The Hotel and Lodging Certification Commission met in regular session on October 31 in the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Federation.

This session was the last one with Natela Shengeliya, the Deputy Director of Russiatourism, as a Chairman. As per the government order Natela Shengeliya is appointed Trade representative for Russia in Italy. The Federal Agency for Tourism will be represented at the next regularly scheduled session of the Certification Commission by Eugeny Pisarevsky, the Deputy Director of Russiatourism.

Andrey Krivoshein, PhD, the Counsellor to the President of Intourist national joint-stock company, has been elected unanimously as the new Chairman of the Hotel and Lodging Certification Commission.

At the session the following hotels were awarded:

5 stars:

• Golden Ring, Moscow
• Baltschug Kempinski, Moscow
• Le Royal Meridien National, Moscow

4 stars:

• President-Hotel, Moscow
• New Star, Perm
• Voznesensky, Ekaterinburg

3 stars:

• River Park Ob Hotel, Novosibirsk

After the session the 5-star certificate and sign was presented to the Grand Hotel Emerald (St.Petersburg).