ROMANIA is… president
At the 94th reunion of the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), held in Campeche (Mexico), România obtained the position of president of the Executive Council of UNWTO. The position will be held for one year, till the autumn of 2013. „This decision honors us. The vote represents a recognition at international level of our efforts in tourism and a great opportunity to grow visibility of our country, as a tourist destination and as an active partner in this domain”, said the state secretary Cristian Bărhălescu.
The Executive Council of UNWTO has 32 member states. UNWTO counts with 155 member states, 6 associated members and over 400 affiliated ones is an agency of the United Nations. România has been a founder member since 1975.
AT IKA 2012
4 bronze medals for Romanian chefs
At the 23rd edition of the Culinary Olympics in Erfurt – Germany the Romanian senior and junior teams conquered four bronze medals. This is the most important manifestation of its kind, the contest taking place once every four years.
The seniors (the average age of the team being 37) got the medal at the Nations Restaurant and at the Cold Buffet section while the juniors (18-24 years old) where distinguished with bronze for Hot Plates and Cold Buffet sections. The absolute leader of the whole contest, among nations, has been Sweden – said Gabriela Berechet, team-manager at the Culinary Olympics – IKA 2012.
IKA 2012 had over 200.000 visitors. They have seen the evolution of 35 national teams, 25 junior teams, 8 military teams, 46 regional teams, etc. The organizers estimate revenue of over 3.5 million euro.
PUFLENE RESORT – an elite complex
A new four stars tourist complex opened its gates in the Danube Delta at Murighiol (Tulcea County). Puflene Resort offers superior services to its rating and has been built by the business man Mihai Puflene, owner of several other accommodation facilities.
The investment showcases 12.000 sqm of buildings on a 7.5 ha of land. There is a main hotel for 300 guests, 16 villas, main restaurant, bar, Trattoria and a Barbeque area, 5 conference rooms, a multifunctional room for pool, table tennis, etc, a Spa centre (beauty corner, sauna, massage, Jacuzzi, and a unique salt mine cure concept), fitness room. The complex also has an Olympic indoor swimming pool and outdoor one, tennis, basketball, volleyball, football courts etc.
„The complex adds a lot to the general offer of the Danube Delta. Here at Puflene Resort we have the possibility to offer various special boat rides into the magic water lands of the Delta. It looks quite clear to us, after two months since opening, that out target is an exigent client, that is looking for high quality services” – said Mihai Puflene.
The BRAN CASTLE neighbours Bermuda Triangle
In a Top 10 of the most terrifying destinations for Halloween (feast with a celtic origin) published by Hotwire.com and cited by DailyMail, the Bran Castle in Romania takes the number nine position. The publishers describe the place accordingly:”Maybe you do not need garlic and prods to visit Bran Castle in Transylvania, Romania, but learning the terrifying truth about the great prince Vlad Tepes will make you wanna watch your back when visiting the castle”.
Number one in the top is Hollywood (Los Angeles), being followed by destinations as Salem (Massachusetts), New Orleans in Louisiana, Sleepy Hollow (New York), Edinburgh (Scotland), The Hrad in Prague (Czech Republic), Bermuda Triangle, Paris and Moscow.
BUZIAŞ had a Phoenix of 4 stars
Until the end of this year the first four stars hotel will be inaugurated in Buziaş cure resort (Timiş county), Western Romania. The Phoenix Conference & Spa Complex has three floors and offers 43 double rooms, two apartments, one restaurant with international cuisine and 65 seats, bar, wireless internet. One of the strong points of the new investment is the conference centre with a capacity of 300 guests, given with the most modern technology. The other one is the Spa Center where one can enjoy several procedures and facilities from massage to sauna, fitness, indoor pool etc.
„This investment is a challenge for all those that choose to come to the cure resort of Buziaş – known as <the resort of your heart>. Our offer will be more diversified and we will grow on the MICE segment” – said Sorin Munteanu, director of Buzias SA, owner of the new complex. Buziaş SA has as a main shareholder the SIF Transilvania Society.
L`EXPRESS: the Merry Cemetery rules!
The French publication L’Express considers that The Merry cemetery of Săpânţa (Maramureş County) is the most beautiful complex of this kind in the world. The cemetery is UNESCO patrimony and famous for it’s vibrant, colorfully crosses. Each one of them is carved, hand painted and wears as an inscription the story of the passed one, in a merry or sad poetic rhythm. The tradition was started in the 1930s by the local artist Stan Ioan Pătraş and it is still kept by its successors.
In the French top 10 The Merry cemetery of Săpânţa is followed by Pere Lachaise (Paris), The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague, La Recoleta (Buenos Aires), Grave-Wood (New York), Highgate (London), Xoxocotlan (Santa Cruz), Arlington National Cemetery (Virginia), Forest Lawn in Los Angeles and Waverley in Australia.
OTOPENI AIRPORT opened the new terminal
This month the Bucharest Airports National Company (CNAB) opened the new Departures Terminal at International Henri Coandă Bucharest Airport. This investment of 52 million euro has been self financed by CNAB and represents the third step in modernizing the airport. The works took 14 months.
The new Departures Terminal has 19.600 sqm and doubled its operational capacity: 52 new check-in counters next to the 52 existing ones. Passengers may use 8 new «self check in» machines as well. Luggage check-in uses last generation systems, according to the high standard security policies at international level. The parking area of the airport has been supplemented with 244 seats.
