A major landmark hotel in central Warsaw has refused to comply with an official order to close after being branded a fire hazard.
The Polish capital’s Warsaw Presidential Hotel, formerly the Warsaw Marriott, criticized the regional authority’s decision as a “blatant breach of the law” after the Province Governor’s Office instructed the hotel to cease operations on January 27.
The issue first arose when the hotel was inspected by the city’s fire service shortly before hosting then-President Barack Obama in 2016.
Inspectors found smoke hazards in the stairwells and determined the building did not meet fire-safety regulations, recommending structural changes.
The case has dragged on for years, with the hotel’s owners, LIM Center company, submitting paperwork last November to the provincial authority stating that the building was safe.
However, the authority rejected the documents, stating the fire service’s positive opinion was conditional on the completion of required construction work.
The original deadline for the changes expired at the end of 2021, and a recent inspection in June 2024 revealed the necessary work had not been carried out.
LIM Center said in a statement to PropertyNews.pl that it had implemented measures to ensure high fire-safety standards, backed by multiple certificates from relevant authorities.
But the Masovia governor’s office insisted that the hotel must address the outstanding fire-safety issues and obtain a positive opinion from the Commander of the City Fire Service before it can legally reopen.
The authorities warned that failure to comply could lead to a long-term suspension of the hotel’s operating license.
The Ministry of the Interior has now become involved and will conduct an inspection of the hotel and review the decision against it, according to the Super Express daily.
The issue first arose when the hotel was inspected by the city’s fire service shortly before hosting then-President Barack Obama in 2016.
Inspectors found smoke hazards in the stairwells and determined the building did not meet fire-safety regulations, recommending structural changes.
The case has dragged on for years, with the hotel’s owners, LIM Center company, submitting paperwork last November to the provincial authority stating that the building was safe.
However, the authority rejected the documents, stating the fire service’s positive opinion was conditional on the completion of required construction work.
The original deadline for the changes expired at the end of 2021, and a recent inspection in June 2024 revealed the necessary work had not been carried out.
LIM Center said in a statement to PropertyNews.pl that it had implemented measures to ensure high fire-safety standards, backed by multiple certificates from relevant authorities.
But the Masovia governor’s office insisted that the hotel must address the outstanding fire-safety issues and obtain a positive opinion from the Commander of the City Fire Service before it can legally reopen.
The authorities warned that failure to comply could lead to a long-term suspension of the hotel’s operating license.
The Ministry of the Interior has now become involved and will conduct an inspection of the hotel and review the decision against it, according to the Super Express daily.
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