Although renowned for its UNESCO-listed architectural attractions that decorate this historic city, Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, also presents meeting planners with several modern venue options built within the last decade.
Prague Congress Centre, which has capacity for 9,300 delegates in 20 halls and 50 meeting rooms, is surrounded by over 1,200 rooms in only three hotels. The largest hotel, Top Hotel Praha and Congress Centre, has 810 rooms and 4,300sqm of meeting space.
“You can choose from both the modern convention centres with up-to-date meeting technology, which have previously hosted both NATO and International Monetary Fund meetings, to historical jewels in the city centre,” says Prague Convention Bureau (PCB) MD, Lenka Zlebková.
For classical meeting surroundings, the Prague State Opera, which was opened in 1888 with the performance of Wagner’s opera, The Mastersingers of Nürnberg, can house 830 delegates in its Neo-Rococo decorated auditorium.
Other heritage options include the Art Nouveau Municipal House with a seating capacity of 1,067 delegates.
A popular choice for conventions and gala dinners. The Strahov Monastery suits events sized around the 150-delegate mark and Lobkowicz Palace, within Prague Castle, can host up to 160 delegates for events.
In May 2011, the Prague City Council approved a new incentive for congress organisers in the form of free public transport for events with more than 500 participants. The support is for association congress organisers approved by the council, working on events with at least 20 per cent overseas delegates, for at least two nights.
“Congress tourism is essential for the economic development of the city and the state, and if the city wants its standard of living to reach the world level, it should support it,” says Zlebková. “Large congresses stimulate investments and support the role of the destination as a centre of international business, trade, scientific research, education and technologies.”
Business event tourism in Prague alone directly employs more than 4,500 people and generates a turnover of CZK10bn (US$490m) annually.
In 2010 the city dropped 11 places to 19th in just four years in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) city rankings. Zlebková says this was due, in part, to the lack of local support and incentives offered by the city compared to competitor destinations such as
Vienna or Paris.
At the end of last year the bureau launched a concerted effort to reinstate the city into the top 10 rankings.
This campaign involved a €354,000 (US$434,000) budget to focus on better data collection, a new Meeting Planners’ Guide, together with more press and familiarisation trips. The aim of the campaign, says Zlebková, was to target 22,000 association and 16,000 corporate meeting delegates during 2011-13. Target markets are Germany, the UK, France, Benelux and the US.
“Over the last few years the new Mayor of Prague and his administration have come to recognise the activities of the PCB and its members as an important contributor to improving the city’s image, gaining international exposure and economic benefits,” says the Managing Partner for Strategic Planning at Prague-based event management agency Czech-In, Peter de Merlier. “We still face the handicap of suitable facilities for congresses with a large exhibition element, keeping many associations thinking of Prague as ‘pending’.”
Since the transportation incentive was introduced the city has seen a rise back up the ICCA city rankings to 14th for 2011. It hosted its largest ever event in 2011, the European Renal Association and European Dialysis and Transplant Association Congress for 11,000.
Along the same lines as the initiative, the PCB will launch, by the end of 2012, a ‘certification’ programme and promote its members who provide free Wi-Fi to organisers. “We are planning the same concept in regard to corporate social responsibility,” adds Zlebková.
Fifty-three airlines fly to Prague from 125 cities in over 47 countries and the Czech capital has three international railway stations with access to cities such as Vienna and Berlin. Ideal for delegate access.
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Entertaining delegates:
- Black Light Theatre: A performance style which Prague is known for, The Black Theatre is characterised by the use of black curtains, a darkened stage, and UV light, paired with fluorescent costumes
- Oldtimer Car Rally: Sightseeing tours using classic vehicles such as Trabants and Skodas
- Film Prague Experience: Prague in the shoes of James Bond or Mission impossible; the action games are inspired by the movies, which were filmed in Prague
- Beer Tour: Prague Brewery Tour visits the best pub breweries in the city to taste the beer brewed on the premises, and to soak up the long tradition of brewing in the Golden City
- Prague Jewish Quarter: The Prague Historical and Jewish Quarter tour is a two-and-a-half hour, guided, walking tour through Prague’s Jewish history, which will take delegates on a leisurely walk through the Josefov district of Prague to see the only Central European Jewish town quarter to survive to Holocaust
- Action on Ice: Challenge a team of delegates by playing a game of ice hockey and receive coaching from a Czech professional.
This was first published in Issue 69 of CMW. Any comments? Email sarah@mashmedia.net
