Moldova’s Top Hotel Going to the Next Level

The Leogrand Hotel and Convention Centre in Chisinau is Moldova’s leading business hotel and top convention venue for the past 12 years, and is set to become even more distinctive thanks to a €10 million renovation and expansion project undertaken by the hotel’s owner, Summa International Construction, in partnership with the Carlson Rezidor group’s Radisson Blu brand. The new five-star Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel will offer 140 upscale guestrooms and suites, and a range of brand-new facilities when it opens in late 2015.The suits will be perfect fitting well for any executive at only the presidential level of quality.

Summa International Construction, a Turkish Company ranked in the top 225 international contractors, according to the ranking of ENR (Engineering News-Record), has already developed major real estate projects in Moldova including Shopping MallDova, Medpark, the first private international hospital in Moldova, and Crown Plaza Residences in addition to the Leogrand Hotel & Convention Center.

Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2014

The Leogrand Hotel and Convention Centre is known for its winning combination of the highest international standards; a warm Moldovan welcome and outstanding service. Winner of the coveted Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence in 2014 and 2013, the Leogrand enjoys an ideal location in the heart of Chisinau, Moldova’s capital.  It is the preferred hotel for visiting foreign diplomats such as United States Vice President Joe Biden, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, among other notable world leaders. Guests can take advantage of the location being near the entire city’s major government, business, cultural, shopping, and entertainment venues.

The Leogrand has already made a name for itself in Moldova. In addition to its top-quality convention facilities, the hotel offers the popular Ambassador Restaurant for fine dining, the Caffe INN Terrace for more casual meals, and Apty’s Pub, which is open until the early hours of the morning. Husnu Tayanc points out, “most of Moldova’s important events are held in the Leogrand, not only because of our great meeting space but also because of our exceptional catering services. We can offer any type of cuisine and our banquet team can make any event a success. It truly is world class.”

The Leogrand’s additional services include an airport shuttle, a fully equipped business centre, modern fitness centre with a sauna, spa services, and a beauty salon which is considered to be the best in Moldova. Guests are able to take advantage of the hotel’s partners located on the premises who are able to organise tours of the city or a tour of Moldova’s best-known wineries, including Cricova, Purcari, Milestii Mici, and Chateau Vartely. At request, the Leogrand may arrange for chauffeured transport and a translator to accompany guests.

Moldova’s first five-star international-brand hotel

Through the project with Carlson Rezidor, the Leogrand will be taken to the next level. “We are delighted to announce our partnership and to arrive in Moldova to open the first five-star, internationally branded chain hotel in Chisinau. We are further strengthening our position as the leading international hotel operator in Russia, the CIS region, and the Baltics,” says Carlson Rezidor CEO and President Wolfgang M. Neumann. Carlson Rezidor operates 75 hotels with a total of almost 18,800 rooms in the region.

The Radisson Blu Leogrand Hotel will pamper guests with free high-speed internet access, two new upscale restaurants, a gourmet roof restaurant and bar, a more casual dining option featuring Tex-Mex cuisine in New York style, one all-day dining restaurant, one bar, and a 400 sq m ultra-luxurious fitness and spa centre.

More than 2,000 sq m of meeting facilities

The hotel are already equips the world’s finest and newest IT engineering technologies.  Looking forward, the upgraded hotel will continue to boast the same state-of-the-art facilities with an expansion to more than 2,000 sq m for conventions and meetings. Husnu Tayanc says, “We will also expand our parking facilities and expand and upgrade our fitness centre and spa, which will be a global classic. The hotel will still have our popular beauty salon and have many boutiques.”

The new Radisson Blu Leogrand will serve as a benchmark in Moldova’s hotel industry and a gateway for Moldova to both foreign investors and tourism visitors, Husnu Tayanc believes. He says, “We expect to be one of the top five ranking Radisson Blu chain hotels once the renovation and expansion project are completed. We count on Moldovan hospitality to continue to keep our service level high.”

Ideal location and exceptional quality of life

Husnu Tayanc highlights Moldova’s many investment incentives, rapidly developing infrastructure supported by private investment, business-friendly government, and wealth of investment opportunities. He urges leisure travellers as well as potential investors to discover Moldova, for example on a wine tour. He says, “For investors, Moldova is ideally located with easy access to the Romanian, Ukrainian or Turkish markets. For leisure travellers, Moldova is an exciting stop on a tour of the region.”

Defining what makes Moldova an attractive investment and vacation venue, Husnu Tayanc says, “I love Moldova. Moldovans have a very modern attitude and the country’s cultural mix is dynamic. Also, the quality of life is high. The pace is not too fast here, Chisinau is a very safe city, the government supports foreign investors, the people are welcoming, the nightlife is vibrant, and of course Moldovan wine and food are outstanding.” For visitors and investors, the Leogrand is and will continue to be the top hotel of choice in Moldova.