Month: September 2012

La Pedrera is one of Gaudí’s undisputed masterpieces, and now, this UNESCO listed building is opening its doors for night-time visits. Discover the building’s hidden secrets as darkness falls. These exclusive visits provide a unique insight into the lives, customs, and stories of how people lived in this unique residence 100 years ago. What a great addition to an incentive or conference!

The hotels and congress locations in Rotterdam are increasingly showing commitment to sustainable enterprise. For instance, they are contributing to the targets set by the Rotterdam Climate Initiative to lower CO2 by 50% and achieve a 100% climate-proof city in 2025. Some thirty parties signed an agreement in June 2010 stating that they would attain Green Key certification before the end of 2011. The Green Key is an international eco-label for the tourism and recreation sector that shows the certified organisation is very serious about its commitment to caring for the environment.

Starting from the 1st of October Lufthansa will have a daily connection twice from Munich to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The flights will be operated with a modern jet aircraft, a Bombardier Canadair CRJ 900. Besides Munich, Rotterdam The Hague Airport is accessible from more than 30 destinations.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport was recently elected as the most popular airport in The Netherlands by the many visitors of the authoritative consumer website Zoover.nl for the second time in a row. The by Rotterdam The Hague Airport passengers beloved quick check-in, the clarity and excellent service are the reason for business travelers and city trippers, skiers and holiday passengers to each increasingly fly via Rotterdam The Hague Airport. In the past year, the number of travelers grew with more than fifteen percent and in the first quarter of 2012 again the number of travelers increased further.

With 197 elegant guest rooms and suites, the Four Seasons Hotel Dublin offers the city’s most extensive selection of guest rooms. The six-storey red brick building is situated on the showground’s of the historic Royal Dublin Society, in the quiet residential community of Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 – one of the safest and most prestigious areas in Dublin.   
 
Enjoy 5-star luxury in close proximity to Dublin’s city centre at a fantastic price.
 
The Four Seasons offers special rates from €179 per night per room incl. breakfast for all bookings between October 24th and April 22nd, 2013! Subject to availability.

London-based fund managers Metric Capital Partners and Hutton Collins Partners have invested in Dutch hotel developer and operator TVHG via a credit instrument with equity participation. The total investment was not disclosed, but the firms said it will secure over €120m of hotel developments in the Netherlands.


Focused on the development of branded budget hotels, TVHG has a contracted pipeline of 19 Dutch hotels in prime locations in Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Eindhoven, Metric said in a release. The fresh capital will also support further expansion of its developments and operations, which are managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, a minority shareholder in TVHG.


Metric Partner John Sinik commented: “The TVHG opportunity is attractive to us given the strength of the team. This includes not only the TVHG management team, but also Interstate as a world-class operator.” TVHG CEO Bart van de Kamp added that said the firm is not only looking to expand domestically but also in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. The hotels currently in development are to be operated by Holiday Inn Express, Hampton by Hilton, IBIS, Aloft and Courtyard by Marriott.


Metric provides capital solutions to mid-sized companies in Europe, taking a long-term partnership approach. Hutton Collins Partners manages long-term capital on behalf of blue chip investors from around the world. It invests across western Europe through mezzanine capital, preferred and minority equity capital. pie

The CEO of visitBerlin has labelled the nine-month delay in opening the city’s new airport ‘surprising and annoying’ amid fears the delay could stall new routes to the city, adversely affecting Berlin’s reputation as a congress destination.

The German capital’s new airport, Berlin Brandenburg (BER), was scheduled to open 3 June but will now open on 17 March, 2013, with the Supervisory Board of Flughafen Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH announcing the new airport must pass safety tests before the launch date.

Burkhard Kieker, CEO of visitBerlin, said: “The 10-month postponement of the opening date is surprising and annoying. It is now top priority to ensure that the airport is well prepared for the launch. We look forward to the opening of BER as it will greatly improve the accessibility of our city.”

A statement by Kieker said the delayed opening will not have a foreseeable impact on existing tourism and congress business:  “However, visitBerlin fears that it could have an adverse effect on future long-haul destinations. The postponement of the opening of BER could also lead to delays in airlines committing to new intercontinental routes, which are of great importance to Berlin as a congress location.”

With the existing airports, Schönefeld and Tegel, still in operation, all flights to Berlin are expected to be carried out as scheduled. Extended summer flight schedules for the three largest airlines, airberlin, Deutsche Lufthansa and EasyJet, are being maintained.

Nearly 70 UK buyers from companies including Reed & Mackay, Congrex, BNP Paribas, Group Se7evn Events, Warner Bros. and RBS attended the Berlin Meets London event at the London Film Museum.

Held in recognition of 100 years of film in Berlin – with the venue’s atmospheric brick tunnels under Covent Garden reminiscent of the German city – guests enjoyed popcorn and canapés while watching excerpts of films relating to Berlin and mingling with 20 hotel, airline and city convention bureau partners.

VisitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker noted the ever-changing city was “the last metropolis in the making in the old world” – a fusion of German efficiency and creativity that made it perfect for hosting events

RAGUE – Earn Hotel Rewards! Le Hotel Palais is a very elegant boutique hotel located centrally and highly popular for incentives. Palace Hotel Praha is the perfect place to do your business, with state-of-the-art conference rooms offering space for up to 200 attendees. The privacy afforded by the smaller salons is ideal for events with up to 50 people.

 

Le Palais Hotel Prague

September & October 2012 Accommodation from € 159 DDR from € 79 full day / € 69 half day

November & December 2012 Accommodation from € 139 DDR from € 69 full day / € 59 half day

Extra value-added benefits:

Complimentary minibar consumption • Complimentary welcome reception upon arrival (a glass of sparkling wine and 3 canapés) • Complimentary Internet access in the guest rooms • Complimentary use of Health Club • Complimentary individual shuttle to Wenceslas Square • One complimentary upgrade to a suite per 10 paid rooms (based on availability) • Complimentary parking (up to 3 cars based on availability) • 25% discount on staff rate (up to 3 rooms out of 50 rooms) • 10% discount on Pure Spa treatments.


Terms & Conditions

This offer is based on availability and valid for new meetings from September 1st through December 28th, 2012. Minimum of 10 rooms per night to qualify. Accommodation rates are for single/double occupancy, inclusive of buffet breakfast and VAT. Offer excludes closeout and citywide congress dates. Daily Delegate Rates (DDR) are inclusive of 20% VAT and include meeting room rental, standard technical equipment, 2 coffee breaks for the full day DDR and 1 coffee break for the half day DDR, buffet lunch, filtered coffee, tea and water throughout the meeting. Please mention code “Autumn Offer 2012” when sending your inquiry. The hotel reserves the right to amend this offer at any time without further notice.

The Delano Marrakech opened for business on September 21st, 2012. The hotel is a boon to Marrakech’s growing attractions as business destination for Europe and beyond

Starhotels Rosa Grand in Milan is a 4 star hotel located in the heart of the city, just a few steps from the Duomo. The hotel, completely refurbished, is perfect for every kind of event. For meetings consumed from October 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 with a minimum of 15 rooms the Starhotels Rosa Grand in Milan offers a special room rate starting from Euro 239 per night including VAT 10% and full buffet breakfast with a 30% discount on meeting room rental. Even more profitable rates starting from Euro 199 including VAT 10% and full buffet breakfast could be available on special dates.