This article has been published in Business Review magazine on June 20, 2006. With Hotel Bucuresti set to be finished and opened under the Radisson SAS brand mid-next year, Centre Ville will become one of the largest all-in-one hospitality centers in Bucharest. Yaron Ashkenazi, Centre Ville general manager, talked to Business Review about the additional developments which will reach a total of some EUR 50 million when finalized. What will the Centre Ville complex comprise once all the construction work is finished next year? At the moment, Centre Ville apart hotel is one of the largest in Europe. It was built to answer a need and offer a solution for the long-term entrepreneurs coming to Romania to invest. In fact most of our clients are coming for more than 15 nights per month. If they are paying EUR 150 per night, this means they are spending a little bit more than EUR 2,200 per month. After only a few months of operations we were full of clients. We finished 2005 with an average occupancy rate of 95 percent, which is high, even compared to other destinations in Europe. The spa operated by World Class, which was launched a year and a half ago, now has over 1,700 members, plus the guests of the apart hotel who use the health center on a daily basis. We have the commercial area on the ground floor of the building, with shops and banks, which is valuable to us, as rents in this area have increased over the past few years. We will bring designers from Milan and Paris into our shopping outlet. We are starting to renovate the corner of Calea Victoriei with George Enescu street and we will have there a car rental outlet, a bank and fashion stores. The process is ongoing; we are in talks at the moment with leading fashion companies, as only such companies would be suited to this high rent area. One of them is already on the market. We will also relocate the casino to another place, and we hope to make it the largest one in town, 2,500 sqm on three floors, with different restaurants, bars and slot machines. We will outsource the management of the casino. The center will have 90,000 built sqm, on a 20,000-sqm plot. What about the Radisson SAS Hotel what developments are planned there? The Radisson SAS Hotel will open in summer 2007, and construction works are currently ongoing. The hotel will have the biggest convention center in town, which will host 1,200 people. The center will have 11 seminar rooms. We will also take the indoor pool out and build the first outdoor Jacuzzi in Romania. It will be heated to 37 degrees Celsius all the time, even during winter. We are building a car park with 200 parking places on top of which we will have a garden. Our development plans also include enlarging Le Bistro and making it a French Bistro with a garden. What is the most profitable of the Centre Ville divisions? The apart hotel is the most profitable, because people come for the long term. Furthermore, we dont have too many public areas, which are very expensive and lose money. All the spaces are rented out. This is why we can reach 50 percent gross operating profit, while an average leading hotel gets 35 or 30 percent. Le Bistro and the spa center are leverage for our clients. We will have over EUR 6 million in revenue for the apart hotel this year, and over EUR 3 million in net operating profit. We accounted for some EUR 1.5 million in revenues in Q1 this year, and the April June period will hopefully bring us more. June will be a very good period, with almost EUR 600,000 revenues from the hotel operations alone. Who comes to the Centre Ville apart hotel? Our target is the corporate market. Occasionally we have tourists coming for one night on their way to other parts of the country. We are working with medium- to long-term accommodation. We also have solutions for families, for intermediary situations. People leaving the country stay with us for some weeks before leaving, and those coming into the country with the family stay here before finding a house in the town. What is the average amount a Centre Ville apart hotel guest spends in one year? A client would spend on accommodation alone an average of EUR 25,000 per year, and on the other facilities, like laundry, restaurants and spa, an additional EUR 5,000 to EUR 10,000 per year. Guests benefit from a personalized services. When they come, they receive a personal letter. Furthermore, when somebody comes here to our hotel for the second time, the person is offered something we know they like. We also have supermarket services. There is a menu from which customers choose what they want and they receive it from our staff. The third thing we have added to our services is the so-called mothers recipe. When coming into the hotel, the customer teaches our chef how to cook a certain recipe. This personal touch makes the difference between hotels. What was the total investment in Centre Ville from the beginning, including revamping Hotel Bucuresti, which is ongoing? We have already invested in Elite Apartments some EUR 3.5 million, in the spa another EUR 3 million and in the apart hotel, EUR 2 million. Hotel Bucuresti will need another EUR 40 million in investment. So all in all it will reach almost EUR 50 million. We will also work on the Cina restaurant, which we own as well. The restaurant is currently being rented out to ING bank, but we have big plans for it. But we dont have specific details to give at this moment.

Hospitality is what makes you feel at home and weve got plenty. Places we hold dear, experiences well never forget. We promise thatll be what you feel when staying at CentreVille Elite Apartments, the 5-star brand of the CentreVille Complex. This structure consists of 292 apartments, out of which 62 belong to the Elite Apartments. Well only mention a few, those extra-special things to help you understand how close to home wed like you to feel at CentreVille. One which may seem irrelevant to big chains of hotels is Mothers recipe. Give us the recipe of your favorite dish and well do the rest. And if you give us feedback, next time it will really taste perfectly. Secretarial assistance through the reception is another one. Youre busy running the business and could very well use the help. Were glad to be of service. As a special offer, we provide an Executive Lounge. Cosy armchairs and sofas, terrace, conference table are only a few things youll find there. You can have breakfast or a light canapes during the day in a private setting. Services included in the rates. Extra services are not included in the rates access to the executive lounge with balcony facing the garden maintenance cost: energy, water and garbage disposal satellite TV service. 24-hour security service completely equipped kitchen satelliteTV with LCD screen in each room of the apartments continental breakfast buffet direct access to the Fitness Club pick-up from and to the airport high speed Internet connection beauty cosmetic parlor cocktails and events

Ready to welcome businessmen, rockstars, actors or presidents. Or rockstar presidents SuperiorExecutive facing to the street or to the inside yard, these apartments offer elite conditions for a long stay in Bucharest. Enjoy the same high standards youre accustomed to from other European capitals. Contemporary design and superior materials. BusinessCorner generous, fan-shaped living, styled to harmoniously accommodate business people with a need for light and space. Perfect for small meetings, over the round table or more relaxed on the couch and armchairs. Functional design with a touch of home. LoftSky two-level apartments for the most demanding business people. Special conditions to enhance your mood. Luxury finishings, including parquet and marble. The skys the limit. Elevate your stay. Presidential yes, its the most expensive, but wait till you see whats its fitted with. Top amenities including big living with round table, office and Jacuzzi. The office comes with broadband Internet and separate fax line. So, just sit on top of the world Superior Executive

Welcome to the heart of Bucharest. Open the door to your room and youre in the center of the city. Everything is within walking distance, shopping galleries, theaters and museums. Calea Victoriei, one of the main arteries of Bucharest, is meters away. Take your time and meet Bucharest at its finest. The most renowned restaurants, bars, pubs and night clubs are close to the ApartHotel. Or you can just go for a walk to the Cismigiu Public Garden or other attractions. If you look for a guided tour, check with our reception desk. Social life, to sum it up, revolves around the center of the city and youre in a privileged position.

The pressure of business life in the 21st century can only be counterbalanced by physical exercise. And that is especially true when youre not home, when all your natural rythms are turned upside down. Choose your favorite from a variety of styles and intensities: aerobics, aqua, step, spinning, boxing, body sculpting lift it. To reduce stress, you can try Yoga or Pilates. The pool and the Jacuzzi can also provide the muchneeded relaxation. Massage therapists provide sports, reflex and relaxation massage that relieves tension, loosens tight muscles and makes you feel good inside and out. After a long hard day, theres only one place where you can completely unwind, relax, invigorate and get ready for another day of business.

You only need one more argument - Centre Ville Le Bistro. International a la carte menu, home-made pastry specialties and rich breakfast buffet. Around the corner from ApartHotel, the bistro welcomes business as well as pleasure. Every day there's a differentSpecial of The Day dish.

Centre Ville ApartHotel is one unique experience and Bucharest is the place it first emerged. The apartments hotel that welcomes you as if it's wishes you a long and successful stay in Bucharest. We'll start with 3 arguments why Centre Ville should be your choice when you are in Bucharest: it's located in the center of Bucharest here you can luxurious apartments that will make you feel right at home modern and refined atmosphere for the knowledgeable traveller. Your apartment is only one click away. the latest news about the Centreville Aparthotel. This site is property of CentreVille ApartHotel : Copyright 2006

 Guest rooms have air conditioning
 Luggage storage
 Breakfast may be served in the room
 Central situation
 Credit cards accepted
 Dinner may be served in the room
 Lift
 Facsimile services
 Garage places
 Hairdryer
 Heating
 Access to internet
 Kitchen
 Laundry services/washing machine
 Licensed bar
 Smoke-free guest rooms
 Around-the-clock recetpion
 Parking lot
 Fridge
 Restaurant
 Safe deposit box
 Private/Ensuite bathroom
 Tea and coffee making facilities
 Phone at reception
 Phones in rooms
 TV sets in rooms