbank (15%).

As was reported to the President, now the hotel can accommodate twice as many people as the former facility. It is an ideal place to relax and hold official and business events. The President Hotel has excellent facilities to host official delegations of foreign countries, international organizations and businessmen. The hotel has a congress hall for 600 seats, five conference rooms for 136 seats and two VIP rooms for 105 seats, equipped with multimedia stereo and conference systems, simultaneous interpretation and video conferencing facilities. There are also three restaurants for 460 seats, five bars and four banquet halls, SPA parlors and fitness centers with swimming pools and saunas, a night club, and an underground parking area.

"This is a good, respectable hotel," Alexander Lukashenko said. The President urged to put the finishing touches as soon as possible.

The head of state also made an entry in the Distinguished Guests Book: "In the heart of Minsk there emerged a unique five-star hotel compound that combines European comfort with the traditions of Belarusian hospitality and coziness. It provides the perfect place for guests of our country to enjoy a comfortable stay, hold important business meetings and negotiations,” reads the entry. “I am sure that the staff of the hotel will make every effort to make sure that the President Hotel lives up to its name, becomes one of the landmarks of the capital city and earns international prestige and recognition. May the hotel become a relaxed home for guests who will happily come here again and again,” the head of state said.