Accor, operator of the Novotel and Ibis brands; Hilton; and Hyatt will not be opening any new hotels in Russia, and they are suspending all partnerships with Russian companies, though they will continue to operate existing hotels, the hotel chains said in their respective statements.
“The French owner of the Novotel and Ibis hotel chains said that it has suspended all planned openings and developments in Russia and any partnerships with Russian companies, though it will continue to operate its more than 50 hotels in the country in order to support its 3,500 Russian employees,” the Financial Times wrote.
Accor was the first international hotel chain to announce a halt, followed by Hilton, operator of the LXR Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria, Hilton brands and others, and Hyatt. Neither Marriott nor IHG has issued a statement regarding the matter.
“We have now taken the decision to suspend our development activities and any new investment in Russia, and the decision is effective immediately,” the Hyatt hotel chain posted on its official news site.
Hyatt also notes that it will continue to monitor the situation in Russia, while complying with the directives of the U.S. government, as it hopes for a resolution to the crisis.
The Hilton hotel chain said late on Wednesday that it had closed its corporate office in Moscow and would suspend construction of hotels in Russia. The company said in a statement that it would also continue to monitor the situation in Russia.
Accor CEO Sebastien Bazin had previously canceled a meeting scheduled for this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Accor’s plans for 2022 had included the opening of five new hotels in Russia. Overall, there are 50 hotels open in the country, with 21 of them operating in Moscow.
The online booking services of Airbnb and Booking.com have also ceased operations in Russia.
The Radisson hotel chain has stated that it would remain in Russia. “All Radisson Hotel Group hotels in Russia will continue to operate. We are closely monitoring the situation in the region, we care about the well-being of all guests and team members, and continue to adhere to all instructions,” the company said in a statement.
PrJSC New Engineering Technologies (Kyiv), the owner and management company of the five-star hotel Hyatt Regency Kiev, in 2018 saw its net profit rise by 9.3% compared with 2017, to UAH 102.056 million. According to a company report in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission about a general meeting of shareholders scheduled for April 18, its assets remained almost unchanged and amounted to UAH 348.7 million.
According to the agenda of the meeting, the company plans to pay UAH 101.182 million in dividends for 2017-2018.
The size of dividends will be UAH 0.47 per share.
According to the report, the total debtor indebtedness of the enterprise in 2018 decreased by 36.6%, to UAH 5.336 million.
Retained earnings increased by 7.7%, to UAH 102.07 million.
Short-term liabilities decreased by 19.5% and amounted to UAH 31.3 million. The company had no long-term liabilities by the end of last year.
In addition, the company intends to include UAH 873,300 in retained earnings.
