“If we are talking about the international crisis, I believe this is the right moment for a hotel to understand the benefits of belonging to a major chain. This will probably also lead to greater demand for affiliation than ever before. If a hotel is doing well, it believes it can go it alone. As soon as things are not going so well, it needs a “grandfather,” added Malineanu.
Best Western’s officials further said that due to the decline in the number of travelers, we are witnessing a chain reaction which will affect the Romanian hotel market. “Air travel, which is the key, at least for Bucharest, is already subject to an internationally recognized drop. IATA [International Air Transport Association] announced that air travel was down in the third and fourth quarters. This drop is already leading to a decrease in guest nights, which in turn leads to a lower profit for hotels,” according to Malineanu.
Best Western’s Development Coordinator believes that the hotel market in Romania’s capital will be most affected, because the business travel segment makes up its largest ratio. The lack of guests on the weekend is also felt during the week. “Several years ago, nothing happened on Saturdays in Bucharest, then on Saturdays and Sundays, followed by Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Now I have observed that nothing is happening either on Mondays or Thursdays,” said Malineanu.
