Bruce Talley

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The new 508 room Radisson Blu Resort and Congress Center in Adler (in Sochi and near the Olympic Park) is now open and accepting reservations and accommodating visitors to Sochi.   American Brian Thompson of Colorado walked through the doors on Monday, November 5 to be welcomed by General Manager Thomas Hagemann and the staff of the hotel as its first guest.

That day, I spent the afternoon and evening at the Radisson Blu as a guest of Mr. Hagemann, General Manager and District Director for the Rezidor Hotel Group.  It was not the first time that I had been to the hotel, though.  Mr. Hagemann showed it to me during the latter stages of construction in late July.  At that time, rooms were being finished, the restaurants were being furnished and equipped, and the pools and spa were not completed.  Filling staff positions had only begun.

Monday (November 5), when I arrived, Mr. Hagemann greeted me at reception, which was staffed by friendly, smiling, English-speaking personnel.  He showed me the spectacular sushi bar that will open shortly near the Radisson's spacious reception area.   We also looked at the other restaurants, the spa, fitness room, children's play area, both pools (one for adults and one for children) and retail areas, the huge conference center. Everywhere is the feeling of space and with the sophisticated colors and design the hotel exudes Scandinavian cool.  Since the hotel sits between the Olympic Park and Adler's new seaport, the views are spectacular, too. Thomas and I toured several guest rooms, including one of the 3 Presidential Suites, just as the sun set over the Black Sea.  The view was amazing from the balcony- the sea on one side and on the other the Olympic venues with the Caucasus Mountains as backdrop.  I have beenl around the Olympic Park many times and no building features a better vista.

All of the rooms evidence the Scandinavian design prominent in Radisson hotels.  They are modern, comfortable, quiet and calm. The temperature, door and window systems control the environment and when inside, there is no hint that the Radisson Blu is only an oasis in the middle of the world's biggest construction site. Rooms either have mountain or sea views, some with both and many have views of the Olympic Park, including the Bolshoi Ice Palace, just a short walk from the hotel.

Thomas and his wife, Claudia,  hosted Brian and I and another local hotelier and his wife at dinner in the hotel's main restaurant.  The Executive Chef is George Leivadiotis, whose heritage is Greek, but who hails from Belgium. I had the restaurant's very good Blu Burger with a fresh Greek Salad, along with Tarte Tatin for desert.  The restaurant has a good selection of foreign and local wines to complement the menu.  And Mr. Leivadiotis does a great job in mixing the local produce with imported food to allow a different set of choices than diners usually have in this region.  

Thomas told me a bit about his background, too.  He was raised near Bremen, Germany and after his education and military experience, he served an apprenticeship with Marriott.  Since then he has served as Chief Steward, Restaurant Manager, Banquet Manager, Food and Beverage Manager, Director of Operations and General Manager at hotels in Germany, Egypt and Dubai.  Eventually, he was called to Rezidor Hotel Group's main office to serve as Vice President of Future Openings for all brands in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. There he was involved in the openings of over 200 hotels in more than 20 countries. Mr. Hagemann chose to work in Sochi as the General Manager of the Radisson Blu and District Director for all the hotels that the Rezidor Group will open in the area. His experience and success brought several opportunities his way, but he chose the Radisson Blu in Adler because of the challenges and excitement in working in a beachside resort city that will host not only the 2014 Winter Games, but also Formula 1 Racing and World Cup football.

The conference center has space for 1,200 and looks set to become the preferred location for events in Adler/ Sochi. The size, modern design and functionality place it at the top in Sochi.  There are also two large conference rooms and smaller rooms for other events.  One of my favorite places in the hotel is the lobby bar.  It has several sitting areas and a balcony overlooking the Black Sea, just a few meters away.  I asked Thomas about training and service, since the staff seemed to be especially helpful and friendly.  He told me about the "Yes I Can" training that each employee undergoes and how they emphasize service in all areas of the hotel.  In a developing economy and city without long service traditions, this sets hotels, such as Thomas' apart.

Everything about the Radisson Blu suggests it will be a preferred destination for a long time. There are no hotels that are competitive in Adler at the moment (although other hotels are being constructed nearby) and the Radisson Blu's size and location means that it will immediately become the premier destination for business and sports-related travel to Sochi.  At this writing. there are no other hotels in the region that can compete with its location, range of dining options, size and room quality- especially so for those whose business takes them to the Olympic Park and Formula 1 location.

Sochi City Center and Seaport

Sochi is the site of the 2014 Winter Games and is recognized as one of the largest construction zones in the world. Games venues, both in the mountains and at the Coastal Cluster, are being built new and at a pace to finish well ahead of the Games.  Krasnaya Polyana has 3 beautiful, state of the art, new ski resorts and a new hospital.  There is a new airport, train stations are being rebuilt (including Adler Station, which will be the largest in Russia).  A new high-speed rail network will connect the airport with both the Coastal and Mountain Clusters. There are new roads, highways, bridges and massive retaining walls and a new border crossing.  Large, modern hotels and resorts are being built in Krasnaya Polyana, Adler and Sochi.  New apartment complexes, office buildings and shopping centers are going up all over the city, particularly near the Sochi city center.  

With all of this happening in Sochi, it is easy to miss what may have as big an impact as almost any of these on Sochi's ability to sustain an international tourism legacy after the Games conclude - the expansion of Sochi's seaport.  The massive project involves using both public (for infrastructure) and private investment (for commercial development). The investment by the Russian government alone will be more than 7 billion rubles (about $230 million).  The project will include 730 meters of cruise ship terminals, which will allow 2 large cruise ships to dock in Sochi, simultaneously.  There will be a new yacht marina, roll on/ roll off ship berths, a 1,000 meter protective pier and a 200 meter breakwater.  The new seaport will also include a retail complex with additional space for restaurants and parking. When all is said and done, Sochi's seaport will be recognized as the best facility on the Black Sea.   

Construction on the seaport project began this summer and completion is expected next year.  It is located in the very center of Sochi, near the pedestrian zone defined on one side by the Sochi River and the other by Gorkovo Ulitsa.  It is about 1 1/2 blocks from the McDonald's Restaurant and next to Sochi's boardwalk.  The area around the seaport is already seen as the center of Sochi's restaurant scene, with the locally well-known Brigantina Cafe sitting next to the marina.   The iconic seaport building, built during the Soviet era, sits near the Olympic Clock.

I have been watching developments in Sochi closely and with the seaport reconstruction ramping up, I wanted to get a closer look and more information about what is happening. So, recently I met with local officials and took a brief tour. That afternoon, the Director of the Seaport and I took a walk and he showed me the seaport and its yacht marina. He said that with thousands of new passengers disembarking to shop, eat and drink, sightsee and to enjoy the beaches and mountains, the new seaport will place Sochi on the international cruise ship map.  Cruise ships are projected to increase the number of visits to Sochi to 179 by that same year. Those cruise ships alone are expected to bring more than 100,000 new tourists to Sochi, most of whom will be from Western Europe or North America.  Ferry traffic, including to local destinations and which connects Sochi to Trabzon, Turkey; Gagra, Abkhazia: Batumi, Georgia and other Russian cities on the Black Sea, such as Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk, is projected to grow to 463 stops in 2015.                                                                                                                              

The Winter Games and accompanying development in Sochi has been part of comprehensive plan to increase tourism in Sochi and Russia.  Sochi is rapidly transforming into an international, year-around, mountain sports and beach destination, with tourists arriving by airplane, train, automobile and cruise liners.

Seaport Construction 

We are building a database of hotels, offices and venues suitable for studios and other uses.  These will be incorporated into a map, so that users will be able to access the location-based inventory, which can then be viewed on the interactive map.  This should be complete, with current listings, in 7 -10 days.

We also have another database of other services, including approved contractors for venue remodelling and buildout, housekeeping and security.  We provide automobile rental, as well as drivers and are currently supplying housekeeping services to foreign employees and others in Sochi.

Big Ben- August 12, 2012

I made the trip to London for the second week of the Summer Games.  Sheremetyevo Airport was full of people leaving to watch or participate in the Olympic Games. 

Bosco Store- Sochi Airport 

Before I even left the airport in Sochi, I noted the signs in the airport greeting London at Bosco's store.

Heathrow Airport 

Immediately upon landing in Heathrow, I saw a large sign connecting the two cities, as well.

Sochi had a great presence in London.  Sochi.Park at Kensington Gardens in central London's Hyde Park.Sochi.Park had several zones including Visit Russia, promoting Russia;  Krasnodar Krai, which featured business and economic opportunity in the region that includes Sochi; a zone devoted to national and international Olympic partners, with a bobsled experience and finally a "4D" zone that showed how visitors will experience Sochi in 2014.

Women's Marathon- London August 5, 2012

Bus At Bosco Club- London

It seemed everywhere in London, there were Russian fans, Sochi volunteers and officials of Sochi 2014.Bosco Club was a venue sponsored by General Partner for Sochi 2014, Bosco.  The venue was situated adjacent to Green Park and just a short walk from Buckingham Palace.

The whole experience was impressive.  There were fans from scores of countries, with British fans, of course, the most prevalent.  The whole city was decked out and Union Jacks could be seen flying on virtually every street and from many buildings.  

Restaurant near New Bond Street- London, U.K.

Everyone was friendly, smiling and enjoying the experience.  The Olympic Park was very accessible in Stratford with an underground station just a short walk from the main entrance.  The Park was on a grand scale, but well-designed and the venues looked great, too.  The weather was spectacular and with the multi-national crowd carried a sense of excitement and anticipation.  

ArcelorMittal Orbit (Observation Tower) and Olympic Stadium- London

When I flew back to Sochi, we passed just to the left of the Olympic Park and I looked down at the Bolshoi Ice Palace, the Olympic Stadium and other buildings and venues at the Park.  I am sure that athletes, journalists and fans will be as impressed with the venues as they were in London.

Sochi Olympic Stadium- July 2014

Destination Sochi is offering a 4 day/3 night familiarization trip to Sochi from September 23-26, 2012.  The Park Inn by Radisson is a co-sponsor of the trip. The trip, featuring 2 nights in Rosa Khutor at the Park Inn and 1 night in central Sochi, will cost $1,695.  All meals, accommodation and ground transportation in Sochi will be included.

Guests will be greeted at the airport and escorted to our motor coach for the ride to Krasnaya Polyana and the Park Inn by Radisson Rosa Khutor.  There will be a champagne welcome reception at the Park Inn, with a welcome speech by General Manager Harald Buerkle, followed by a tour of the new Radisson Hotel and the Park Inn.

Later that evening, Destination Sochi will host a dinner at the Park Inn. Monday's highlights will include viewing the mountain cluster at Rosa Khutor and a tour of Gornaya Karusel resort, an unforgettable Russian banya experience and dinner at a top mountain restaurant.

Tuesday, the 24th, we will depart after breakfast for Adler to view the Olympic Park, view official transportation venues and central Adler. Then our route will follow the picturesque Black Sea coast about 25 kilometers to central Sochi.  We will stop at a locally prominent restaurant for a genuine Caucasian lunch followed by a tour of the city center.  

The tour will be full hosted with bilingual guides (English, French and Russian).

Please contact us for a complete itinerary and also to reserve your place. The tour will be limited to 40 guests, so make your reservation as soon as possible.

Contact via email:  yelena@destinationsochi.com

Call +7 962 859 1776

Park Inn by Radisson- Rosa Khutor

Rosa Khutor is located in the Caucasus Mountains about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Black Sea in southwestern Russia and will host the alpine events during the 2014 Winter Games to be held in Sochi.  Rosa Khutor is a very ambitious mountain resort project and next to the high-speed gondola taking skiers and spectators to the mountaintop, a new European-style village with accommodation, dining and shopping is being built. This year, the Park Inn by Radisson opened its doors and during the 2012- 2013 winter season its sister property, the Radisson, Rosa Khutor will welcome guests for the first time.  The two properties sit just across the Mzymta River from each other and can be accessed by the pedestrian bridge (click here for a 360 degree panoramic photo of the site) constructed over the river.  

Lobby Bar- Park Inn by Radisson

I first experienced the Park Inn in February of this year, just after its January opening and during the International Ski Federation World Cup, when I interviewed Luke Bodensteiner of the United States Sk and Snowboard Association in the hotel lobby for SochChannel.com   At that time, I was impressed with the design of its chic lobby bar and lounge.  More recently, I returned and spent an afternoon with Harald Buerkle, the General Manager of both the Park Inn and the Radisson.  Mr. Buerkle was kind enough to treat me to a very good lunch of the best German food to be found in the area.  This is not entirely surprising given that Mr. Buerkle, with a Chef's Master degree, has a background in food preparation, including 5 years working in Michelin-starred restaurants.  Mr. Buerkle, starting at the age of 16, was precocious in food preparation and was promoted to prominent positions at an early age.  In fact, at 27, he was the Executive Chef at one of the most prominent hotels in Eastern Europe and managing a team of 70 people.  Harald (I hope he will excuse the familiarity!) previously worked in Moscow and also has served stints working at Radisson Blu Hotels in the United Kingdom, in Kiev, as the Food and Beverage Manager and at Ruegen, Germany on the Baltic Sea, where he held his first position as General Manager.

Harald and his wife recently moved here.  He originally came from Bavaria and Katinka from the German state of Swabia.  Harald keeps busy with the hotels, but he finds time to pursue his MBA in Hospitality and Service Management at the Glion School of Higher Education in Switzerland.  All this activity does not leave much time for him to golf, which he greatly enjoys. 

General Manager Harald Buerkle

After lunch, Harald showed me several categories of rooms at the Park Inn.  All are very comfortable and feature the modern design esthetic and ease of use that Radisson is well-known for.  The English-speaking staff, both polite and helpful, reflects the professional management of Radisson.  I arrived early for the meeting and while working on my computer discovered I was missing an adapter for my battery charger.  The bartender noticed and quickly produced one for me. This attention to guests will serve the Park Inn well in the future.  Large numbers of foreign travellers will be coming to the Rosa Khutor Alpine Resort, through the Olympics and after, to enjoy the spectacular scenery and the mountain's vertical drop of 1,776 meters (5,774 feet!).  The Park Inn has ski storage, a gym and nightclub, as well as its restaurant with Bavarian cusine and the hip lobby bar.  The hotel is accessible, too.  The road runs right to its doorstep and a new high-speed rail is being constructed from Sochi to Krasnaya Polyana, with a station just a short distance from the village that includes the Park Inn and Radisson.

Guestroom

Although the Radisson, across from the Park Inn, is not completed, Harald shared details with me about it.  He told me that the hotel will be "the most luxurious in Rosa Khutor" and that the cool Black Bar and Grill will source local ingredients and the best quality imports.  There will a nightclub and also an entertainemnt zone for children.  All will be within walking distance of the ski shops, ski schools, shopping, dining and the mountain. Between the two hotels, Harald will manage nearly 400 rooms in the premium location at Rosa Khutor.  He and I  are already planning events there, including a charity hike, barbeque and party in September.  I will keep readers posted as to plans and developments.