Archive of articles - August 2010, page 11
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Historic Hotels of Slovakia
The association of Historic Hotels of Slovakia is a relatively new member of the Historic Hotels of Europe group. It was officially launched in September 2009 and became a member of this international network of more than 700 unique hotels in over 20 countries as of January 1, 2010. The Slovak organisation now has eight members, after the Hotel Amade in Vrakúň became a member on August 1. Hotel Bankov, the oldest hotel in Slovakia, which has celebrated 140 years of uninterrupted operation, is also a member of the association. The motto of the European historic hoteliers is “a story to tell”. All these are stories of castles, manor houses and historical buildings, many of whose walls have been standing for centuries. The hotels aspire to be exceptional not only in terms of their history and architecture, but also with high-class services, which are a basic precondition for becoming a member of the group. Members of the association of Historic Hotels of Slovakia: -Grand Castle Hotel in Liptovský Hrádok www.grandcastle.sk -Hotel Amade Château in Vrakúň close to Dunajská Streda www.hotelamade.sk -Hotel Bankov in Košice www.hotelbankov.sk -Hotel Sandor Pavillon in Piešťany www.hotelsandor.sk -Hotel U Leva in Levoča www.uleva.sk -Chateau Belá near Štúrovo www.chateau-bela.com -Mansion Villa Nečas in Žilina www.villanecas.sk -Péchy Castle, Hunting Lodge & Park in Hermanovce www.pechycastle.com To read more about the association of Historic Hotels of Slovakia and its members, go to www.historichotelsofslovakia.com Source: the association of Historic Hotels of Slovakia
Slovak Roma move to Belgium
ABOUT 40 Slovak citizens, ethnic Roma, have left their homeland for Belgium because the state wasn’t able to provide equal opportunities for them, they claim. They complained about racism and discrimination in Slovakia, saying it was almost impossible for them to find a job because employers deliberately prefer non-Roma, the TASR newswire reported.
Harabin cries foul over audit of Supreme Court
FINANCE Minister Ivan Mikloš has fined the Supreme Court €33,000 after its president Štefan Harabin repeatedly prevented ministerial inspectors from entering the court in order to carry out a financial audit. In addition, Harabin himself was personally fined €1,000, the SITA newswire reported.
Dilapidated edifice to become a hotel
THE DILAPIDATED national historical monument in the historical centre in Banská Štiavnica known as Hell House has a real chance for salvation. Its current owner, Bratislava-based company Hedo, wants to rebuild it into a four-star hotel. It has already submitted its project for renovation of the historical edifice to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the SITA newswire wrote in early July.
Much heat, little light as MPs debate
THE DEBATE in parliament over the government programme was lengthy and marked by personal invective, with the opposition parties showing very little sympathy for the objectives that the Radičová administration has promised to pursue over the next four years. The combative atmosphere in parliament became apparent immediately after Prime Minister Iveta Radičová made her speech on August 3 seeking approval for the official programme of her government.
School of archaeology begins in Zvolen
AT THE end of July, about 50 students of archaeology of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries began learning at the Summer School of Archaeology (LŠA) in the complex of Dolný hrad (Lower Castle) which is part of one of the most extensive fortifications in the Central Europe – Pustý hrad (Deserted Castle), above the town of Zvolen.
New legislation to propel Slovakia’s tourism
THE TOURISM segment of the economy is facing major changes in Slovakia. The government of former Prime Minister Robert Fico adopted a new law to support tourism earlier this year and the tourism department is moving from one ministry to another one. While it is necessary to see what changes the new law will bring when it becomes effective at the beginning of 2011, entities involved in tourism do not expect any big changes from repeated relocation of the ministerial tourism department, and they are calling with one voice for more attention from the state.
Official dismissed over suspicious recordings
IVAN Ištvánffy, the Slovak Government Office's foreign aid section director and previously an adviser to former prime minister Robert Fico, has been dismissed over two controversial recordings from the previous election term. The ČTK newswire reported the story, which the Sme daily broke on August 3.
The ironworks at Podbrezová
IN 1840, in the Horehronie (Upper Hron River) region under the hill of Brezová, work began on a new factory complex that was to become one of the biggest in the Hungarian Kingdom during the following decades. The new factory in part stemmed from the centuries-old mining and metalworking traditions of the region.
Minister plans to change labour laws
CHANGES to labour-related legislation, more solidarity in the social insurance system, and prevention of abuse of the social assistance system are the priorities of the new Labour and Social Affairs Minister Jozef Mihál during his four-year term, the SITA newswire reported.
Van Loan: Don't underestimate the value of people-to-people ties
THEORIES always underestimate the value of people and personal relationships, while in business people-to-people relationships are often underplayed because they are hard to analyse and quantify, says Peter Van Loan, Canada's Minister of International Trade.
Radicalism takes a back seat to deficit reduction
THE GOVERNMENT of Prime Minister Iveta Radičová is not likely to go down as a radical reformer if its programme statement for the next four years is anything to go by. Some previously heralded changes such as unification of value added tax rates, an increase in the retirement age and the sale of some strategic enterprises to foreign investors will remain only visions if the new centre-right government moves strictly in line with the programme it presented to parliament in early August.
Would you like to buy some historical real estate?
EVEN the smallest villages on the very edge of Slovakia frequently boast a manor house or a mansion. They are in various conditions and in the ownership of the state, municipalities, churches or individuals. Many of them are under state protection as national historical and cultural heritage and it often happens that when the original owner is not able to take proper care of the historical real estate, he or she offers it for sale.
Heads may roll over land swap
WHILE the managers of some state-run enterprises might be reshuffled as part of the routine post-election political power change, heads at the Bratislava Airport could roll over a last minute land swap deal cooked up with a private company.
Institutions active in tourism in Slovakia
Ministry of Culture and Tourism www.culture.gov.sk Slovak Tourist Board (SACR) www.sacr.sk Association of Hotels and Restaurants of Slovakia (ZHR SR) www.zhrsr.sk Slovak Association of Travel Agencies (SACKA) www.sacka.eu Association of Trade and Tourism of the Slovak Republic (ZOCR) www.biznis.sk Historic Hotels of Slovakia (HHS) www.historichotelsofslovakia.com
Naked emperors, pyramids and rotten trees: MPs warm up
THE EMPEROR’S new clothes, a cross on a necklace, a disgrace to a top constitutional post, devastators of the national interest, the age of darkness, a pyramid and a tree with rotten roots: just a few of the metaphors and expressions that emerged during the first serious task that Slovakia’s new class of parliamentary deputies have faced. If this was the overture, one can only guess at the potential “riches” that will flow from their discourse once MPs really stretch their rhetorical wings.
Housing loans volume went up in June
THE VOLUME of housing loans extended by banks in Slovakia in June increased by €138.4 million in monthly terms, the SITA newswire reported.
Slovakia’s sea is again in Croatia
CROATIA remains the top holiday destination for Slovaks again this summer. Greece, Turkey and Egypt have also defended their top positions in the popularity chart, according to a survey of partner travel offices and agencies of the international shopping community Lyoness. The survey also showed that last-minute trips not only to foreign countries but also to Slovak destinations remain popular among Slovak holidaymakers, the SITA newswire wrote.
Kravata
“WHY does a cow, never choose to wear a tie? Looking in her mirror she only tries and tries,” sang pop idol Peter Nagy in the 1990s, playing on the similarity between the word for “cow” (krava) and “tie” (kravata). Now the answer to Nagy’s question is simple – it’s a cow. Finding out why Richard Sulík decided to attend a lunch with foreign ambassadors wearing white linen pants, a white shirt, and no tie, is a little tougher – after all, he is the speaker of parliament. The case illustrates a broader problem members of the new coalition seem to have with clothing. Prime Minister Iveta Radičová at first refused to wear stockings, despite warnings by protocol experts. She eventually gave in: “I can report that the stockings are on. There will be no headlines,” Radičová told journalists on her official trip to Poland. But she also announced plans to set up a commission to review the dress code “to accommodate the needs of the 21st century”, and “reflect the fact that a woman is prime minister”.
Marmot population renewed
IN THE Belianske Tatry mountain range, conservationists have renewed the wild population of Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota latirostris) which died out in this region in 2006 – probably killed by poachers seeking the alleged healing benefits of their fat. The conservationists gradually brought several families of marmots to the region from the western part of Tatras, the animals flourished and the population has become self-sufficient again, the head of the TANAP (Tatra National Reserve) Administration Pavol Majko told the ČTK newswire.
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- Why Morské oko should be on your travel list Photo
- In Slovakia, speaking English still means earning more
- Veľká Fatra’s trails and forest paths make it ideal for a summer ride for all ages Photo
- Harsh reality: How many young Slovaks live with parents?
- News digest: Russian link suspected in bomb threats targeting Slovak schools Photo
- Her mission is not just training employees. It is changing how they think
- Athletes travel all the way from Australia to Šamorín – have you been? Photo
- Scam alert for foreigners in Slovakia: “Digital Infrastructure Fee” letter is fake
- News digest: Russian link suspected in bomb threats targeting Slovak schools Photo
- In Slovakia, speaking English still means earning more
- Harsh reality: How many young Slovaks live with parents?
- Fico becomes Europe’s nightmare
- Slovakia’s new railway boss wants nicer Bratislava station, faster trains – and fewer staff
- Her mission is not just training employees. It is changing how they think
- In Slovakia, speaking English still means earning more
- Teenager charged after stabbing incident in central Bratislava
- Grape escape: Discover Rača’s wine tradition by bus this summer
- News digest: Bratislava’s public transport overhaul as Petržalka tram opens Photo
- German drummer’s stage performance sparks questions about avoiding Slovak court
- Scam alert for foreigners in Slovakia: “Digital Infrastructure Fee” letter is fake
- Slovakia’s top IT employer to cut 150 jobs
- Behind the steam: stories from Žitný ostrov’s thermal tourism pioneers Photo
- Her mission is not just training employees. It is changing how they think
- In Slovakia, speaking English still means earning more
- Thousands of caravanners will come to Slovakia – and they might help its tourism sector
- Bratislava Airport to launch direct flights to Bucharest
- Bratislava, the unsung capital of socialist modernism Audio
- Athletes travel all the way from Australia to Šamorín – have you been? Photo
- Slovakia’s top IT employer to cut 150 jobs
- Fico becomes Europe’s nightmare
- Selling online is easier than it seems
- Roma and refugees: Employers make their workplaces more inclusive
- News digest: Russian link suspected in bomb threats targeting Slovak schools Photo
- Harsh reality: How many young Slovaks live with parents?
- Veľká Fatra’s trails and forest paths make it ideal for a summer ride for all ages Photo
- Don’t get the wolf!
- Slovakia’s new railway boss wants nicer Bratislava station, faster trains – and fewer staff More articles ›
