The combination of suburban comfort and urban comfort - myth or reality?
Nikita Evgenievich, tell us briefly the history of your company.
Nikita Lyubimov: - RosEvroHotel Management Company was established in 2000 as part of the RosEuroGroup business consortium. Currently, the consortium includes 7 companies: 7 Flowers, RosEuroDevelopment, MZHK Pharmagroup, RosEuroConsult, RosEuroCity, National Logistics Company, RosEuroBank, RosEuroHotel. Creating and developing holiday hotels "Istra Holiday" and "Lada Holiday", we have gained invaluable experience, thanks to which the Management Company so firmly "rested on its feet". Now, after 9 years of work in the hotel services market, RosEvroHotel Management Company has gained considerable experience in managing hotel properties and is one of the most highly professional in this industry.
TvR: - And who was the idea of such an original concept of the enterprise?
NL: - The creation of the Network was inspired by nature itself, surrounded by hotels "Istra Holiday" and "Lada Holiday" - this is a picturesque place: mixed forest, Istra reservoir. Ideal conditions for a summer holiday. The first hotel in the Network was the Dacha Hotel Lada Holiday. In 2001, taking control of this object, we assumed only long-term rental cottages (from 1 month to 1 year), but with some time realized that the craving for country life is for a week and just for the weekend. Unfortunately, Lada Holiday did not have sufficient infrastructure to attract guests aged 25 to 40 years, who, in addition to comfortable accommodation in a wooden cottage, chic nature and silence for a good rest, need entertainment. Women – wellness and SPA, men – sports grounds, gym, children – playrooms and playgrounds. The territory of Lada Holiday (1.5 hectares) did not allow such an expansion of infrastructure. So, gradually, came to the need to create a new facility that meets the growing demand. So came the hotel “Istra Holiday”, which even exceeded the expectations of guests.
Q: What does the hotel look like now?
NL: - Currently, in the Dacha hotel "Istra Holiday" at the service of guests: Wellness center, gym, swimming pool with hydromassage, SPA, Finnish steam rooms, manicure and pedicure salon, massage, solarium, hair salon; a real Russian bath; bar "Attic", which works around the clock (a disco is held on weekends); restaurant "Porto ISTRA" (live music plays on weekends); horseback riding; paintball; rental of water equipment and sports equipment; "rope town"; Children's Club, children's club, children's disco; children's playgrounds and other playgrounds for adults. We managed to create a unique combination of a real holiday in the fresh air on the shore of the reservoir and almost all city services and entertainment, which allows you to have a great rest in any company.
TvR: - Please tell us about the current projects of RosEvroHotel. As far as I know, your company is implementing a unique project to create holiday hotels "Istra Holiday", tell us what is their advantage over ordinary hotels?
NL: - The advantage of dacha hotels is primarily that the cottages are made of northern pine, which is of particular importance from the point of view of ecology and bioenergy. It is enough to spend one night in the wooden walls and the state of stress, in which people usually come to the Dacha hotel from a bustling city, is replaced by a sense of calm and fullness of life.
Arriving at a hotel, the building of which resembles a “Soviet high-rise building”, the phrase “real comfortable rest” ceases to make sense.
TvR: - Nikita Evgenievich, what are your company's plans for the near future?
NL: - Lada Holiday is now positioned as a hotel for a quiet family holiday. To date, both objects are owned by the Management Company RosEvroHotel. In the short term, RosEvroHotel Management Company plans to create new hotels in Russia (Leningrad, Nizhny Novgorod, Tver regions). In addition, we are opening a new hotel chain, which includes hotels of urban and suburban destination. Now at different stages of development are three projects of the country hotels.
In general, at the moment there are 7 hotel facilities at different stages. And I'll just briefly talk about them.
At the pre-launch stage is Batashev Hotel (Nizhny Novgorod region). High-class business hotel level 4*, built in 2009. Particularly noteworthy is the historical surroundings of the hotel - it is located in the immediate vicinity of the Batashev-Shepelev Manor and Industrial Complex of the second half of the XVIII - early XIX centuries. Along with modern comfort, the building still retains the atmosphere of the last century - the facade of the hotel is completely stylized under the architecture of the shopping arcades of the XVIII century. In terms of service and quality of service, the hotel has no analogues in the entire Nizhny Novgorod region.
Cottage village "New time". This is, so to speak, the “neighbors” of the Istra Holiday Dacha Hotel. The owners of the facility approached us with a proposal to conclude a contract for the maintenance of the infrastructure of the village and we almost immediately made a positive decision, since such facilities are well known to us, have similar infrastructure and similar technical equipment. This project gives us an impetus to occupy a new niche in the real estate management services market, which is envisaged by the Management Company’s development plan until 2010.
Hotel complex "Maleevka". The development of the project for the development of the recreation zone within the framework of the integrated development of the territory of 70 hectares, which includes two cottage villages of business class, objects of trade, entertainment and administrative infrastructure, the Maleivka Hotel Complex, has been completed. The complex is located near the ancient suburban city of Ruza, which has a rich history. The new hotel complex will include a 4-star SPA hotel for 180 rooms, a series of apartments of various price categories, a sports complex, as well as a number of entertainment infrastructure facilities. The territory of the complex is 25 hectares.
The Holiday Manor Hotel. Work has been completed on the project to create a concept, business plan and investment plan for the Holiday Estate Hotel, located in the Istra district of the Moscow region. The concept of a 4-star holiday hotel, located on an area of 32 hectares, included a rich complex of entertainment infrastructure facilities, including: wellness center, observatory, entertainment centers and venues, etc.x To an interesting and diverse pastime of the customers of the complex, capable of hosting up to 740 guests.
Hotel Rostov. In the first quarter of 2010, RosEvroHotel plans to complete the stage of reconstruction of the Rostov Hotel, located in the center of Rostov.
Hotel and entertainment complex in the Ryazan region. This is one of the most ambitious projects of RosEvroHotel, which was implemented jointly with RosAquaDevelopment. The concept and financial modelling work has been completed.
The territory of the complex of 8.5 hectares, includes a room stock, consisting of two hotels of 4 stars level, a series of apartments and town houses of various price categories, as well as a water park with an area of 13,600 square meters, along with numerous entertainment facilities. A unique feature of the complex is a system of artificial reservoirs and ducts, which allows you to move around the territory on swimming aids. The complex is able to accommodate up to 1,300 guests tuned to the highest level of service and comfort. Here is a short list of the major projects we have been working on or are still working on.
TvR: - It is no secret that the crisis has hit the domestic hotel industry hard. What is the situation with the construction and opening of new hotels? What are the consequences of the crisis for this sector of the economy?
NL: Oddly enough, RosEvroHotel Management Company feels the impact of the crisis only indirectly, since the commissioning process has slowed down. At the same time, we believe that now is a good time to prepare for the launch of facilities in the hotel industry, as equipment suppliers give more interesting from an economic point of view proposals for launch kits. Working under management contracts, we continue to fulfill our obligations to the owners as planned.
TvR: So you're not losing your optimism?
NL: Yes, because hard times are inevitably followed by a rise. And those hotels that survive this period, will be able to present to the market services, the level of which will most accurately correspond to the combination of “price-quality”. New hotel facilities under construction will form new market rules taking into account new conditions, which will be a positive aspect for the consumer of hotel services.
Q: What is the current situation with hotels? Should we expect lower prices in the near future?
NL: - "High season", which began in May, for hotels under the management of the criminal code "RosEvroHotel" is still "high". We see only slight fluctuations in demand from individual guests. There is a decrease in activity of corporate groups. As a result, this affects the load of hotels between Monday and Thursday. This year, the traditional business segment for Moscow hotels has decreased its activity, but at the same time there is a return of large customers.
TvR: - Do you expect a decrease in accommodation prices due to the crisis?
NL: - We are struggling with crisis manifestations by developing special offers with a bonus system, introducing diverse and individual approaches. That is, for example, we include additional services in the price. We do not have a price reduction policy in our hotels. The decline in demand dictates the need to analyze the situation in detail and develop a number of measures and proposals to stabilize sales. To reduce the price when demand falls is the easiest solution and, in my opinion, the most incorrect one.
TvR: - For a long time among Russian hoteliers, the issue of certification of hotels to confirm their status, stardom has been discussed. In your opinion, will such a measure make sense in the current conditions and what can it give for the development of the domestic hotel business?
NL: The introduction of mandatory certification of hotels is aimed at the convenience of the guest of the facility and we always support such aspirations.
First of all, the certification will allow the guest to receive a guarantee on the quality and quantity of services offered by the hotel (currently, hotels position themselves independently, assigning themselves a different number of stars, which misleads guests at the stage of purchasing a ticket). Compulsory certification will allow some standardization. Of course, certification is, first of all, a plus for the guest, including in case of dissatisfaction with the services provided (because when complaints are received, the object may be lowered star).
Q: What surprises does this have for the tourism industry?
NL: Yes, you are right that there is a downside to the coin, especially for hoteliers. Currently, certification requirements are largely outdated and no longer correspond to very successful hotel projects, the main assessment for which is stable load and revenue. In recent years, new brands have been brought to the market, the unique architectural, design feature of which often contradicts some requirements and standards, in particular, the infrastructure of the “dash hotels” format is radically different from most hotels, including suburban ones. So from the point of view of strict compliance with the requirements of certification, small differences will certainly be revealed. Therefore, mandatory certification can be introduced when the rules meet the latest market requirements. When they will define practical things, and not theoretical, basic.
According to many experts, at the moment in Russia there is a shortage of hotels class 2-3 stars. Do you plan to enter this segment of the market?
- No, we're not. For MC "RosEvroHotel" the key tasks are to win a leading position in the management of hotel complexes 3-4*. We consider such objects to be the most profitable and in demand in the market. This is a certain level at which we are used to working and where we have considerable experience in management.
TvR: - According to your estimates, which of the Russian regions is currently the most promising in terms of developing tourism potential?
NL: I believe that today, in the context of the strategy of socio-economic development of the regions, the arrival of major foreign players in the manufacturing sector, the Central region of Russia is the most favorable. This region is most favorable for the introduction of new production facilities on the market, and as a result, the development of business tourist flows. In addition, the Krasnodar Territory is promising. Of interest are the Caucasian Mineral Waters, the Chuvash Republic. Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk will be actively developed.
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