Business Watch
Moscow authorities have sold Radisson Slavyanskaya hotel and the land under it at the starting price of 5.27 billion rubles. The winner of the auction was Otel-Invest that belongs to businessmen Zakhar Iliyev and God Nisanov, who also owns the neighboring Yevropeisky Mall and Ukraina Hotel.
In the middle of December WowMoscow will start selling the first Moscow Pass cards providing access to several museums, Double Decker bus tours and already plans are afoot to welcome more museums into the system and add Moscow river cruises. In the near future the red tourist card with a picture of St. Basil’s Cathedral will become a travel pass for Moscow public transport and a universal payment instrument.
The affordable restaurants network, Nando’s, is planning to conquer the fast food market in the Russian capitals, Moscow and St. Petersburg. In Russia, the company has registered its brand until 2022 and investment in the development of the network will be $10 million. Nando’s was founded in 1987 in South Africa. To date, there are over 700 restaurants in its global network, including African and Asian countries, as well as the US. This is not the first time Nando’s has attempted to enter the Russian market. In 2008, the company intended to open a restaurant, but the global economic crisis scuppered its plans.
The construction of a first casino and a hotel has begun in the Far Eastern gambling zone, near the Far East city of Vladivostok, the administration of Primorye Region has said.
Best Western International, the World's Biggest Hotel Family, is set to continue its expansion in Russia. Best Western International has successfully introduced the brand through the BEST WESTERN Vega Hotel & Convention Centre in Moscow, the BEST WESTERN PLUS Spasskaya Hotel in Russia's oil capital Tyumen and the BEST WESTERN PREMIER Mona Boutique Hotel near Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, the gateway to Russia along with the destination resort BEST WESTERN Country Resort Hotel in the Moscow region.
Marriott to Grow Russia and CIS Portfolio by Over 50 Percent to More Than 30 Hotels by 2015
Marriott International is on track to double its portfolio in Europe from 40,000 rooms to 80,000 rooms by 2015. Marriott is fueling much of its growth in Europe with a strong focus on new development in Russia & CIS and today announced it will grow its existing portfolio in the region by more than 50 percent to more than 30 hotels open by 2015.