Wednesday, June 13, 2001

Andel blooms By Susan Ondrasek The rattle of jackhammers is a near constant noise in Prague 5's Smichov district as two developers race to finish their mammoth projects near the Andel metro station. Austrian-based UBM threw a big shindig May 7 to show off the progress on its 2.2 billion Kc ($55 million) project, Andel City. A potted tree festooned with ribbons was hoisted to "top off" the building shell. A raffle was the climax of the festive evening filled with live music, food, drink and games. The sprawling complex on the south side of Plzenska street -- 99,000 square meters (1 billion square feet) -- covers an entire block, encompassing four administrative buildings, a hotel, retail space, restaurants and a 12-screen cinema. A huge central atrium ties it all together. Margund Schuh, executive director of UBM Bohemia, says the cinema will open in November, the offices and remaining entertainment by year's end, and the hotel in spring 2002. "It will be quite tough," says Petr Kouril, managing director of Village Cinemas, referring to the competition his multiplex will face with a cinema right across the street. The Australian-based parent company, Village Roadshow, plans special interiors to create one of the best cinemas in Europe, he says. Though Kouril won't reveal marketing plans, pricing will be similar to that of its Cerny Most theater, which offers family discounts and off-hour reductions. Vienna Hotel Management -- which already operates the Savoy and the Diplomat in Prague and the Dvorak in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) -- is creating the 4-star Andel Hotel with 240 rooms. The firm will target the business segment, upper market tourists and conference business. Franz Jurkowitsch, director of the Vienna-based hotel company, says that outside of Prague 4, there isn't much space devoted to conferences. To tap the segment, the Andel Hotel will have a 350-square-meter conference center, and has an agreement to use some of the cinema rooms for presentations. The architects for the project are D3A, Atelier Petr Franta and Satra Picek Architects. Knight Frank is the exclusive leasing agent. Across the street, the 52,000-square-meter Novy Smichov shopping and leisure center, including a 12-screen cinema, is working just as hard to be ready by fall. The former Tatra factory facade, which has been integrated into the new design, is spruced up with a bright yellow, and the rooftop already sports a large plot of dirt with the modest beginnings of a garden. There's talk of a "soft opening" for the Carrefour market soon. Stay tuned. Please send your comments to: Susan Ondrasek, The Prague Post, Stepanska 20, 110 00 Prague 1 Tel. 9633 4428, fax: 9633 4450 e-mail: sondrasek@praguepost.cz More business stories Stall tactics Bathroom ads usher in era of unconventional marketing Hotels enjoy jump in occupancy Industry buoyed by IMF and end of Balkans conflict Investors snub bonds Rising deficit cited as possible reason offering fails to sell Kolin makes BMW's short list Town assembles land to help lure major automaking plant Movers & Shakers Peace Corps vets join copy team E-world Bidding on the future Problems mar effort to update, upgrade computers and connections in local schools Home movies made easy Kal's Korner