Bucharest's five-star hotels are expected to register a 100% occupancy rate for events hosted over the Christmas period.
Price is no object, despite the around 5,000 RON (1,515 euros) New Year's Eve party bill, since most customers are businessmen or well-off Romanians from abroad, who want to offer a treat to their relatives over the Christmas holidays.
"The events segment is extremely dynamic in December, with a 100% occupancy rate for meetings, conferences and parties. Reservations are made two-three months ahead, particularly for large events that require accommodation, such as parties large companies organise for their employees," says Gratiela Badicu, sales and marketing manager at Howard Johnson Grand Plaza Hotel in Bucharest.
According to her, Christmas parties and charity events predominate in December.
Even though most expats, who usually generate a significant portion of 5-star hotels' revenues, return home during this period, restaurants are fully booked over the Christmas holidays.
"The typical customers for Christmas parties are loyal customers, very busy businessmen who cannot leave the country for even a week, and Romanians living abroad, who return home and want to offer a treat to their relatives," says Dina Litzica, PR and marketing manager with JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel.
Although the events segment is extremely busy over Christmas, the winter period does not significantly contribute to the overall revenues registered by the capital's 5-star hotels.
According to Athenee Palace Hilton's Christmas offer, brunch at the hotel's restaurant costs 175 RON (53 euros), a ticket to one of the available New Year's Eve parties costs 860 RON (260 euros) per person, while a private dinner on New Year's Eve, which includes a room for two and breakfast, starts from 4,800 RON (1,454 euros) on top of which 1,000 RON (303 euros) are added for each extra person (restricted to a maximum of 6).
At JW Marriott, Christmas brunch costs 185 RON (56 euros), while Christmas dinner costs 200 RON (60 euros).
New Year's Eve at the hotel costs 750 RON (227 euros) per person.
At Intercontinental, a ticket to one of the two New Year's Eve parties costs around 200 euros per person.
According to the latest information, the events segment generates between 30% and 50% of annual turnover, which depends on the location, the number of available conference and banquet halls and the fitting-out of the respective units.
According to market players, the segment's percentage in overall turnover is set to rise in the coming years, primarily due to the development of foreign companies on the domestic market.
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