When profits from the capital markets spill over into the countryside

“Some decisions cannot be seen. They cannot simply be told – they have to be experienced. When you say Amenity Resorts, you are talking about a story. A long story by now. My story and my family’s story. A story of places I love, places I associate with romance and adventure – experiences I continue to live through again and again. A story of everyone I have met along the way. A story of places at the ends, or perhaps rather at the borders, of our beautiful country. And it is a story that is far from over.

It was born in the years when the world around us was changing – through voucher privatisation, the beginnings of capital markets in the Czech Republic and my first experiences in business. Today, it is a story of many fascinating places and the activities connected with them, of dreams made tangible. Of paintings, farms, ski slopes, golf courses, forests and ponds, land and grazing animals. The land from which everything grows.

In dreams, on paper, in projects and in experiences. In an endless and passionate instinct for collecting, in a commitment to long-term connections across time, space and landscape. The story of Amenity Resorts contains all of this.”

 

Ing. Michal Šnobr at the launch of Amenity MOMENTY magazine

Ing. Michal Šnobr – Launch of A Momenty magazine

Michal Šnobr – investor, collector, farmer and South Bohemian patriot – decided to step beyond the world of numbers and investment models and begin creating value in a different way: something concrete, tangible and rooted in the landscape.

In the public eye, he has long been known as an investor and a prominent figure in Czech business. But the world of finance is, by its very nature, abstract. Charts multiply, curves rise and fall, decisions have an immediate impact – yet something essential is missing: the physical experience of a place. It was precisely this need that inspired the idea of developing projects whose value cannot be expressed solely in percentages of return.

Projects that smell of wood, respond to light and weather, and still make sense when the phone is put aside.

Amenity Resorts was never conceived as a uniform development concept. Each location had its own beginning. The morning surface of Lake Lipno, the crisp mountain light in Špindlerův Mlýn, the peace and open space of the Orlické Mountains – these were the places where the first impulses emerged. It was not about a plan drawn on a map, but about an inner connection with a place. A feeling that this was exactly where a space for relaxation should be created – not something designed merely to impress, but something authentic.

What guests today experience as a natural harmony between architecture and the surrounding landscape, open views or calm and understated design is the result of years of work and patience. The ambition was never to attract attention at any cost. The aim was to create an environment that feels natural – as though it had always belonged there.

Over time, the individual resorts became connected under one brand. Not so that they would all be the same, but so that they could share the same foundations – an emphasis on quality, respect for the location and the feeling that time moves at a different pace here. Whether guests arrive by the water, in the mountains or among the forests, they enter a place where they can feel looked after with calmness and confidence.

Experience from the investment world also played an important role. The ability to think in broader contexts made it possible to see a resort not as an isolated building, but as part of a larger whole – the landscape, infrastructure and local community. In Deštné, this meant developing not only a hotel, but a wider base for mountain activities. In other locations, it meant shaping the surroundings so that a stay would become more than simply an overnight visit – it would offer genuine distance from everyday life.

The most important moment, however, only arrives with the guest. Morning coffee on the terrace. The silence after a visit to the wellness centre. Children falling asleep earlier than usual after a day on the slopes. An evening when the lights come on in the windows and you realise there is nowhere you need to rush to.

It is at that moment that the original decision becomes a real experience. A personal memory that someone takes home with them.

Today, Michal Šnobr shows that real value does not have to be created only on the stock exchange. It can grow from the soil, from water or from long-term care for animals. And that business, when approached thoughtfully and rooted in respect for a place, can be more than an economic activity – it can also cultivate the environment in which we live.

Frequently asked questions

Who is behind the creation of Amenity Resorts?

Behind the story of Amenity Resorts is the investor, collector and farmer Michal Šnobr. He has gradually combined his experience in the world of finance and investment with his long-standing interest in the landscape, architecture, land, agriculture and the creation of places that have concrete and tangible value.

How did the idea to set up Amenity Resorts come about?

The idea arose from a desire to create value that cannot be expressed solely in terms of figures, graphs or rates of return. The aim was to build authentic places connected to nature, where guests can slow down, relax and create their own experiences and memories.

Were the individual ministries established according to a single, common plan?

No. Amenity Resorts were not conceived as a single or uniform development concept. Each site had its own unique origins, based on the character of the specific location, the surrounding landscape and a personal connection to that environment.

What do the individual Amenity Resorts sites have in common?

What unites these individual resorts is their emphasis on quality, respect for the location, and their connection to the surrounding countryside – an environment where time can pass at a slower pace. At the same time, each location retains its own character and atmosphere.

How do the individual Amenity Resorts differ?

Each resort reflects the surroundings in which it is situated. A stay by the shores of Lake Lipno offers a different atmosphere to the mountain setting of Špindlerův Mlýn, and yet another to the tranquillity and open spaces of the Orlické Mountains. The differences between these locations are not downplayed; on the contrary, they form an essential part of their identity.

What role does the surrounding landscape play at Amenity Resorts?

The landscape is not merely a backdrop to the individual resorts. It is one of the fundamental elements in their creation and ongoing development. The architecture, views, materials used and the overall layout of the sites are intended to appear natural and to respect the character of the location.

How did Michal Šnobr’s investment experience influence the development of the resorts?

Our experience in investment has helped us with long-term planning and in viewing each facility as part of a wider whole. It is not just about the building itself, but also about its relationship with the landscape, infrastructure, local activities and the local community.

Why does the article also mention the development of mountain facilities in Deštné?

The example of Deštné shows that the aim is not simply to build accommodation facilities. The development of a destination can also include wider facilities and activities that give the place long-term significance and enable guests to experience their stay as a whole, rather than merely as a place to spend the night.

What kind of experience should Amenity Resorts offer its guests?

Above all, a stay here is intended to offer guests relaxation, a sense of tranquillity and a break from their everyday responsibilities. What matters are the simple, authentic moments – such as morning coffee on the terrace, a moment’s rest after a visit to the spa, time spent with family, or an evening without the need to rush off anywhere.

What approach do Amenity Resorts take to design and architecture?

The aim is not to create a flamboyant environment that seeks to impress at any cost. The architecture and design should appear natural, serene and in harmony with their surroundings – as if they had always been part of the place.

What does ‘true value’ mean, according to the Amenity Resorts story?

True value does not necessarily arise solely from the financial markets. It can also stem from the land, water, the care of the landscape, animals, buildings and relationships between people. In the case of Amenity Resorts, this long-term care results in a specific place that people can visit in person and experience for themselves.

What is the central theme of the Amenity Resorts story?

The central idea is the long-term and responsible creation of places that bring together business, the countryside and human experiences. Amenity Resorts tell a story that unfolds gradually and continues with every new location, experience and memory created by our guests.