Baza hotelowa w Krakowie w kontekście organizacji Mistrzostw Europy w Piłce Nożnej EURO 2012 w Polsce

Abstract

The aim of the article is to present hotel facilities condition in Cracow in time of application for rights to organize entertainments of the final Mundial tournament EURO 2012 in Poland. Author refers to the issue of fulfilling UEFA’s conditions in respect to provide accommodation – before and year after announcing the decision of UEFA about mandating rights of this event organization to Poland and Ukraine. Based on the review of scientific literature author presents chances and dangers for hotel industry in Cracow, that result from the possibility (or the lack of it) of finding ourselves in the group of host-cities Euro 2012. Based on this information author has undertook the attempt to define the perspectives of the hotel facilities development in Cracow in 2012. From a viewpoint of possibilities to host on this territory such a large event of international range, the existence of proper accommodation facilities is a crucial issue. Having in mind UEFA conditions towards candidate-cities for EURO 2012 hosts, one can state that a real possibility of strive for rights to organize international events in Cracow has appear only after 2000, together with the new five-star hotels investments in the city. In 2006 the city, together with six five-stars, eight four-stars hotels and perspective of further investments in the future, was ready to declare fulfillment of the UEFA conditions according accommodation until 2012, on the assumption that the owners of properties will agree to cooperate on the conditions dictated by the UEFA organization. Accommodation facilities (incl. hotel facilities) of Cracow, against the other cities that candidate for events host of EURO 2012, distinguish itself by complexity and capacity. In 2006 in Cracow (as at the date of December) there were in total 290 properties providing hotel services, administrating in total 29 thousands of beds. Among them 106 of properties were hotels (and motels) and similar properties. In total they were administrating 6267 rooms capacity (approx. 12.6 thousands of beds). Based on the information and opinions presented in scientific papers, one can state that Cracow and its tourist branch have the biggest chances to record profits from organizing EURO 2012 in Poland only if they become the host-city of this event. In this circumstances city will not only be visited by many fans and sport representatives, but also it will have a possibility to promote and be promoted in connection with well known EURO trademark. Getting host-city rights of great international sport event will open the path to acquire other large events and get credibility of its candidature in the eyes of international collectivities. The time of preparation for Euro 2012 is connected with number of invest-ments in Cracow. Making those investments, especially with the possibility of external way of financing, without the doubt will increase the chances for economic development acceleration of the city and the region in the long perspective. The risk of negative tendencies occurrence in the tourist market will significantly rise in the situation when Cracow will not be chosen for host-city of EURO 2012 events by UEFA. Remaining as a peripheral region in relation to planned event, the city would have to face, amongst the other, the fall of arrivals movement and its consequences for tourist industry. In case of lack of information when UEFA will make the final decision, investment’s decisions are being made in the conditions of heightened risk. It is necessary to emphasize however that according to the opinion of scientific publications authors, even in the circumstances of disadvantageous factors occurrence in the short period, in the long perspective there is a significant chances for getting profitable effects of EURO 2012 organization. Those chances however to the large degree depend on initiative of local and state authorities and also on their ability for exploitation of single effect of a large event for the benefit of permanent tourist industry development.