GM of Radisson SAS says 50 percent of its business will come from food&beverage

“We have a conference hall that holds 500, and another 11 seminar rooms, which in principle means we can host some 1,000 people. We estimate that 50 percent of the business will come from the food&beverage sgement, and the rest from rooms,” according to a declaration for Business Standard by the hotel’s General Manager. Bodin forecasts that the unit will become the top player on the Bucharest hotel market in the first year of operation. At present, the largest five-star hotel in Romania’s capital is the JW Marriott, with 403 rooms, and turnover worth €37 million in 2006.

Radisson SAS will have 424 rooms and be part of a larger complex, to include the Centre Ville Aparthotels and Elite Apartments, a swimming pool, casinos, four restaurants, bars, and a shopping center.

“We are targeting groups of business people, people who are organizing meetings in the hotel, people from abroad, as well as from other cities around the country,” added Bodin.

The Radisson brand belongs to the American Carlson Hotels Worldwide group, which also operates the Country Inn, Missoni, Park Inn and Regent brands. Besides the Calea Victoriei unit, another hotel is announced for Central Romanian mountain resort Poiana Brasov.

There are seven five-star hotels in Bucharest: JW Marriott, Athenee Palace Hilton, Howard Johnson, Grand Plaza, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Casa Capsa and Carol Parc.