PARK INN: HOSPITALITY IN AZERBAIJAN

Park Inn Azerbaijan General Manager Thomas Stene

Caspian Energy (C.E.): How did the idea to open in Baku the first in CIS representation of Park Inn originate?

Thomas Stene: Our Company began the hotel business in Baku in 1998 by opening a well known by now the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel. The Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel has turned out to be so successful that the hotel owners decided to extend further cooperation with Rezidor SAS.

With the advent of the Park Inn brand by Rezidors SAS in 2003, it has been decided to bring namely this brand to Azerbaijan as it meets all requirements of the time. Thus, the first in CIS hotel complex Park Inn has opened in Baku. The process of opening of Park Inn hotels in other CIS countries is ongoing. However, the negotiations regarding a new hotel in Baku were conducted most successfully, the corresponding documents were signed in the shortest possible time and the hotel was opened in due time.

At present the policy of Rezidor SAS is aimed at expanding. It is the most rapidly growing hotel network of hotels in Europe, Middle East and Africa (about 263 hotels in operation). It has been planned to open 50 more hotels in the states of the CIS countries in the nearest future; the agreement of the next project in Moscow has already been signed.

As you know, the opening ceremony took place with participation of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in January 2006. I would like to underscore one more time that the Park Inn brand was really a good idea, as the there was a need of mid-market hotel brand in Baku.

We are sure that this project will be a successful one. From the very beginning we knew that January was not the most suitable time for opening hotels in Baku as this period is characterized by low activity in the city. In January the majority of our clients are still on holiday and it reflects very much on general volume of business-travelers. But on the other hand, we have planned to give our personnel opportunity to prepare for large scope of work and cope with large flow of guests.

These days we are noticing the improvement of results from one week to another. Especially it is visible on requests that we receive related to different scales of the international and local conferences. We are positive that we will reach our goals. I would like to mention our management structure. Qlobal Invest Kompani Ltd MMC, a part of ISR Holding, is the exclusive owner of the Park Inn Azerbaijan Hotel. According to the management contract we, as representatives of Rezidor SAS, manage the hotel for Qlobal Invest Kompani Ltd MMC.

As for Park Inn brand, it is a very new and exists only three years. The first Park Inn hotel was opened in 2003 in Berlin. The hotels of the given brand are notable for colorful and modern design in four traditional colors: green, blue, yellow and red. Modern concept, vivid design and use of environmentally friendly materials guarantee the best sleep in safe atmosphere.

The unique feature of Park Inn hotel in Baku is its prime location opposite the National Park (Boulevard).

C.E.: How comfortable is the hotel and what do Park Inn Hotel facilities include?

Thomas Stene: The hotel has 248 modern and colorful rooms equipped with LCD TV screens and wireless high-speed Internet. All floors in the hotel are in different color reflecting Park Inn style. There are 5 conference rooms of different size and a large Ball-room. These facilities give us opportunity to accommodate large groups and host big conferences. We have a modern bar and a restaurant offering the best of the international cuisine. Therefore, any international traveler will be able to find familiar names of dishes, which are also well known to Azerbaijani guests.

Guests of the hotel also have an opportunity to indulge themselves in sport since we provide a room equipped with modern strength and cardio vascular facilities, treadmills and free-weights. The hotel also has 22 Business friendly rooms that offer more space and are furnished on higher level.

Those rooms offer panoramic view to the Sea and the City, free Internet access and deluxe bathroom amenities. All of our rooms have magnificent view either to the city or the Caspian Sea.

The hotel has well-equipped offices that have already been rented by now. At present the hotel is carrying the work on finishing a business-center that will provide additional services for guests and participants of conferences.

If to speak of particular features of our hotel, I shall add that the hotel was designed by the architect from Turkey, Kazim Ispakhani, who has had already previous co-operation with Rezidor SAS. He had successfully implemented projects of Radisson SAS in St. Petersburg and Ankara. This is the third project with his participation. Virtually, Kazim Ispakhani adapted Park Inn project in Baku for new standards, making it bright and modern and at the same taking into consideration the national style and climate conditions of Baku.

C.E.: How does the hotel give attention to the security matters?

Thomas Stene: As for security, it is the key credo in our work. The main attention is focused on matters related to safety and security. It is important both for guests and the personnel. Being a part of the hotel network of Rezidor SAS we have to follow very strict standards of operations. Thus, when opening a hotel we have considered all standard and local requirements of safety and security.

Our employees engaged in the security service work 24 hours and the hotel is equipped with the latest technologies.

The hotel has introduced unique and up-to-date standards on fire prevention alarm including awareness system for hearing impaired.

I would like to emphasize once more, that security issue is very important for us. We give special attention to this matter in combination with rendering the best service to our clients.

C.E.: Could you tell us about the Park Inn project as a hotel of middle class in details?

Thomas Stene: Rezidor SAS tries not to divide its hotels in line with "starts" as each country has its own criteria and this somewhat disorientate opinions of people.

When we speak that we orient ourselves towards the middle market, we do not mean that our service will be rendered on the middle level. It rather concerns scope of rendered services and facilities that we offer. In particular, instead of three different restaurants with multifold kitchen we offer only one; instead of large fitness-center with spa and tennis courts we offer an exercise room with major equipment that meets essential requirements.

As for rendered services, we meet the highest standards. Our position at the market also reflects on our prices and we need to make sure that we offer value for money.

Being a part of the international network of hotels we offer together with our partners from airline industry various loyalty programs to our guests. That gives them opportunity to earn miles or points when staying in Rezidor SAS hotels. Within the framework of these programs Rezidor SAS is partnering with such airline companies as Lufthansa, SAS and British Airways. Our clients are always glad that we support these programs in the Park Inn in Baku.

C.E.: Is it perspective to carry out a hotel business in Azerbaijan?

Thomas Stene: Today the business activity in Azerbaijan is steadily growing. There are lots of travelers, businessmen, specialists engaged in the service sector of oil companies arriving in Azerbaijan. As it is well known, Azerbaijan was recognized as a favourable place for foreign investments, which positively influences the whole market, in particular our sector of hospitality. We are aware that other international hotel brands are interested in coming to Azerbaijan. It proves presence of favorable factors for hotel business development in Baku.

We also hope that in addition to business travelers we will have an opportunity to host more tourists in Azerbaijan. We believe that future development of Azerbaijan will stimulate development of tourism. It is quite possible that owners of our hotel will be considering further projects.

And finally I can say that we are very positive about our future in Azerbaijan.