IN SEPTEMBER – Romania will host the 53rd FIJET Congress
September 17 – 25 Romania will be the host of a unique event: the 53rd World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists and Tourism Editors (FIJET), its theme being „Cultural patrimony reflected by the travel media”. 250 international guests are expected. The road will start with the Palace of Parliament, Cotroceni Museum and will continue in the country, over 1000 kilometers, with Bacău, famous Cotnari cellars, Suceava, Moldoviţa (FIJET Golden Apple distinction in 1975), Suceviţa, Voroneţ and Gura Humorului Monasteries. Ciocăneşti, the village of the area promoted as a living icon of local traditions, will be followed by the Dracula Castle and Hotel in Tihuţa (Bistriţa County). Sighişoara will host a special medieval evening; Sibiu will show a traditional wedding. Bran Castle, the palaces of Sinaia (Peles and Pelişor) as well as new landmarks of Romanian tourism as Cantacuzino palace in Buşteni are to be seen.
The FIJET Romania Press Club and The Ministry of Development and Tourism are the organizers of the event. Two years ago the Romanian press club convinced FIJET to give the Golden Apple distinction to three Romanian concepts: Mărginimea Sibiului, The Danube Delta and Blue Air carrier. It has been a unique moment in the history of the organization as well as in the history of the Romanian tourism.
Europeans love Sighişoara
Sighisoara is the only city in Romania that has been nominated for the „Europe Prize” since 1955 when the distinction had been first given. The Transylvanian medieval city has been placed in top five by the experts of the Council of Europe. „Europe Prize” went eventually to Landerneau (France) and Hunfeld (Germany), Sighişoara being positioned on the second place, according to the number of votes.
In 1995 Sighişoara received the Honorific Diploma, 1998 the Honorific Flag, and in 2003 of the Honorific Tablet – all these distinctions being given by the Council of Europe. As a plus, two years ago, the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, was named by the Scientific Committee 
of Lugano, in the Tourism Gala, the “Medieval Jewel of Romania”. Recently the city was included in the top of Flexijourney.com, among the 66 most beautiful medieval cities or citadels in Europe.
Romania proposed to WTO
Romanians fight for a morals and ethics Code for tourism. This is the idea that a delegation of the ministry proposed in Mombasa (Kenya), where the works of the 90th session of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization took place. The new code will complete the existing similar document. The idea generated favorable opinions, due to the fact that the practical point of view will lead to better position of OMT in the world travel industry. On the event agenda other themes concerning tourism development until 2030 where listed as well. In 2011 the presidency of the Executive Council of WTO is held by Italy and the vice-presidency by Kenya and Romania.
NEWCOMER: Braşov Business Park
The Belgians from Ravensdale Investments officially opened Braşov Business Park (BBP), the largest business and events facility in the Transilvanian city. As baron Philippe Vlerick declared 30 million euro have been used up to now in this structure. The facility has been especially projected to host a 24.000 sqm Business Centre, and two other similar glass towers are expected to show up in the future, depending on the success of the existing buildings. At the end of the second investment phase BBP will have 62.000 sqm surface. 500 people work for the moment in Braşov Business Park.
Ravensdale Investments is a part of Vlerick Group, led by Baron Philippe Vlerick. “It is the only A class office building in Braşov. The renting prices are lower than in Bucharest, although our investment had the same high price as in the Capital”- said Vlerick. The group knows international industrial, financial and real estate development, in countries of Europe, as well as in India and USA. Ignacio Gheysens, CEO Vlerick Real Estate, trusts the potential of the area: “The positioning is excellent, exactly in the heart of the country. As a plus Transilvania University, well known in the technical field, activates here.”
Carol Parc Hotel is supplier of the Royal House
Carol Parc Hotel in Bucharest received the title of Official Supplier of the Royal House of Romania, in a ceremony organized by His Majesty King Michael Ist, Princess Margareta and Pince Radu of Romania. The title is valid for a period of three years. 
The hotel is located in the building of former quaint Suter palace, built in 1906. It is the only five stars hotel in Romania included by Conde Nast Traveler in its famous top 130 Best Hotels of the World. The hotel and its owners, Cătălin Adrian Petre and Sylvia Schlie Petre, received from the Union of Architects in Romanian the prize “Best Restoration and Design Project”.
TULCEA: Festival of paddling boats!
“Ivan Patzaichin-Mila 23” Association will organize in Tulcea, September 2-4, The Festival of paddling boats. A part of the Rowmania program, the initiative belongs to the multiple national and world champion Ivan Patzaichin: “We created Rowmania in order to make people in the Danube Delta regain their pleasure to row and to have a feast dedicated to this pleasure and to water”. Participants from countries sharing the Danube will show up. The last day of the festival in Tulcea will also see hundreds of participants of Tour International Danubien (TID). With a tradition of over 50 years, the participating teams must row for almost 60 days, 2.500 kilometers, from Ingolstadt (Germany) to Sfântu Gheorghe (Romania).
SINAIA: Piatra Şoimului labeled… green
Piatra Şoimului Vila in Sinaia ski resort (Prahova Valley) obtained the European ecologic label. The place became the third hosting facility in Romania to have such a certification, after Saturn Hotel at the Black Sea (Saturn resort) and Crowne Plaza hotel in Bucharest. According to Romanian Green Building Council, RoGBC, “The idea of asking for the certification came from the interest of the owners in a durable development, following in the same time our recommendation”. The villa is now facing modernization and will soon offer 15 new rooms, a 100 seats restaurant and a 1.200 sqm park.
FPTR has a new president
The businessman Mohammad Murad has been chosen president of the organization at the national conference of the Federation of Patronages in Romanian Tourism (FPTR). The former leader, Daniel Vasilescu, became honorific president, due to its contributions. As Murad said the development of FPTR will face an accelerated rejuvenation and change: “We now need a practical, credible and efficient alternative. An alternative that only implied people can promote, in order to stop the degradation process that is happening in the Romanian tourism. FPTR will fight to protect the interests of the investors and will take care of a coherent development in tourism.” Mohammad Murad is a graduate of the Medicine University in Bucharest. He is the founder of two hotel chains: Perla Majestic and Phoenicia Hotels & Resorts.
