When the Middle East crisis escalated, a leading five-star hotel destination feared the high-occupancy summer travel season might lose out to air raid sirens and missiles. Although Jerusalem was relatively quiet compared with other cities, and suffered no direct missile hits, many potential travelers were put off.

However, the Inbal Hotel has found that a number of recent solidarity missions, high-profile guest visits and reservations by families both regular and new have gone some way to make up for the lull in traditional tourist traffic.

Over the last few weeks, the Inbal has hosted a delegation of 50 American Jewish leaders, and dozens of solidarity missions, such as one last week which included participants from Teaneck and Englewood in New Jersey. The hotel this week also welcomed American radio DJ Nachum Segal, of the Nachum Segal Network, the Jewish world’s premier English-language internet radio network. The host of the number one Jewish Talk Radio Show in the world hosted ‘Jewish Moments in the Morning,’ live from the Inbal every day throughout his stay. In addition to solidarity groups the hotel has seen an increase in bookings for late August, September and the Tishrei Yomim Tovim, with many Israel supporters specifically planning vacations to Israel to show their support.

Bookings for August and September have risen, while Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos have also seen increases. The Tishrei period is usually high-season at the Inbal Hotel Jerusalem, with guests returning year after year for the unique homey Jerusalem atmosphere and exquisite cuisine. Despite the concerns over Operation Protective Edge, initial bookings in the past two weeks demonstrate that many are actually going out of their way to spend their vacations in Israel.

Commenting on the sudden influx of bookings, Alex Herman, VP of Sales and Marketing said: “When times are hard, we always look to our family for help, and at the Inbal our clientele worldwide are like one big family that enjoy our homey, family-friendly Jerusalem atmosphere. We are very much looking forward to welcoming one and all to the Inbal to experience our world class service and cuisine.”

Image: Nachum Segal interviewing Alex Herman, the Inbal’s VP of Sales and Marketing, at the Inbal hotel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Inbal Hotel)