Four Points by Sheraton Kaluga

History

2024: Transition to Azimut Network Management

The only five-star hotel in Kaluga, Four Points by Sheraton, came under the control of the Russian chain Azimut. This became known on July 1, 2024, when Azimut Hotels confirmed the information about the conclusion of a franchise agreement.

According to Kommersant, this step was the result of the withdrawal from the Russian market of the international operator Marriott, which owns the Sheraton brand. The hotel, located in the center of Kaluga on Academician Korolyov Street, has 174 rooms and was built in 2015 by the FGC group of companies.

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Four Points by Sheraton Kaluga

According to Stanislav Ivashkevich, managing partner of Ivashkevich Hospitality, under such franchise agreements, the brand owner usually receives 5-7% of the hotel's revenue. Azimut Hotels, controlled by Alexander Klyachin, is one of the largest Russian hotel companies, which includes 65 hotels and sanatoriums with a total fund of 11 thousand rooms.

This event reflects the general trend in the Russian hotel market. According to Lyudmila Gerlitz, director of the Nikoliers analytics department, nine international hotel operators have left Russia since 2022. As a result, the number of rooms under the management of foreign companies decreased by 32%, amounting to 30 thousand numbers.

The vacant niche is actively occupied by domestic players. Thus, the total portfolio of local operators over the same period increased by 65%, reaching 55 thousand numbers. Russian companies received about 2.5 thousand numbers through the rebranding of objects of outgoing networks.

Experts note that despite the departure of foreign players, Russian hotel chains are still not perceived by the owners of the facilities as a full-fledged alternative. This explains the fact that about 11-12 thousand rooms continue to operate under their own names, without switching to new brands.^[1]

Notes