The Grand commercial gallery of this hotel also hosts other luxury brands, such as Louis Vuitton, Dolce&Gabbana, Valentino or Roberto Cavalli. As a matter of fact, the gallery is one of the three poles of Romanian luxury, beside Calea Victoriei and Calea Dorobanti.
Raluca Simu is currently managing partner at advertising agency Springer&Jacoby Romania, having filled this position for six years and a half, according to her LinkedIn profile. She previously worked in marketing and communication in the banking field as head of corporate communications at ABN Amro (the current RBS) until 2007 and then as head of marketing at Millenium Bank Romania, according to the same source.
Raluca Simu is the wife of Horia Simu, who is, among others, a stakeholder in Cuprom, a business worth almost EUR100 million last year. Contacted by ZF, he specified he is not involved in his wife’s businesses. In her turn, Raluca Simu did not answer ZF’s questions about the new luxury business.
Vionnet is a high-end luxury brand, with the price of a dress going as high as EUR3,000. According to the brand’s website, the brand is present in Romania, but in Victoria 46 multibrand store, on Calea Victoriei. The store has meanwhile moved to Calea Dorobanti, became a department store and gave up Vionnet brand.
Raluca Simu decided to open the monobrand store in the commercial gallery of JW Marriott as a pole has been created here.
After JW Marriott, Radisson Blu and Hilton hotels of Calea Victoriei also decided to host luxury brands on the ground floors. Radisson Blu chose Burberry and Hilton Gucci. Both brands are brought in Romania in a franchise system.
The only brand that preferred to enter Romania directly was Louis Vuitton, which generated revenue of RON20 million last year in Romania. Dolce&Gabbana, Valentino and Roberto Cavalli are brought in a franchise system by entrepreneur Robert Coman with energy operations, while Escada is brought by fashion designer Romanita Iovan. In their turn, Burberry and Gucci are present in a franchise system.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)