Michel Monticone, Managing Director of HRCI is interviewing some key actors of the Hospitality market in Russia about their hotels and the current economic situation.

Michel: What is perspective of development for Hyatt Hotels in Moscow and Russia in the next months and years?

Maria: As you know, we have now 3 hotels in Russia, 2 in Moscow, one in Ekaterinburg, here in Moscow, the Ararat is doing well, the new one , the Grand Hyatt Moscow Residences and Spa is open from April 2009 but not fully, at the moment we operate only 1 floor with a Restaurant and Spa coming early next year.  A really “grand” Grand Hyatt Moscow will be ready in 2012/13.
Before this crisis, there were other plans, 2 more hotels in Moscow if I am not mistaken, but before the management agreement is signed nothing can be said for sure.  In general, Hyatt tries to open hotels in big cities, as well as cities where business is developing fast.  There were plans for Minsk in Belorussia, Samara, St Petersburg, and other cities.

Michel: How is the current crisis affect recruitment for your hotels here in Moscow and also in Russia in general?

Maria: It is difficult to say, we thought at the beginning of this crisis that we will have more professionals available on the market but it was just for a short period of time and then we realized that are not so many. Also, we have seen that many Russians are coming back to Russia after having an experience overseas.

Michel: Is the closure of Casinos here in Moscow brings you interesting profiles from this industry?

Maria: Again, it is difficult to say because it just happened recently, two weeks ago and we have not had anybody coming from the Casino Industry applying for a job with us yet. We’ll see.

Michel: What is the situation with expatriates, I have heard the immigration government is lowering down the number of expats in each company.

Maria: Yes, it is right. We have a difficult situation in Ekaterinburg at the moment, the quotas there have not been renewed and we are close to sending out some of our expats. It is an understandable new rule from the government considering the crisis and many Russian have lost their jobs so they are protecting Russian employees first, like many countries are doing now also.