Hotel Online Special Report
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North American Travel to Hungary Up 20% 
In First Half of 1998; 
New Hotels Opened, Others Under Renovation
 
NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 1998 -  The Hungarian National Tourist Office announced today that 20% more North Americans visited Hungary in the first seven months of 1998 than in the same period last year. Also, three new hotels, two in Budapest and one in Debrecen, have been opened and several more are undergoing renovations.

Visitors, tourism-related revenues

In the first seven months 200,000 Americans traveled to Hungary, and the estimated total by year end will be approximately 350,000.  Last year the total was 317,000.  Tourism-related revenues in the first six months amounted to U.S.$1.1 billion, with a total of $2.8-2.9 billion expected by year end. Last year total revenues were $2.6 billion.  Tourism accounts for 9% of Hungary's GDP and between 250,000-300,000 people are employed in its tourism industry.

Just last week at the American Travel Market, American Express, the International Herald Tribune and Reed Travel Exhibitions awarded Hungary, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Poland the 1998 World Tourism Award for "outstanding economic growth through tourism" in recognition of the revenues and jobs that tourism contributes to these countries.

Hotel Figures

North Americans account for approximately 10% of all hotel guest nights, the third largest group after visitors from nearby Germany and Austria.  The average length of stay is 2.7 nights.  "We expect that next year, with more than 100 special festivals and events celebrating the Year of Gastronomy, more visitors will stay longer," says Balazs Szucs, Director of the Hungarian Tourist Office, North America.

New Hotel Developments

This August the new 126-room Hotel Ibis Centrum opened in the heart of Budapest's business, shopping and cultural district.  All rooms are air-conditioned with direct-dial telephone, color TV and computer connections. There is also an underground private parking garage and roof garden.

The 130-room Relais Mercure Duna, also on the Pest side of Budapest, opened late last year. All rooms are air-conditioned and have TV, safe and computer connections. There is also a conference room available that can accommodate 50 people.

In Hungary's second largest city, Debrecen, situated in the heart of the Great Hungarian Plain, a new four-star spa hotel, the Thermal Hotel Debrecen, opened its doors this summer. Featuring both indoor and outdoor pools filled with mineral waters for treating arthritis, cardiovascular disorders and other conditions, the new hotel has 56 double rooms and 40 two-room apartments. Again, all rooms are air-conditioned with TV, telephone and special beds and bed linens made from organically grown materials. The hotel also organizes sightseeing excursions to the Puszta (Great Plain) and the wine-growing regions of Eger and Tokaj.

Several hotels in Budapest have been undergoing or are about to begin renovations:
 

Ibis Volga - 66 of the 313 rooms have been renovated, as well as the lobby, meeting rooms and restaurants. Capable of accommodating meetings of 20-100 participants, this large hotel now also targets the meetings and convention market.
Pannonia Hotel Emke - Renovation of lobby, breakfast room and new furniture in all rooms was completed earlier this year.
Hotel Mercure Korona - Most of the rooms in this 433-room hotel have been renovated and sound-proofed, with the balance to be completed soon.
Pannonia Hotel Nemzeti - All 76 rooms plus corridors have been renovated in this centrally located hotel with old-world charm.
Pannonia Hotel Metropol - Because of a complete upcoming renovation, this hotel will temporarily close soon.
 
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Contact:
Balazs Szucs of the Hungarian National Tourist Office, 
212-355-0240; 
or Chris Lazarus of A.J. Lazarus Associates, Inc.,
212-768-2490, 
or [email protected]
for the Hungarian National Tourist Office
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Also See:
News from the Hungarian hotel industry Danubius Hotels: The new owner of Hungar Hotels / Sept 1997 

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