Category: International

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

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.

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.

Austria is now officially the hottest place in Europe, with temperatures on Sunday above other typical hot-spots.

According to the Austrian weather service (ZAMG), a top-temperature of 39.2 degrees was reached last weekend, making the Alpine republic far hotter than Ibiza (32 degrees), Rhodos (33) and Beke (34).

The highest temperature of 39.2 degrees was recorded both in Waidhofen an der Ybbs in Lower Austria and Bad Goisern in Upper Austria. This was closely followed by temperatures in Villach and Salzburg of 38.7 and 38.6 degrees.

 

Whilst Vienna city centre experienced a scorching 38.4 degrees, things were not much different at Klagenfurt airport where temperatures ran at 38 degrees.

The ZAMG forecast for today is for north and south Burgenland to become to hottest place in the country, with both experiencing top temperatures of 38 degrees.

The Portuguese capital is the 16th most visited city in Europe, according to the 3rd Global Destination Cities Index 2013, prepared by MasterCard. With 2.6 million overnights in the city and 3.1 million dollars spent in the Portuguese capital, Lisbon remains in the Top 20 most visited European cities and 39th in the world ranking that features 132 cities. According to this index, Lisbon’s visitors arrive mainly from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Madrid. Overall, Bangkok tops the list of most visited cities in the world, surpassing London followed by Paris, Singapore, New York, Istanbul and Dubai. The Global Destination Cities Index ranks cities based on the number of international visitor arrivals, with overnights and spending abroad made by these same visitors at the destinations, whilst also providing growth forecasts for 2013 travellers.