Carlton Hotel Rehabilitation

Contract Signing

On 14 May 2026, Idlib Governorate, in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, signed a contract to rehabilitate and invest in the destroyed Carlton Hotel in Idlib city. The signing took place at an event held at the hotel and was attended by Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani, Idlib Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman, the Ministry of Tourism's tourism development consultant Sate' Yaseen, and other officials. According to SANA, the aim is to reactivate and develop the tourism sector in the governorate.

Executing Company and Contract Framework

According to SANA, the contract for the rehabilitation and investment works was signed with Bakir Holding Company, which is listed in the platform's company directory as Bekir Group Holding. The project covers rehabilitating, equipping and operating the hotel so that it can reopen to visitors and tourists. According to the Ministry of Tourism, as reported by Al-Watan on 14 May 2026, works were launched during a field visit by the minister and the governor to the project site.

Minister al-Salhani said the ministry seeks to connect hotels with the heritage and natural sites of Idlib governorate in order to improve the visitor experience, and mentioned that an international operator is involved. Governor Abdul Rahman described the project as a model of partnership between the public and private sectors.

Project Specifications and Timeline

At the signing, Governor Abdul Rahman said the hotel is classified four-star and will have about 60 rooms, along with commercial restaurants, swimming pools and cafeterias. The Ministry of Tourism's announcement of the project, reported by Al-Watan on 14 May 2026 and by B2B-SY, SP Today and Syria Property Hub on 16 May, describes about 76 units of rooms, suites and bungalows, with restaurants, event halls and service and recreational facilities, as well as a mixed-use commercial boulevard with shops, cafés and outdoor seating.

Minister al-Salhani said at the signing that the hotel would enter service in about a year and a half. The project plan published in the same reports sets an execution and handover period of up to 30 months.

Significance for Idlib

In June 2025, Al-Jamahir newspaper described the Carlton as having once been one of the most prominent hospitality landmarks in Idlib city. At the contract signing, Governor Abdul Rahman said the Carlton is the only hotel in the governorate and that it had been destroyed, adding that the governorate needs more than one hotel given the delegations and visitors it receives. According to SANA, those behind the project regard reopening the hotel as an important step because the governorate lacks tourist hotels and needs a place to host visitors, investors and official delegations. Minister al-Salhani said the project aims to create a modern hospitality destination that supports tourism and investment in Idlib governorate and provides new jobs for local residents.

Project Background

The rehabilitation of the Carlton Hotel was raised about a year before the contract was signed. According to Al-Ikhbariah, the Minister of Tourism and the Governor of Idlib met at the ministry in Damascus on 23 May 2025 and discussed, among other topics, rehabilitating the hotel. In June 2025, Idlib Governorate was preparing an investment meeting to present the project's initial designs and plans to investors, and Al-Jamahir reported that the project was being put forward within the governorate's first investment conference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Carlton Hotel rehabilitation project in Idlib?

It is a project to rehabilitate, equip and operate the destroyed Carlton Hotel in Idlib city so that it can reopen to visitors and tourists. The contract was signed on 14 May 2026 by Idlib Governorate in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism.

Who is carrying out the rehabilitation works?

According to SANA, the contract for the works was signed with Bakir Holding Company, which is listed in the platform's company directory as Bekir Group Holding.

When was the contract signed and who attended?

The contract was signed on 14 May 2026 at an event held at the hotel in Idlib city, attended by Minister of Tourism Mazen al-Salhani, Idlib Governor Mohammad Abdul Rahman and the Ministry of Tourism's tourism development consultant Sate' Yaseen.

How many rooms will the hotel have and what is its classification?

The hotel is classified four-star. The governor cited about 60 rooms at the signing, while the Ministry of Tourism's announcement of the project describes about 76 units of rooms, suites and bungalows, with restaurants, event halls and a commercial boulevard.

When is the hotel expected to enter service?

The Minister of Tourism said at the signing that the hotel would enter service in about a year and a half. The project plan sets an execution period of up to 30 months.

Why is the Carlton Hotel important for Idlib?

Al-Jamahir newspaper described it as having once been one of the most prominent hospitality landmarks in Idlib city. The governor said it is the only hotel in the governorate and that the governorate needs more than one hotel to receive its delegations and visitors. The minister said the project aims to support tourism and investment and to create new jobs for local residents.