Vilnius has set a record for hotel development. In six recent months this year as many as six new Lithuania apartment hotels opened their doors in town. Presently, Vilnius’ hotels can accommodate 12 per cent more guests than during the last year. Over the six past months the number of suits has grown from 1,980 to 2,225.

In the spring, the first “Centro kubas” hotel decorated in traditional national style opened its doors to visitors. Other newly established hotels in the neighborhood are Neo-Byzantine “Europa” and the hotel “Artis” belonging to the “Centrum viešbučiai” (Centrum hotels) chain. The reconstructed “Scandic Hotel Neringa”, a member of the largest Scandinavian hotel chain Scandic Hotes, has been welcoming business clients since April. At the beginning of this year the first apartment hotel in Lithuania Domina Plaza Luxury Apartments was opened offering its guests a longer stay.

Last week, located on the city outskirt Ukmerge Street the economy-class Baltpark hotel housing 84 rooms and ideally suitable for larger groups of tourists came into operation.

The hotel construction boom has not stopped yet. At the corner of Kalvariju St and Semyniskiu St, foundations have been laid for the hotel Holiday Inn Vilnius to open its doors in May next year. The JSC Transmeda is constructing a two-star economy-class hotel next door to the club “Music Hangar”. Currently the hotel “Žaliasis tiltas” (The Green Bridge) is being refurbished. Still this year the renovation works for the hotel “Draugystė” (Friendship) will be launched. The autumn will see the reconstruction of the largest hotel in the country “Lietuva” (Lithuania) owned by the Norwegian real estate company Linstow International. The refurbished hotel will belong to the Baltic States hotel chain Reval Hotel Group.

The number of hotels belonging to international hotel networks is increasing in Vilnius. The first such hotel Radisson SAS Astorija was inaugurated in 1998. Presently, such international operators as Radisson SAS, Best Western, Minotel, Scandic Hotels, Relais&Chateaux, Le Meridien run their hotels here.