Rural, yet urbane
At first glance, it might seem like a poor strategy to run a hotel outside Poland's large cities and away from the seaside and mountains. In some cases this is true, of course, but a large number of Polish hotels have managed to thrive in sometimes unexpected places. Tiny towns as Kliczków (near Legnica), Tarnowo Podgórne (near Poznań), Stryków (near Łódź), Cieszyn (in Silesia) and Jachranka, Zegrze and Józefów (near Warsaw) boast some of the best-equipped hotels in Poland. And the market for such hotels is growing.
Moreover, research and full reservation schedules show that Poland still doesn't have enough of such accommodation. According to the recent Technology and Facilities report by e-hotelarz.pl, one of the leading industry websites, the country's booming economy has created strong demand for hotels that combine the most important services - amenities for the busy professional, conference and training facilities, leisure activities and family activities - while at the same time offering a not-too-distant escape from the city.
Business...
"Demand for hotels providing mainly conference space and business accommodation is surging," said Elżbieta Pniewska, the director of the Holiday Inn hotel in Józefów, which opened last year after research by InterContinental (owner of the Holiday Inn brand) discovered potential in the market.
"The majority of larger companies, including international firms, have their headquarters in Warsaw, which means there is a need for hotel and conference services in places in which companies can organize two- and three-day stays as part of incentive packages or conferences. Such hotels are, on the one hand, not far from a company's headquarters; on the other hand, they are not in the busy city center, which is a key advantage," added Pniewska.
The lack of distractions offered by these hotels makes them especially attractive to corporate clients. "When a conference is held in the city center there is a lot going on elsewhere and participants have a chance to escape. When guests come here, they have to stay and take part in activities prepared by the company. This is huge plus for organizers," said Pniewska.
... and pleasure
Hotel and conference centers located in small towns often have facilities for a wide range of leisure activities because they have more space than their urban counterparts. They can offer outdoor activities like golf, volleyball, soccer and basketball, bicycle and jogging paths, quad rides, paintballing and sightseeing, as well as provide indoor facilities like bars, discos, spa centers and swimming pools.
"[At our hotel] we also have special education programs for children and activities for adults, so parents can rest and, for example, play squash, while their children are looked after by professionals," said Pniewska. During the summer vacation these small-town hotels offer longer stays with special activities.
The experience of the Holiday Inn in Józefów, while not completely representative of the industry, at least demonstrates that the demand for well-equipped, non-central hotels is strong. "In the beginning [in June 2007], there were moments when we had gaps in our reservation schedule. But after the summer holiday, which is a weak time for conferences, we saw increased booking. Now, we are almost always full," said the hotel's director.
