Sofitel Hotel, part of World Trade Center Bucharest (WTCB), in the first five months of the year witnessed 15% turnover growth in euros against the corresponding period of last year, said Bruno Vinette, general manager of the hotel.
"In May, we had an occupancy rate of about 85%, the highest on the segment of Bucharest''s four and five-star hotels that are part of an international chain", he stated. According to Vinette, Bucharest hotels usually exchange information, to be aware at all moments of their position on the market.
"The hotel market is doing great, and our target as to annual turnover stands at 7.5 million euros, but everything depends on the summer period, which is more sensitive because foreign businessmen cut their trips to Romania, resuming them at the end of August. Last year, the hotel''s turnover amounted to about 7 million euros," the Sofitel official added.
About two thirds of the hotel''s guests are foreigners, most of them French, Italians, Germans and Japanese. Around one quarter of revenues comes from events and the Food & Beverage segment, whose importance is growing.
Vinette took over Sofitel early this year, succeeding Luc Gesvret. He comes from Moscow where he ran the operations of a Novotel hotel, for three years. A four-star hotel, the Sofitel in Bucharest has 202 rooms and 250 employees. French hotel chain Accor, the world''s biggest hotel chain in the world, operates Sofitel under a management contract.
Beside the Sofitel brand, Accor runs another three Ibis hotels, two in Bucharest and one in Constanta, with a Novotel hotel to be opened near Palatul Telefoanelor of Bucharest, in the wake of investments worth 33m euros by the French company.
This is in fact the first investment by a foreign hotel chain aimed at the Romanian market. "This year, Accor will focus on Novotel, to be inaugurated next year, so that there will be no major investments targeting Sofitel," Vinette said.
According to market sources, Sofitel is eyed by several hotel companies, including Ana Hotels owned by George Copos, the current vice-minister in the Tariceanu Government. Sofitel officials deny the rumours. George Copos took over Athenee Palace Hilton this year.
Together with the French Village and the French Club, Sofitel is part of World Trade Center Bucharest, which this year had to give up its assets (The French Village and The French Club) in order to pay the debts to its creditors.
WTCB last year negotiated and paid debts to domestic banks, to Accor chain and to the Trade and Industry Chamber, but failed to pay back the General Council of Bucharest Municipality (CGMB) and the State Asset Resolution Agency (AVAB). georgiana.stavarache@zf.ro
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