Bucharest’s Luxurious Corinthia Grand Hôtel du Boulevard: A Five-Star Extravaganza Opens

Bucharest’s Luxurious Corinthia Grand Hôtel du Boulevard: A Five-Star Extravaganza Opens

The Grand Hôtel du Boulevard, the latest five-star establishment in Bucharest, will open its doors on Monday, March 24, as part of the global luxury Corinthia chain. This prime spot has been among the city’s most prestigious locations for approximately 150 years.

The hotel, emblematic of the city, has undergone complete renovation and now adheres to the global standards set by an international hotel group while still maintaining the historical essence of the structure. Originally inaugurated in 1873 as Hotel Herdan, named for its owner at the time, Jacques Herdan, it adopted the title Grand Hôtel du Boulevard just six years later, a designation which persists even today.

Currently, the hotel provides guests with 30 suites along with two dining establishments, a Heritage cafe, a grand ballroom, a wellness center, and a gymnasium. Even after the refurbishment, it preserves several original design features like marble accents, woodwork, and ornate ceilings from its inception.

The primary dining venue at this hotel will be branded as SASS’ Restaurant & Lounge, known for its high-end status in Monaco. Established in 1993 by Salvador Treves “Sassa” along with his spouse Yolande, the place has become one of the premier destinations within the tiny, elite nation. Currently, the business is venturing beyond Monaco’s borders; they have launched a temporary eatery in Saudi Arabia and secured a fixed site in Bucharest.

The eatery, designed for 45 guests, expands to include an additional 20 seats in the lounge space. It will be open every day from 7:00 PM until 2:00 AM, featuring live acts by musicians. Post-midnight, specifically after 11:00 PM, the venue transitions to DJ-led entertainment.

The restaurant management has stated that the location is open to guests who are not staying at the hotel, including walk-ins, subject to table availability. Additionally, the venue reserves the right to select its clientele.

The other eatery, Boulevard 73, fuses French and Romanian culinary traditions and adheres to the farm-to-table concept.

Throughout its history, the Grand Hôtel du Boulevard has welcomed notable visitors including Austria-Hungary’s Emperor Franz Joseph, renowned Romanian poet Tudor Arghezi, prominent politician Octavian Goga, celebrated sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, and many more distinguished individuals.

The hotel will cater primarily to international visitors, offering rooms priced from €580 per night for a 31-32 square meter Junior Suite and reaching as high as €2,570 nightly for an expansive 115-116 square meter Signature Suite, which is the top-tier option available.

radu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: the hotel)

PM Shehbaz reaffirms solar policy, orders clarity

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ruled out any shift in the government’s policy and priorities regarding solar energy, directing authorities to dispel ambiguities surrounding the solarization policy with facts and figures.

Chairing a review meeting on power sector matters, the prime minister emphasized the need for a clear and transparent approach to inform the public about solar energy initiatives. He also instructed officials to swiftly complete legal and procedural formalities for the liquidation of generation companies and to accelerate the privatization process of power distribution firms, according to a statement from the PM Office.

To provide relief to consumers, PM Shehbaz announced that a package to reduce electricity tariffs was in the works and would be unveiled soon. Additionally, he stressed enhanced coordination between the Power Division, Water Resources Division, and Petroleum Division to develop a comprehensive energy sector strategy.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Leghari, Advisor to PM Dr. Taqeer Shah, and other senior officials. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema and Advisor to PM Muhammad Ali participated via video link.

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Nation Unites Against Internal and External Threats: President Zardari

President Asif Ali Zardari has reiterated the country’s commitment to remain steadfast against all external and internal threats.

At the Pakistan Day Parade held at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Sunday, he stated that the citizens of Pakistan have consistently remained steadfast beside the military, ready to make every sacrifice for their country.

While India has consistently held negative feelings toward Pakistan, the President pointed out that groups like the Khawarij and other militant organizations are actively working to carry out nefarious plans. Nevertheless, the President asserted that these entities will not prevail, as both the country and its military stand prepared to counteract such threats effectively.

Asif Ali Zardari stated that they have been reconstructing their country amid numerous difficulties and will persist in doing so with bravery and resolve. He particularly stressed the importance of bolstering both the economy and agriculture.

The President urged everyone to set aside their political disagreements and unite to create a stronger, more affluent, and advanced Pakistan.

Referring to the nation’s young people as an asset, Asif Ali Zardari emphasized the importance of providing them with research-driven education and cutting-edge technical training.

The President stated that Pakistan’s foreign policy revolves around the principles of peace and stability. He mentioned that Pakistan seeks robust relationships characterized by mutual respect and shared prosperity not only with neighboring countries but also with the global community.

The President stated that this day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who gave their lives for the nation.

On this day, he emphasized remembering and paying tribute to the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who are facing oppression. He also called upon the global community to enforce the United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at settling the Kashmir conflict.

In support of the Palestinian people, Asif Ali Zardari urged the global community to act decisively and halt the immediate genocidal actions against unarmed Palestinians.

He said Palestinian people should have the right to live in their country with freedom and dignity without any external interference.

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Climate Change Goes Mainstream: An International Perspective

Climate change has emerged as an urgent issue affecting people’s lives and incomes in Pakistan. Yet, it remains largely seen as a topic only for specialists, leading to widespread apathy among the general population. Addressing this challenge requires participation from all sectors of society—families, educational institutions, work environments, and every individual. Educational facilities ought to integrate lessons about climate change and environmental stewardship, news outlets should discuss these topics regularly, and companies must embrace eco-friendly operations. Citizens can help by participating in initiatives like planting trees, organizing clean-up events, and advocating for sustainable agriculture methods. Immediate action is imperative.

I urgently encourage policymakers, educators, the media, and business leaders to emphasize climate consciousness and implementation of solutions. Building a sustainable tomorrow necessitates taking steps right now.

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New Zealand Dominate Pakistan 3-1 in Thrilling T20I Series

Unstoppable New Zealand dominated Pakistan during the fourth T20I at Bay Oval on Sunday, winning the five-game series 3-1. Their fierce performance with both bat and ball led them to overpower Pakistan’s batsmen, resulting in an emphatic 115-run win.

Facing a daunting total of 221, Pakistan’s batting order disintegrated under the unyielding assault from New Zealand’s bowlers, mustering only 105 runs before being dismissed after just 16.2 overs. The Pakistani team suffered a terrible beginning, with their top three batsmen falling in the opening two overs. Opener Mohammad Haris (2), Hasan Nawaz (1), and captain Salman Ali Agha (1) were quickly eliminated, putting Pakistan in dire straits at 3-11.

Deputy captain Shadab Khan quickly joined the list of dismissals, scoring only one run in the fourth over, which worsened Pakistan’s predicament at 26-4. The wickets kept falling periodically due to New Zealand’s consistent bowling, leaving no respite for the opposition.

Abdul Samad stood out as the sole resistor, contributing a valiant 44 runs off just 30 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and two maximums. Nonetheless, this wasn’t sufficient to orchestrate a comeback since Pakistan’s batting lineup crumbled swiftly under pressure. In contrast, for New Zealand, Jacob Duffy emerged as the standout performer with an impressive bowling stint of 4-20 over four overs. Additionally, Zakary Foulkes bolstered their efforts significantly with figures of 3-25.

Initially, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand’s leading batsmen delivered an exceptional performance, amassing 220-6 within their allotted 20 overs. The opening pair of the Kiwis started strong, reaching 59 runs in only 4.1 overs. Tim Seifert spearheaded this onslaught with a scintillating knock of 44 from 22 deliveries, including four massive sixes and three fours. His bold approach laid down the groundwork for New Zealand’s formidable total until he was dismissed by Haris Rauf.

Finn Allen and Mark Chapman kept up the pressure, with Allen making a rapid fifty, hitting 50 from only 20 deliveries, including six boundaries and three maximums. Chapman contributed significantly as well, helping New Zealand reach 134-3 after 10.1 overs, showing great momentum.

Despite this, Pakistan managed to regain some ground during the latter part of the innings, largely due to Haris Rauf’s performance with 3 wickets for 27 runs and Abrar Ahmed’s contribution with 2 wickets for 36 runs. They excelled particularly towards the end of the game, which restricted New Zealand to a score of 220-6, thus avoiding an even higher target. This decisive victory allowed New Zealand to clinch the best-of-five match series at 3-1, highlighting their superiority over Pakistan throughout the competition.

At the post-match press conference, Salman acknowledged that New Zealand had dominated Pakistan across every aspect of the game. He stated, “New Zealand bowled exceptionally well and thoroughly outperformed us. They deserve credit for their performance. The conditions were tough due to significant movement both off the pitch and through the air, particularly in the second innings. However, as professional internationals, we must adjust our strategy and perform more effectively. Despite the considerable degree of swing, which made things very hard for us, we have to come together again and strive to secure victory in the upcoming match,” he concluded.

Scores in Brief

NEW ZEALAND 220-6 (Allen 50, Bracewell 46, Seifert 44, Rauf 3-27) defeated PAKISTAN 105 all out (Samad 44, Duffy 4-20, Foulkes 3-25) by 115 runs.

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