Luxury Hotels Stay Open in Russia Amid Dearth of Tourists

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  1. ajacobson

    ajacobson

    https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/luxury-...arth of Tourists,-Angelina Rascouet, Bloomber


    Mar 11, 2022



    Luxury Hotels Stay Open in Russia Amid Dearth of Tourists
    Angelina Rascouet, Bloomberg News


    (Bloomberg) --

    Five-star hotels are still operating in Russia, but they’re having to rely on locals amid sanctions on the country.

    Luxury destinations such as the Ritz-Carlton in Moscow and the Four Seasons are offering stays that can cost as much as 284,375 rubles ($2,165) a night.

    Belmond has also kept its Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg open. The hospitality chain is owned by LVMH, which decided to shut down 124 stores in Russia earlier this month. The French luxury-goods maker, which owns Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and Sephora and has 3,500 workers in the country, bought Belmond in 2019.

    Belmond’s example goes to show how some foreign companies like LVMH are stopping short of pulling out entirely from Russia, despite announcing store closures and other measures to reduce their presence. While logistical challenges may make it too complicated to ship Louis Vuitton handbags to Russia, it’s still possible to service a hotel and provide all the typical amenities and services for now.

    A Belmond spokesman said the chain continues to monitor the situation as it evolves. The St. Petersburg hotel employs 280 people. LVMH declined to comment.

    Marriott, the owner of Ritz-Carlton, said in a statement March 10 that its hotels in Russia are owned by third parties and it continues to assess the ability for them to stay open. The group has closed its corporate office in Moscow and is halting investments in the country. It’s common for hospitality groups to franchise hotels or operate them without owning them.

    InterContinental Hotels Group said on March 10 it’s suspending new hotel openings in Russia, adding it has “long-term management or franchise agreements with independent third-party companies that own the hotels in Russia.”

    Sanctions imposed on Russia are likely to drive away foreign tourists and have an adverse effect on hotels, Malta-listed International Hotel Investments Plc said March 3. The company owns the Corinthia chain, which has a luxury hotel that’s open in St. Petersburg not far from the Hermitage Museum, the biggest tourist attraction in the city.

    The global travel industry has already taken steps to scale back its footprint in the region. Booking.com suspended travel services in Russia and Belarus, Chief Executive Officer Glenn Fogel said in a LinkedIn post on March 4. Domestic travel is falling too with flight bookings in Russia down 49% in the week Feb.24-March 2, compared to the previous 7 days, travel trends specialist ForwardKeys said.

    Four Seasons didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

    ©2022 Bloomberg L.P.
     
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