Soviet-era Intourist Hotel welcomes its last guests скачать в хорошем качестве

Soviet-era Intourist Hotel welcomes its last guests

(8 Jan 2002) 1. Intourist hotel 2. Intourist hotel, pan down entrance 3. Empty lobby 4. Tables, stacked chairs 5. Lobby cafe 6. Trays being taken away 7. Souvenir shop 8. Souvenirs 9. Alexander Kolesnikov 10. Newspaper with article about hotel 11. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexander Kolesnikov, vice-director of hotel: "Representatives from all over the world have come here. That's why it's difficult to talk about this hotel - it has history, a lot of history." 12. Corridor 13. Table, pan of room 14. Zoom out from light to wide shot room 15. Chamber maid carrying towels 16. Anniversary brochures 17. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Natasha, Chamber maid in hotel for nine years: "It could have been renovated. I don't know who needs this five-star Hilton when there is a national hotel next door. And, there are many expensive hotels around which are half empty. It's common knowledge." 18. Various of Moscow skyline from the hotel STORYLINE: The huge Intourist Hotel in central Moscow, which catered almost exclusively to foreigners during the Soviet era, welcomed its last guests this week. The 20-floor four star hotel, built in 1970 and located within walking distance of the Kremlin and Red Square, is being torn down to make way for a new, more upmarket hotel. The dismantling of the hotel will begin this spring. A smaller, five-star Hilton hotel is due to open on the site by 2004. For many, the demise of the Intourist hotel means the loss of one of the enduring symbols of the Soviet era. Hotel managers say the giant building, widely considered to be something of an eyesore, was built in the style of its times - and served a crucial purpose during the Soviet era by housing foreign visitors. Visitors to post-Soviet Moscow have a greater choice of hotels, but the Intourist has never completely fallen out of favour with foreigners. Its central location and relatively inexpensive prices - the cheapest room was 70 US dollars - made it popular for budget tourists. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...