Hotel guests escape rioting Russian fans
Hotels and restaurants in Moscow were clearing up this week after Sunday's riots that left at least one person dead and many injured.
Hundreds of people went on the rampage through the city after the Russian football team was beaten 1-0 by Japan in the World Cup.
The violence was centred on the area around the Kremlin, Red Square and the Bolshoi Theatre in the heart of the city.
Windows at the 519-room Moskva hotel were broken by the rioters, and guests and staff were forced to remain within the building. But no one was harmed and security staff ensured nothing was looted from the hotel, said administrator Igov Oleg.
"We had some damage, some windows were smashed. But it has now been cleared up and everyone is OK," he added.
Guests and staff were unable to leave the five-star, 403-room Inter-Continental Metropol hotel during the riots, but security staff managed to prevent any damage to the building.
"We were very lucky. There were cars being turned over and set on fire, but we were not affected," said a spokeswoman.
Some Japanese and Chinese restaurants were reportedly damaged and a sushi bar wrecked. A number of terrified Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese also sought shelter in the McDonald's on nearby Pushkin Square.
by Nic Paton
Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 13-19 June 2002
