Azimut Hotels

Overview

The hotels are located in Russia, Germany and Austria, some of them are of private ownership, and some are based on a management contract or long-term lease contracts. The company was established in 2004 by Alexander Klyachin. As of 2015, the hotel chain consists of 24 hotels of the category 3 and 4 stars; the total number of Azimut rooms is about 8 thousand.

Notable historic events

In 2004, Alexander Klyachin acquired its first hotels in Samara, Kostroma and Ufa.

In 2005, the hotel chain expanded with hotels in Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Astrakhan and Murmansk.

In 2006 the hotels were united under the brand Azimut Hotels and the common standards of services and room equipments were implemented.

In 2007, the company has become one of the largest hotel chains in Russia: its turnover amounted to 54 million US dollars with an annual growth rate of 30%.

In 2008, the hotels in Germany and Austria were acquiredand the control over the assets was transferred through management contracts and franchise agreements (for a period of 20–25 years). The European office was located in Berlin.

In 2010, the hotel chain acquired hotels in Novosibirsk (ownership) and Voronezh (management contract).

In 2011, the hotel chain acquired the hotel in Nizhny Novgorod. European and Russian divisions merged into a single entity headquartered in Moscow.

As at the end of 2012, the company's revenue amounted to 3.5 billion rubles.

Since 2013, the company has been controlling the largest hotel complex in Sochi. 3-star Azimut Hotel Sochi has been opened in anticipation of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi

At the end of 2013, the hotel chain also acquired the 487-rooms hotel Azimut Moscow Olympic Hotel (former Olympic Penta). The hotel is located right next to Olympiysky Sports Center.

In April 2015, Vienna Delta Holtel, the second hotel in Vienna, joined Azimut Hotels chain.

In May 2015, Azimut Hotel Vladivostok, the biggest investment project in the Russians Far East in 2014-2015 and the first SMART hotel in the region, opened after renovation. With 378 modern rooms, it is also the largest hotel in the area. Investment in this project exceeded €20 million.

In 2015, Azimut Hotels started cooperation with the countries of Asia-Pacific region. The first step was a Service Voluntary Certification Program China Friendly, Chinese: 友好中国.

Hotel 'Belgrad' was bought by the Azimut Hotel chain in 2014. The hotel has been closed for renovation since 2016. The Hotel is supposed to be fully reopened as Azimut Moscow Smolenskaya Hotel.

SMART concept

Azimut Hotels developed SMART concept for the hotel rooms. The main idea of the concept is combination of a minimal design in the classic German school of thought, multifunctional furniture and ergonomics. The color scheme of the SMART spaces includes berry tones with darker wood floors and warm eclectic lighting.

Renovation of soviet hotels

Azimut Hotels business activities include reconstruction and modernization of hotels built during the period of Soviet Union. For example, the renovation of the hotel National in Samara, which is named Azimut Hotel Samara since 2006 and is on renovation since 2014. There has been also the modernization of hotels in Ufa, Kostroma, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok and other Russian cities.

China Friendly

The company joined China Friendly to create a comfortable environment for Chinese tourists. Special conditions for travelers from China include Chinese-speaking staff, Chinese breakfast, information materials and website in Chinese. The first hotels joined the program were Azimut Moscow Olympic Hotel and Azimut Hotel Vladivostok.

Ownership and management

The main shareholder and Chairman of the Board of Directors is Alexander Klyachin. He also owns Moscow hotel Metropol and development company KR Properties.

Since November 2013, the company is headed by Walter Neumann who previously worked in the hotel chain Rocco Forte as a Director of the hotels Astoria and Angleterre in St. Petersburg.