Prague has emerged as the top-performing hotel destination in Central Europe, outpacing Vienna and Krakow on every key metric in April — and the momentum shows no sign of slowing.

According to Václav Stárek, president of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic (AHR), demand for Prague in April was double that of comparable regional cities.

Revenue per available room reached €76 (approximately 1,845 CZK), an increase of €8 year-on-year, while occupancy across Prague hotels held at nearly 70 percent in the first four months of 2026 — the strongest stretch since before the pandemic.

The city’s appeal, Stárek said, comes down to three factors: safety, accessibility within Europe, and overall attractiveness as a destination. The summer season looks set to mirror last year’s strong performance, though hoteliers note a shift in booking behavior — guests are increasingly waiting until the last moment to reserve.

Outside the capital, the picture is more mixed. Regional hotels are banking primarily on domestic visitors, with a significant share also expecting guests from Poland and Germany. An internal AHR survey found that 55 percent of regional hoteliers expect this season to match last year, while nearly 30 percent are optimistic about improvement.

That said, some areas have already recorded a drop in numbers — Liberec among them.

Across the industry, a clear shift in traveler priorities is taking hold. Guests are placing greater weight on experiences — both within the hotel itself and in the surrounding destination — as well as on service quality and a personal touch.

Despite the strong start to the season, the industry faces real structural pressure. Operational costs are climbing, and regional hoteliers are contending with a persistent shortage of skilled staff.

The broader numbers back up the industry’s optimism. In the first quarter of 2026, 4.4 million guests stayed in accommodation across the Czech Republic — a 5.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO). Both domestic and foreign guest numbers rose. Total overnight stays reached 11.1 million, up 5.6 percent year-on-year.

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