Przystosowanie obiektów zabytkowych do pełnienia funkcji hotelarskiej – przykład Łodzi

Abstract

The development of accommodation sector in historic objects is mentioned among main trends in the world’s hotel industry. Holidays spent in historic accommodation are becoming very trendy and attractive in tourism all over the world. Such objects can attract visitors even to less attractive tourist regions. The issue of adapting historic objects to perform hotel functions seems to be more complicated than in case of usual objects. It is a time-consuming process and requiring huge expenditure. The use, maintenance, renovation are subject to special requirements of the act on protection of monuments according to which an optimal restoration of a historic object depends on adaptation of this object to perform contemporary functions while respecting the character of the object itself. During design and construction works the specificity of hotel accommodation needs hiring hotel and gastronomy specialists to ensure that the object is fully functional and meets all requirements imposed by construction and insurance regulations as well as by rating principles. It is much easier to design hotel accommodation from scratch than introduce new functions into already existing historic interiors taking into consideration the restrictions of conservation rules. It is of vital significance to preserve and revitalize the historic accommodation by introducing new functions to its interiors. Investors may apply for subsidizing of investment process in various sources e.g. structural funds of European Union, the Ministry of Culture and Science, state and local budgets. The amount of the subsidy depends to large extent on historic value of the object. Investors often face problems related to the adaptation of the historic building to function as a hotel, which result from the historic character of the accommodation and limited possibilities of intervention in its historic structure. They can be related to three groups: pre-project works, preparing the project and conducting construction works, and finally the functioning of the hotel after the completion of adaptation works. The problems can be divided into several groups: administrative – legal (related to property status, categorisation, building permit), technical (building up or changing installations etc.), functional (division of interiors, positioning of cubic capacity technical devices), economic and many other problems e.g. various discoveries made during construction works. Despite numerous problems related to the adaptation the use of historic objects for commercial purposes is becoming more and more popular. Therefore, in spite of huge financial expenditure and time-consuming administrative procedures, more and more hoteliers are interested in investing in historic accommodation to benefit from the spirit of history. A stay in such a hotel is an exceptionally attractive alternative to a conventional tourist accommodation.