The museum has announced a third call for tenders for the lease of Libušín

Rožnov pod Radhoštěm - The National Museum in Nature, as the manager of the Libušín lodge at Pustevny in the Beskids, has announced a new competition for its operator. Libušín is set to reopen this summer after renovation, and the contract also involves the operation of the neighboring Maměnka hotel. Tomáš Gross, the museum spokesperson, announced this in a press release today. This is the third time the museum has announced the competition.

The Libušín lodge, built in 1899 according to the design of architect Dušan Jurkovič, has been a national cultural monument since 1995 and served as a dining hall. However, it was destroyed by fire in March 2014, after which the museum decided to restore it.

According to the museum's director, Jindřich Ondruš, those interested in operating Libušín and Maměnka can submit written offers no later than July 7. The text of the public competition indicates that the lease will be for a fixed term of five years.

In the past two selection processes for the operator, Tim Hortons Slovakia won. After the second competition, company representatives urged the museum to organize a new selection process. The company wanted it to include different conditions in the lease agreement. According to the company, the proposed contract was unbalanced, allowing the landlord to terminate the lease without giving a reason.

However, Ondruš stated that the proposed lease still included a mutual option to terminate the lease without giving a reason. "As a contributory organization of the Ministry of Culture, we are under significant public scrutiny. I cannot imagine terminating a lease with a tenant who fulfills the contract. Of course, there can be a completely opposite situation where the tenant does not fulfill it and causes problems; in that case, we have a tool to address the situation," Ondruš told ČTK today. According to him, Tim Hortons Slovakia demanded several other changes in the contract, some of which the museum incorporated into the new offer text.

Sixteen entities were interested in the second round of the selection process, but only three submitted projects. In the first competition, there were two bidders. The museum justified their low number by saying that information about the competition might have escaped potential bidders due to the measures related to the new coronavirus, which is why it decided to announce it again.

The museum expects to open Libušín at the end of July. If the lessee is not prepared to take over the property by then, Libušín will still open to the public and guided tours will take place. According to Ondruš, it may start operating as a restaurant later.