Gergely Gulyás handed over a four-star hotel in Debrecen
One of Hungary’s largest and most dynamically developing cities needs modern hotels, which is why the just handed over Mercure Hotel in the heart of the city is of outstanding importance – which the minister who heads the Prime Minister’s Office will present at the hotel’s handover ceremony in Debrecen on Sunday.
Gergely Gulyás highlighted that Debrecen is rightly proud of its new spa and the largest domestic investment in the city, the battery factory, as thousands of jobs are created there. Economic development, tourism developments, such as spas and hotel construction, are being implemented in the city at the same time, he added.
According to the minister, the dynamic development of Debrecen is of great importance not only for the region, but also for the cross-border areas.
Péter Horváth, the CEO of the Tourism Development Agency, reminded that within the framework of the Kisfaludy Tourism Development Program it was possible to apply for the construction of hotels with over 100 rooms, thus an 8.5 billion forint investment in Debrecen won a 3.5 billion forint non-refundable grant.
Gyula Szűcs, the president and CEO of Szinorg Universal Zrt., the owner of Bajcsy Invest Kft., which was appointed to implement the investment, said: in the midst of difficult circumstances – pandemic, war – they have reached the present day, the handover of the hotel. On the four floors, 135 rooms and 20 apartments welcome you in the cafe, restaurant, fitness room, three conference and meeting rooms.
Earlier, he said: the support of the Hungarian state and the Hungarian Tourist Agency made it possible to bring the first international brand, Mercure in Accor, of which the hotel will be a member, into the ownership of the Group.
Mayor László Papp (Fidesz–KDNP) called the investment filling a gap, since there had not been a hotel opening in the city for more than a decade.
In the economic development of Debrecen, the most important thing is to create harmony between the different areas of the city – emphasized. Tourism develops peacefully with steam power, he pointed out, adding that in the last year before the pandemic – in 2019 – the number of guest seasons was 502,000, and this number will be reached this year as well.
Event tourism plays a significant role in the city’s tourism – flower carnival, swimming World Championship, international slag engine competition – and these require the availability of suitable accommodation, he explained.