At present, more and more facilities and restaurants are trying to make their premises accessible to a group of severely disabled (TS) visitors, who still encounter inaccessible terrain, interiors or rooms in many places. MERIDIANA in Bojnice is one of those from which the surrounding and more distant guesthouses and restaurants can take an example. In 2020, they received an award in the TOP competition in tourism in the section Equipment for ŤZP, which is announced annually by the regional tourism organization Trenčín region.

On this occasion, we spoke with Patrik Kuck, who is the co-owner, founder and manager of this facility. He was brought to gastronomy by his grandfather and has worked in this industry all his life. The work is his mission, which is clearly reflected in the high quality of services and meals offered. It takes its employees as members of a family that cultivates, distributes, but also gets back good energy.

1. Tell us about your beginnings. Was the first restaurant, boarding house, or did it go hand in hand?

The plan was clear. Open and operate a guest house and restaurant. We started with a restaurant and said to ourselves that if it went well, we would also build an accommodation section. We succeeded and in 2018, on the third birthday of MERIDIAN, we opened a guest house.

2. What was your vision for this accommodation in Bojnice?

Our vision was to build something that is missing in the region. Gradually, the MERIDIANA Bojnice resort was established. A space where everyone can find their place, 365 days a year and in every season. MERIDIANA is a place for many occasions. Couples in love spend romantic evenings with us. Coffee on the terrace, sun in the face and good friends will give you energy for the next few days. It is popular with families with children, who like a fully fenced area with climbing frames.

Parents will enjoy a good meal and the children will go crazy on the playground. We will precisely prepare the most beautiful day of their lives for brides. We also meet the demanding ideas of event managers who are looking for 100% quality services. Whether you visit us during the summer holidays and spend a whole week with us, or during a business trip for one night, you will always be taken care of first class.

3. Did you think about the barrier-free space at the very beginning or did it come in time?

Every guest is precious to us and from the very beginning we thought of adapting our premises to the severely disabled.

MERIDIANA Bojnice resort respects diversity. We create a place where everyone can find their place. We want our disabled guests to feel comfortable with us and we were also a place of relaxation and rest for them. By creating barrier-free spaces, we wanted to make it easier for them to access our services.

4. Do disabled people often come to you?

Based on the fact that we have been thinking about them from the beginning, more and more ŤZP guests visit us. The premises of the restaurant and the pension suit them.

5. Do you plan to create other benefits / expand the offer for this disadvantaged group of people?

For all planned services, we always count on handicapped guests. We are currently completing the wellness, which is also barrier-free.

6. What is the most intense story related to the life of this space?

In this context, one strong moment occurred to me. We received an unpleasant review from an unknown author about how we complicate the life of wheelchairs with our access walkways. I was sorry and I had a review read to a customer in a wheelchair. He calmed me down. He said that he understood that the sidewalk belonged to the design and in most companies they did not have barrier-free spaces or toilets as is common in our country.

7. Do foreign guests also come to you? Have you already visited well-known names?

Thanks to our good reputation, foreign guests visit us regularly. I will mention Bekim for all the known names. We had funny moments with him.

We value all the guests and the visit of the master Karel Gott is of great importance to us. Others were personalities of political life, such as former President Ivan Gašparovič, President Čaputová and many personalities of cultural, social and sports life.

8. What do you say about winning the Equipment for ŤZP in the TOP competition in tourism in the Trenčín Region in 2020?

We were very pleased with the award, especially because it came at this difficult time for gastronomy.

For us, this win means confirming that we are going in the right direction. That we do not focus only on a certain group of customers, but we are here for everyone.

9. What is your "progress" plan? Are you planning to complete something, add a range of services or are you thinking of another way to attract potential visitors and tourists?

Our plan is to stabilize ourselves. So far, we have built, built and added. Last year's novelty was a greenhouse. Vegetables from it travel directly to our kitchen. Our natural lake is also new. In the summer it guarantees a pleasant refreshment and in the winter it delivers a good dose of health in the form of hardening.

The newly built wellness, which was added this year, will regenerate body and soul. Our guests can enjoy perfect relaxation in the Finnish or infrared sauna and turn off all senses through floating. We believe that this year we will complete the interior children's corner. We are preparing news for barbecue lovers for the summer and we also plan to renovate the kitchen, so our guests have something to look forward to. Just reopen.

10. What do you at the pension consider the "BEST", why should those interested decide to visit MERIDIANA?

For good energy. Guests love us for the relaxed atmosphere and good energy they draw from us. They like the beautiful environment we create here. All the services we offer are carefully thought out and meet a high level of standard, which we like to move higher and higher ourselves. We do not sell food and accommodation, we prepare pleasant feelings that guests want to enjoy.

In Trenčín 6.4.2021

Text: MT