On my last blog I talked about our first day of travel and second day with a walking tour with Petr and a traditional Czech dinner, so this blog will only be about day three.
On our second day, we went to the Augustine Marriott Hotel. It’s just such a beautiful place with so much history, the hotel was a monastery and church, and you can see that in everything, like how some of the rooms were used by monks, the restaurant is in old beer cellars, and the bar is set in a chapel. It was amazing how they turned a historic site into a hotel while maintaining its original charm.
This second day in Prague was exciting and full of information, showing me more in depth about the history of the city, hospitality, and how it markets to tourists. They also gave us a private presentation about the hotel and this history of it. We started the day with a behind-the-scenes tour of Augustine, a luxury hotel housed in a former monastery. Amazing was the fact that they preserved much of the history of the building, like the frescoes in one room this is a painting, which are 400 years old, while offering all modern comforts. I also learned that some of the monks still live in their own section of the hotel, adding a certain unique and serene atmosphere to the place. They even told us they can not really make any changes to the hotel without authorization which most of the times they do not get. But this is to preserve the hotels authenticity.
Then, we had a visit to the Prague Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) office. They made a presentation about how they promote Prague and the Czech Republic to tourists. While also giving us pamphlets that showed some of the most favorite places to go in Prague. Indeed, one of the campaigns they presented, “Unexpected Prague,” appealed to me very much as it pulled people away from typical touristic places. That’s because i really enjoy finding hidden gems that aren’t very seen. It was really interesting to learn how they planned their campaigns, using specific tools to attract travelers and create memorable experiences for them.
When you walk through Prague its like walking through Prague feels like stepping into a fairytale. The magic is in everything like the Astronomical Clock, Christmas markets, and streets paved with cobblestone. What really makes it perfect is the ease of getting around with public transport, scooters, and walking paths. We definitely loved riding scooters all through the town, it was easy and convenient.
The Augustine Marriott also employs the use of tourism strategies in being exceptional. They market themselves on high profile guests and events to make their hotel a destination on its own right. Combining its history with luxury makes it a place one will not forget. If I came back to Prague I would defiantly like the opportunity to stay at this beautiful hotel.
Overall, I’m impressed by how Prague promotes itself as a destination while making sure visitors have an amazing experience. It’s clear they’ve put a lot of thought into tourism, and it shows in how smoothly everything works for travelers.