Vienna has managed to break its own record for the amount of overnight stays registered since 2012. Latest figures from The Vienna Tourist Board show an increase of 3.1% per cent for the first half of 2013, compared with the same period last year.
The tourists board’s statistics show that the average occupancy of Vienna’s hotel beds stood at 50.3% at the end of June 2013. The amount of available beds had also increased from June 2012 to June 2013 5,530, and the capital now has 58,500 on offer for guests.
The average occupancy of Vienna’s beds was 50.3% at the half year, with available beds increasing by 5,530 from June 2012 to June 2013. Overall, the city currently has a lodging capacity of 58,500 beds.
The Trinity team had a visit from Ardencote Manor Hotel, Country Club and Spa this morning and we discovered a few interesting facts! This 110 bedroom hotel and conference centre in Warwickshire offers natural daylight in all meeting rooms and complimentary WiFi throughout, and at the beginning of May this year they opened the new Brasserie Bar and Lounge. The old hotel bar was extended to create an alternative to the formal 2 AA rosette restaurant ‘The Lodge’. The Brasserie Bar and Lounge now offers a relaxed place to get a drink or some food, offering a modern European menu for dinner and lighter snacks and meals during the day.
If it’s a quirky drinks reception venue in the Midlands you’re after, why not try The Pavilion and Island? This island situated within the 3 acre lake can accommodate approximately 150 people and offers great views across the grounds.
The Trinity team had a visit from Ardencote Manor Hotel, Country Club and Spa this morning and we discovered a few interesting facts! This 110 bedroom hotel and conference centre in Warwickshire offers natural daylight in all meeting rooms and complimentary WiFi throughout, and at the beginning of May this year they opened the new Brasserie Bar and Lounge. The old hotel bar was extended to create an alternative to the formal 2 AA rosette restaurant ‘The Lodge’. The Brasserie Bar and Lounge now offers a relaxed place to get a drink or some food, offering a modern European menu for dinner and lighter snacks and meals during the day.
If it’s a quirky drinks reception venue in the Midlands you’re after, why not try The Pavilion and Island? This island situated within the 3 acre lake can accommodate approximately 150 people and offers great views across the grounds.
Vienna public transport costs set to rise by up to 15 per cent. The U4 line will be completely renovated and the 365 Euro ticket annual ticket is more expensive for the Wiener Linien than expected. The public transport company tries to get more money by an index adjustment.
As the newspaper “Österreich” found out, the price of most of the tickets will increase by five percent from 1 July 2013. The single ticket will cost 2.10 Euros instead of 2 Euros.
The last adjustment took place in May 2012: before this reform, the single ticket cost 1.80 Euros. The short distance tickets will be removed and travelling without a valid ticket will also become more expensive.
Renate Brauner (SPÖ), councillor of finance of the city, stated that she strongly advocated the fact that the annual ticket, tickets for young people and for seniors will not become more expensive (from 100 to 103 Euros).
The Vienna Convention Bureau’s “Meeting Planners’ Guide” gives a comprehensive over-view of Vienna’s meeting infrastructure. The 2013 through 2015 edition has just been published: besides the 96-page print version, for the first time it is also available as an app for the iPad.
At a glance, organizers of congresses, conferences, incentives or events can get an overview of Vienna as leading global conference metropolis, which hosts over 3,000 national and international events every year. The latest edition of the “Vienna Meeting Planners’ Guide” for the years 2013 through 2015 published by the Vienna Tourist Board’s Vienna Convention Bureau (VCB) is also available as an app for the iPad for the first time. It presents about 150 conference locations clearly and precisely in English and German: everything about organization of meetings and relevant service providers, general information about Vienna and the city’s transport facilities as well as suggestions for supporting programs and incentives. “This enables us to give international associations and companies as well as conference organizers, who are planning to hold customized events in Vienna a comprehensive first impression of what Vienna has to offer,” emphasized Christian Mutschlechner, director of the VCB, at the launching of the new application. The launch was held at IMEX in Frankfurt (May 21-23), one of the world’s largest fairs for the conference industry.
Courtesy of Vienna Convention Bureau Press Release 09/08/2013
Business Events Canada organised an educational trip to Ottawa at the beginning of June 2013, which was supported by Canadian Tours International, Tourisme Outaouais and the Ottawa Convention Bureau. The DMC, Canadian Tours International, was excellent, well-organised and work all over Canada.
The flight time from London is around 7½ hours and the time difference is -5 hours. I was surprised that I wasn’t too tired and it was fine to go for 3 days and not suffer too much with the time difference.
Ottawa is the capital of Canada and on the banks of the Ottawa River. It is a small city (1.2 million people) very open and green. It is easy to get around with a good transport system and the city is home to the national government and a lot of public services.
Ottawa International Airport is a 15 minute transfer to the city centre. There is a public bus service. It is quite a small airport and quick to collect luggage and clear customs (it is the 5th largest airport in Canada). It is served by Air Canada and other international carriers.
We visited a range of restaurants in Ottawa and the surrounding area. The standard of food, service etc was great throughout the trip. If anything, we were given too much to eat.
There is plenty to do in the area for groups of any size or profile. In Ottawa there is a gourmet food tour on food around Byward Market, a cycling sightseeing tour of the city along the river and canals, Museums such as the Canadian Museum of Civilisation, Aboriginal Experience, visiting the Parliament Buildings. In the surrounding area it is possible to visit a Maple Syrup farm with lunch or dinner, Land Rover off-road driving, clay pigeon shooting, aerial experience with obstacles and zip wires, Nordic Spa visit or sightseeing from a vintage aircraft. In the winter, there is skiing.
Hotels visited:
Fairmont Chateau Montebello Hotel
A 5* hotel about 1hr from the centre of Ottawa and 1hr 15mins from Ottawa airport and 1½ hrs from Montreal airport. It is situated on the river, beautifully quiet location, great for activities and miles of land for team building events. Traditional in style with spa, pool, sailing, shooting, off-road driving, it is a popular leisure destination.
Bedrooms 211
Meeting rooms 20
Max capacity 425
Westin Hotel in Ottawa
A 5* hotel in the centre of the city and 15 mins transfer from the airport. Great location for seeing all the sights and walking to restaurants etc. Close to Byward Market – local specialist shops, restaurants and Farmers’ Market. Maximum group size 450.
Bedrooms 496
Meeting rooms 27
Max capacity 1700
Hilton Lac-Leamy
A 5* hotel about 10 mins from the city centre and 25 mins from the airport. The hotel has large meeting space and bedrooms, views over the lake. There is a casino onsite.
Bedrooms 349
Meeting rooms maximum 12 if divided in to smallest sections (flexible so min no is 6)
Hospes Infinite Places is constantly searching for the very best features to offer its guests. The recently renovated Hospes Madrid Hotel is a testament to that spirit. At this hotel, housed in a splendid building from 1883 located by the Retiro Park and across the Puerta de Alcalá, guests encounter a unique combination of peace and urban life in the heart of Spain’s capital city.
Guests will now be greeted by a new, fresh, clean appearance, filled with white colors, the lush green of plants and a very relaxing environment, both at the reception area and in the Deluxe, Junior and Alcalá Junior Suites.
The power of nature is reinforced by pure white furniture in the reception area – including four large poufs capitanét in white leather –as well as in the bedrooms, where the leather upholstery and the white carpeting gain importance. Large mirrors are also part of the scene, developing a feeling of ample, bright and open spaces.
These reforms, which were carried out in March, embrace Hospes Infinite Places philosophy at its best: luminosity, purity, genuine luxury and nature.
Four Seasons announces its debut in the Spanish capital
Great news for Spain’s hotel industry today: Four Seasons has announced that it will make its Spanish debut in the capital city within the next four years.
The new Four Seasons will be housed in the series of heritage buildings comprising the Canalejas complex, adjacent to the Puerta del Sol and close to Madrid’s major landmarks and city center. The buildings include frontages on Alcalá Street, Sevilla Street, Canalejas Square and Carrera de San Jerónimo.
Following repairs, restoration and renovations, Four Seasons Hotel Madrid is looking to be a social and business center. The multi-use complex will include the 215-room Four Seasons Hotel Madrid, luxury residences also managed by Four Seasons, a shopping center, and a 500-space parking garage. Construction is projected to begin at the end of 2013.
The introduction of the world’s most prestigious hotel brand reinforces Madrid’s position as a venue for major international events. There would be invested EUR 500 million in the project.
