Приветствие от Ренессанс Москва!

Чарльз Баркс, Генеральный менеджер

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome and host “Business Seminar” in Moscow Renaissance hotel.
With the Renaissance brand as part of the Marriott family, we are maintaining the high standards of comfort, safety and quality, attentive service and flexibility expected from a superior business class hotel.
As a General Manager of the hotel I believe that holding the “Hotel Summit” is very important and in current situation very timely. Our mission is to establish favorable conditions, comprehensive support for the companies and representatives present on this event.

Moscow has accommodation solutions to meet every need. Option range from five star luxury palaces to western-style business plazas. Though recent years the city has regularly topped polls as the most expensive city in the world, ahead of London, New York and Tokyo it is still extremely attractive for the companies. Prices of the hotels, restaurants and real estate have skyrocketed, reflecting Moscow’s new role as one of the world’s strongest business hubs. Though there is still a big gap between demand and supply as such, the internationally branded hotels of high quality are already widely represented in the city. Business arrivals are the source of demand for Moscow hotels. Business travelers’ share in Moscow is still more than 40% of total arrivals.

Moscow is the seat of Russian power and much of the countries’ development has been concentrated here .Since the Russian financial crisis 0f 1998, many sectors of city’s economy have witnessed exponential growth rates. Multinational companies have chosen to open branches and set up office there and many new business centers and office buildings have been constructed. Moscow has seen an influx of foreign investors who have been keen to take advantage of the access it gives to the 150 million potential customers in the Russian market. As a result the city is home to more than 90% of the foreign businessmen based in the country. It is a rapidly changing, exciting city which represents the face of modern Russia – the world’ largest country by area. Russia is overflowing with mineral riches, bordering the EU, with abundant finances, average growth of 7% over the last 10 years, a developing and dynamic market, a quickly growing middle class.

The leading sectors of foreign investments in Moscow are: Real property transactions – 53%, Financial operations – 21%, Construction – 9%, Transport&Communication - 8%, Processing industries and Mining operations – 8%.The boom in real estate continued in Moscow throughout 2007. Despite the rest of Europe experiencing a slowdown, the average price of a new build residential property rose to 43% versus 2006.
The evidence of growth is all around those of us fortunate enough to witness change at first hand in Russia. Moscow is visibly, colorfully and dramatically becoming more prosperous with almost no sign to slow down.
However it is not all good news. Inflation is a worry, as well as the crisis which has covered the whole world. Like all rapidly developing emerging markets Russia is not always the easiest place for foreign companies to do business. There are still market access issues and developing the long-term relationships necessary to do business in Moscow requires time, effort and patience. Moscow’s image as a business destination, with high accommodation and traveling costs as well as painful visa procedures for foreigners, should be improved in the medium term. More efforts are required to promote the city and foster the development of mid-market / budget accommodation. Improvements in the rule law would help.

Home to the highest number of billionaires in Europe Moscow is the city of untold opportunities; with the economy expanding and rapid rate, it remains a market with excellent long-term potential for exporters and investors. The most promising areas for long-term activity in Moscow are: Advanced engineering, Financial service, Power/Energy, Sport&leasure infrastructures. Opportunities have also been identified the sectors, like: Airports, Construction, Creative industries, Rail, Water.

Having said that I would like to invite you to take part in the “Business Seminar” on which you will share the experience of managing your projects and plans.
I wish you effective and fruitful days of conference.

Best regards