PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC— The Four Seasons hotel reported it will officially be unable to reopen this year, and will stay closed for at least the next six months, following the citys floods in August, according to Caterer & Hotelkeeper. As previously reported by HOTEL BUSINESS®, the 162-room hotel, which opened in February 2001, was badly hit with flood water through its ventilation system, which destroyed much of the equipment in the basement, such as heavy-duty sheet cleaners. The Belgian oak wall paneling was also damaged at the hotel, and that takes six months to order, prepare and put in place. Despite efforts to protect the hotel, which included installing a steel barrier in front of it and accepting the help of guests to pile up sandbags, the overflowing of the drainage system made it all in vain. However, on a brighter note, the hotel is fully insured. The policy even includes an arrangement to cover staff salaries for up to two years while repairs are carried out. The hotel has called in a specialist U.S. flood repair company to manage the reconstruction. SOURCE: Caterer & Hotelkeeper
