Copos: We outsourced all that could be outsourced to stay profitable. We will exit the crisis in 2013

The Ana Holding group, controlled by businessman George Copos, ended the first six months of the year with 118 million-RON (28 million-euro) turnover, down 13% on the similar period of last year.
"If I had had the brains I have today back in 1992-1993 (when he started his hotel businesses i.e.), I would have invested in alternative energy, not in hotels in seaside or mountain resorts. Now I know what I did wrong in business, but there are too many things to tell," says George Copos, wondering how come Romania does not at least have a motorway leading to the seaside, if not to mountainous regions.
The businessman made 314,000 euros in revenues from the Europa hotel in June, down 5.5% from last year. Copos, 56, controls seven hotels on the Romanian market, two of which in Bucharest (Hilton and Crowne Plaza), three in Poiana Braşov, and two in Eforie Nord (Europa and Astoria). The seven hotels posted 25.6 million euros in turnover last year and an overall profit of 230,000 euros in 2009, according to Trade Registry data.
"We outsourced all services that could be outsourced (...)," said Copos, explaining how the hotels managed to see a profit.
Asked by ZF when he expected an economic rebound, George Copos, financer of Rapid football club, said Romania is going in the wrong direction, with the financial crisis yet to peak.
"I think we will exit the crisis in 2013," said Copos, who controls a group with 60.5 million euros in revenues last year, operating in bakery, hospitality, and industry.