Belgrade - Italians would invest €5m in hotel Balkan, Russians want to make gambling house of "Moskva"

Besides domestic investors, hotels ”Moskva” and ”Balkan”, settled on the best locations in Belgrade, are estimated by foreigners. Recently, while expecting public offer, the representatives of group of hotel keepers from Italian Province of Cervi have visited both hotels in order to see what is offered to the potential buyers.

The Italians are interested in both hotels, but ”single” purchase is not ruled out. If they manage to do that, they announce big investments, as well as significant reconstruction of, first of all, hotel ”Balkan”, which, according to their idea, would be left with walls only. Italian hotel keepers plan to invest €5m in this facility of 3,000 square meters and with 80 rooms. They want to change everything from the basement to the roof. In that way, ”Balkan” could compete for five stars.

(hotel Balkan, condition in 2005)

As far as renovation of hotel ”Moskva” is concerned, it can be only ”polished” from the inside, i.e. 250 rooms whitewashed, as well as restaurants, sanitary knots organized, furniture rehabilitated, whereas facades, due to their specific looks, cannot be changed.

The Italians announce that they will bring their top cooks, as well as that they will organize training of domestic personnel in Italian restaurants and they promise that none of the employees, from the management to the cleaning lady, will not be dismissed.

If the Italians become owners of both hotels, underground space between ”Moskva” and ”Balkan” will be turned to the underground garages, business center and swimming pools.

It’s no secret that, ten years ago, the Karićs got open-air restaurant of hotel ”Moskva” from the Town Hall of Stari Grad to use it. They wanted to have annex of the hotel built on the space between Balkanska Street and Terazije. That facility have not appeared yet. Italian hotel keepers were informed by management of ”Moskva” that the charges were pressed and that immediate return of the aforementioned lot is demanded. By the way, according to general plan, construction of the second phase of hotel ”Moskva” should take place on that location.

Until annunciation of public offer for sale of aforementioned hotels, there will be more customers, that is for sure. So far, the hotels are watched, as we unofficially found out, by the owners of casinos in Russia who were amazed by appearance of ”Moskva”. Unofficially, they would like to make it elite gambling house.

Stock holders of hotel ”Moskva” will also have to make their decision. The question is, however, whose interest will they defend when having in mind that only 250 stockholders of total of 1,300 are employees of ”Moskva”.