History

HISTORY

The history of the Panorama Hotel began before 1938, when the Keller family made plans to build a new, modern accommodation facility in Rychnov nad Kněžnou. Plans for various versions of the hotel have even been preserved. When war broke out during the construction of the hotel, it was reportedly decided that the hotel would be named Hotel Panorama instead of the planned name V Modřinkách, after the Hotel Panorama in Deštné in the Orlické Mountains, which the Czechs lost as a result of the events following the Munich Agreement. The hotel opened on July 6, 1940, and operated continuously until 1989, when it was still the best accommodation in Rychnov nad Kněžnou. The hotel met a very sad fate after it was returned to private hands after 1991, when it was operated for several years until it was completely devastated.

In 1999, the Dubnov family bought the hotel and had no choice but to demolish 95% of it. The hotel was rebuilt in a similar style, but five times larger. When preparing the project and implementing it, the Dubnov family used the best ideas they had encountered during their travels abroad and tried to combine sober luxury with a family atmosphere and distinctive style. The hotel reopened to the public on April 11, 2003. Every year, the April Hotel Panorama is enriched and its services expanded. A playground was built for the children of hotel guests and children from the town, and a truly luxurious sauna was built, where you can cool off with snow even on hot days. An outdoor grill was opened, offering cuisine combining traditional charcoal preparation and modern stainless steel equipment. The hotel plans to further expand its services; a pétanque court and a cable car have been completed, and other activities will follow. In 2017, the hotel was renamed April Hotel Panorama.

Family Tradition

The Dubnov family, which operates Hotel Panorama through Hotel Panorama s.r.o., has its roots in gastronomy dating back to the 19th century. The grandfather of the current owner worked as a waiter in the first-class restaurant of the ocean liner Hamburg and even tried to get a job on the best ship of its time, the Titanic. However, to the delight of future generations, he only managed to get a temporary job loading goods and luggage onto the sadly famous ship. His grandfather’s brother also went into the hotel business and was the tenant of the Výrovka mountain hut in the Krkonoše Mountains, which he ran until 1948. The main stimulus for the current generation was when the youngest member of the family, Michael, decided to go into the hotel business. He graduated from hotel school in Poděbrady and spent several years gaining experience in professional competitions and internships at home and abroad. He currently manages the April Hotel Panorama.