Interview: Christos Tsemberas, Grand Casino Beograd

The premier entertainment venue in five years

Our main target is to develop to a focal point of the city's social life, a place where people may experience excellent service, enjoyment and fun and also to become an attraction that will help developing tourism in Belgrade. Although we are on this market for more than two years we are still a new product, interesting and exciting, and we expect to continue growing even through these trying times


By MARKO ANDREJIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA
Article from Magazine BUSINESS


Christos Tsemberas has been appointed as General Manager of Grand Casino Beograd (GCB) in July 2009, but his career brought him to Belgrade already in 2007. His long experience with touristic and entertaining industry (he is dealing with this since 1978) will help him in developing and reaching company goals - the company that is 90 per cent owned by Greek Club Hotel Casino Loutraki. Mr. Tsemberas is a member of "Association of Athens' hotels CEOs", a member of the Board of Serbian hotels Association and Vice-president of Hellenic business community in Serbia.

According to the latest data, 90 million EUR was invested in Grand Casino Beograd. The company employs around 500 staff. Are you satisfied with the business results? How do you estimate 2009?

- Grand Casino Beograd is one of the largest investments in Belgrade and an investment that contributes significantly to the local economy. Since its opening GCB has paid 1 billion 241 million RSD in salaries and social contributions and has paid 4 billion 743 millions (almost 5 billion) RSD to local suppliers. It employs around 500 people and it is an asset for the future touristic development of the city.

The slowdown of the Serbian economy has affected us like other industries. However we plan to support our investment and we are looking at middle and long term results. Despite the difficult year we are going through, we are keeping all our staff and continuing to improve our operation. We hope though that the government will take the right steps towards economy recovery and market stabilization by initiating all necessary structural changes. We have faith that Serbia will progress and will come closer to EU membership.

One of the targets, set even when the casino was opened, was that GCB will become regional centre of entertainment. Up to what point have you reached in accomplishment of this plan? Apart from slot machines and live games what else do you offer to your guests?

- Our main target is to develop to a focal point of the city's social life, a place where people may experience excellent service, enjoyment and fun and also to become an attraction that will help developing tourism in Belgrade. Although we are on this market for more than two years we are still a new product, interesting and exciting, and we expect to continue growing even through these trying times. The casino will continue to develop in line with consumer demand, tastes and expectations and in five years time I expect Grand Casino Beograd to be the premier entertainment venue in Serbia. (...)

Original version on website of Magazine BUSINESS.


(Published: 15.01.2010.)