Fifty conference halls with a capacity of 40,000 seats will become available on the Bucharest market this year once new hotels are opened.
However, Palatul Parlamentului and Sala Tronului (in Romania’s National Art Museum) continue to bring in as much as 10,000 euros per day from organisers’ pockets as the leading centres of Bucharest’s events market.
Bucharest now has 35,000 seats in 250 conference halls and exhibition spaces, namely 37% of the total number of meeting spaces at the level of Romania. The 50 halls due to enter the market this year will boost the number of locations hosting events by 11%, a growth rate similar to last year’s.
“This year, we’ll witness an increase by over 3,900 seats in conference halls in at least six new hotels that are already open or will open by yearend,” stated Paul Marasoiu, chairman of the Romanian Convention Bureau (RCB).
The four-star Rin Grand hotel in Bucharest, owned by Negoita brothers, will generate around 2,000 seats in conference halls.
Another hotel that is scheduled to open this spring, Radisson SAS, operated by Rezidor hotel group, will generate over 11 conference halls in Pleiades conference centre.
Despite new hotel’ bringing a record number of conference halls on the Bucharest market, Palatul Parlamentului continues to lead in terms of the available capacity.
Casa Poporului (former name of Palatul Parlamentului) built during communism, has several halls that can accommodate up to 1,500 persons, with the price of rent ranging between 3,000 and 6,000 euros. In terms of prices, Casa Poporului is rivalled by Sala Tronului, which can cost up to 10,000 euros per day. A 300, 400-seat conference hall in a five-star Bucharest hotel can have a rental tariff of around 1,000 euros per day.
“Prices depend on the total package of services ordered in the respective location, on the quality, image, reputation, level of selectivity, and exclusivity related to the rental of the hall, the capacity and size of the accommodation space and the period chosen for the event,” explained Marasoiu.
Over 2,000 conferences with more than 50 participants are organised annually in Bucharest and around 600 of them have over 100 participants.
The total number of conference participants in Bucharest averages between 80,000 and 90,000 persons per year while the figure for the entire country stands above several hundred thousands.
Marasoiu anticipates that the opening of new large capacity hotels with meeting rooms and of some independent conference halls will generate significant turnover increases for event organisation in the next 3-5 years.
The total hosting capacity in conference halls in the entire country stands at about 96,000 seats. Large cities total around 220,000 conference space seats, namely 23% of the total.
Events market
50 conference halls with a capacity of 40,000 seats will enter Bucharest’s market this year once new hotels are opened
However, Palatul Parlamentului and Sala Tronului (in Romania’s National Art Museum) continue to bring in as much as 10,000 euros per day from organisers’ pockets as the leading centres of Bucharest’s events market
Bucharest now has 35,000 seats in 250 conference halls and exhibition spaces, namely 37% of the total number of meeting spaces at a national level