Ilsur Metshin: "The Championship finals will help stimulate tourism business "

(Kazan, KZN.RU, May 13, by Zilya Gayfi and Albert Murtazin). Kazan Hotels are completely ready to accommodate the guests and participants of the 2015 FINA World Cup, which will be held in the capital of Tatarstan from July 24 to August 6. Hotel readiness has appreciably improved as compared to the period of preparation for the 2013 Universiade, said Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin during a meeting with city hoteliers.

"I remember my feelings when we walked the same routes during preparation for the Universiade. Just like newly renovated apartments smell of dampness, our hotels smelled of uncertainty," opined the mayor. "Now we are noticeably better in terms of hospitality, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I am sure that the World Cup in water sports will be an event which will bring about further improvement of our hoteliers' professionalism, and that the competitions themselves will help stimulate tourism business," said the mayor.

In anticipation of the meet, the mayor praised the state of readiness of the hotel rooms, the staff and the condition of the territories adjacent to the hotels. More than 20 best hotels of the city will accommodate the client groups. The first hotel to be inspected was «Park Inn by Radisson Kazan», which will host athletes and team officials from the United States and Denmark. The guests of the championship will be accommodated in 146 rooms, accounting for 97% of the total. «ARD Radio» and «AZD / ZDF» broadcasters will stay at "The Crown." Foreign journalists will also be put up at "The Art Hotel," "The Oasis" and "The Europe." "The Bilyar Palace Hotel" will have almost one hundred percent occupancy; its 116 rooms will accommodate athletes and officials from Italy and Israel. As for the Russian national team athletes, they will stay at "The Mirage," "The Grand Hotel Kazan" and "The Courtyard by Marriott Kazan."

"The Universiade was the first step, but the FINA World Cup is much more challenging in scope, the number of participants, audiences and the media. The higher we set the bar, the more we can do to ensure that our city becomes exposed to the world. We present a new Russia, not just Kazan and Tatarstan. People will come to the new Russia for the first time. Therefore, our goal is to appear in all our glory," concluded the mayor.