Mamaia based-hotel Iaki, owned by the former soccer star Gheorghe Hagi, saw 1.4 million euros in turnover last year, up 6% from 2002.
US soldiers that camped last spring in Mamaia, because of the war in Iraq, provided a significant share of the hotel's turnover.
"Last year was better than the previous. It was mainly due to the higher occupancy rate from Mars to June, once the US officers landed in Mamaia. About 15%-20% of this year's growth is due to the American soldiers," said Tanase Mega, economic manager of the hotel.
The occupancy rate averaged 44.63% last year, up from 36% in 2002, the hotel official said. On the other hand, the number of employees dropped from 114 to 83 in 2003. "We ceded our beach bar last year and this is the main reason behind the personnel downsizing," Mega explained.
Iaki is the former Hotel Bucharest, which was taken over in leasing, with an irrevocable purchase stipulation, by the Hagi Sport SRL company, from the trade company Mamaia SA. The hotel's upgrading started in October 1999, whereas the opening took place in the summer of 2001.
The four-star hotel has 60 rooms, a restaurant, a cafeteria, a pizza terrace, in addition to fully equipped conference rooms, as well as a store selling luxury items. Following a $2 million investment, a spa was opened in 2002, which will be linked to the hotel by a bridge, to be dedicated this year. The hotel boasts five conference rooms, totaling 550 seats.
Mega also claims that the hotel has been hosting increasingly more conferences and seminars lately. "There will be a summit of the Eastern European presidents in May this year and Iaki hotel is among the locations proposed for the meeting," he added.
georgiana.stavarache@zf.ro
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