Reconstruction of the congress premises of the Sitno Hotel
The Congress Centre of the Sitno Hotel was not significantly outdated, so why was it reconstructed?
"Visually it may not have been outdated, but we saw the progress that had been made in technology and we wanted to catch up. However, it's impossible to remodel something in a hotel that's open all year round, so we decided to take advantage of the hotel's closure to renovate the rooms and refurbish the convention centre as well."
The new facilities look really sophisticated. Are they the result of years of consideration or did the ideas for their use only come about with the hotel's remodelling?
"A lot of suggestions have come gradually over the years from clients, but of course I also saw the potential that the convention centre could have. However, the overall vision crystallized gradually. I'm very surprised because I had great expectations that I didn't even expect to be met, but they have been met."
Where did you get your inspiration? Is interior design your hobby?
"I don't really do interior design, but I think I have a flair for pretty things. As I mentioned before, inspiration came from both client feedback or my own observation and looking at opportunities for improvement, as I've been working in the hotel for a few years now. And of course, I was also inspired by the spaces of other convention hotels. We tried to take inspiration from the best in the world and reach their level, if not higher."
Are you one of those people who are forever reorganising spaces even at home? Was this an opportunity for you to finally realise yourself and show what you have in you?
"It's true that at home I like to cosy up spaces and add different accessories, but this was more about making the space more efficient. That's why, for example, we created a variable space- the possibility of combining two congress halls into one large space to provide options for even the largest organisers. So it was also something completely different and new for me."
Were all of your ideas feasible or did you occasionally jump off into a fantasy world and have to be dragged back down to earth by the architects?
"As I mentioned, I'm surprised that my perhaps too high expectations were mostly met. Among the most important requirements were new technology and the elimination of some rooms, which allowed us to create a coherent convention centre that would not be interfered with by the accommodation part. And that is what finally happened."
What was that like for you? Designing the convention center space. What pitfalls did you have to deal with and what obstacles did you face in the design process?
"By wanting the new space to suit as wide a range of clients as possible, we also had a large team of people deciding on the various points of the remodel. And, as it happens, coming to an agreement was the biggest nut to crack." :)
"For most of us, however, it was something new, which was certainly rewarding in many ways, and we spiced up our work routine a bit with something creative. It was definitely a cool experience that doesn't come along all that often and I'm grateful for it."
How many people were involved in the design process?
"It was a team of 10."
So what will the new convention center be like? What can its visitors look forward to?
"How can I sum it up best... It will be nicer, more modern, more spacious.
It will be the largest congress centre in Central Slovakia, with the latest technical equipment. It certainly has something to impress. Especially with its variability. The premises can be adapted for various types of events - whether for congresses, galas, parties with concerts, but also many others."
What will make the new convention centre special?
"Apart from the state-of-the-art technology, variable usage options and capacity, what makes it special in my opinion is the hotel's location in the heart of nature. Directly from the congress hall there is a view of the Štiavnické vrchy mountains."
"A great advantage is provided by the hotel grounds. It is one of the largest hotel complexes, which offers opportunities for many sports or other activities. Any events can be combined with teambuilding in this beautiful environment."
"One of the biggest advantages is definitely the in-house event agency of the Trinity Hotels & Resorts network - Boutique events. Clients do not just rent a hall from us, but we are able to provide them with complete turnkey events. Because, as we like to say, it doesn't end with the rental of the venue."
When you first saw the full visualisation, did it live up to your expectations?
"Yes! As unbelievable as it sounds, the very first visualisation looked exactly as I imagined. Even better! But 99% of the time it's exactly what we wanted to create."
What are your expectations when the convention center opens?
"We hope that as many clients as possible will come and use it for what it is intended for. We hope it will excite our old clients, but of course also that it will attract new ones."
Of course, we hope so too and can't wait to see what the new space will look like in its final form. It's true that there's not much left. The opening of the hotel and its congress facilities is getting closer every day. You can already book them now for your upcoming events.
