Howard Johnson Grand Plaza came on the market on February 9, in Bucharest

Howard Johnson Grand Plaza Hotel, the former Dorobanti Hotel in Bucharest, is now open starting February 9, 2004, after a 3 year full-scale renovation and modernization.

The total volume of the investment rises at 30 million dollars. The money for modernization works, which started in 2000, came from a syndicated banking loan. The hotel is controlled by Grand Plaza Hotel SA, whose shareholders are several individuals and legal persons.

Located in the heart of Bucharest, the hotel features 285 modern French designed rooms, a luxurious eclectic restaurant - Avalon, an authentic Japanese Benihana Teppan restaurant, 12 state-of-the-art equipped conference rooms and two grand ballrooms, with LAN access that could accommodate up to 600 people, Business Center, Delicatessen, In - House pastry and Centro - an exquisite Cocktail Bar. The hotel also has a health club, which provides modern fitness equipment, sauna and hammam, massage and solarium. The underground parking has two stories and an electronic guarding system.

The hotel opening is followed by a promotional rate of 99 Euro/room/night for a single person with breakfast included (109 Euro/room/night for two persons with breakfast included), valid until April 15, 2004.

The front desk rates range between 149 - 169 Euros, according to the season. For more information the hotel offers to those interested a website: www.hojoplaza.ro where the reservations can be made on line. Reservations can also be made by e-mail: reservations@hojoplaza.ro or by phone (+4021) 201 5000 or fax (+4021) 201 1888.

The Howard Johnson brand was acquired by the Bucharest hotel according to a franchise contract and Grand Plaza Hotel is the highest tier from the fifths of the international chain. The other four tiers are Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Howard Johnson Hotel, Howard Johnson Inn and Howard Johnson Express Inn.

Howard Johnson brand franchises more than 500 hotels and inns worldwide, including properties in SUA, Canada and other countries from South and Central America, Israel, Great Britain, Ireland, Malta, countries from Far East and China.

Howard Johnson chain is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, the world's largest hotel franchiser with more than 6,400 hotels and over 540,000 rooms. The other brands operated by Cendant are Days Inn, Travelodge, Ramada, Knights Inn, Super 8 Motel and Wingate Inn.