The Grande Hotel Beira was a luxurious hotel in Beira, Mozambique, serving as such from 1954 to 1963, after which it was used as military base in the Mozambican Civil War. It has since fallen into disuse, and is currently home to 1077 squatters, who have stripped the building of construction materials to provide a limited source of income.
To be fair its failure wasn’t completely because of blacks, construction and maintenance costs were too high and they didn’t receive enough guests because of more affordable and better located competition.
In 1963, after eight years of operation, the Grande Hotel was closed by the Companhia de Moçambique. The construction costs were three times more than the original budget, and the hotel never made any profit. The anticipated number of wealthy guests never came and the workforce was too large for the amount of guests actually received. Every elevator, for example, had its own operator present. The hotel needed a lot of maintenance to keep it in its luxurious condition.
In several documents it was claimed that the reason for closure was the refusal of the regime to grant the hotel a casino permit. Any realistic estimation would have predicted the failure of the hotel. The white residents of Southern Africa couldn’t afford this level of luxury and Beira was not known, internationally, as a prime holiday destination for wealthy people. Destinations like the Bazaruto archipelago at Vilanculos, the Mediterranean city life style of the Mozambican capital Lourenço Marques, the South African Krüger national park and the Victoria Falls in Rhodesia where more famous across the world.
A cheaper alternative to the Grande Hotel was the Ambassador Hotel. This hotel opened just after the inauguration of the Grande Hotel and was preferred by business people because it was situated in the Baixa (downtown) area, where most of the business offices were located. Remarkably, Arthur Brandão was also the owner of this hotel.
The headline is misleading: the hotel closed in 1964, and colonial rule continued for another 20 years or so. It was during the Mozambique civil war that it was invade by squatters, as people fled the atrocities occurring in the countryside and had no where else to live, and no work in the city. This of course did happen under independence, although there may have been squatters in the abandoned hotel before that (i.e., during colonial rule).
Thats not true since they got their independence in 1975 not 1984. Only after that date they teared down the building. Until 1975 the building was perfect. During the end of 1975 across 1976 at least and before the population moved inside to live there – the building was used as a prision. The first thing they did as soon as they got their hands on power was to arrest their opponents. I remember very well the amount of people being taken inside, and even saw a few being killed outside the main entrance. It was the beggining of the end for this beautifull building. Just like it happened to Mozambique.
I lived across the street, in front of grande hotel. I have many youth memories of the hotel and the gardens.That swimming pool was were I learn to swim. The hotel during the late 60’s early 70’s was already closed as a hotel, but parties were taking place there like weddings, New Years, etc. When I left Beira, abbandoning my house because of the comunists arrival, the grande hotel was in pristine condition. The building with the stunning art deco furniture, carpets, etc and the beautiful gardens. This was in 1976!
People always give a misleading comment on things because they fear the truth. The whole of Africa has fallen into disrepair and destruction since the colonial powers left them to run the countries. Africa is now a basket case and always will be as long as the incompetent corrupt black governments run them. Simply because they are super greedy and corrupt as hell. Money is everything to the African and they will destroy anything and anyone to get their hands on it. . . . . Mozambique was a great tourist destination and the tenancies in the Grande Hotel fell victim to the terrorist war waged by the corrupt and incompetent FRELIMO Marxist regime they were waging war with, that literally gave the Portuguese 24 hours to get out of the country after they were granted their independence with the change of government in Lisbon in 76. This is what happens when you give terrorists a country to run. It collapses.
Looks like the Detroit syndrome.
negro encounters an oasis, he turns it into a desert.
white euro finds a desert, he turns it into an oasis.
The Brown Dog effect.
Just watch Brazil tank once the mulattoes and mongrels take control.
The Grande Hotel Beira was a luxurious hotel in Beira, Mozambique, serving as such from 1954 to 1963, after which it was used as military base in the Mozambican Civil War. It has since fallen into disuse, and is currently home to 1077 squatters, who have stripped the building of construction materials to provide a limited source of income.
To be fair its failure wasn’t completely because of blacks, construction and maintenance costs were too high and they didn’t receive enough guests because of more affordable and better located competition.
In 1963, after eight years of operation, the Grande Hotel was closed by the Companhia de Moçambique. The construction costs were three times more than the original budget, and the hotel never made any profit. The anticipated number of wealthy guests never came and the workforce was too large for the amount of guests actually received. Every elevator, for example, had its own operator present. The hotel needed a lot of maintenance to keep it in its luxurious condition.
In several documents it was claimed that the reason for closure was the refusal of the regime to grant the hotel a casino permit. Any realistic estimation would have predicted the failure of the hotel. The white residents of Southern Africa couldn’t afford this level of luxury and Beira was not known, internationally, as a prime holiday destination for wealthy people. Destinations like the Bazaruto archipelago at Vilanculos, the Mediterranean city life style of the Mozambican capital Lourenço Marques, the South African Krüger national park and the Victoria Falls in Rhodesia where more famous across the world.
A cheaper alternative to the Grande Hotel was the Ambassador Hotel. This hotel opened just after the inauguration of the Grande Hotel and was preferred by business people because it was situated in the Baixa (downtown) area, where most of the business offices were located. Remarkably, Arthur Brandão was also the owner of this hotel.
The pavement is gone and a tree’s growing on the third floor, maybe a little neglect though.
The headline is misleading: the hotel closed in 1964, and colonial rule continued for another 20 years or so. It was during the Mozambique civil war that it was invade by squatters, as people fled the atrocities occurring in the countryside and had no where else to live, and no work in the city. This of course did happen under independence, although there may have been squatters in the abandoned hotel before that (i.e., during colonial rule).
Thats not true since they got their independence in 1975 not 1984. Only after that date they teared down the building. Until 1975 the building was perfect. During the end of 1975 across 1976 at least and before the population moved inside to live there – the building was used as a prision. The first thing they did as soon as they got their hands on power was to arrest their opponents. I remember very well the amount of people being taken inside, and even saw a few being killed outside the main entrance. It was the beggining of the end for this beautifull building. Just like it happened to Mozambique.
I lived across the street, in front of grande hotel. I have many youth memories of the hotel and the gardens.That swimming pool was were I learn to swim. The hotel during the late 60’s early 70’s was already closed as a hotel, but parties were taking place there like weddings, New Years, etc. When I left Beira, abbandoning my house because of the comunists arrival, the grande hotel was in pristine condition. The building with the stunning art deco furniture, carpets, etc and the beautiful gardens. This was in 1976!
People always give a misleading comment on things because they fear the truth. The whole of Africa has fallen into disrepair and destruction since the colonial powers left them to run the countries. Africa is now a basket case and always will be as long as the incompetent corrupt black governments run them. Simply because they are super greedy and corrupt as hell. Money is everything to the African and they will destroy anything and anyone to get their hands on it. . . . . Mozambique was a great tourist destination and the tenancies in the Grande Hotel fell victim to the terrorist war waged by the corrupt and incompetent FRELIMO Marxist regime they were waging war with, that literally gave the Portuguese 24 hours to get out of the country after they were granted their independence with the change of government in Lisbon in 76. This is what happens when you give terrorists a country to run. It collapses.