Prague was hurted
by severe floods this Summer. How have these floods
impacted the tourism sector in general and the hotel
business in particular in Prague?
The tourism sector in the Czech Republic has
been hurt with three problems during the past
year: the first being 11th September, which had
a very negative impact on our business; the second
being the Euro because the Czech Crown has become
stronger and this is alarming for tourism because
all imputs are in Czech Crown; the third being
the flood in August.
I am afraid that the situation has not been improving
much because I hear from around the world that
people still find the situation in the Czech Republic
and in Prague very bad and that that is the reason
why they are not willing to visit our country
right now. I don't understand this because everything
is back to normal in the Czech Republic: there
are no infections here and the flood is over.
Apart from the underground, a few stations of
which do not operate yet, everything is as usual.
The tourism has still been suffering from it.
For the second half of August only, we lost 15
million Crowns. September and October are usually
a part of the high season, but really only a few
tourists visited Prague in that period this year.
I would say that there was no autumn part of high
season this year at all and this means a serious
trouble for our business. We are now entering
the low season, which is from November until February,
and nobody can guess or even know what will happen.
The situation is critical and we have to work
hard to explain all rumors about Prague, and to
show all advantages of cooperation, to our partners
in other countries.
I hope that the coming Prague NATO Summit will
not only have a positive influence to the Czech
Republic as such, but that it will show the world
that there is no point in being afraid to come
to visit us, that Prague is a pulsing political
and cultural center of Europe, and that no flood
can change it.
And all this should hopefully help to the tourism.
How has 11th September impacted your business
during the past year?
I think the problem is over now. However, it had
a strong impact last winter until March. We suffered
less at TOP HOTEL as we don't accommodate too
many Americans staying here, but some hotels in
the city centre are dependant on American visitors
and after 11th September, they had to solve the
situation somehow, because Americans were simply
scared to travel. These hotels significantly cut
their prices and by this they attracted a part
of clients of other hotels, e.g. of TOP HOTEL
and many others. Generally said this meant less
money for everyone in business.
Can you give us a brief overview of TOP HOTEL´s
history and how did it start?
All this started with several re-constructions
during nineties and finally two years ago our
hotel became one of the luxurious four-star hotel
with all the services ideal for demanding business
and congress clients.
It was a tremendous task as we are a very large
complex, with nine hectares of ground and ten
buildings. We have three thousand beds, one thousand
one hundred and forty rooms, three conference
halls, 9 additional salons, six restaurants, every
sport and relaxation facility you may wish, a
unique Japanese garden with a waterfall and a
singing fountain and a thousand of parking spaces.
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There are many hotels
in Prague in this four and five star range. What
do you do to differentiate yourself from the other
hotels?
Our hotel is not located in the city centre,
but we have space enough to offer our clients
all comfort in one complex, "under one roof".
Can you imagine those abovementioned 1000 parking
spaces in a hotel in the center? We have all the
needed relaxation facilities: two tennis courts,
a bowling, a fitness center, a sauna, massage,
solarium, a hairdresser, cosmetics and we now
we are opening Roman bath and squash courts. We
can thus hold big congresses, including the afternoon
and evening social program. For lovers of something
really special we can offer e.g. a coffee break
in the garden, or a grill party on the terraces,
etc. Another important point is that hotel is
situated in beautiful gardens that are a part
of the complex. You are still in Prague, but instead
of traffic you can see nature from a window of
your hotel room. And last but not least we are
only one kilometer away from the highway, which
is appreciated mainly by business people.
Considering this, how has your occupancy rate
changed during the past two years?
Since the hotel's renovation, we have slightly
increased our occupancy rate. Last year, we had
63 percent average occupancy. As we have a very
large complex, it is always quite problematic
to fill it in the wintertime in.
As a result of past year's problems I expect this
year's rate to be a little lower than last year's.
How do you increase revenues through other
services and offerings?
I have already spoken about many additional services
that we provide. If I should add something extraordinary
I would mention our BOHEMIA TOP Restaurant- a
luxurious French style open-view restaurant with
a fireplace and a beautiful view of the Golden
City of Prague. This place is appreciated both
by businesspeople and tourists.
The Czech Republic will very likely join the
EU. How will this impact your business? And will
this attract more business travellers to Prague?
I hope that this will attract more business people
(but also tourists) to Prague because as we are
in the EU there will be more possibilities to
cooperate. However, VAT is higher in the EU and
the Czech Republic, being a part of the Union,
won't be "a cheap country" anymore,
but from the other point of view in the eyes of
all businessmen and tourists we should finally,
once for ever, become "a save country ".
And that, in the end, could attract other and
more solvent people.
You are heading such a huge complex with more
than 1000 rooms. Can you shortly outline how you
arrived at this position?
I did not start in tourism as I first studied
at music school. Then an opportunity of studiing
hotel management in Germany appeared and after
graduation I worked for some time in Germany and
Austria. On returnal back to the Czech Republic,
it is some ten years ago, I was employed in several
small hotels. And then, six and a half years ago
I joined TOP HOTEL , where I started as a sales
officer. I then climbed the ladder first to Sales
Director, second to General Director.
What was your most satisfying moment during
these years?
First of all I am really proud when seeing the complex
after the reconstruction. When I look back I realize
how much work has been done. And it makes me trully
satisfied that I can say that partly this is a work
of mine and I am happy that I was given a chance
to participate in this creative proces. |
