Howard Johnson business up 8% in 2008

“One of the main reasons for this growth is that the product (Ed. n.: the hotel) has matured, we had a good policy for positioning and pricing, and this led us to reach the market share we were targeting,” according to the head of business advisory firm Trend Hospitality, Tinu Sebesanu.

Trend Hospitality manages the local business of the international Wyndham hotel chain, which owns the Howard Johnson brand. In Romania, the franchise for this brand is owned by Howard Johnson Grand Plaza.

Prior to becoming CEO of Trend Hospitality, Sebesanu served as Howard Johnson Grand Plaza General Manager. According to Sebesanu, the hotel business was good last year, although the growth pace was lower, compared to 2005 and 2006. A significant increase in the hotel market was visible in 2006, because of low-cost airline operators who began flying to Romania. “By mid-2006, an increase in the leisure segment was visible, and Bucharest is now becoming a week-end destination,” he said.