It's cliché to say, but if the walls of the American Colony Hotel could talk, they'd have something to say. Or, something not to say. The American Colony prides itself on neutrality, and confidentiality - on keeping sensitive information behind closed doors. Perhaps that's why the hotel has been the uncredited force behind peace negotiations, secret meeting between spies, and journalists deciding what tomorrow's headlines will be. It's a hotel for everyone, a hotel that has no opinion, but encourages others to form theirs.

The story began in 1881 when a fire that destroyed much of Chicago ruined the home of Horatio and Anna Spafford.  As devout Christians, they wanted to come to the Holy Land to heal and recover.  But on the way, tragedy struck once more when the boat the Spafford family was riding in wrecked. Again, fate handed the Spafford family another blow : This time Anna and Horatio's four remaining daughters were killed.

By the time the Spafford arrived in the Holy Land, they knew their purpose was to give back by helping the community. Through public service, they sought to help Arabs and Jews living in the Old City of Jerusalem. They were joined later by people who heard about their charitable work.

Times of unrest were to dominate the future. War became a fixture of Jerusalem.  But the American Colony found its niche in remaining neutral, living in peace under British, Jordanian and Israeli rule. The hotel's neutrality is what attracted the secret discussions that were to began the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Negotiators from both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) met secretly in room 16.  Their meetings preceded the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993 by as much as five months.  Recognizing the PLO was ultimately what came about from Oslo. That deal was spoken about, but many others that have happened or are happening right now within the American Colony's walls may well remain secret.

The responsibilities that come with the burden of secrecy aren't light. Knowing the sensitive information that passes through the hotel's walls is a priviledge the hotel takes seriously. Employees can sometimes play the safeguard.  Journalists, politicians and spies are regulars at the hotel's bar.  There have been some instances where a guest of such influence has said too much after having one too many drinks, and someone working in the Colony has had to remind that person that he or she may be saying too much.

The deals that are made in the American Colony's walls make up the living history of the hotel, and give many a reason to be fascinated. But that says nothing of the obvious – that the American Colony is a five star hotel.  A hotel decked with luxury and service from people who will remember your name. Rooms in the hotel's finest suits cost upwards of $1000 per night.