The official ceremony of inauguration of Dushanbe Serena Hotel (DSH) was held on November 1, 2011. President Emomali Rahmon and His Highness Karim Aga Khan cut the ribbon that signaled the official inauguration of the opening.
Dushanbe Serena is one of the 34 hotels in the world commissioned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED). Executive Director of AKFED Prince Amyn Aga Khan indicated that 3 more hotels will be build in the years ahead.
Not unlike the other Aga Khan projects, DSH draws from the tradition of successful combination of national cultural and historical heritage with modern design. The most telling examples of what I say, the chandeliers of the hotel lobby, which are modeled on national female necklace, while drawings and patterns that adorn the walls and even the hotel glass panels, unmistakably mirror Tajik art.
By the way, glass panels envelope the entire external structure of the hotel.
The official ceremony commenced at 10 am. President Emomali Rahmon and Prince Karim Aga Khan cut the ribbon. In the meantime, a large audience of government representatives, foreign ambassadors, representatives of local and international organizations awaited them on the second floor.
The solemn ceremony began with the opening speech by the head of the State Committee on Investments and Property, who underlined the importance of the DSH and its role in attracting foreign investment to the country in the longer term.
Emomali Rahmon noted that the government appreciates long-standing cooperation with the AKF aimed at the national social and economic development. “The construction of a five-star Serena Hotel in the capital’s town center is a landmark event for us.” This hotel with its unique architecture and design adds a new look to the capital and will help develop the national service sector.”
The head of state also intimated that currently two more five-star hotels are being constructed in the capital. According to the President, the Government of Qatar is to finance construction of a USD 400 million hotel whose building will begin this winter.
Emomali Rahmon indicated that with development of infrastructure, namely road reconstruction, for which some USD 130 million has been allocated, Tajikistan will become more attractive to foreign tourists and investors, which accordingly will facilitate a quick return on investments injected into the construction of the Dushanbe Serena. He even expressed confidence that if the country manages to fully implement the ongoing reconstruction of road infrastructure, it will result in the 2-year return on investment for the hotel…
The hotel cost USD 58 to build. Prince Amin said that the total cost had exceeded the one originally envisaged and it is due to that that the hotel charges a price slightly over the average rate that is accepted worldwide. He linked the rising costs of the project to the lack of necessary building materials and skilled workers, as well as the cost of transportation. Moreover, according to Prince Amin, over USD 4.6 million was contributed in the form of tax revenues to the state budget. He went on to say that the return on investment will be a long drawn-out and complicated process.
Prince Amin has shared with the invited guests that the project planning was not an easy task, since it was necessary to build a modern facility that combines elements of national culture and preserves traditional aesthetics. They had to refrain from traditional building practices and the contemporary international architecture. A tremendous amount of research was carried out to learn about local history and customs. The knowledge gained has informed the design of the building and we now have before us a finished product that is nothing short of miraculous and beautiful. “Ensuring the sustainability of the Tajik infrastructure, business development and tourism as well foreign investment are the main driving forces behind the creation of this project” – said Prince Amin
His Highness the Aga Khan, in his turn, noted the historical continuity of the endeavor. «The spirit of this project reaches all the way back to the days of the ancient Silk Route, when the region was the main connecting point between people from many different cultures, languages… The so-called caravanserais played a key role in this, albeit they were not as sumptuous, as their modern counterpart today. But it is they who gave birth to magnificent monuments of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva and other cities. One could say that it is those caravanserais that stood at the source of what we call today globalization… I hope that this facility will play the key role in the development of this country today and in the years ahead. The Aga Khan expressed hope that this project will become the embodiment of the ancient spirit of this homeland and a haven for the “global players” visiting Tajikistan.
