Get quality reporting directly into your inbox operates a total of 24 children's homes in the central Romanian region of Transylvania who used to reside in one of the homes located in the town of Sovata told reporters that during Christmas in 2015 the home's manager blackmailed her into touching his intimate parts after catching her smoking a cigarette the manager took her on multiple occasions to the home's vacant guest rooms and forced her to have sex with him Former educators at the home confirmed to Átlátszó Erdély that the manager was known for making advances towards the girls living in the facility and making sexually abusive comments towards them The abuse of Mónika became known among the residents and staff after the manager was caught red-handed by one of Mónika's friends Böjte subsequently visited the home to gather more information about the case While the manager persuaded Mónika to deny the abuse a manager from another house with a background in psychology informed Böjte that she seemed to be lying during her testimony The friar eventually fired the abusive manager in contravention of Romania's Children's Rights Protection Act adopted in 2004 which requires all suspected cases of sexual abuse to be reported to child protection authorities Átlátszó Erdély discovered that the fired manager verbally and physically intimidated the foster children and staff in the home to keep the incident a secret It only came to light in 2017 when Mónika reported it to the police This is not the only such incident within the foundation Another former educator at Böjte's orphanages was sentenced last week to 28 years in prison and a 120,000 euro fine for physically and sexually abusing boys under his care – a practice he was able to continue unhindered for nearly 10 years Support from readers like you helps OCCRP expose organized crime and corruption around the world you’ll be directly supporting investigative journalism as a public good You’ll also gain access to exclusive insights and benefits After reporting a turnover of RON 36 million (approximately EUR 8 million) in 2015 the Danubius Sovata hotel group plans a five percent growth for this year which is present in several regional markets has invested EUR 7 million in its local properties during 2013 and 2014 alone   The three hotels the Danubius hotel group owns in the Sovata spa resort have reported some 43,000 tourists in 2015 The number has been on the rise in recent years as spa tourism has increased in popularity and also due also to the investments the group has made locally albeit in 2016 the investment budget level will be below that of the last two years the company will continue to invest in refurbishing one or two floors of hotel Sovata and a full upgrade of Hotel Faget is planned for 2018 the complex in Sovata generated a turnover of RON 36 million (approximately EUR 8 million) in 2015 albeit much of this growth was generated by the fact that only following the refurbishment hotel Bradet could function at full capacity The Danubius Hotels Group operates 56 hotels in Hungary Over the years the local business has grown but even so it still contributes a small share of about five six percent to the group’s overall revenues This year the group has budgeted a growth of about five percent which Szoboszlai estimates will come both from the number of tourists going up and the slight price increase “We estimate the domestic market will go up We already see this happening on the corporate segment with companies spending more on events such as team-buildings We also hope the holiday vouchers will help the market,” he added One thing is for sure, the spa tourism is becoming more popular on the local market. For the group, spa and leisure activities generate about 60-65 percent of the group’s revenues in Romania. Salt extraction in Sovata dates back to Roman times and according to some sources the town was recorded as a resort as early as the end of the 16th century Its main tourist attraction is Bear Lake (Lacul Ursu,) which covers over 40,000 sqm making it the largest salted heliothermal lake on the continent On the bottom of the lake the salt concentration reaches 300 grams per liter a level similar with that of the Dead Sea but this concentration gradually drops towards the surface The top layer on the surface is made up of about 10-15 centimeters of unsalted water which acts as a lens and enables the sun to warm up the lake up to a depth of two meters the lake and its banks are swarming with tourists as is the smaller nearby Alunis Lake Water and mud from Bear Lake are used in the spa and the treatment base and are recommended for the treatment of rheumatic respiratory and even fertility-related medical problems Danubius Group manages the lakes and has invested in recent years in landscaping the banks and the surrounding area which offers tourists numerous hiking trails through the nearby forest to three other lakes or around the Salt Mountain tourists can visit the Praid salt mine or the village of Corund there is also the option of skiing on the two slopes available at Alunis some 320km or around six hours by car from Bucharest We use cookies for keeping our website reliable and secure providing social media features and to analyse how our website is used One of the recognizable brands of Romanian tourism during the communist years With a 100 percent occupancy rate in the summer of 2016 the health resort is relying on a tried and tested recipe for success: attracting Romanian tourists by offering them exactly what it did 27 years ago Danubius Hotels Group welcomes most of the incoming tourists with an eye to add value to their experience while seeking to grow at a sustainable pace Sovata’s reputation as a health resort was built around the unique properties and health benefits of the salt waters and mud extracted from Lacul Ursu (The Bear Lake) it is the largest salted heliothermal lake on the continent which acts like a lens and enables the sun to warm up the lake up to a depth of two meters the mud deposits found on the bottom of the lake have outstanding health benefits Located about six hours away from Bucharest, the resort attracts tourists from around the country and abroad. The city has grown to 15,000 inhabitants and receives around 65,000 tourists every year, according to data provided by the Romanian Organisation of Spa Owners. Most of them, around 80 percent, are welcomed by the three hotels owned by the Danubius Hotels Group, which also holds the rights to use Lake Ursu. The chain purchased Danubius Health Spa Resort Sovata (four stars) Danubius Health Spa Resort Bradet (four stars) and Hotel Faget (two stars) in 2000 and has invested since over EUR 20 million the group is planning to invest around EUR 6 million in the modernization of Hotel Faget works will start in 2018 and will give the hotel an upgrade allowing it to be reclassified as a three star hotel In a world where businesses compete to always do something different to attract customers Sovata’s winning formula consists of offering the same combination tourists have come to know and appreciate The development of Sovata is conditioned by its size and in many ways it bears a resemblance to that of Lake Ursu In order to maintain its unique properties it is crucial that the lake be exploited sustainably In order to protect the heliothermal phenomenon tourists can only bathe during certain hours so that the currents can refresh the water the resort grew and built a reputation due to a constant stream of tourists who were sent through the country’s well-established system of unions the resort suddenly had to brace itself for capitalism and was left with a well-functioning infrastructure but without a centralized national system of referrals the referrals provided through the National Health Insurance House are proving a good substitute and the hotels he operates will continue it in the future around 80 percent of tourists welcomed in the three hotels owned by the Danubius Hotels Group are Romanian who has been with the business since its early days “Romanian tourists are the best,” he argues “We attract them by providing solid services priced at a level that is customer-oriented,” he explains Last year, the company had a turnover of RON 36 million and recorded a RON 7.4 million profit. the three hotels owned by the Danubius group attracted 47,825 arrivals 138,931 overnight stays and recorded an occupancy rate of 72.5 percent Asked whether he intends to employ means to push the occupancy rate upwards “When a hotel reaches an occupancy rate above 70 percent it becomes difficult to function at an optimum rate And things are poised to develop a lot along the same path “We will continue to maintain the relationship with the National Health Insurance House after the modernization process is completed,” he added consisting of baths in the salt lake and mud therapy Sovata offers numerous possibilities for relaxation and access to nearby tourist attractions Sovata is nonetheless surrounded by hills covered in broadleaf forests a train pulled by a steam engine that allows one to discover the surroundings at a leisurely pace You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed more precisely in the well-known spa resort Sovata a new luxury hotel was inaugurated last weekend Hotel Crystal is a 4-star establishment and is a project initiated in 2021 out of the necessity to elevate the tourist offerings of the resort which seems to be rising from its own ashes after being neglected for a long time Part of the funding was supported by the Pro Economica Alapítvány Foundation Centrally located, Hotel Crystal boasts 104 rooms and a spacious SPA and wellness area. Tourists will be able to undergo electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, wraps, and many other treatments. is situated in the center of Sovata Resort It offers 104 rooms of various capacities and its own parking a restaurant that combines traditional cuisine with international recipes a SPA and wellness center with multiple types of pools and saunas “The baths in the area and the possibility of practicing winter sports are already well-known but it’s time to open a new chapter and offer quality at a different level We will not only provide our guests with the most exclusive services but also show special attention to creating an atmosphere conducive to relaxation and the physical and mental well-being of all those who visit us,” said Káli Zoltán Hotel Crystal is also designed for business tourists, corporate groups, or those looking for modern spaces for events. With its three conference rooms, Hotel Crystal can host various conferences, workshops, team meetings, corporate presentations, or private events. we wanted to support the owners in catering to a new category of tourists who come to this area of Romania more demanding guests who place greater emphasis on ambiance and attention to detail,” added Monika Kozma President of the Pro Economica Alapítvány Foundation near-misses and fairy tale endings prevailed at the annual competition From two 70-something best friends from America winning together to an emergency nurse nearly missing her big win for a bathroom break get to know the sharply dressed winners of this year’s Style Stakes on the sidelines of Dubai World Cup on March 30 23-year-old Best Dressed Lady Eleanor Campbell was a world away from her day job on Saturday night Dressed in a powder blue dress by Australian designer Nicola Finetti the New Zealander is used to taking care of puppies for a living “Me and my mother own a dog boarding kennel in New Zealand so this is really fun for us to come and dress up which involves lots of dogs — we love caring for little dogs,” said Campbell Campbell flew 17 hours to visit Dubai for the first time “I had the dress first and I just loved it I thought it was a modern colour and it was really cool with the puffy sleeves The hat I got made by New Zealand milliner Monika Neuhauser to match the dress a 36-year-old insurance broker from Australia also came a long way to be at the races — more precisely Her bright dress caught the eye of the judges and was a chaotic counterpoint to Wells’ single-colour outfit “The dress is Diane Von Furstenberg — I just fell in love with the colour and the sequens The hat is by an Australian milliner called Sovata; I went to her and I said I wanted something a little modern and quirky and this is what we came up with,” said Wells who was on the verge of happy tears after her win When Corina Tutoui’s paddle number was being called out the Australian national was nowhere to be seen nearly missed out on the Best Hat accolade as she rushed back from the bathroom in a panic I lost my phone in the lounge and I had to go find it I have to go!’” recalled a breathless and beaming Tutoiu Her winning headpiece was inspired by Lady Gaga a pop star known for her exaggerated tastes as well as a Dubai-themed palette of royal blue and camel colours but teamed up with a nurse-milliner friend to bring her hat to life Tutoiu has been coming to the races since 2011 and made it to the Top 20 of the Style Stakes once before Eksuda Vassakosol had only one person on her mind when she won Most Creative Hat — her 80-year-old grandmother who had crafted her winning headpiece by hand The colourful afternoon tea trays perched on Vassakosol’s head included miniature cakes and macaroons which were all created lovingly by her grandmother even when it was for my piano rehearsals,” said the 32-year-old flight attendant from Thailand “I feel like I need to take her to afternoon tea.” In one of the more memorable moments of the night American good friends Miles Hamby and Leon Harris won first and second place in the Best Dressed Man category The two have known each other for 20 years — Harris is an Argentine tango dancer and Hamby was one of his students — and love to throw costume parties back home These colours are my favourite colours — beige and white,” said Harris Though he’s competed in the Style Stakes “many times” before he laughingly recalled the crowd clapping for him in previous years “because I’m a senior citizen,” despite the fact that he had never won before Hamby won Best Dressed Man on his very first try at the Style Stakes The retired statistics professor living in Alexandria Virginia looked like a voyager in his outfit which was inspired by the first Kentucky Derby in the late 1800s “My family goes back to about 200 years ago in Kentucky and I hope to be Kentucky Colonel,” said Hamby referring to the highest title of honour bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky my first time in Dubai and my first time on the Arabian Peninsula I did not expect this at all,” admitted Hamby Hamby crossed off climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania three years ago whilst in his late 60s and can now add winning the Style Stakes to his list of impressive achievements Sudanese fashion designer Nader Tearab won the Best Dressed Man prize three times before But his latest Style Stakes achievement may be even sweeter — it marked his first Best Dressed Couple win with wife Yao Zhengqi “We met in 2011 — I worked in a hotel and she joined the hotel so we got to know each other as colleagues who has a sharp eye for colour and fabrics It took two months from concept to completion The lavender lace and light blue lining were inspired by spring and Tearab modelled his own suit after Zhengqi’s outfit “This is the first time I designed a dress I usually design suits for men,” said Tearab The couple contemplated bringing their four-month-old son along to watch mummy and daddy compete he might come with a bow tie,” said Zhengqi including but not limited to brunch packages and Banana Republic gift vouchers ranging from Dh2,000-Dh10,000 in value Spa vouchers were awarded to the women and grooming vouchers to the men Suit Supply vouchers were awarded to the Best Dressed Man and the Runner-Up while Diane Von Furstenberg vouchers were given to Best Hat and Most Creative Hat winners Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox Duty First strikes gold in landmark DDF Stakes Jockey Florent Geroux ends long wait at Meydan Watch: Dubai World Cup’s record-breaking drone show Mohammed praises Dubai's role in growth of horse racing Thrift stores offer affordable and unique clothing items Fiona Lynch-Magor and her husband Richard would begin with.. we’ve all been there – stalking social media and LinkedIn profiles Consider this your essential guide to dining through the light rail disruption From the team behind the internationally acclaimed Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience Are you expecting or have you just welcomed a new shining light into your world?.. 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Local designers Barb Mickelson and Jade Sargent aren’t big gamblers but there’s a million dollar bet they’re both willing to make – that there’s a hat for everyone who loves the races “Hats can make you happy and they can make others smile,” says Barb, from BMdesigns Photo of BMDesigns courtesy of Canberra CityNews “Although there’s a peak in interest with Melbourne Cup just around the corner having something creative perched on top of your head is becoming popular anytime “Fashion is changing and becoming more quirky with more women interested in making a bold statement by wearing something unique,” says Barb “The challenge for those who have never worn hats is to take the first step and start trying them on And people always look at big hats and say ‘Wow Barb designs and creates all the hats she sells under her label, from small vintage-inspired ones to very large theatrical ones that turn heads, including the stunning showcase pieces she had on the runway at Fashfest 2014 It’s no wonder she has won awards in ‘wearable art’ competitions in Australia and New Zealand If you get a headache wearing one of Barb’s creations it won’t be the hat’s fault (perhaps the champagne?) While some headwear she creates look ‘challenging and scary’ to wear which makes it easy to manipulate the bigger to suit the shape of the face and hairstyle,” says Barb Barb is also passionate about vintage headwear “Everyone has their favourite eras and mine is the 40s and 50s,” she says “The fashion from these years was about style and grace as well as performance Another designer who showcased at Fashfest is also busy selling Melbourne Cup hats. Jade Sargent, from label Sovata sees a shift with more women wearing hats at weddings other special occasions and even in-between – not just during racing season “Still some people believe they just don’t look good in hats,” says Jade “It’s challenging to break this preconceived notion by getting them to try them on and have a play Sure not every hat suits every person but there is a hat out there that will look great on you.” “I experimented even further with the hats at Fashfest this year,” says Jade “Some were created mixing leather off cuts or pieces of hide with other materials and I tested possibilities with moulding The collection built on the hats I created for my wedding.” But what truly inspires people to play with hats a fascinating concept that describes the effects clothing has on a person “We’ve long known that clothing affects how others perceive us and how we perceive ourselves,” says Steven “But the deeper question is whether the clothing we wear affects our psychological processes—how we approach and interact with the world.” So Steven says people who wear top hats do not just look taller “Hats are an extension of the body,” he says Fitness fanatics are in for a treat when Australian-owned activewear brand LSKD opens in the… Have you ever driven by a new home and just ached to open the door,… You must be logged in to post a comment Sign up HerCanberra acknowledges Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as the traditional custodians of the land we work on and pay our respects to elders past As an inclusive organisation we also strive to celebrate people of all backgrounds Hungarian group Danubius Hotels invested EUR 7 million in rehabilitating Bradet hotel in Sovata which is now rated at four stars superior and has been renamed Danubius Health Spa resort Bradet Danubius Health Spa Resort offers 5 apartments and 88 rooms The hotel also operates a Wellness center which is connected to the main building through an annex The tourism complex owned by Danubius Hotels Group in Sovata also includes Faget hotel (2*) and Danubius Health Spa Resort Sovata (4*). The three hotels have a total offer of 400 double rooms. Danubius Hotels Group is the biggest hotel operator in Central Europe that offers spa services with a portfolio of 56 hotels in Hungary The last events from Turkey and some European cities made Romanians think about domestic holidays The online reservations portal HotelGuru.ro registered this year a growth in the number of accommodation options searches in the summer destinations Based on these searches, HotelGuru.ro made a list of the most appreciated beaches and swimming pools from Romania. The top of the most searched resorts include seaside resorts such as Mamaia or Eforie Nord, but also balneo resorts, such as Sovata, Praid and Baile Herculane. In June and July most of the Romanian tourists chose Mamaia resort Transylvania was also a chosen destination because of the swimming pools and SPA centers from this region Among the most popular destination from this year are the Praid swimming pool Colibita and the North West Termal Park from Satu Mare The main sports activities practiced by the tourists from Transylvania were cycling and mountain hiking, while the water sports lover chose rafting or  kayak. The accommodation in these area start from RON 60/person/night. Úgy tűnik nem található semmi ezen a helyen IMPRESSZUM SZERZŐI JOGOK ADATVÉDELEM FELHASZNÁLÁSI FELTÉTELEK