Businessman George Copos, owner of the Ana Group, is planning to open a new, three-star hotel in Bucharest. Copos already owns the five-star Crowne Plaza in the Capital.
"We are looking into the possibility of buying a hotel, but we are also thinking about building one," George Copos told Ziarul Financiar, without naming the value of the investment.
By the end of next year, the Ana Group will invest about 15 million dollars in fitting and modernising the Europa and Astoria hotels, based in Eforie Nord. After the investment process is completed, Europa will become a four-star hotel, while Astoria will have three stars.
The businessman mentioned the new hotel might be included into an international chain and said he was considering this option for his other hotels, as well.
Copos says he has invested 45 million dollars in tourism. He is the chairman of Ana Group, the owner of Ana Hotels, which owns Eforie Nord-based Europa and Astoria, the Crowne Plaza and the La Belle Epoque pub in Bucharest, and the Poiana Brasov-based Sportul, Bradul and Poiana hotels, Ana Teleferic company and a ski school.
The businessman is also planning to list some of Ana Hotels shares next year on the Bucharest Stock Exchange. Ana Group holds almost 80% in Ana Hotels. Another significant shareholder is Nord SA Bucharest.
The floatation will most likely be done by a capital increase, while the money will be invested in the development of the seaside hotels. The exact percentage to be listed has not been decided yet.
Ana Group comprises eleven companies, operating in several fields, from electronic products, to electrical engines. At the beginning of the year, the group's officials stated that Ana Group was worth about 100 million dollars, according to internal evaluations.
