Interest in Corporate Events Back on Its Pre-COVID Level at Aquapalace Hotel Prague
The pandemic has greatly affected the interest in organizing corporate events of all kinds. Just after the end of the epidemic, corporate bookings were low in numbers and barely increasing. It was only in last two years that Aquapalace Hotel Prague has again reached the pre-Covid numbers thanks to successful response of the hotel to new client demands.
Acceleration and simplification are two major trends that have made their way into meetings industry. “One of the trends the hotel had to adapt to after the pandemic was the last-minute decisions of clients who often contact us with an enquiry only a day before the event is due to be held. This is also why we have implemented the Pay by link service to be sure that the event will take place on time and we can start preparing it immediately,” says Miroslav Bukva, General Manager at the Aquapalace Hotel Prague.
The hotel’s Congress Centre has recently undergone a major renovation which also included strengthening of the internet connection, now offering the speed of 2.5 Gbps. The requirements of the organisers are also shifting in terms of the attractiveness of the venue and its variability. Special lighting or projection on the walls or floors used to be the privilege of very expensive events, but that is changing as well. “Our equipment now allows us to light up the hall in any colour combination. That suits companies with their own corporate colours defined, that they prefer for light ambiance of the conference area,” says Miroslav Bukva.
Aquapalace Hotel Prague is also renowned for its excellent gastronomy, which makes it a popular venue for corporate events of all kinds. However, demands are rising especially with regard to food allergies and various intolerances. “Some 15 years ago, some guests would occasionally opt for a vegetarian option. Now, we are adapting to the growing number of allergies and for each event, we do not only prepare vegetarian refreshments, but also gluten-free, lactose-free and many other alternatives,” comments Miroslav Bukva.
The trend is also towards non-traditional accompanying programs for which event organizers look for the right partners. “An example of this was an event of a major international company which organised a large conference here followed by an entertainment program in the Aquapalace water park that included monofin swimming courses and competition. Everyone had a great time and I know that the manager who organized this activity has been praised by the attendees for a long time. Younger organizers, who prefer out-of-the-box thinking when it comes to accompanying programs, tend to reach to us, and that is exactly what we enjoy,” Miroslav Bukva illustrates the options.
The hotel is able to arrange adrenaline fun activities in the adjacent water park accompanied by relaxation in the sauna world or health treatments in the wellness centre. It is one of the best hotels in the Czech Republic with such a rich offer of additional services for corporate clients who are particularly interested in incentive programs. “Incentive tourism is gaining importance, and we can offer an ideal set-up for that. Incentives are very popular among IT companies, which are also our frequent customers. Their teams are usually made up of young generation members – active individuals with fresh thinking who like to try new things,” explains Miroslav Bukva.
Bleisure – combination of business and leisure trips is also relatively popular. Sometimes the delegates travel with their family members. Delegates with families usually arrive a day earlier or stay longer. While one family member attends the conference, the other one enjoys the leisure activities. “The model is simple – the company pays the fee for its delegates while their accompanying family members cover their expenses themselves. This is not a rare scenario at the Aquapalace Hotel Prague, although I would say that this trend is even more on the rise abroad,” adds Miroslav Bukva.
The hotel offers a conference capacity for up to 700 guests which made the venue popular for many large events with a generous production. For such type of event, it is necessary to book the meeting rooms longer in advance – during this year’s autumn many of the dates are already fully booked. The hotel offers also smaller meeting rooms and sufficient staffing capacity to host also a smaller meeting or seminar at the same time. “The corporate clientele makes up about 30 % of the hotel’s business. But there is a fluctuation during the year, when, especially in the summer, families with children predominate among our guests. Corporate clientele, on the other hand, concentrates most of their events in the autumn and spring months,” concludes Miroslav Bukva.
