50 Years of Historical Happenings at the InterContinental Genève

A stroll through the past 50 years of InterContinental Genève’s history proves surprising. Dubbed “the Geneva annex of the United Nations”, InterContinental Genève hotel was inaugurated in January 1964 and has played host to the most iconic world political figures and influencers since its opening.

Today, the property is known as one of the most prestigious and historical venues for meetings, conferences and events. The most notorious of which are depicted in the below pictography:

1967 – Civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. at Pacem in Terries II along with Nobel prize winners and delegates for World Peace in the hotel’s conference centre

1973-1974 – Politician Colonel Gaddafi en-route to a meeting with then Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba in a hotel suite

1977 – Former President Jimmy Carter and former Syrian President Hafez El- Assad meet for the Assad-Carter Summit in a private boardroom

1990 – Former Chief of African National Congress, Nelson Mandela prior to a press conference following the International Labour Conference

2011 – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton shakes hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a private boardroom

Additional Noteworthy Events at InterContinental Genève

1964 – In its opening year, the hotel hosted side-line conferences and meetings following the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) summit with key members of delegation such as the political figure Che Guevara.

1967 – Former U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey met the American delegation to the Kennedy Round in the conference rooms and suites. (He was the first White House representative on property).

1974 – His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed Zaki Yamani, the Saudi Arabian Minister for Oil (Petroleum) and Mineral Resources and Minister at the Organisation of The Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) organised the annual OPEC General Assembly at the hotel.

1975 – Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation made history with an impassioned plea for peace before the U.N. General Assembly and hosted side-line meetings at the hotel.

1977 – Former U.S. President; Jimmy Carter met then Syrian President, Hafez El Assad to bring peace to the Middle East in the Asad-Carter Summit.

1981 – That year, the hotel hosted many events attended by dignitaries like Olav Palme, former President of the Swedish Democratic Party, Lech Walesa, former Polish ‘Solidarity’ leader, former Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki and former Venezuelan President Luis Herrera Campins.

1983 – The hotel witnessed the First National Reconciliation Conference who met to restructure Lebanon’s political system.

1985 – Former U.S. Vice President George H.W. Bush attended the UN International Conference with private meetings hosted at the hotel. Additionally, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan met then Soviet General Secretary, Mikhail S. Gorbachev on human rights at the hotel that same year.

1993 – 71 first ladies and royalty like H.R.M Queen Fabiola of Belgium attended the Summit on Economic Advancement of Rural Women hosted at the hotel.

2013 – The hotel hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his French counterpart Laurent Fabius, British Foreign Minister William Hague, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US State Department head John Kerry who discussed the diplomatic solution to the stand-off between Tehran and the west over its nuclear programme.

The InterContinental Genève hotel in Geneva was built in 1963 and opened on the 31st January 1964. Classified among the 5 stars and luxury hotels of the world, the hotel is a franchise of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts chain. The perfect oasis for summer holiday makers, InterContinental Genève boasts one of the most sought after pools in the city. Located in lush parkland, InterContinental Genève lies at the heart of Geneva’s diplomatic district. The hotel is a 3-minute walk from the United Nations and International Centre of Congress CICG, and within a 5-minute drive from Palexpo Exhibtion Centre and Luxury Shopping area. The hotel boasts unrivalled views of Lake Geneva, the Mont Blanc and the Jura Mountains. The 18 story tower holds 16 meeting and event spaces, two dining venues, two bars, a cigar lounge, The Clarins Institute & Day Spa, a 24-hour fitness facility, and 333 intimate guest rooms, including 49 elegantly furnished suites and seven residences.

Visit website: www.intercontinental-geneva.ch