<strong>CIŞMIGIU – A hotel with a sophisticated scent</strong>

After a 15 million euro investment the Hercesa Company opened the new Cişmigiu Hotel. It has a prime position in the historical area of Bucharest, being located just next to one of the oldest and most romantic parks in town, the Cismigiu Park. The new building hosts not only a hotel but also business facilities, a stylish Humanitas bookstore and the Cervantes Spanish Cultural Institute in Bucharest. The building of100 years old initially opened in 1912 as a landmark of Little Paris, under the name of Palace and later on changed to Hotel Cişmigiu.
<a href="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hotel-cismigiu-engl.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1898" title="hotel cismigiu engl" src="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/hotel-cismigiu-engl.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="922" /></a>
The restoration process of this historical location started in 2004 after its acquisition by the Spanish real estate company Hercesa. Rated four stars Hotel Cişmigiu offers 60 apartments of 38 to 50 sqm. Its ground level is still to be finished, here the owners planning to open the new Gambrinus Beerhouse – another historical brand of the old city. The remake of the beer house took 150.000 euro and the beer supplier is going to be Heineken. Mauricio Mesa Gomez, director of Hercesa said at the opening: „The Cişmigiu building, the first acquisition of Hercesa in România, is our dearest project. We believe it is going to be a great success and the place will win, once again, the hearts of people in the city, as well as will attract travel agents and foreign travelers”.

<strong>We love Transalpina</strong>
<a href="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ev-Transalpina-31.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1900" title="ev Transalpina 3" src="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ev-Transalpina-31.jpg" alt="" width="4928" height="3264" /></a>
The highest road in Romania – Transalpina -, has been nominalized for an Excelence Prize at the 10th edition of the International Forum for Durable Development in Paris. The prize is decided and given by representatives of the several NGO’s, orgenizers of the event.

The same objective in Romania is well rated in a top made by Opentravel, consisting in the most beautiful winter destinations. Transalpina, recently repaved, is said to have initially been an altitude road built almost 2000 years ago by the roman armies, over the Carpathian Mountains. For several hundred years it has been used by the shepherds on both sides of the mountains. The road has bit over 130 km and goes as high as 2145 m. It starts in southern area of Romania, in Novaci area, Bengesti village, and ends in Transylvanian city of Sebeş.

<strong>HOREZU ceramics become world patrimony</strong>
<a href="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Horezu-engl.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1901" title="Horezu engl" src="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Horezu-engl.jpg" alt="" width="1575" height="1181" /></a>
The traditional ceramic produced in Horezu area, in subacarpathian southern Romania, has been included by UNESCO on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, at the last meeting of the council in Paris. According to the UNESCO site: “Horezu ceramics are a unique traditional craft, handmade in Vâlcea County, Romania. The potters select and extract the earth, which is then cleaned, cut, watered, kneaded, trampled and mixed – transforming it into a clay body from which they produce a red pottery. Each object is shaped with a special finger technique, decorated with traditional motifs in vivid shades, and then fired. The potters rely on traditional tools: mixers, potter's wheels, combs, tools for decoration and wood-burning stoves.” Horezu ceramics is also known in Romania for its specific rooster, tree of life and spirals decoration motifs.

<strong>Akantus Hotel married in Ramada</strong>

Akantus Hotel in Cluj joined the Ramada chain of hotels being the newest Ramada hotel in Romania. The complex, located in the business area of Cluj Napoca, offers 100 rooms, a whole Executive floor, 4 conference rooms and also two restaurants and a Wellness Spa – an unique 360 panoramic views SPA.

The new Ramada is a project developed by Trend Hospitality Consulting &amp; Management – company led by Tinu Sebeşanu. ”Cluj Napoca is one of the most important cities in Romania and has been one of the main targets of the Ramada group. We are glad that we succeeded this affiliation.” - said Lucian Marinescu, Senior Associate of Trend Hospitality.

„From the owners point of view, higher visibility and better positioning of the hotel on the market, as well as having access to new sales points, are some of the advantages of wearing the Ramada brand, reason for which we expect higher turnover in 2013” – said Razvan Tarmure, President and General Director of EuroTrend Grup.

<strong>MARCH: 2 tourism fairs</strong>
<a href="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Tirguri-engl.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1902" title="Tirguri engl" src="http://www.travellermagazin.ro/arhiva/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Tirguri-engl.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1398" /></a>
Two of the most important tourism shows in Romania will take place in March.
The first one TTR (The Romanian Tourism Fair) will be opened 14 to 17 March at Romexpo in Bucharest. The organizers of this 29th edition are Romexpo, the local Chambers of Commerce and Industry, ANAT, FPTR, ANTREC and OPTBR. “ The Romanian Tourism Fair wants to contribute in strenghening the tourism industry, promoting attractions but also organiying seminaries and debate over the actual problems of the domain”– said Mariana Suciu, general director of Romexpo.

The second fair on the month will be in Brasov, 29 to 31 March. This 6th editon of Transylvania Tourism Fair will be held at Braşov Business Park. Sorin Dencescu, general director of Krontur Expo and organizer of the show, believes that the fair will largly interest the public inspite of the economic dwellings: “I am convinced that early booking packages , with discounts from 5 to 35% will sell well for the new season”. Traveller Magazin is a media partner of both the fairs to come.

LAZĂR CRISTIAN is the „GOLDEN CHEF 2012”

Over 70 guests enjoyed the exquisite cuisine and show of the 4th edition of the Golden Chef of Bucharest Competition. The finals and the Gala Dinner have been organized by the Chefs Federation in Romania. The “Bucătarul de Aur al Bucureştiului” Lazăr Cristian (and his team partner Iulian Chivu) from Grand Hotel Continental received the grand trophee Golden Chef of Bucharest 2012. Ivan Florin Marian and Milosi Alexandru ranked 2nd in the contest being followed by Dobre Alexandru şi Ionuţ Brăteanu (3rd place) and Brad Arpad and Daniela Zgimbău (4th place). The jury was composed by several chefs and gastronomy specialist such as: Wynand Vogel, Henrik Sebok, Cornelia Ghişoi, David Contant, Maria Popa and Cornelia Toma. TRAVELLER MAGAZIN was one of the media partners of this event.



Wyndham Group awarded Ramada Oradea

The Wyndham Hotel Group gave its annual awards in London, rewarding the performances of the hotels in the group. Over 190 hotels on three continents competed for 2012 and the prize went to Ramada Oradea hotel, in northern Romania.

In order to participate in the competition Ramada Oradea had to show data regarding customers’ satisfaction and service quality. “I am proud to offer to Ramada Oradea the prize for the Hotel of the Year in Europe, Middle East and Africa. This hotel, through sustained work, reached the top level, and I whish to congratulate its team and to thank them for their daily dedication to the Ramada brand.” - said Rui Barros, senior vice president and managing director Wyndham Hotel Group in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

TOP 25 hotels in România

TripAdvisor published the lists of the best hotels in various countries of the world, the ratings being given by the travavellers using theirs services. In 2012 the Top 25 for România we finf well known large properties but as well smaller, very personalized hotels. Most nominations come from the Capital city of Bucharest but there are some remarcabla units from all around the coutry. The leader of the list is the Little Texas in Iaşi. It is followed by Ramada Hotel &amp; Suites Bucharest Nord, Epoque (Bucharest), Hilton (Sibiu), J.W. Marriott, K+K Hotel Elisabeta, Sarroglia, Radisson Blu – all in Bucharest, Golden Tulip Ana Dome (Cluj-Napoca) and Plaza V &amp; Plaza V Executive Hotel (Târgu Mureş).

Among other rated hotels we find as well Grand Hotel Continental, Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, Ramada Sibiu, Central Plaza Hotel in Piatra Neamţ, Doubletree by Hilton Unirii, Splendid Mamaia etc.