Photo: turpotok.com
Occupancy of all-inclusive hotels in the Krasnodar region of Russia remains at a level of 95% and above during the peak period of the season. The demand for this type of vacation is increasing every year, while some hoteliers in the region are unable to provide even basic requirements for the quality of food and drinks, writes Kommersant.
The number of accommodation places operating under the all inclusive system has increased in the Krasnodar region over the past four years by 2.5 times, to 81. Local standards for the provision of “all inclusive” and “ultra all inclusive” services were developed in 2021, then this year Similar documents were issued at the federal level in 2022 and 2023. The list of requirements differs depending on the class of the hotel.
For example, a five-star hotel must have at least three food outlets with a certain set of alcoholic drinks. The Ministry of Resorts, Tourism and Olympic Heritage of Kuban noted that today “all inclusive” is a standard that serves as a kind of “indicator of the availability of benefits” for vacationers.
In the low season, according to the department, the occupancy rate of such hotels is 15% higher than in places of accommodation without all inclusive, in the high season – by 20%. During peak season, the occupancy rate of such facilities does not fall below 95%. Tour operators report that more than 60% of guests in the region request an all-inclusive holiday. When a hotel property is transferred to a new level, profitability increases by 20%, and the repeat purchase rate increases by 10%.
Oksana Shustikova, Director of Development and Communications at Tvil, said that tourists like it when they are offered “everything at once.” The all-inclusive holiday format implies a complex of almost all components, including food, drinks, a swimming pool, sun loungers on the beach, animation and other entertainment. “Ultra all inclusive” involves an even wider range, which adds at least one night restaurant or cafe in the hotel, serving dishes on the beach, and the possibility of choosing vegetarian and dietary dishes. The bar must serve alcoholic drinks from local and European producers. A separate children’s pool and tennis court are required.
These rates are interesting for large resort hotels with a massive tourist flow and are convenient for guests, Oksana Shustikova emphasized, the quality of relaxation compensates for the high price. But Elena Kolosova, an expert at the Russian Economic University named after G.V. Plekhanov, believes that so far the attitude towards this system, which appeared in the region relatively recently, is very contradictory.
On the one hand, vacationers really like the fact that they don’t have to think about where to go to eat, how to have fun, and there is no need to carry money or a card with them. On the other hand, the price of an all-inclusive holiday is high, and the range of dishes is small. Dmitry Morkovkin,
Associate Professor of the Department of Economic Theory at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, noted that small hotels are now often striving for the all-inclusive format, the owners of which understand that this is in great demand. Guests are not put off by high prices; they are willing to pay for comfort.
Traveler-researcher, author of the travel project “Directions” Dmitry Lukyanchuk believes that prices for vacations in the Krasnodar Territory often do not correspond to quality, service and infrastructure are inferior to many foreign objects. He is confident that tourists who prefer premium hotels will prefer to travel abroad. However, accommodation places with all inclusive, in his opinion, can attract more clients, because it was precisely such a system that at one time “brought Turkish hotels to the top of demand”.
Among the advantages, the expert notes that Russian facilities offering premium service are actively developing, while similar Turkish ones are “noticeably aging, saving on repairs, trying to get the most out of the built infrastructure.”
The Association of Tour Operators of Russia notes that citizens of the Russian Federation often focus on the “all inclusive” format, which they saw in Turkey. There, the package traditionally includes three basic and intermediate meals in bars and restaurants, locally produced alcohol, animation, swimming pools and water complexes, free beach equipment, game rooms and mini-clubs. The line between AI and UAI in Turkey is blurred – often “ultra all inclusive” means an additional free mini-bar, ice cream, an increased number of food outlets and their 24-hour operation, imported alcohol.
In Europe there are other requirements, similar placements may work according to the Turkish type and differ. For example, in Spain there is no night activity schedule, and umbrellas and sun loungers on the beach are provided for a fee. Most hotels in Italy do not have animation and paid minibars. In Croatia, this format is not yet very developed. In Georgia they are responding to the growing demand and are increasingly competing not only with hotels in the Russian Federation, but also with some Turkish locations.
In the resort area of Batumi – Gonio – an entire hotel complex of a world brand in the all-inclusive format is being built. This is Wyndham’s largest project in the eastern hemisphere and will have more than a thousand rooms. The list of infrastructure facilities at Wyndham Grand Residences Batumi Gonio is also a record, almost 90 elements.
This includes medical and spa centers, swimming pools, restaurants, fitness rooms, game rooms and playgrounds, and business areas. Such properties are attractive to both tourists and investors, because they provide maximum comfort and bring the highest rental yield.
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