Four-Star Comforts in Arad

The four-star Best Western Central Hotel in Arad is set to play a key role in spurring on the growth of Romania’s high-potential tourism sector. Formerly an independently owned property, the hotel became part of the global Best Western group in 2000 and launched Best Western’s presence in Romania’s hotel sector. Florian Torcos, Director General of the Best Western Central Hotel, points out, “We are the founders who promoted the Best Western chain throughout Romania.”

The hotel is ideally located in the heart of the city near all Arad’s top business, cultural and entertainment venues. It offers the international-standard facilities and services for which the Best Western group is known worldwide, but sets itself apart from other international chain hotels through its unique local character and its focus on making guests feel welcome and comfortable. As Florian Torcos puts it, “Our visitors feel very much at home here. They can count on a family feeling. In addition, the Best Western Central Hotel has quiet time after 11 PM. There is no nightlife or noise at the hotel, making it a perfect choice for business travellers who have come to Arad for work and need to get a good night’s sleep.”

Lovely garden terrace

The Best Western Central features 40 luxurious guestrooms and two particularly spacious suites, along with a gourmet restaurant and bar, a secure parking facility, and a beautiful garden with a terrace where guests can relax or dine in summer. The hotel is air-conditioned and free WiFi connections are available throughout the property.

Services include a sumptuous complementary buffet breakfast, a front desk open 24 hours, fax and photocopying support available at the reception desk, laundry services, and a free shuttle to the airport or train station. All of the hotel’s elegantly decorated rooms and suites are equipped with cable satellite TV, a telephone with international service, data ports, free WiFi Internet connections, a radio and alarm clock, a coffee/tea maker, a hairdryer and a minibar. A safe is available at the reception desk.

Choice of well-equipped meeting rooms

Guests can relax in the hotel’s sauna and Jacuzzi, have a message, or stay in shape in the modern fitness facility. For business travellers, the Best Western Central features a choice of meeting rooms, all equipped with the latest communications technologies. In addition, the hotel’s restaurant can host high-profile events for up to 200 guests.

The owners of the Best Western Central invested around €2 million in transforming the original one-star hotel into an upscale four-star Best Western property, and more improvements were completed in 2012. The current goal is to continue to upgrade the hotel.

Promoting Arad’s tourism sector

Most visitors to Arad, which has a flourishing industrial sector, have come to the city for business reasons, but Florian Torcos expects to see more tourism visitors once the area’s attractions are better known. Arad, a transport crossroads near the Hungarian border, is the hub of a thriving wine region and also has several historic landmarks from the city’s 1,000-year history, including an 18^th-century fortress, two universities, several historic churches and monasteries, many museums and several parks. Travellers can also find many sites to visit nearby, including traditional villages, ancient fortresses and other landmarks, wineries, a famed spa at Lipova and more.

The Best Western Central Hotel aims to be the hotel of choice for Arad’s visitors. Florian Torcos says, “We want to attract more tourism as well as business travellers to Arad. Most of our staff members speak at least two languages and we are ready to serve visitors from all over the world. We are committed to promoting not only the Best Western Central Hotel but also Arad. In the end, everyone benefits from this type of initiative. Additionally, we work with local foundations and we donate to these foundations in order to support Arad’s tourism sector.”

Boutique property in Germany

The Best Western Central Hotel’s owners also own a boutique hotel in Germany in a converted villa. This property is located in a pristine mountain setting near thermal springs, and visitors can combine a stay at the Best Western Central in Arad with a trip to Germany.

Florian Torcos says, “It is important for us to not only support our own local tourism sector but also to encourage Romanians to go to other countries and to provide options for international visitors. We have created an itinerary for tourists who come to Romania. When they arrive in Bucharest, we can organise their trip to Arad and then, if they wish, arrange for them to visit our villa in Germany. This is a great way for us to promote Arad as a tourism destination.” For both business travellers and tourists, the Best Western Central in Arad has positioned itself as the ideal base in Romania.