Before we get to
the history and services of the hotel, would you
be able to tell us about the tourism sector in Primorsky
krai?
Russia has recently been developing its economy
in accordance with market principles. The hospitality
industry and tourism play a significant role in
the market economy. This sector appears to be a
business card of the country. Apart from this, this
sector brings big profits and contributes a lot
to the development of the national economy. We hope
the development of this sector will lead to that
tourists coming to Russia from all over the world
will encourage further developing other sectors
of the national economy.
Unfortunately Russia has only 1.5% in the world
tourist flow. Every 5 years fast growth rate of
the last decade leads to increasing twice the number
of employees involved in the sphere of the world
tourism, and 1.5 times people's expenditures on
tourist trips in the world. Thus, the hospitality
sector is developing together with the tourism.
It is closely connected with tourism and entrepreneurship.
The hospitality industry also includes public catering
and amusement parks. All these sectors provide a
lot of jobs for people of any country. In Russia
the authorities used to pay little attention to
the hospitality industry. This sector was not developed
enough. However together with the transition to
the market economy it is this sector that has been
developing fast and actively: a great number of
tour agencies, companies, refurbished motels, hotels,
restaurants, amusement parks, casinos have appeared.
The tourism has started to bring good money for
the country budget and to owners of hotels and restaurants.
Nevertheless, the hospitality and tourism industry
is not developed enough both in Primorye and in
the country in general: a network of middle-class
hotels and tourist centres for tourists and visitors
to live is not developed enough.
The tourist sector is comparatively young but fast
developing in the region. It is one of the leading
sectors in the regional economy that is encouraging
development local, regional, governmental, international
and economical ties of the region. Primorsky krai
has significant recreational resources.
At the moment in Primorsky krai there are more than
180 enterprises involved in the tourism sector,
80 hotels able to receive 6,350 visitors. Most of
the hotels are in the city of Vladivostok but the
territory where hotels and tour agents are situated
is constantly expanding.
According to the Committee for Tourism of the Administration
of the city of Vladivostok (as of 2001) there are
27 housing facilities, officially registered, licensed
and categorised, including 18 hotels and 7 resorts.
Can you tell us about the history of "Vladivostok"
hotel.
At the moment the "Vladivostok" hotel
is the largest in Vladivostok and Primorsky krai.
It can accommodate 727 guests every day. In the
hotel there are various rooms of increased comfort
and ordinary ones. Apart from suites, last year
studios were introduced: luxurious rooms equipped
with state-of-art and according to the requirements
of an international hotel.
The hotel was built in 1974, i.e. it is 29 years
old. It was officially opened on the 7th of March,
1975. At that time there were double rooms and suites.
Individuals and people on business trips represented
guests.
The economical situation being stable in the early
1980s, there were a lot of people coming to the
sea to have a rest. A lot of foreign tourists from
Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan came
here. In the late 1980s and early 1990s there were
a lot of people coming here to buy Japanese cars.
Since 1996 the hotel has been renovated, including
the building itself and relations among the employees.
In 1997-1998 the joint stock company had financial
losses. The hotel had only one goal and that was
to survive. It was necessary to find a way out of
this difficult situation, to find its own image
on the market of services where there was strong
competition as there were 5 hotels in the centre
of the city. We managed to find a solution. We started
to repair rooms and vital communications, to improve
the quality of services to get necessary certificates.
We had to invest a great deal of funds to put everything
in order to meet the requirements.
All funds and efforts were directed to repair and
reequip rooms, to raise the quality of services,
to introduce new services upgrading the level of
the hotel: casino, sauna, amusement centre, hairdresser's,
business-centre, negotiation room, dentist's, massage
room. At the end of 1997 the overhaul of the upper
floors and the refurbishment of the lower floors
were completed. Rooms were categorised according
to their level: standard rooms, improved comfort
rooms, we began to conclude booking agreements with
tour agents.
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Who are the hotel's
main customers?
In 1998 a flow of Chinese tourists poured into Russia
and Primorye in particular. They are the main guests
of the "Vladivostok" hotel and other hotels
at the moment. Due to them hotels of the city and
krai could get out of the crisis.
What do you see as being the competitive advantages
of the hotel?
One of its major competitive advantages is its location:
the hotel is in the centre of the city and the Amursky
bay and the Golden Horn bay can be seen out of the
windows. Traditional Russian hospitality and good
attitude to guests, cosy modern rooms create happy
and peaceful atmosphere.
The "Vladivostok" hotel is well known
not only in Russia but also abroad. Most tourists
prefer to stay at the hotel. For the last 3 years
names of well-known actors, film directors, musicians,
politicians, and sportsmen participating in the
Sidney Olympic Games have appeared in the Guest
Book. It is here where people want to stay trusting
their acquaintances' recommendations or just comparing
the "Vladivostok" hotel with other ones.
Such a publicity lets us maintain our reputation
and be ahead of our competitors.
The hotel management takes an active part in conferences
and seminars on hotel services quality in Russia.
The hotel staff is trained by professors of relevant
higher educational institutions of the city and
attested once a year. In the hotel there are special
requirements those who apply for jobs, one of them
is compulsory knowledge of English within the framework
of the hotel business.
Thanks to the smooth work of the staff, the hotel
is one of the leading hotels in this sector. Nowadays,
the company's goal is to develop and get perfect.
What are the main services provided by the hotel?
The "Vladivostok" hotel is not just a
place for a temporary stay. Without leaving the
hotel, you can both relax and make business: there
are 2 bars, sauna with a plunge-pool, casino, hairdresser's,
physiotherapy room, children room, business-centre.
Without stopping at its achievements and financial
stability, however, the hotel is improving its services
quality and expanding its set of services: a big
hall of the "Joser" restaurant was opened
in December, the complete reconstruction of the
Beauty Salon has begun.
Can you give us some examples of your latest
achievements?
The "Joser" Restaurant is the hotel's
business card and pride. The environment of the
restaurant is good for a nice conversation. Its
interior decoration is suitable both for business
meetings and a romantic dinner. Excellent cuisine
of various countries and individual approach to
every customer will bring genuine pleasure even
to gourmets.
The skillful chef, attentive waiters, calm environment,
live music in the evening will make your visit to
the "Joser" Restaurant pleasant in every
single respect. Business meeting or family party
- everything will be appropriate and will leave
you with pleasant memories.
Every week-end and on holidays there is a show performance
with the participation of leading musical and dancing
groups of the city of Vladivostok.
After a good dinner you can sing karaoke. The interior
of the karaoke rooms is so special that it involuntarily
makes you creative.
To make your evening really careless, the "Vladivostok"
hotel provides services of professional baby-sitters.
You will not have to worry about your children -
they will have a good time with other children of
the same age and be looked after while you are enjoying
your time or solving business issues.
What would be your final message to our readers?
You are welcome! We are happy and ready to receive
all guests!
At the moment the company has developed the new
booking system for tourist groups. The hotel provides
convenient booking system through Internet for individuals.
The prices are seasonally changed.
The hotel management and staff do their best to
make every guest feel comfortable and remember his/her
visit to Vladivostok.
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