Luxury hotels in the center of Moscow record an increase in foreign clients

Foreigners are returning to luxury hotels in Moscow, several top managers spoke about this at the “Modern HoReCa” dinner organized by Kommersant. In particular, growth is recorded by The Carlton, Moscow, Baltschug Kempinski Moscow and Metropol Hotel Moscow. This is due to visits from people from China, Arab countries, and citizens of European countries also come to Russia. At the same time, the international Accor chain, which manages 60 hotels of different classes in Russia, has not yet recorded more foreign clients.

General Manager of The Carlton, Moscow Oksana Leonenko said that earlier the hotel “caught themselves thinking” that they were stopping communicating in English and switching to Russian. However, in the summer the flow of foreigners began. “I think that many restaurateurs also saw our Arab guests. Now there are more and more of them. We have a huge increase in foreign tourists. It’s as if we are returning to pre-pandemic times. This is very pleasing,” said Mrs. Leonenko. She believes that Moscow hotels need to “preserve internationality” – offer “not only Russian dishes, but also their national dishes” and “try to communicate in their languages.” Ms. Leonenko predicts an increase in clients from China in the future.

General Manager of Baltschug Kempinski Moscow Lada Samodumskaya reported that “already more than 50%, closer to 60%” of hotel guests are “again foreign guests.” “We are extremely happy about this. We have a little more Chinese. Probably because the groups went. Halal dishes have been added to the menu because there are a large number of (guests.— “Ъ”) from the Middle East. But dozens of countries are still present: Germany, Italy, France. And this cannot but rejoice. They left, but they didn’t leave. A lot of money has been invested,” noted Ms. Samodumskaya.

Baltschug Kempinski Moscow notes an increase in demand for services. “I want to reassure all restaurateurs who may not yet see tables being booked. That, at least in Moscow, in the next five weeks you will definitely not have free tables, because we are running out of rooms,” said Mrs. Samodumskaya.

Since August, the share of foreign guests at Metropol Hotel Moscow has been 65–70%. “It’s not that it’s not pessimistic, in fact everything is very optimistic,” said general director Marina Skokova.

However, Accor New East Europe CEO Alexis Delaroff said that since 2020, “foreigners have not returned.” “If we talk about a large network – 60 hotels in Russia – then 95% of our guests are from Russia and the CIS. If now it’s 95%, then then (before.— “Ъ”) was 60%. In the regions it was always 95%,” said Mr. Delaroff.

Managing Director of the Radisson Hotel Group in Russia, Violetta Romero de Torres, at the dinner expressed hope that the international chain will also resume development. She reported that the group decided to open a new facility in Perm and the Radisson Collection in Sochi.

About the growth of foreign guests in hotels – in the material “Kommersant FM” “Foreigners have become frequent visitors to Russia”.

Leonid Uvarchev