The seven hotels of the Best Western chain saw revenues go up 10% in Q1 2004 from the same time last year, according to the company’s officials.
“Promotion and sales strategies, as well as the current configuration of the Best Western chain in Romania have generated an over 10% revenue growth, whereas the occupancy rates were similar to last year’s,” said Malin Malineanu, a representative of Best Western in Romania.
The 10% increase in US dollars, however, equals a drop in euros.
Malineanu did not disclose the value of the Q1 revenues logged by the seven hotels, but their total turnover amounted to $10m last year. “We expect to maintain this growth pace throughout the year,” he added.
The Best Western network in Romania includes Parc hotel in Bucharest, Balvanyos of Balvanyos-Covasna, Savoy in Mamaia, Central in Arad, Topaz in Cluj, Ambassador in Timisoara and Bucovina hotel in Gura Humorului. Overall, the seven units have about 740 rooms, and are rated as three and four stars.
The Timisoara-based Ambassador, a four-star hotel and the three-star Topaz in Cluj have recently been included in the Best Western network. The two hotels signed contracts with the international chain last September.
Representatives of Best Western early this year estimated that the chain would come to include ten affiliate hotels by the end of 2004.
Best Western is currently the only international hotel chain that operates outside Bucharest.
georgiana.stavarache@zf.ro