VOL. 32. NUMBER 13 | JUNE 28 – JULY 11, 2024
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SPECIAL REPORT INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Tourism
Hoteliers Optimistic as ‘Old Order’ Returns The president of the Hungarian Hotel & Restaurant Association (HH&RA), Tamás Flesch, discusses hope for this year among the challenges that remain and the opportunities for the future. 21 FOCUS
4th-largest Investor Country, USA Continues to Deepen Bilateral Trade As the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency makes clear, business links between Hungary and the U.S. investor community are long-standing and substantial. 14
SOCIALITE
Budapest’s Lufiland Experience Pumps up Balloon Art At Budapest’s BOK hall until the middle of August, Lufiland is the work of worldfamous Dutch balloon master Guido Verhoef, a team of professional balloon designers and 150 volunteers. 36
A Love Letter to Budapest
SPECIAL REPORT
Thibaut Drege, the general manager of the Four Seasons Gresham Palace Budapest, looks back on 20 years of success at the landmark luxury hotel and what it is that he believes keeps it NEWS at the top with international travelers. 18 Are we Entering New
Monetary Policy Era? At its latest rate-setting meeting, the central bank reduced the key interest rate in line with expectations but to a lesser extent than before. With this last cut, the interest rate reduction cycle that started in May of last year may have come to an end. 3
BUSINESS
Production, Share up at Suzuki Despite Shrinking Market Presenting its 2023 results, Magyar Suzuki Corporation says production grew markedly, with a focus on hybrid models. The company outlined plans to introduce new EVs by 2030 and continue upgrading Esztergom. 9