The main hotels in Bucharest invest in upgrading and modernizing this year

At the beginning of Feburary, JW Marriott in Bucharest started the renovation works including Vienna Caffe, the public area on the first floor and the ballroom. Works will be completed by middle March, stated Igael Porecki, hotel's General Manager. The investment will reach EUR 1.5 mil.

The second phase of the upgrading process will start in June-July, when Cupola restaurant will turn into a streak house. The value of the investments has not been estimated yet.

In the first half of 2010, Athenee Palace Hilton hotel will upgrade, in successive phases, Roberto’s restaurant, the colonnades area, Le Bistrot, Brasseria and the reception desk. Friedrich Niemann, hotel's General Manger, has not specified the value of the investment. 

This year, InterContinental will modernize the elevators, as well as La Balada restaurant, stated Dana Chiriac, Marketing Manager of InterContinental Bucharest. In 2009, the hotel invested over EUR 10 mil. in upgrading the 21st floor.

Pullman hotel, 4 star classified, will close this summer Les Oliviades restaurant for modernizing works. The location will also change its profile, the current specialty being the Mediterranean cuisine. In 2009, Pullman invested EUR 500,000 in upgrading Convention Center conference hall and EUR 400,000 in opening Barbizon restaurant, with a capacity of 64 seats.

One year before, all 203 rooms of the hotel were renovated, following EUR 500,000 investment.

Howard Johnson and Novotel are among the hotels which are not planning to invest in upgrading this year. Novotel is relatively new on the market and does not require renovation works at present, according to the hotel’s representatives.

Sursa: Wall-Street [12.02.2010]