AMMAN, JORDAN— The three hotel companies affected by Wednesday’s nearly simultaneous hotel bombings here in Jordan’s capital released statements today regarding the attacks that killed at least 56 people and wounded 115. The first of the hotel bombings occurred at Global Hyatt Corp.’s Grand Hyatt Amman property. According to a statement by Global Hyatt, there was an explosion in the hotel’s lobby. The property was evacuated following the bombing and has since been cordoned off by local police, which have also assumed control of the hotel. The company does not yet know how many injuries occurred at the hotel as a result of the bombing. Global Hyatt is currently focusing on assuring the safety of the hotel’s guests and their relocation. The second bombing site, the Radisson SAS Hotel, Amman, was rocked by an explosion in a banquet hall, where a wedding reception was taking place. Rezidor SAS Hospitality, the Brussels, Belgium-based operator of Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the partner of U.S.-based Radisson Hotels & Resorts, cannot yet confirm the extent of the damage at the hotel or the number of injuries. However, nearly all of those killed in the Radisson blast appear to have been wedding reception attendees. One hotel employee that was servicing the reception was also killed. Despite the bombing and the presence of police, the hotel is currently operational and has increased its staff that mans the switchboard. The hotel is assisting those guests that wish to depart from the hotel by arranging for transportation. Regarding the third bombing site, the Days Inn Hotel, a spokesperson for Cendant Hotel Group— the parent company and franchisor of Days Inn Worldwide— said that executives at the company could not yet formally comment on the hotel. However, the spokesperson did reveal that four of the hotel’s guests who were waiting for a taxi on the street in front of the hotel were struck by the blast. Three of the four have died and the other is hospitalized with serious injuries. All hotel employees escaped the attack without any injuries. The hotel remains open and sustained only minor damage in the form of broken windows on the ground level and the first floor. Many guests have checked out of the hotel since the bombing. Many of those guests include citizens of the U.S., Israel, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and China. The general manager of the hotel, Khaled Abu Ghoush, said that the hotel should be fully operational within three or four days. It is currently being protected by military and police units. The Days Inn Hotel is independently owned and operated under a license from Days Inn Worldwide. The property is a franchisee of master franchisor Alfadi Hotels Management Inc.
