Accor joins hands with ARO Palace Brașov for the reopening of the Capitol Hotel as part of the global Mercure brand
THE CONSOLIDATED AND REFURBISHED HOTEL WILL BE REOPENED AT THE END OF 2025. THE MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER OF ARO PALACE S.A. IS TRANSILVANIA INVESTMENTS, ONE OF THE LARGEST INVESTMENT FUNDS IN ROMANIA.
Accor, a world-leading hospitality group, has signed an agreement to open a new Mercure hotel in Brasov, Romania under a franchise agreement with key local hospitality partner, ARO Palace. The contract targets the consolidation and complete makeover of the former Capitol Hotel Brasov, which will be reopened in late 2025 as Mercure Brasov Center. ARO Palace S.A. have been assisted by winsedswiss Romania in the operator selection process.
The hotel will welcome guests in 181 spacious rooms, including 28 suites. It will also feature an a-la-carte restaurant and a lobby bar. The hotel will certainly become the ideal venue for hosting business events, private celebrations, and ceremonies in its six versatile conference rooms, totalling more than 500 sqm.
The future Mercure Brasov Center enjoys a prime location in the heart of the city, right at the entrance gate in the Old Town. With its central location, the hotel offers guests easy access to the city's cultural treasures, shopping districts, and lively entertainment options, ensuring a memorable stay immersed in the charm and history of Brasov. The destination is also highly accessible, being situated only 5 minutes away from the railway station, while the drive to the new Brasov-Ghimbav International Airport takes less than 15 minutes.
Brasov is one of the top Romanian cities which contributed significantly to the country’s economic growth in 2022. The hospitality sector plays a pivotal role in promoting tourism and cultural exchange in Brasov, as well as in creating jobs and boosting ancillary industries and trade. The city's rich history, stunning landscapes, and proximity to the Carpathian Mountains attract a growing number of domestic and international tourists.
“Joining hands with one of the largest and most prestigious hospitality players in Romania – ARO Palace, owned by Transilvania Investment – is a great opportunity and an honour for Accor. The partnership allows us to fulfil our mission, of empowering local destinations to achieve their potential through superior standards of accommodation, personalised services and access to the immense strength of our global marketing and distribution network.” says Cătălina Toma, Accor Development Director for Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova.
"Of all the options considered, Mercure was the best choice to leverage all that Hotel Capitol has to offer. It's a brand with a strong international reputation and local inspiration as its core value. This will allow us to carry forward all that the hotel's history of over four decades," said Radu Roșca, Executive President, Transilvania Investments.
“ARO Palace aims to complete all the steps related to obtaining the permits and selecting the suppliers that will implement the investment by the end of this year. The renovation works will start in the first quarter of 2024 and will involve not only the complete modernisation of the space, but also the addition of services that will allow a higher classification.
The goal is to create a synergy between the offer of the Mercure Brasov Center and that of the Aro Palace Hotel, so that tourists visiting the Brasov area will find all the options in the company's portfolio. This will bring the company closer to its goal of making Brasov the no. 1 travel destination in Romania, both for individual leisure, as for business and large groups.” stated Călin Ile, President of the Board of Directors, Aro Palace.
The Mercure Hotels boasts a powerful international network of more than 943 hotels in over 60 countries. Each Mercure hotel is rooted in local culture and is complimented by generous hospitality and a commitment to offering high-quality standards. The brand is renowned for its focus on sharing ‘Local Stories’ to help travellers discover hidden gems that cannot be found in guidebooks and surprising tales that only the locals know. The network prides itself on offering high-quality standards with a true take on locality. From the moment guests arrive –be it in Rio, Paris, Bangkok, or any other destination globally –they are instantly immersed in a locally inspired atmosphere. Everything from the decorative design to a passion for local food and beverage discoveries is rooted in the unique features of each destination.
ABOUT ACCOR
Accor is a world leading hospitality group offering experiences across more than 110 countries in 5 400 properties, 10 000 food & beverage venues, wellness facilities or flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry’s most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing more than 40 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. Accor is committed to taking positive action in terms of business ethics & integrity, responsible tourism, sustainable development, community outreach, and diversity & inclusion. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France and publicly listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit www.group.accor.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
ABOUT TRANSILVANIA INVESTMENTS
Transilvania Investments is one of the largest investment funds in Romania, listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange under the symbol TRANSI. The fund's mission is to maximize investor returns by managing a complex portfolio of assets including companies in the financial, tourism, real estate, energy and IT sectors.
ABOUT ARO PALACE
The company Aro Palace S.A: has been making history in Brasov for over 80 years, since the first of its hotels, the Aro Palace Brașov was inaugurated in 1939. In 2005, the hotel was modernized and upgraded to 5-star standard, which it still maintains today.
The hotel has a privileged position, situated in the heart of Brasov, in the historical centre, so sought after by tourists from all over the world. Here tourists will always find a service that meets their demanding tastes.
The former Capitol Hotel Brasov, which is to be renovated, will be a proud member of the company.
Brașov, June 27, 2023.
Hotel Capitol Brașov