Category: International

What is claimed to be the world’s first sustainable meetings region has been established by five Scandinavian nations. Finland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have signed an Accord to create an area to advance sustainable development within the meetings and events industry. All are members of ICCA, the International Congress and Convention Association. The Accord, the first of its kind in the world, is a document outlining 10 specific actions to which all signatories commit. A major aim is to reduce the Scandinavian meetings industry’s CO2 footprint by 20 per cent by the year 2020. The Accord also includes the use of environmentally friendly transport, giving back to the local community, advocating to clients the use of responsible, sustainable and certified suppliers, sharing knowledge and learning from others.

IHG, the world’s largest hotel company, has launched the first upscale, international hotel brand designed specifically for the Chinese traveller – HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts.  HUALUXE translates from Hua, which means majestic China and luxe, representing luxury.  The HUALUXE brand has been developed in response to three core growth opportunities that IHG is tapping into – consumer demand for an upscale international hotel brand that demonstrates pride in Chinese customs and reflects local tradition; the domestic China opportunity, whereby the number of domestic travellers is expected to reach 3.3 billion in 2015 and the China hotel market is projected to grow by 5-8% annually by 2030 and the international opportunity, where outbound trips from China are projected to grow from 10 million to more than 100 million in the next 10 to 15 years.

On the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Klimt, one of the world’s most renowned artists, Vienna is taking the chance to celebrate one of its most famous sons, and show off the wealth of its cultural heritage. The Belvedere Museum in Vienna continues to hold the world’s largest collection of Klimt artwork.

 

As the son of a goldsmith, Klimt understood metals like few other artists of his generation. Though he worked with paint, he had a unique ability to create the illusion of precious metals, stones and jewels. He trained at the commercially-minded School of Applied Art, not at Vienna’s fine art academy. He is particularly known for his paintings such as The Kiss, Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer I, Judith and the Head of Holofernes, and Hope II. His work is so well known that even a Barbie has been modelled on the Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer.

easyJet’s base in Lisbon Airport’s Terminal 2 is now operational. From the Portuguese platform, the low-cost airline now connects Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Bordeaux, Venice and Asturias to the city of Lisboa, strengthening, with these five new routes, its network between the Portuguese capital and Europe.

 

Emirates Airlines will, for the first time, offer direct flights to the United Arab Emirates. From the 9th of July, Emirates Airlines will run a daily flight between Lisbon and the Middle East.  The new route will establish a bridge between the carrier’s network in the Asian and African continents and the most westerly part of Europe. The flight will depart daily from Dubai at 09:13 and arrive in Lisboa at approximately 14:45. The return leg will depart from Lisbon at 17:55 and arrive in Dubai at 04:35 the following day.

 

US Airways resumes, for the seventh consecutive year, its seasonal flight service between Philadelphia International Airport in the United States and the Portuguese capital.  Operational from the 5th of May to the 27th of October this route between the American continent and Lisbon will facilitate quick connections with the most prominent airports in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Washington, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orlando, Phoenix, Toronto and San Juan among others.

The Lisbon Congress Centre has been chosen to host the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) ‘Sector Venues European Client/Supplier Business Workshop’ The workshop will be held from the 5th to the 7th of September 2012.  This venue’s bid won over rival bids submitted by other European centres, including Congress Center Basel (Switzerland), Congress und Messe Innsbruck GmbH and Messe Congress Graz (Austria), as well as FIBES – Seville Conference Exhibition Centre (Spain).  The Lisbon Congress Centre candidacy proposal was drawn up with the backing of several ICCA member bodies and companies from within the sector, including Turismo de Lisboa.

Amsterdam RAI has announced a turnover of € 133.9 million for 2011, an increase of 7.1% compared to 2010 and 23.8% higher than in 2009 which had a similar event calendar. The good results were achieved with both RAI-organised (trade) exhibitions in the Netherlands and abroad, and the letting of the RAI complex to (international) organisers. The operational profit was € 8.3 million, while net profits came in at € 3.4 million.

Several Vienna hotels have been nominated for the “Austria’s Leading Hotel” award for the World Travel Awards 2012. The shortlist is dominated by Viennese hotels, and Viennese hotels have won the award since it’s inception in 2004. Former winners nominated include the InterContinental Wien, and Starwood properties Hotel Imperial and Hotel Bristol. Other global brands are represented amongst the nominees include Grand Hotel Wien from Leading Hotels of the World, the Hilton Vienna Plaza, Hotel Sacher, The Ring Hotel, and the Vienna Marriott.

The ‘Schottenring,’ in the heart of Vienna, currently sees the transformation of the historic Palais Hansen into the first Kempinski hotel in the Austrian capital. The listed building is undergoing careful restoration and extensive renovation works to welcome its first guests in Spring 2013. The hotel will boast 152 well appointed rooms and suites, spacious meeting and banqueting facilities including a grand ballroom for up to 280 people, and a lavish spa and wellness area offering guests an exclusive ambiance. To fulfil all culinary requests, the hotel houses two restaurants with constantly changing menus, a bar and a stylish night club, set to become a popular meeting point for locals and visitors.

 

To complement the hotel’s concept, the hotel will be home to 17 exclusive residences, to be found on the 4th and 5th floor of the property. The Palais Hansen Grand Residences vary in size from 130 m2 to 350 m2 and will be marketed by Palais Hansen Immobilienentwicklung GmbH.

 

“The Palais Hansen as a historic palace is a perfect fit for Kempinski’s unique portfolio, and will become a landmark for the group in the Austrian capital,” says Rupert Simoner, Regional Vice President for Kempinski. “It combines history with contemporary architecture and European elegance. A hot spot in Vienna – modern and glamorous, innovative and timeless, relaxed and unconventional, the Palais Hansen Kempinski will be the perfect destination for business and leisure travellers alike.” Following the opening of the Kempinski Hotel Das Tirol in Jochberg near Kitzbühl, the Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna will be Kempinski’s second property in Austria.

 

The Palais Hansen Kempinski perfectly incorporates modern design with historic architecture. The property’s three courtyards will have glass roofs, and the heart of the property will house the lobby-lounge in the middle courtyard. Guestrooms range from 40 m2 to 45 m2, and the Presidential Suite will measure 300 m2. The contemporary interior design will be underlined with chic and functionality. The choice of materials, colours and fabrics highlight the interior design theme, combining historic elements and modern touches in a natural and accessible way.

 

The kitchen in the restaurant and the restaurant in the kitchen – guests can enjoy an all-day-dining experience at the Kempinski Grill, which is divided into three areas – living room, conservatory, and kitchen. The show kitchen directly next to the tables not only makes eating a culinary highlight, it turns it into an authentic experience. This way, guests can witness the preparation of their dishes right from the start, in direct and personal contact to the chefs. The second restaurant is all about innovative northern Italian cuisine in elegant surroundings. This outlet will be accessible not only from inside the hotel, but will also have a separate entrance from the street. Entertainment and experiences are the focus of the two bars and the lobby lounge – pre and post dinner or just in between. The second bar, also accessible directly from the street, will offer guests and locals a stylish nightlife experience, with DJ and live music – the new place to see and be seen in Vienna.