It is located on Rue Frank Cardozo, Bourdon on one of the only three main roads connecting the capital to its southeastern outskirt city Pétion-Ville.

The hotel was built in 1947 on the plans of the architect Franck Cardozo and inaugurated on the occasion of the bicentenary of the foundation of the city of Port-au-Prince.

The former US President Bill Clinton, the Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, and the actor Brad Pitt had stayed there among others.

[2] In just a few minutes, the hotel became a heap of white stone and twisted steel wires causing an estimated 200 of 300 guests to be reported missing the day after the collapse.

[3] The hotel donated what could be salvaged from its freezers to restaurant Muncheez, which was at the time working as a community soup kitchen, serving free meals.