Sleek modern venues sit alongside historical gems in the Czech capital, finds Michelle Mannion.
When walking the cobbled streets of Prague’s Old Town, threading your way through throngs of tourists and resisting the lure of jaunty souvenir shops, it’s hard to believe the fall of communism happened little over 20 years ago. But the Czech capital has developed rapidly since then, and its mix of stunning architecture and vibrant culture has made it one of Europe’s most popular cities.
And it’s not just tourists who flock here – Prague has a lot to offer corporate groups, with good air access and beautiful event venues. Brett Ira, associations meetings manager at Prague Convention Bureau, says: “The meeting industry has come a long way in the past decade, not only in terms of venues but in the services they provide. This country took a long time to become service-oriented, and now it’s right up there. I’ve seen a huge change since I came here from the US 11 years ago – before, the bar staff wouldn’t even look at you when you walked in. There are some very professional conference organisers who have done spectacular congresses for up to 10,000 people.”
What really differentiates Prague, though, is its rich heritage. “Even though the country has changed hands several times, it has held on to its history and culture,” Ira says. “But you can still see how other cultures have had an influence – for example, Hungary and Germany.”
The Czech Republic’s compact nature plays in its favour when it comes to incentives. “A lot of capable destination management companies have put together amazing packages for Prague and outside the city,” Ira says. “Because of its size you can experience a lot in a short space of time.” He suggests building a trip to Cesky Krumlov, two hours south, into your itinerary. “It’s a majestic town surrounded by walls with a river running through it, colourful rooftops and a beautiful castle. And there are lots of these gems – there are 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country, which is a high proportion considering our size.” Other options he suggests are taking a Mission Impossible tour of the city – much of the hit movie was filmed here – or staging a rally around town in communist-era Trabant cars.
According to Filip Remenec, head of the media department at Czech Tourism, the city also offers value for money. “You are getting unique venues such as Prague Castle and Municipal House (see facing page) and paying 50 per cent of what you would in, say, Italy,” he says. And with the recent growth in high-end hotels in the city, there’s plenty of choice for where to rest your head.
Visit pragueconvention.cz, czechtourism.com
HILTON
The Hilton is where the dignitaries stay – when I was in the city, my visit was delayed to allow a certain Mr Obama and his entourage to vacate the building. As the largest five-star hotel in the Czech Republic, with 791 rooms and extensive meeting facilities, it’s the natural choice for corporates wanting to stage large conferences. Built in 1991 and part of the Hilton group since 1995, it underwent a €50 million refurbishment in 2007 and is built around a stunning light-filled central atrium (the hotel was originally called Atrium).
The hotel offers almost 5,000 sqm of meeting space and a total of 33 meeting and banqueting rooms, including a dedicated floor on the lower-lobby level with its own entrance. This has a state-of-the-art Congress Hall that holds up to 1,500 delegates – it divides in three and is equipped with translation booths. There is also a pre-function area and three meeting rooms that can accommodate 150 people when combined. On the lobby level is a business centre with 12 meeting rooms named after European cities and a breakout space with sofas and a TV. The mezzanine floor has a 650-capacity ballroom with a large foyer, and yet more meeting rooms. Atrium restaurant seats 350 people for group dinners, while the vibrant ninth-floor skybar, Cloud Nine, can be used for events on special occasions – it can accommodate 160 people and offers great city views.
The property is about a 15-minute walk from the city centre and there is also a smaller Hilton in the Old Town, with 303 rooms and 1,000 sqm of meeting space.
1 Pobrezni; tel +42 022 4841 111; hilton.com
THE AUGUSTINE
Open since May last year, the Rocco Forte Collection’s luxurious Augustine hotel is situated in the picturesque Mala Strana (Little Quarter), a couple of minutes’ walk from Charles Bridge. It has been seamlessly created from seven buildings, one of which is the still-functioning 13th-century monastery after which the hotel is named.
Like the Collection’s other properties, the interior décor is by Sir Rocco’s sister Olga Polizzi, and she has been inspired here by the Czech Cubist movement, with interesting art pieces on display in the public areas and guestrooms.
Leading off from the lobby is a 200-capacity ballroom – it has no daylight but is bright with a high vaulted ceiling and a pre-function space opposite. Also on the lobby level are three stylishly decorated meeting rooms, two of which join together to offer 71 sqm of space – don’t be surprised to see a tram whipping past the window.
Down a level is a larger meeting room holding 60 people theatre-style and 90 for a reception – again, it benefits from a vaulted ceiling, and features attractive wall drapes in earthy colours. Next to it is the 100-capacity Brewery bar, housed in the cave where the resident monks made their own beer, St Thomas, until 1953. The beer is back in production off-site and is exclusive to the bar, so you can serve it up if you hold a party here – the stalactites will be a talking point.
Back on ground level, the glass-walled Monastery restaurant opens on to a spacious outdoor terrace and a covered arcade section – this in turn leads on to the monks’ Sundial garden and the elegant, laidback Tom’s bar. These venues can be combined to accommodate about 190 people banquet-style. The restaurant also serves an excellent three-course set lunch for Kc650 (£22) if you want to meet a client.
12/33 Letenska; tel +42 026 6112 233; roccofortecollection.com
MUNICIPAL HOUSE
Located on Republic Square, Municipal House is one of Prague’s architectural and political landmarks – an art nouveau masterpiece built at the beginning of the 20th century as a centre for culture and a statement of intent for Czech nationalism. Its beautifully detailed collection of rooms can be used for gala dinners and receptions.
The dramatic, multifunctional Smetana hall was the scene of the proclamation of the independent state of Czechoslovakia in 1918. It is one of the biggest concert halls in Prague, at 702 sqm, and has a high ceiling with an oval stained-glass window at its centre, intricate stucco detailing, a huge striking organ on the stage, allegorical paintings and cherubic statues – and that’s only a selection of its features. It can hold 1,200 people theatre-style or 500 for dinner.
Arranged around Smetana are nine ceremonial rooms that can be used for smaller gatherings. Try the Major’s hall, covered in stunning murals by one of the Czech Republic’s favourite sons – art nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha – or Gregr hall, the ceiling of which depicts “life”, “poetry” and “death” (be warned that conversation may suffer at events held in these rooms, as there is so much to look at…).
Tours of the venue can be arranged, and there is also a 250-seat restaurant that can be used for lively Bohemian-style dinners complete with music and dancing, and a glamorous French fine-dining eatery that holds about 380 people. There’s also an American bar and a friendly café with live piano music.
5 Namesti Republiky; tel +42 022 2002 101; obecnidum.cz
BUDDHA BAR HOTEL
The first hotel for the Buddha Bar brand opened in January last year a few minutes from Old Town Square and provides an ultra-chic bolthole for smaller groups. The 39 rooms are incredibly stylish, with a red and gold colour scheme, plush fabrics and gadgets so high-tech that a staff member will accompany you to the room when you check in to explain how it all works. Bang and Olufsen TVs are loaded with Buddha Bar’s catalogue of chill-out CDs, or you can tune in to the DJ playing in the bar.
The bar itself is a sumptuous place for an event. The 250-capacity basement space features deep red walls and wooden floors, and is resided over by a huge black Buddha sculpture. A striking chandelier hangs from the double-height ceiling, and a balcony running around the room is dotted with flickering candles and inviting armchairs. On ground level, the attractive Siddharta Café can be used for private parties of 100 people.
649/8 Jakubska; tel +42 022 1776 300; buddha-bar-hotel.cz
PRAGUE CONGRESS CENTRE/HOLIDAY INN
The country’s largest venue of its kind for conferences, Prague Congress Centre is located south of the New Town, close to Vysehrad Castle. Constructed at the turn of the eighties as a venue for communist meetings, it is now “a little outdated”, admits Brett Ira at Prague Convention Bureau – it was last renovated in the late nineties. But for big gatherings it has the stats you need – space for 9,300 delegates over five floors, 13,000 sqm of exhibition space, 50 meeting rooms and 20 halls, including the 2,764-capacity congress hall. It also boasts excellent views of the city from some of the foyers and rooms.
Directly linked to the congress centre, the Holiday Inn hotel is ideally located for events there. It has a lot more style than you might expect and the 251 guestrooms are clean and bright, though the hotel has yet to receive the new Holiday Inn branding – this is due by the end of the year. There are four meeting rooms on the first floor, two of which can join to accommodate 230 delegates for a reception, along with a good-sized pre-function foyer. For larger events, groups can use the congress centre.
The ground floor has been designed in an open-plan fashion, with the bright breakfast restaurant leading to a 400-seat à la carte section, a covered conservatory and a garden that can host outdoor events in warmer weather.
Prague Congress Centre: 5 Kvetna 65; tel +42 026 1172 222; kcp.cz
Holiday Inn: 15 Na Pankraci; tel +42 029 6895 000; holidayinn.cz
OTHER VENUES TO CONSIDER
HOTEL KINGS COURT
Next to Municipal House, this stylish 133-room five-star property opened in November last year in a renovated 1904 building. It has an attractive 170 sqm ballroom on the third floor with street views, arched stained-glass windows, gold stucco detailing and a balcony. Visit hotelkingscourt.cz
SHERATON PRAGUE CHARLES SQUARE
Open since March last year, the 160-room hotel has two meeting rooms, the largest holding 110 delegates theatre-style, and a rooftop terrace with great views. There are plans to add a ballroom next year. Visit sheraton.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL
Housed in a former monastery dating back to the 14th century, the 99-room Mandarin is located close to the Augustine in Mala Strana. The 200-capacity ballroom and 100-capacity Monastery lounge are striking spaces with vaulted ceilings, and there is also a landscaped garden for outdoor events. Visit mandarinoriental.com/prague
BELLEVUE
Sleek riverside fine-dining restaurant with Prague Castle and Charles Bridge views. It has three dining rooms seating 88, 40 and 20, as well as an outdoor terrace. The group’s sister eateries, V Zatisi and Mlynec, are also options for group dinners. Visit zatisgroup.cz
KAMPA PARK
A high-end eatery popular with visiting celebrities. It has three dining rooms – the main one seats 80 while the Winter Garden takes 24 and the Whisky terrace 18 – and an 80-capacity riverside terrace with fantastic views across to Charles Bridge. Visit kampagroup.com
