September will bring record high revenues for the hotel industry this year, especially as Bucharest is hosting the Sommet de la Francophonie, according to representatives of the big hotels.
"September is a busy month for the Bucharest hotels, so that potential cancellations will not be an irreparable event," says Peter Craig Martin, general manager of Howard Johnson.
Still, hotels do have a low season to cope with (July 15-August 31 and December 15-January 31). Rates do not generally change during these periods, but, for certain categories of clients, namely regular guests, discounts ranging between 5 and 10 percent are usually promoted.
"Next year, rates will post a slight increase compared to this year, and we forecast a 12% increase, on the one hand on account of the euro's depreciation and, on the other, because this is the market trend," says Dana Dumitru-Chiriac, marketing and PR director with five-star hotel Howard Johnson.
Rates of four and five-star hotels in Bucharest have gone up 30% this month, as the city is hosting the 11th Sommet de la Francophonie.
"Prices will go up approximately 30%, but this increase will only apply during this period of time, and the rates will then go back to their initial values," Dana Dumitru-Chiriac added.
"About 3,000 foreign delegates were initially scheduled to come to Romania, but we have just learned that we will eventually accommodate only 700.
They quoted the high prices, although the rates had already been negotiated in contracts. At this point, about 60 rooms are still booked," the Howard Johnson official said.
The event will bring more than 60 heads of state to Bucharest. According to Dumitru-Chiriac, the room rates had been negotiated as early as last year, when institutions started to make reservations for the biggest event hosted by Bucharest this year.
Thus, rates for September 24-30 will start at 310 euros, taxes not included, for the standard single rooms and will reach 620 euros (taxes also not included) for diplomatic suites.
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