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Room for Prague’s hotels may have been hit by Europe’s economic woes, but they’re fighting back, offering diversity and flexibility to a new type of traveller. Julie O’Shea checks in 54 Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine August <strong>2011</strong>
It’s been a rough couple of years for the Prague hotel sector, during which a number of luxury chains have excitedly entered the market, only to struggle to keep their occupancy rates up. Privately, a few nervously admitted that there were some weeks – even months – where only a handful of guests checked in. The situation now seems to be improving, however, with many establishments reporting an upswing in bookings for the summer season – a trend that they’re hoping is here to stay. Peter Knoll, general manager of the Kempinski Hybernská (kempinski.com), which opened during the height of the financial crisis, goes as far as predicting that the coming months will have city Although the economy is improving, many guests still book hotels very last-minute Opposite page and bottom right: The Icon Hotel knows that its bedrooms and bar need to offer something different to guests Below and right: The Kempinski Hybernská’s Presidential Suite with terrace, and its laid-back Lobby Lounge hotels filling up fast. “With this in mind,” he says, “we recommend booking early to avoid missing out.” Good advice, no doubt, except for the fact that early bookings are looking like a thing of the past. Although the Czech economy is improving, “many guests still book very last-minute,” notes Katerina Dvorakova, sales and marketing manager for the Buddha-Bar Hotel (buddha-barhotel.cz), a new high-end boutique in the city’s old town. Spoilt for choice? Renata Žižkovská, resident manager at The Icon Hotel (iconhotel.eu) – a cosy little venue off Wenceslas Square – has also noticed changes. There are now nearly 700 hotels to choose from in Prague, and tourists have suddenly found themselves with the upper hand. Not only are they not booking in advance, but they’re also being more choosy, Žižkovská says – which gives smaller hotels an edge. “I think guests of boutique hotels tend to have the same standards,” she adds. “They are cool and different, and they want to stay in places PRAGUE HOTEL SECTOR \\\ Brussels Airlines b.there! magazine August <strong>2011</strong> 55
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Page 5 and 6: IMAGE GETTY IMAGES FR Résumés des
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Page 10 and 11: diary Take One Picture LONDON Until
Page 12 and 13: interview Hailing from Etterbeek te
Page 15 and 16: Stéphanie Duval gives us the insid
Page 17 and 18: www.mabrun.it ITALIA
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Page 36 and 37: BELGIAN ARDENNES Clockwise from lef
Page 38 and 39: IMAGE 4CORNERS IMAGES ///BELGIAN AR
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Page 42 and 43: BERLIN’S TRAMWAY All aboard Three
Page 44 and 45: The Rousseau effect The publication
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Page 56 and 57: PRAGUE HOTEL SECTOR Profile: Bohemi
Page 58 and 59: ADVERTISING FEATURE DEGREES OF SUCC
Page 60 and 61: 2011 SPRING-SUMMER COLLECTION Sothy
Page 62 and 63: CITY FOCUS Over the last decade Tel
Page 64 and 65: CITY FOCUS Day Two ■ 9:00 Start y
Page 66 and 67: BELGIUM Population 10,431,477 Curre
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