With the World Cup under way in Germany, tens of thousands of soccer fans and tourists have flooded the region. Many in the Czech tourism industry think some World Cup fans will extend their trips to Europe by taking in cities outside Germany, including Prague. Rick Enders, general manager of the newly opened Courtyard Prague Flóra hotel, a part of the Marriott hotel chain, talks to The Prague Post about whether these expectations are realistic and also discusses strategies for developing a business-friendly hotel.

1. With the new hotel opening in mid–May, how long did it take to reach target occupancy?

We were very fortunate that three days after opening the hotel we had 100 percent occupancy. In general, I am quite pleased with the occupancy during the first four weeks. What makes me even happier is the positive customer feedback we're getting, which is an indication we're on the right track.

2. The World Cup is bringing tourists from all over the world to Germany, but is the event also a business opportunity for cities in other countries?

I would say that in our case it is limited to Germany because we haven't had any tourists who first visited the World Cup and then came to Prague. What we have seen is a lot of tourists watching their national teams play at the Purple Bar in the hotel.

3. Can showing the games bring in new guests?

At the Purple Bar we have two 32–inch LCDs, mainly for in-house guests, but we welcome other football fans. Since the weather has been so nice lately, the majority of people go to beer gardens to watch the games on big screens.

4. Marriott describes the Courtyard as the brand built by business travelers. How is this reflected in the hotel's features and services?

All our rooms are equipped with what the business traveler wants: large work spaces with ergonomic desk chairs, high–speed Internet, two phone lines, in-room safes. Instead of the typical mini-bar setup, each room has a small fridge for flexibility.

5. Are most of your clients business people?

Right now, we see a healthy mix of business people and leisure travelers. During the summer months, the majority of customers will come from the leisure segment. In September we will see an increase in corporate business again. Because Prague is such a popular tourist destination, summer occupancy is tourist–driven.

6. The Courtyard is described as a moderate–tier hotel. Does the fact that they're so popular with business travelers indicate that even businesses are giving up luxury in favor of low–cost service providers?

I don't think that businesses are giving up luxury. What we see nowadays is that many companies have different tiers within their organization. More people are traveling but don't always have the budget to stay at a five–star property.

7. Is Courtyard planning to open any other hotels in this country soon?

Two Courtyard by Marriott hotels are currently being built, one in Plzeň very close to the brewery. The other hotel will be located at the Prague airport.

8. You've got extensive experience in the hotel industry, but this is your first time as general manager. What were the greatest challenges you faced getting the hotel ready?

The biggest challenge in the beginning was finding the right people for key positions. Prague has a very low unemployment rate, so it took some time before we had everybody on board. I received a lot of support from the Marriott and Renaissance, which were able to provide me with experienced associates. The next challenge was setting the opening date so the sales department could start promoting the hotel. After many meetings with the construction company, we felt comfortable opening May 15. Days before opening, we were still receiving things for the bedrooms, and the desk chairs arrived on opening day.

9. For you and your family, what was the most difficult part of adjusting to Prague?

I am normally the first to get adjusted because it comes naturally with my work environment. For the family, it is a completely different experience because they had to start over: finding new friendships, doctors, shopping, etc. The adjustment actually went very well for all of us. My daughter received a warm welcome at her school and quickly found new friends. The most difficult thing is the fact that none of us speaks Czech.

10. What's the most bizarre request you've ever had from a guest at one of your hotels?

Once I worked at a hotel where for one night we had to move out half the furniture and artwork and place the client's own furniture and artwork inside the room. He was traveling with his family around 250 nights a year and always moved his furniture with him to make them feel at home. We even had to buy a special brand of mineral water for his children to brush their teeth with. I guess that was the most unusual request I ever had, especially since they only stayed in the hotel for 14 hours!