Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, located in the Kibbutz Lavi Village close to Tiberias, has completed a full-scale renovation to 60 rooms, including a number of suites, in the Hod Wing. A mix of ceramic parquet flooring has been installed, together with new furnishings, mattresses and linens. The hotel has 184 rooms, all accessible to one another via connecting wings, and offers three categories of rooms: Standard, Superior and Deluxe. “We opened the hotel 55 years ago and it continues to serve as the perfect respite for visitors traveling between Nazareth and Tiberias,” says Sales Manager Guido Sasson. “We started with a small number of rooms and gradually increased this over the years.” All rooms contain twin beds, a seating area, satellite TV, free Wi-fi, fridge, tea and coffee maker.

The hotel has been awarded a four-star rating from the Israel Ministry of Tourism and features a guest lounge and bar, dining room serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, indoor swimming pool, children’s pool, gym, sauna, kid’s playrooms and playground, and an events hall that can be sectioned into seven meeting rooms. On-site kibbutz activities include a dairy farm and horseback riding. “We also have a synagogue in which we regularly host Shabbat Hatan ceremonies, bar and bat mitzvahs and other celebrations,” outlines Sasson.

Markets
“We are a religious Kibbutz and hotel, and therefore find that observant guests more commonly stay at weekends, high holidays and during Jewish holidays,” explains Sasson. “During the week, we are busier with different markets, including pilgrims and tour groups.” The hotel is working with a number of tour operators to offer weekday stays and experiences at the Kibbutz as a part of a stopover for those on longer duration tours, such as walking the Jesus Trail. A selection of experiential packages, available in various languages, offers guests insight into different aspects of the kibbutz and nearby regions.

“The North of Israel is so diverse and there is plenty of opportunity to travel to nearby sites and attractions, such as farms, wineries and other kibbutzim in the Galilee, for a unique experience.” The kibbutz also runs the Lavi Education Center, which has developed a number of packages and events, including a three-day Shabbat Program to experience the Jewish Sabbath at the kibbutz and dine with a host family, and educational programs offering lectures and half-day and full-day seminars on various topics.