Kyiv. 15 April 2009. INTERFAX-UKRAINE - UDC Holding, a member of the Universal Investment Group (established in Kyiv), is going to build four budget hotels (two stars) under the Etap brand in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odessa and L'viv and one three-star hotel under the Ibis brand in L'viv. In general, the company will built 500 rooms by the Euro 2012 Final Championship.

At the press conference in Kyiv, Mr. Leonid Bogdanov, director of the holding, informed that a contract with the brand owner Accor Hospitality, a French leader in hotel business, had been signed for 25 years.

The construction of five hotels is only the first development stage of the 25 Etap hotel chain in all regional centers of the country and erection of six Ibis hotels in the multi-million cities.

The total investment volume is nearly 100 million euros.

According to Mr. Leonid Bogdanov, the company hasn't wasted its money on purchase of the land, but used the land plots owned by the companies-members of the UIG, or land plots owned by the companies, which are the project partners. The project participants will share the profit after the whole chain bringing into service. Mr. Leonid Bogdanov also mentioned the Swiss Investment Fund that became the project member.

"The hotels are built on our own land and on the land plots of our partners. This is very bright example of the anti-crisis project, when you pay nothing for becoming the project member, when you may use the best land proposals at the market, especially taking into account the state assistance in preparation for Euro-2012, you should just keep on moving for agreements, obtaining of permits and prompt construction," - said Mr. L.Bogdanov.

According to Mr. Leonid Bogdanov, the Etap hotels will be built at Mekhanizatorov Str. in Solomenka District of Kyiv, at the entry roads to Kharkiv and L'viv and also opposite to the bus station in Odessa, while the Ibis hotel in L'viv will be built opposite to the city railway station. The construction of the first three hotels is planned to be started in autumn this year, and two others - in spring 2010.

He also outlined that prices in such budget hotels would be in the range of 30 euros per room.

At the same time, Mr. L.Bogdanov didn't pronounce the realization date of the whole Accor hotels chain, but he mentioned that this was a five-year project considering the work amounts. "Everything depends on demand for this or that object", - he explained.

The UDC Holding is a member of the Universal Investment Group and incorporates its enterprises and companies, which work in the building and construction sphere. The Holding comprises of more than 20 companies, in particular, CJSC "GBK Vash Dom", CJSC "Technopark LZTA", CJSC "ProgressTechBud" (all companies from L'viv), and also OJSC "Universal Development
Company" and OJSC "Kvartal-Bud" (from Kyiv).

The UIG is established in Ukraine in 1995 and coordinates the range of business-projects in Ukraine; among them are concern "Galnaftagaz" (network of the "OKKO" petrol stations), IC "Universalna", concern "Khlebprom", bank "Universalniy", UDC Holding and some other joint venture businesses.

Accor, French leader in hotels, is managing 4 ths. hotels in 90 countries, in particular, the hotels with the following brands as Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure/Ibis and also Parthenon (resort hotels), Suitehotel, Accor Thalassa (SPA and resorts), Club Mediterranee (recreational and SPA resorts), Lenotre (restaurants), Groupe Lucien Barriere SAS (casino), and also budget hotels like Etap, Formula 1, Motel 6, Studio 6, Red Roof Inn, two travel agencies Go Voyages and Carlson Wagonlit and a chains of restaurants Ticket Restaurant, Luncheon Vouchers.