EDGE Venues

Berlin is a metropolis. It is also known as the German capital to most people. But that’s not all: Berlin is also a Green City! In Spring and Summer particularly it can no longer be ignored – everything is greening and blooming all over the place.


For an extensive visit to the Green City, you should schedule several days if you can so that picnics and BBQs can be organised at least on the most important green spaces. For biking, paddling, hiking, strolling and searching for all other urban green areas spread over Berlin, one would probably have to use the full annual vacation!


Even the most experienced Green City aficionado has a difficult choice to make for a simple green outing: the options include Tiergarten with beer garden and café at Neuer See. Here you can leave all your cares behind, possibly rent a boat and paddle… Children are happy to pay a visit to the nearby Zoo…


Or do you prefer to enjoy a day just like at the seaside? Do you want to surf and sail and fly kites, let your gaze wander over a never-ending horizon, for a change… This is the feeling prevailing on Tempelhofer Feld. The former airfield site is a giant sea of meadows in the middle of the city for kite skaters, kite flyers, roll surfers, joggers, or people who simply want to relax in meadows, with the wind in the hair and a clear mind.


It can even be romantic: the way from the airfield through Hasenheide, along the petting zoo, to Landwehr canal is not very long. Here, in the meadow in Urbanhafen, the bottle of red wine tastes best and makes it easier to move closer to one another, while listening to guitar sounds and watching people. Maybe it is even more romantic in Schlossgarten in front of Schloss Charlottenburg. Or does Lustgarten live up to its name?


The best music plays in Mauerpark. Whoever can and wants to sing (or even those who do not have talent) sing here – with karaoke and jumble sale it will certainly never be boring. When climbing on the Kreuzberg hill in Viktoriapark, mastering the high rope course Jungfernheide, on Schöneberger Südgelände between locomotives and rails and even more during a world tour through the Gardens of the World, the green outing becomes an active vacation.


After so many experiences you simply want to grill a sausage at the end of the day in Volkspark Friedrichshain or watch the sun go down on Wannsee, while being totally exhausted.
It’s such a pity that a year has only 365 days – for a city with around 425,000 trees this is clearly not enough. But with so much green, we do not have to paint a gloomy picture, because Botanischer Garten, Britzer Garten, Wuhletal, Körnerpark, Müggelberge, Grunewald, Wuhlheide, Spreepark, Treptower Park… will still be around next year! Preview some of these on the website visitberlin.de.

The Grimaldi Forum Monaco offers a sustainable solution for every event. As a leading player in the world of events, and conscious of the importance of limiting its environmental footprint, it is fully committed to protecting the environment, reflecting the Principality’s approach in general.

 

 

 

Monaco’s congress centre has been ISO 14001 certified for five years. It has an admirable environmental track record: 71% of the light bulbs on the premises are low-energy; it has reduced its water consumption by 40%; it recycles 500 tonnes of waste per year, particularly from events (such as carpets, PVC sheeting, wood and metal); uses recycled or FSC paper for its communications and only ecologically approved cleaning materials for the day-to-day housekeeping of the building. It was one of the first European congress and cultural centres to attain this certification. This was the culmination of work begun in 2007 by all staff with the aim of becoming a key player in “green” issues. The Grimaldi Forum’s “Act Green” team can help organise an event that has a low impact on the environment. They can offer unobtrusive yet educational support, so the event runs smoothly.

Did you know Monaco Tourist and Convention Authority had a “Responsible Tourism” department? It’s a one-stop shop that can help ensure your events are eco-friendly. Its role is to offer advice and coordinate the various tourism players involved, especially the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The Foundation has set up Monaco Carbon Offsetting, a voluntary, not-for-profit programme. It invites businesses to calculate the emissions generated by their events, then offset them, reducing the impact on greenhouse gases, which contribute to climate change. The Bilan Carbone® (Carbon Assessment) is carried out in strict accordance with the procedures advocated by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency

“Going green” has been fashionable since 2007, but few countries are totally committed to sustainable development.   Monaco, under the leadership of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, is taking a coherent, pioneering approach that encompasses all aspects of going green – a commitment that has real meaning.

 

Logically, business wishing to organise a “sustainable” event should opt for the Principality of Monaco – Monaco’s environmental approach is one of the most up to date and one of the most effective.

 

In 2007, all hotels in Monaco signed an environmental protection charter.  The idea was to reduce waste, encourage responsible procurement, and showcase the hotels’ cultural and natural heritage.  Chefs are encouraged to use local, seasonal, organic products wherever possible.

 

This is part of an overall national plan to encourage sustainable development;  the Government is committed to reducing its greenhouse gases by 30% by 2012.  Efforts are being made to reduce and recycle waste and use recycled or reusable materials.

 

With regard to transport, for the past 20 years, the Principality has been pioneering a scheme to give subsidies for purchasing electric or hybrid vehicles.  It also encourages the use of public transport – the solar-powered bus boat for crossing Port Hercule is one example.

 

The Grimaldi Forum is one of the few European conference centres to have been awarded the ISO 14001 certification for ensuring that every event is sustainably organised.

 

If you are still hesitant, the Albert II Foundation promises sustainable development on a global scale with its MCO2 programme.  This makes it possible to offset greenhouse gas emissions generated by your stay in the Principality.  A logical approach to a heartfelt commitment – protecting our planet.

Opening Concert of the ‘Great Season’ by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra – On Sunday 16^th September at the Grimaldi Forum the opening concert of the Great Season as a preamble to the Verdi Bicentenary

The Fairmont Monte-Carlo Argentin Restaurant has launched a new a la carte menu, which includes a gourmet journey of discovery. From the starter to the dessert, each dish will be accompanied by a specially selected fine wine

In the early seventies it was decided that a conference centre should be built in Madrid and this world-class facility is now located on Paseo de la Castellana in the heart of Madrid’s financial district, close to the AZCA commercial area.



The Palacio de Congresos de Madrid is instantly identifiable from the large mosaic composition on its façade created by the Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor and ceramist, Joan Miró i Ferrà. Miró achieved international acclaim during his lifetime by developing his own unique style – utilising organic forms and flattened picture planes drawn with a sharp line. His work has been interpreted as Surrealism, with such luminaries as the famous author Ernest Hemmingway being amongst his clientele. King Juan Carlos of Spain awarded him the Gold Medal of Fine Arts in 1980.



The centre is close to several of the best hotels, apartments, restaurants and shops in the city, with the Santiago Bernabéu football stadium nearby (home of the Real Madrid Football Club). This superb venue is one of the main conference centres in the capital and hosts more conferences than any other venue in Spain.



Palacio de Congresos de Madrid offers numerous polyvalent premises for up to 2,000 people, but is happy to provide facilities for much smaller groups. The centre features a variety of spaces, conference halls, exhibition halls, auxiliary halls, auditoriums, summary tables and floor plans. It can meet the most demanding of event hosting requirements, with music performances by international stars also being held at the Palacio de Congresos on a regular basis.

The best comic shop in the world is in Madrid, according to ComicCon, the first time a Spanish shop has won the award.



The shop, Arika Comics, has won the Oscar equivalent for the comic, the Eisner Prizer, and will be given the award for best shop at the International Comics Convention in San Diego on September 15.



The shop is 360mm2 over two floors, and the prize jury said this was more than a large space but had used to develop new visitors interest in comics. The shop has been in operation for 19 years.

In 2013 the BCO Annual Conference will be held in one of Europe’s most vibrant, cultural and dynamic capitals; Madrid.

 

Madrid, with its stunning contemporary and classical architecture, is a must for those who not only enjoy working within the built environment, but also those who influence and shape our urban fabric.

 

The BCO will be able to offer the opportunity to sample the very best that the City has to offer from large headquarters for major global companies to interment, well designed public realm, both of which knit together to provide the heartbeat of this evocative capital.

 

The Spanish economy is currently facing a number of challenges and is likely to continue to do so in 2013. The visit will allow them to learn how these challenges are being dealt with by the local developers, designers, banks and office occupiers.

Rotterdam, 4 June 2012 – The Manhattan Hotel Rotterdam is nominated for the 2012 World Luxury Hotel Awards, accepted as the pinnacle of achievement for luxury hotels and spa’s worldwide. These awards are established as a celebration of ultimate achievement in service excellence, rewarding and congratulating hotels and spas that have excelled beyond the normal call of duty. With this award the organization strives to set the benchmark for luxury hotels and spas on globally in achieving recognition for exceptional service.