How to happily run a hostel in Prague

The secrets of a successful hostel management

Here are useful suggestions and smart tips on how to be satisfied with your life and your job: the manager of Hostel Emma in Prague, Kamil Hurtik, is an expert about this, let's hear what he has to tell us:

1. Please introduce yourself
   
   My name is Kamil, I am a proud father of 2-year-old boy and one of two owners and directors of Hostel Emma. I love playing football and overall love doing all sports on active basis and well as watching them. I enjoyed active traveling vacations with my wife in the past which changed when our son was born and we had to refocus more on family and traditional vacations.
   
   
2. Can you please tell us something about Hostel Emma, when did it open and how long have you been in the hostel business? What is your role in Emma?
   
   Hostel Emma opened in 2006, I started working there as a receptionist and after few years I became one of the two directors. I think my career path was really great because I could taste all roles and think of the main and most important factors such as daily communication and interaction with our guests.
   
   
3. What is the registration process to open a hostel in Prague?
   
   The registration process to open a hostel or hotel in the Czech Republic is pretty complex and it is lots of papers and monthly bureaucracy. It is all about patience and lot of sense for paper work and meeting deadlines.
   
   
   
   
   
4. What gives you the satisfaction in your job, what motivates you?
   
   I feel really good when our hostel gets great feedback and when our guests are satisfied, feel good and enjoy time in Prague. I'm learning I cannot take all negative feedback too personally and sometimes even if you do the maximum the guest can't be satisfied for some reasons you cannot personally influence.
   
   
   
5. What do you do to make your hostel the most attractive place to book?
   
   I always read the guests' feedback, try to ask our guests on periodical basis and also staff what we can do better and what can be enhanced and improved. Anyway, I fully perceive that the most attractive thing is the location of our hostel, since we are in the city center and our guests can easily get everywhere just by walk.
   
   
6. Are there any 2014 goals?
   
   We want our guests to be always satisfied and feel comfortable in our hostel which is the main target for me personally as well as our staff's.
   
   
   
   
7. Do students work at your hostel? If yes, how do they need to apply for a job? Any special requirements?
   
   Most of our receptionists are students, they can meet interesting people during their shifts, improve foreign languages and when there are no guests at the front desk, they can spend the time studying. There is no special requirement, just to be nice and polite and know at least one foreign language.
   
   
8. What is your favorite disco club in Prague? If you want to enjoy your evening and dance what would you recommend?
   
   It always depends what you like, if you are group of different music style lovers then I would recommend you Karlovy Lazne where you can find different rooms and floors with different type of music and everybody from your group should be satisfied in the end. But there are also many small and cozy romantic restaurant in the Prague city center, so if you prefer going to a romantic dinner with your spouse, our receptionist can recommend you something great as well.
   
   
   
   
9. What would you suggest to other hostels owners?
   
   Everybody, no matter what their job is, should enjoy their family, hobbies, moments of rest and calm and never forget that if the issue is just business and nothing more serious, we should be glad we're healthy and happy together with our relatives.