Belgrade gets the first Marriott hotel in the fall 2015 - How do works in capital's historical part progress?(FOTO)

(Photo: Suzana Obradović)

Anyone passing central Belgrade square will notice a construction site next to the National Theatre. There is a huge crane in front of it installed in April this year and whoever has a better look will be able to see lively atmosphere at former Jugodrvo’s building. Namely, many people already know that next year "Marriott" will emerge here, the first hotel in the historical part of the city, designed and equipped in line with the highest standards of one of the leading world hotel operators.

A four-star hotel, where PSP Farman will pour EUR 25 m, will have 114 rooms on 7.500 square meters.

Slobodan Mitrovic, Technical Manager at "PFB Construction", investor’s daughter company, in charge of works implementation has been speaking for media about specific things when it comes to the hotel construction.

- Reconstruction of former Jugodrvo’s building is very demanding. It will be an office building and it will be difficult to turn it into a hotel. The facility is one of a few in former Yugoslavia with steel construction so the most difficult thing was to adjust it to hotel needs. We are finishing the construction November 20. Neighbors had understanding when it comes to noise. I am very proud of this work – Mitrovic who was hired thirty years ago on constriction of Jugodrvo’s building when he worked in Energoprojekt said.

Slobodan Mitrovic (Photo: Suzana Obradović)

He mentioned that every day, there are 95 people on site and when the je works start, there na will be 150 of them.

The new hotel will have five floors and two more in the attic and it will also have two levels underground.

The investor and the hotel owner, "PFB Properties", signed with Marriott corporation a so called "full management agreement", implying that the hotel, when fully-equipped in line with Marriott’s standards, will be given to Marriott corporation for management.

Branko Trkulja, head at "PFB Properties", has said today the hotel will have four stars due to spatial limitation in Vasa Carapic Street.

(Photo: Suzana Obradović)

(Experimental room)

- The ideal thing would be that a hotel has 140 rooms but we have to stick to previous area. It will be a unique facility in a city center, a historical part of the city because it is the first branded hotel in the capital. It is important the hotel has a famous brand name because this way it will shorten the time to present it to the market. Apart from that, generating people’s loyalty to come back to the hotel because they are satisfied with service is important.

Trkulja mentioned that Belgrade-based Marriott will provide a bit higher service level when it comes to restaurant offer which will distinguish it from other hotels in the chain. He announced that a restaurant chain could take over the hotel restaurant. As the investors said, the hotel will technically be completed mid next year and it will be followed by "soft opening", and the fall 2015 should see the official opening.

The hotel will hire 75-80 people and the Marriott representatives will be in charge of the recruitment and training process.

Current price forecast is EUR 130 for bed and breakfast accommodation. The investor expects 50% of capacity filled in the first year and after that, in four years, it should reach 75%.

First of all, the objective of the investor is that business people and smaller and bigger groups of tourists find their accommodation here.

(Photo: Suzana Obradović)

Glass facade

Façade of the Jugodrvo building will change in line with the design of an architect, " Miomir Luzajic.

Experimental room

The investor prepared an experimental room completely designed in line with the future look of the hotel room.

- The experimental room was designed in February. The Marriott team came to have a look. We agreed that frame around a bed will be thinner and carpets will be of darker nuisance while the rest will remain the same. The sign of the Marriott brand is a small desk with a wheelchair which can be moved in line with a guest’s needs – head of PFB Properties said.

Pictures in a room will have Belgrade motifs and experimental room will have black and white pictures of the Temple of Sv. Sava and Kalemegdan.

S.O.