The hotels in Bucharest will get at least 1 million euros out of the New Year’s Eve party, besides additional substantial revenue derived from organising parties thrown by companies for their employees or clients.
“With a handful of exceptions, all the hotels in Bucharest are organising parties in the salons of their restaurants. Tariffs range from 45 to 140 euros per guest, depending on the restaurant and on how complex the programme put together for the clients is that night,” Paul Marasoiu, chairman of consulting and hotel management company Peacock-Global Hotel Management says.
A survey his company conducted shows the estimated number of seats in the salons and restaurants of the hotels in Bucharest to be of about 6,000, which means revenues for all the hotels together should be worth more than 500,000 euros if calculated at an average 90 euro tariff per guest. All this in addition to the extra cash spent by guests during the New Year’s Eve party and the cost of accommodations in the days before and after the party.
“Taking all the additional expenses made into account, the revenues of the hotels in Bucharest should amount to 1 million euros or even more,” Marasoiu says.
The five available salons totalling 870 seats turn Marriott Grand Hotel into the highest-capacity hotel in Bucharest. “We’ve sold three quarters of the seats so far, but we’re still open for reservations. Demand was higher than the number of available seats last year,” Dina Litzica, Marriott’s PR manager, says.
Athenee Palace Hilton has sold more than 90% of its 420 seats, the hotel officials say.
Crowne Plaza has offered about 600 tickets for sale. Two of the hotel’s salons totalling 300 seats were rented by two companies for the New Year’s Eve.
“This is the first time we’ve seen demand like this from companies, i.e. renting an entire salon for the New Year’s Night. Companies would usually throw parties for their employees or clients before Christmas,” marketing manager Mioara Gheorghe said.
Christmas parties thrown by companies for their employees, clients or partners are yet another significant stream of income for hotels.
“This party season began in mid November and will last until Christmas. We organise at least two events a day for 100 to 400 guests at this time of year, ” Litzica said.
Company parties for employees or clients make up a trend introduced by multinationals in Romania, but domestic companies are slowly catching up, hotel operators say. georgiana.stavarache@zf.ro