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Business customers keep Sofitel income high

The revenue per available room rose 5-6 percent this year to 84 euros, as the hotel focused on business customers and gave up some of its leisure customers, who used to bring low revenues, said Bruno Vinette, general manager of Sofitel due to become Pullman Bucharest World Trade Center as of January.

The focus on business customers led to a 6.8-million euros turnover after the first nine months, up by 3 percent against the same period in the previous year, despite lower occupancy level.

Hotel representatives contemplated rebranding two years ago, given Sofitel hotels worldwide are to be reclassified as five-star hotels.

The Pullman brand was selected as it focuses on business traffic, with the hotel benefiting from 85 percent business traffic and the Sofitel brand accounting for 60 percent business and 40 percent leisure, daily Ziarul Financiar quoted Sofitel sales&marketing director, Alain D'Addio, as saying.

D'Addio, who took up this position in August, is the third corporate representative sent to Romania to supervise the hotel affiliation to Pullman. D'Addio has also worked with Sofitel Paris - CNIT Paris La Defense, Novotel London West Hotel & Convention Centre and the Charing Cross Hotel.

The rebranding of the hotel located near the Free Press House entailed new facilities, with the relevant investment having been initiated several years ago. The hotel refurbishment started three years ago in view of rebranding, with some 1.5 million euros invested so far.

The five-star accommodation capacity rose to nearly 20 percent in Bucharest due to the opening of Radisson SAS, while the four-star capacity hiked to more than 50 percent following the opening of Rin Grand disposing of 1,500 rooms and Ramada Plaza with 300 rooms.

If the financial crisis will result in reduced corporate budgets, Sofitel managers are counting on a switchover from 5 to 4-star hotels.

The hotel will maintain its tariffs under the Pullman brand. 'Regarding the prices, I believe we are in advantage at this time when companies are cutting their budgets, due to Sofitel not being regarded as an expensive hotel in Romania. The average tariff amounts to 135 euros a night, VAT excluded', Vinette said, adding the hotel had not budgeted any increases for next year.

Sofitel and Pullman are brands of the French Accor hotel chain running also the Novotel hotel located on the Victoriei avenue (center Bucharest) and several Ibis hotels (based on a contract concluded with the Continental chain managed by the businessman Radu Enache). In the coming period the main Sofitel shareholders will invest in the construction of an Ibis hotel close to Sofitel.

The Sofitel hotel to be affiliated with Pullman next year is owned by the World Trade Center Company, also operating commercial galleries and office spaces.

 

Sursa: http://www.rompress.ro

Tags: hotel sofitel pullman customers percent business

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