More than 1,500 postal workers from 190 countries will arrive in Bucharest this autumn, as they are scheduled to attend the Universal Postal Union Congress.
Revenues stemming from the three-week event are reportedly in the range of 3 million euros, but, according to analysts, the main benefit will be the boost given to the Romanian capital city as a destination for international meetings and events.
The Universal Postal Union Congress is one of the largest meetings to be hosted by Bucharest since the EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) meeting that took place in 2002, also in the country’s capital.
The event will take place between September 15 – October 5 and is expected to do wonders for the Bucharest hotel market. The main four and five-star hotels will be full, accommodation prices will surge 50%, while revenues derived from receptions, cocktail parties and galas will soar.
“Romania is the first Eastern European country to host this congress. The previous meeting was held in Beijing and, for this year’s event, Romania competed against the Ivory Coast,” explained Paul Marasoiu, honorary chairman of the Romanian Convention Bureau, the association representing the Romanian companies organising reunions and conferences.
“Many of the guests fill key-positions and the expenses will be high. Spending on accommodation, meals, transportation and conferences alone will revolve around 400 euros daily, per guest. We must not forget the additional expenses, either – shopping, souvenirs, trips and entertainment which in such cases never goes below 150 euros per person,” Paul Marasoiu maintained.
The bulk of the expenses will be paid by the delegations participating to the event.
“Each delegation will pay, from their own budget, the transportation, meals and accommodation fees. The Romanian party will provide the attendees with the location for the Congress and will also supply the necessary facilities for the event. The Romanian Postal Company will also guarantee the guests’ transfer from the airport, to the hotel, to the Conference Centre and back,” said Nicoleta Vartic, PR manager with the Romanian Postal Company.
The event takes place every five years and this year is organised by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the Romanian Government and the Romania Postal Company.
The Congress itself will be hosted by the Parliament Palace, which is the only location in Bucharest that is large enough to accommodate an event of this size.
The hotels, however, take more interest in the cocktail parties, the receptions and the galas thrown for the guests.
“The conference rooms will be full at the Marriott. Several embassies have asked us to organise festive or special dinners for the guests,” said Dina Litzica, marketing and communication manager with the Bucharest J.W. Marriott Hotel.
At the J.W. Marriott, the prices will go up from 250 euros to 385 euros during the event (prices for a standard room excluding VAT).
“The occupancy rate will go up to 100% during the Congress. We have notified our partner companies in due time,” Litzica added.
georgiana.stavarache@zf.ro