Czech Inn Hotels: two hotels from Jaroslav Svoboda's group in Michelin

Two hotels of the Czech chain Czech Inn Hotels — The Grand Mark Prague and Grand Palace Riga — have made the 2026 Michelin Guide hotel selection. The Prague hotel is included for the second time, the Riga one for the first. Both appear on the international list alongside acknowledged icons such as Vienna's Hotel Sacher, London's The Ritz and Paris's Le Bristol.

Behind the success is entrepreneur Jaroslav Svoboda, the group's founder, owner and manager. He began his story in 2003 by leasing a small hotel in Harrachov. Today Czech Inn Hotels runs 30 hotels with a combined capacity of more than 9,000 beds. Most of them are in Prague, with others in Brno and abroad: in Portugal, Georgia, Latvia, Hungary, Austria and Edinburgh. In 2025, more than two million guests stayed at the group's hotels.

The chain's best-known properties include Grand Hotel International, Grand Hotel Prague Towers and Grand Palace in Brno. Riga's Grand Palace joined the portfolio only recently.

What sets the two hotels apart. Both are in historic centres and bet on architecture and design, but they interpret urban luxury differently:

The Grand Mark Prague is a hotel in a historic palace in central Prague, where original architectural elements blend with modern design. Its calling card is a private garden, a quiet corner in the very heart of the capital. The hotel has 81 rooms and apartments.

Grand Palace Riga is a boutique hotel in Riga's historic centre. The building once served as the central bank; today it has 56 rooms and the Seasons restaurant. The city's main sights are within walking distance.

How Michelin chooses. Inspectors assess hotels in five areas: the hotel's connection to its location, architecture and design, quality of service, authenticity and character, and value for money. The number of stars takes a back seat — the overall guest experience matters more. Hotels in the selection may use the Michelin Guide Selected Hotel designation.

“Being included in the Michelin Guide hotel selection confirms that the quality of a stay is not only a matter of facilities or the number of stars. Michelin looks at the overall guest experience and at how the hotel is connected to its place. For The Grand Mark Prague, that is the historic centre of Prague; for Grand Palace Riga, the old heart of Riga,” says David Svoboda, director of Czech Inn Hotels' international division.

The double recognition shows that in two decades Jaroslav Svoboda's chain has grown from a single rented guesthouse into an international player able to compete for the attention of the most demanding travellers.