It may not look pretty, but an Iraqi developer has converted an American prison base into a hotel called Basra Gateway. Razor wire and sand bags continue to surround the property, where guestrooms used to be formerly military residential trailers that now feature indoor plumbing, according to the New York Times. Kufan Group, the hotel’s developer and operator, hopes to attract oil company executives, who can spend $190 a night for very basic accommodations.
However, not everyone is impressed by the hotel. A Swedish business group, for instance, checked out early, while others have balked at staying overnight in a prison camp. Calling the hotel a “work in progress,” Kufan Group has pledged improvements. Still, the transformation from a prison into a hotel represents optimism for a war-torn country that expects an oil boom following the departure of American soldiers.
