But Where Will You Stay? A Look at Newly Refurbished and Built Hotels in Israel
People are flocking to Israel like never before with a record breaking 4.55 million visitors enjoying the Holy Land in 2019 compared to 2.9 million in 2016. Magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, CNN, Google, and the New York Times (among many others) listing Israel as a top place you need to visit, it can only expect to increase in popularity. This can be attributed to many things, including stability in the region, a good international economy and an increase in interest for both religious and non-religious travel to the region. The more people who come, the more they tell their friends and the more that want to come! We are so happy to welcome everyone to experience how wonderful Israel is!
This increase in visits though can bring about some challenges within the small country logistically. One of those challenges has been having enough hotel rooms to accommodate so many visitors. Though everyone enjoys seeing ancient ruins, they don’t want to stay in one! In recent years, hotel demand grew by 6.7% while hotel room supply only grew by 2.9%. Groups are encouraged to book hotels no less than a year in advance, and even that can at times not be enough depending on desired dates and hotels.
With such demand it is important to have a trusted ally in planning your christian tour to Israel to help you navigate the process and secure the best accommodations for you and your group. Immanuel Tours has spent years developing the knowledge and relationships as the most respected Christian tour operator in Israel to make sure you have a friend in Israel to help. Israel is working to increase hotel room availability, building and refurbishing hotels throughout the country over the coming years as investors take notice of the booming tourism economy.
Here is a list of some of the new hotels and recently refurbished hotels to help you understand some of your options for some of the best hotels in Israel.
The Sea of Galilee is experiencing major growth as Christian Holy Land tours flock to the region. The Rimonim Galei Kinneret has been a long-standing popular hotel in Tiberias for it’s lakeside location, offering breathtaking views and resort accommodations. Operating since 1946, Ben Gurion, Isreal’s first Prime Minister, was known to vacation here. It recently has been taken over by a new company who has begun extensive renovations to the hotel. It is expected to reopen in late 2020.
Magdala
Elsewhere in the Northern Israel region, the Catholic Church is set to open the Magdala Guesthouse in the coming months. This brand new facility is not only set against the Sea of Galilee, but also has an amazing location right amongst an active archeological site with great importance to the Christian faith. This is the site of the ancient city, Magdala, known for being the home of Mary Magdalene. The hotel is set right against the site of a 1st Century Synagogue which most believe Jesus would have taught at since the Bible says he taught at all the area Synogogues. There is also ruins of mikvas, rooms, and stables. The hotel will feature multiple chapels and areas for pilgrims to host worship and mass. There is also a restaurant that can serve 300 people at a time. This will no doubt become a popular spot for groups to stay!
In the Dead Sea region, four new hotels are set to built over the coming years adding 1000 rooms. These hotels will be great for groups who want to spend a night in the area to enjoy not only a float in the Dead Sea but visits to popular sites of Masada and Qumrum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
Qumran Ruins
In the southern border city of Eilat, upgrades to the rooms of the resort town that is often used as a launching point into day trips of Jordan and Egypt are taking place. Newly remodeled accommodations include the Isrotel Royal Beach, a 353 room hotel that has amazing accommodations, including rooms with direct access to the swimming pool.
Eliat
Jerusalem is arguably the center of the world, and it often feels it’s the center of travel when visiting, especially around the High Holy Days as crowds flock in to the Holy City. One newly updated choice is the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem. Recent visitors love the improvements to the hotel and say they would definitely stay again. They are continuing to refurbish rooms and amenities, so this will likely rise in popularity as they complete.
The Inbal Hotel in Jerusalem has long been a favorite for Holy Land tours who wish to enjoy the Holy City in luxury. This hotel is known for it’s great proximity to the Old City with beautiful views overlooking it and Liberty Bell Park (the park was built with a replica of the famous American relic to commemorate the United States of America’s bicentennial in 1976). Consider a stay here in their newly remodeled rooms and enjoy their great dining options and comforts of home.
These are just a few of the new and refurbished properties available for your journey. We look forward to welcoming you to Israel soon!
