HOTELE W OBIEKTACH ZABYTKOWYCH

Hotels are becoming a popular way of revitalising historical objects, particularly prominent in the case of palaces, manor houses and castles, whose peripheral localisation frequently proves to be an obstacle in endowing them with a contemporary function. Hotel services, conceived as a derivative function of residences, appear to be an excellent solution which continues and develops the role which such buildings had been playing for centuries. During the age of the free market economy, increasingly focused on guaranteeing quality, the economisation of production, promotion and the supply of services, hotels situated in historical objects must tackle the competition of well-organised and effective hotel chains. Joint promotion and the retention of loyal clients thanks to efficient organisations of hotels and historical monuments, have proven to be helpful in effective rivalry with the hotel-industry giants. The organisations in question are also satisfying for the clients, since they guarantee a high standard of services. Guests benefiting from hotel networks complain about uniformity, but at the same time express their appreciation for the high standard ensured by precisely that feature. In the case of untypical hotels located in historical monuments, the process of winning over clients ascribes essential importance to membership in an organisation of historical residences offering hotel services, whose authority guarantees the maintenance of the advertised level of services. European associations of hotels in historical objects vary from local to international, as do their offers which share, however, a single trait – the need to assure aesthetic and emotional experiences associated with contact with historical substance. The latter involves acquaintanceship with the given locality, the creation of a unique ambience, and an offer to experience prestige attained by personal contact with values protected for the sake of future generations. Finally, organisations of historical hotels can be divided into national, supranational and para-hotel enterprises, with the latter apparently ascribed particular priority from the viewpoint of the protection of, and care for historical monuments. The article is a fragment of a Ph.D dissertation being written under the supervision of Prof. Dr. hab. Stanisław Liszewski at Łódź University (Department of Geographic Sciences).