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Written by: Klára Smolová
Photo: Věroslav Sixt, Aleš Vlachovský, Tomáš Kubeš

Welcome Ibis - 15.5.2004
The Accor Group is expanding its presence in Prague. The network of hotels Ibis, Novotel, and Mercure welcomed the latest member - Ibis Praha Smíchov hotel - just next to the Nový Smíchov shopping center.

Vojtěch Zapletal (left), deputy mayor of Prague 5 cuts the tape, along with André Cantiniaux,
director for central and eastern Europe of Accor.

Martin Ykema (left), general manager of hotels Ibis and Novotel;
Nicolas Bellot (middle), operations Eastern countries, Accor Regional Office; and
Cyril Jung, director of hotel Mercure Prague Na Poříčí

Palace celebrations - 23.5.2004
The Pálffy Palác restaurant celebrated its tenth birthday. The party, graced by a concert by the string orchestra of the Prague Conservatory, was attended by a mixed crowd of fans and friends. Although it was Sunday, guests devoured the restaurant's delicacies - including tasty desserts - until late in the night.

Roman Řezníček (right), owner of Pálffy Palác restaurant with graphic designer Aleš Najbrt.

Dita Rudolfová, account director, AMI Communications, with husband Jan Rudolf (right),
attorney, and Andrzej Martynek, also an attorney.

Radek Pokorný, co-owner of Agana company, and
Halina Šebesťáková from Film Servis Festival Karlovy Vary

Sáša Jány (left) from Elite Model Management Prague;
Jiří Zalabák, department of private clients, Commerzbank; and
Jana Smrčková, general manager, Oriana Tours.

42 damp kilometers - 23.05.2004
The popularity of the 10th annual Prague International Marathon was demonstrated by the field of runners - some 20,000 strong - that turned out to compete in the cold and rain. The main marathon-length race, with about 4,500 runners, was set in motion by president Václav Klaus.

Two presidents: Carlo Capalbo from the Prague International Marathon and Václav Klaus from Prague Castle.

The victory of Kenyan Barnabas Koech, who ran for the first time in Prague, surprised many.

The fastest woman of the marathon, Ethiopian Leila Amman (middle),
Kilel Caroline Cheptonui (left) was second, and Anne Jelagat Kibor third.