HOVNANIAN INTERNATIONAL LTD. Regional Bed & Breakfast Hotels
| Armenian
Diaspora, particularly from US, need a second home as tourists. Homes and hotels with western style construction are particularly desirable. Company: Hovnanian International Amount: $14,000,000 Tenor/Terms: 10-year loan at eight (8%) percent interest Documentation: A memorandum of understanding can be negotiated at any time during the conference. Use of Funds: The funds will be utilized for the construction of lodging units and common facilities, in a style similar to American hotel suites. These individual units will be constructed at ten (10) historically significant sites, which are already under lifetime leases, throughout Armenia. Legal Status: Hovnanian International Ltd. is a registered corporation in Armenia. Local Strategic Partners: None. Current Operations: Hovnanian International is currently constructing a 700+ unit single family and multifamily housing development in Yerevan, known as Vahakni. The homes are in the American style, using Western construction techniques and materials. However, buyers can request traditional building materials and have them incorporated into the building as well. Hovnanian International is also constructing the first nine-hole golf course in Armenia located within the housing development. Sales and Marketing Plan: $2,000,000 of the financing amount requested will be utilized for advertising these sites. The target markets for advertising are Europe, North America and the Middle East. The former Soviet Republics will also receive advertising attention, in media that will reach citizens of Armenian descent. The primary market will be tourists, and the Armenian Diaspora, from Europe, the former Soviet countries, North America and the Middle East. The former Soviet nations, just recently out of communism, are just being introduced to Western vacation markets and places of historic and recreation significance. There is no reason that Armenia should not be looked at in these countries as a major destination. Armenia s geography provides incredible opportunities for recreation vacations which can attract significant numbers of tourists: hiking; mountain climbing; fishing; skiing, and; archeology. Another market will be religious / Christian tours, building on Armenia s well know religious sites and significance in the Christian world. Armenia is celebrating its 1700 years of Christianity, and is well known as the first nation to adopt Christianity as a state religion. The key concept of Hovnanian International is that interaction in these tourism sites at the local village level it is promotes Armenia s most precious commodities, its people and their hospitality, to the world. These markets can be reached through the good offices of the National Armenian Tourism Development Agency ( NATDA ), which is a supporter of this project. The NATDA recently held its first convention in Berlin to promote tourism in Armenia, which Mr. Hovnanian attended on behalf of Hovnanian International and its projects. The next convention is set for the fall, to be held in England. Business plan: By being the only source for tourists housing at most of these historically significant sites, Hovnanian International will have the entire market share at the outset. Competition will be welcomed, however, since Mr. Hovnanian strongly believes that the growth of tourism is a key ingredient to the development of the Armenian economy. At present, tourists visiting these sites endure long bus rides from hotels in major cities located some distance away. They can spend only a short amount of time exploring the site, and little or no time in the surrounding villages and area. The tourists return the same day, only hours after their arrival. These individual housing units will promote long visits and family travel, which are very difficult if not impossible under current conditions. Competition: At present, none in the sites selected. Investment, capital cost and financing structure proposed: Hovnanian International is looking for a lender to fund the $14 million necessary to construct all ten (10) sites. The lender will be repaid from operating revenue or from a permanent end loan. Regulatory considerations: Hovnanian International has received all known government permits and approvals for this project. The leases for the sites that have already been signed evidence the Armenian governments support. Both Hovnanian International and the Armenian government view this project as being critical to the future growth of the Armenian economy through foreign investment. Directly, tourism is an enormously untapped business for Armenia. There is no foreseeable reason why an increase in tourism should not be expected with a minimal marketing effort. Indirectly, as potential and actual foreign investors come to Armenia, including the Diaspora, they will expect to see accommodations that at lease minimally meet their customary expectations. Further, if facilities are available at historic locales many business trips can be taken to these locations. To combine business with a sense of Armenian history and culture. Points of Contact: Mr. Haroutyun Khachatryan Director Hovnanian International, Ltd. 50 G Chaushi, Yerevan Tel: 374-1-39 01 02 Fax: 374-1-39 55 03 E-mail: hovint@freenet.am Mr. Vahak S. Hovnanian Chief Executive Officer Hovnanian International Suite 12, Village Mall Freehold, New Jersey, 07728 USA Tel: 732-462-8200 Fax: 732-462-0943 Email: vahak@vshovnaniangroup.com |