An exclusive interview with Raluca REPANOVICI, Managing Partner Innovation Travel
A country where people play tennis, golf and snooker is a developed and civilized country.
Raluca Repanovici has acquired an over ten years expertise in the tourism sector. She was employed as a Sales or Events Manager at hotels in Bucharest, such as Residence, RIN Grand or Alexander. As a representative of these hotels, she was in the middle of adventurous actions and even unforgettable, such as hosting the artist Michael Bolton, organizing the Gala of the National Association of Tourism Agencies (ANAT). Four years ago, she accepted her first challenge: to own her restaurant. From a certain perspective, it was not the business she was dreaming of, even though it was the first business experience on her own. Two years ago, Raluca Repanovici met an old friend, Traian Badulescu, tourism journalist and writer, former spokesperson for ANAT. They decided to establish a tourism agency, focused on incoming, namely bringing foreign tourists and organizing events. The initiative has started taking shape fast, and thus Innovation Travel opened in the fall of 2013. One of the main opportunities was the successful partnership with the Romanian Snooker Federation, which turned into a double European Snooker Championship in Romania. A World Championship is on this year’s agenda. More details will be given by Raluca Repanovici.
– Where did the opportunity of the World Snooker Championship in Bucharest come from?
– This is a great story. A very long time have I known Dragos Cozmaciuc, the federal coach of the Romanian Snooker Federation, who used to be my karate trainer. When Dragos found out that I had a tourism agency, he gave me a challenge, back in December 2013. He called me and said: ‘Raluca, it was supposed to have a double European Snooker Championship in Israel next March. It did not happen, due to the unfavorable regional circumstances. Let’s do it in Bucharest. Are you in?’ I said yes, without being aware of it and started the preparations. Getting an international event ready in 2-3 months is not an easy task. I identified fast the best location in Bucharest for such event, Caro Hotel complex. The partnership with the Romanian Snooker Federation stipulates to handle both the organization of the international events from a tourism angle (accommodation, transfer, optional trips) and also the promotion of the events – press conferences, press release, media partnerships, presentation events. In a nutshell, the Double Snooker Championship (Junior individual and Senior Teams) we organized at Caro Hotel between 18 and 29 of March was a real success. There were over 350 participants from all Europe (players, referees, relatives of the players and fans).
– How much did that event impact your business?
– A lot. It is good to know that snooker is a sport, an elite game. People here play it more and more, in clubs meant for snooker. An important contribution in attracting the first two European Champioships to Romania has been brought by the Romanian Snooker Federation. Many players were thrilled by the sights and entertainment here and promised to come back as tourists. Several of them have already done that. Six months into this new business of Innovation Travel, we passed a tough test. I am so glad that I have helped introduce snooker on the map of the world competitions. As Mr. Francisc Toba always says, President of the Romanian Snooker Federation, a country where people play tennis, golf and snooker is a developed and civilized country. There are three aristocratic sports, done by people who are over average in terms of education, mostly business people. Looking at the specific of your publication, I would like to tell you that there a lot of snooker players that are interested in casinos and gambling.
– The World Snooker Championship will be another challenge. What can you tell about this event?
– Thanks to the success with the Double European Championship from last year, the Romanian Snooker Federation filed the nomination of Romania for the organization of a World Junior Championship (Under 21). In December, we were given the good news, somehow expected: We won! The trio – Innovation Travel – the Romanian Snooker Federation –Caro Hotel was a true team of success. We are going to do the same thing, except that on a larger scale. The event, already on the IBSF calendar (International Federation of Billiards and Snooker) will take place between 17 and 26 of July 2015, at Caro Hotel in Bucharest.
The event will gather together circa 150 participants for the two categories, male and female, from over 50 countries (Australia, USA, Brazil, Canada, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Great Britain, Ireland, North Ireland, Wales, Scotland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Japan, Pakistan, China, Hong Kong, Egypt, South Africa, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Australia, New Zealand, etc.). There will be 26 international snooker referees in Bucharest and the event is open for the public.
– What other challenges are you preparing for the snooker game?
– We will surely bring an Euopean Championship for Seniors, in the second half of this year or the next year. On the other hand, one of my dreams is to have a demonstrative match between the most famous snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan and another one, known too, Jimmy White. I truly believe that this dream will come true.
