All Entries Tagged With: "Athens"

“WOMAN AS MUSE, 1900-1950″

The Herakleidon Museum from September 3rd until November 21st 2010 will present the exhibition with the title: “Woman as Muse, 1900-1950″. The exhibition will showcase about ninety (90) works on paper – watercolors, prints and drawings of the first fifty years of the 20th century, by European artists (including Greeks). The works come from the Museum’s collection, the Greek National Gallery, the Alpha Bank Collection, as well as from the private collections of Mr. George Economou and Mr. Charalambos Leontiadis.

From the Herakleidon Museum’s collection works by Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Aristide Maillol, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paul Landacre, Dame Laura Knight, Theophile-Alexandre Steinlen and Childe Hassam.

From the Greek National Gallery collection works by Pierre Bonnard, Henri Matisse, Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, Egon Schiele, Jules Pascin, Yiannis Moralis, George Varlamos, George Economidis, Markos Zavitzianos, Emmanuel Zeppos, Dimitrios Galanis, Alexandros Korogiannakis, Dimitris Giannoukakis, Angelos Theodoropoulos, Costas Grammatopoulos and Yannis Kefallinos.

From the Alpha Bank collection works by Spyros Vassiliou, Dimitrios Galanis, Angelos Theodoropoulos, Dimitris Giannoukakis, George Economidis, Costas Grammatopoulos and Markos Zavitzianos.

From the George Economou collection works by Franz von Stuck, Alfons Walde, Lev Tchistovsky, Anton Peschka, Otto Muller, Otto Rudolf Schatz, Arthur Brusenbauch, Max Beckmann, Jeanne Mammen, Bela Kadar, Jean Metzinger and Erich Metzoldt.

The Charalambos Leontiadis collection participates with the work “La Parisienne” by Dimitrios Galanis.

The female form has been an inspiration to artists of all ages and ethnic groups, dating back to antiquity. The exhibition “Woman as Muse, 1900-1950” will showcase works on paper by world renowned artists of modernism, depicting their varied interpretations of the female form and reflecting the prevailing artistic movements of their time. Woman is portrayed as mother, muse, lover, friend or confidante. She is alternately nurturing, beguiling, assertive or conspiratorial.

Diageo Reserve Announces World Class Bartender of the Year 2010: Erik Lorincz From Connaught Bar, London

The title of DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year 2010 was presented to Erik Lorincz from Connaught Bar at The Connaught, London. After a year long global challenge which saw 9000 bartenders from around the globe shake, stir and pour their way through national heats, just 24 of the most talented and inspirational bartenders remained to go head to head over four days of WORLD CLASS challenges this week. Erik claimed the overall title after impressing the most recognised names in the business – Dale DeGroff, Salvatore Calabrese, Peter Dorelli, Gary Regan, Alberto Soria and Hidetsugu Ueno.

Congratulating the winner of the second global DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS competition, Rudy Paoli, Managing Director, Diageo Reserve said: “WORLD CLASS is a truly international celebration of the flair, creativity and skill of the bartender and the appreciation of great spirit brands. Erik represents all of this and we would like to congratulate him on this fantastic achievement.”

WORLD CLASS judge Dale DeGroff commented, “What’s most impressive about DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS is how every aspect of the craft of bartending is tested by the challenges and judges. You need to be creative, thorough and skilled – it’s daunting. Each year I learn different skills from everyone I meet at World Class including the contestants. These 21st century bartenders are the pioneers of a new golden age of the craft.”

WORLD CLASS 2010 Bartender of the Year, Erik said “This is a dream to win such a prestigious award, to be judged by some of my heroes such as Salvatore Calabrese and Dale DeGroff has really inspired me. I’m really excited about the year ahead.”

WORLD CLASS was established by Diageo Reserve, the luxury division of DIAGEO plc, to educate and inspire talented bartenders to create exceptional cocktails, service and experiences, which are then brought to life in some of the best bars around the world.

Using the premium liquids of the Reserve Brands portfolio – Ketel One(R) vodka, Cîroc(R) vodka, Tanqueray(R) No.TEN(TM) gin, Don Julio(R) tequila, Zacapa(R) rum and Johnnie Walker(R) Gold Label(TM) and Blue Label(TM) Blended Scotch Whisky – the finalists showcased their skills in six classically themed challenges, from ‘Architecture’ which tested the bartenders ingenuity and ability to adapt fresh ingredients from a local market to create a cocktail out of their chosen produce to ‘History’ which examined the bartenders’ knowledge of mixology and pursuit of perfection.

Cultural Weekend for Two

Enjoy a weekend for two in Athens with culture, relaxation and fun. Hilton Athens has just created a package in cooperation with Benaki Museum, one of major cultural institutions in Greece. Take advantage of this unique package and take a weekend break in Athens with €249 for two only. The package includes:

• 2-night stay in a Double Hilton guestroom
• Access to Hiltonia Spa (gym, indoor pool, sauna)
• 2 tickets for 3 museums (Main Building, Pireos Street Annex and Islamic Art)
• 10% discount at the Benaki Gift Shop (Main Building)

Booking  is easy, simply click on ‘Book a Room’ at www.hilton.com .

Etihad Airways celebrates successful first year in Athens

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today celebrated another milestone with the first anniversary of its services to Athens, as flight EY91 from Abu Dhabi touched down at Athens International Airport.

During its first year of operation to Athens, the Abu-Dhabi based airline has performed strongly, despite challenges in the market, with average seat factors of more than 70 per cent, which is expected to rise during the summer period to reach over 90 per cent.

Etihad commenced services between Abu Dhabi and Athens in June last year operating three flights per week, and as a result of its success on the route, quickly increased to five flights per week in November and to a daily service in January.

Dimitris Karagkioules, Country Manager of Etihad Airways in Greece, said: “Our first year of operations has been extremely important to us as we position ourselves for success in the Greek market. We are very pleased at the performance of our flights and the impressive passenger numbers are a strong reflection that the airline is meeting the needs of the market in Greece.

“Our daily flights connect seamlessly with many cities on Etihad’s global network, and we are pleased to help connect Athens with Greek communities throughout the world, particularly in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Our aim moving forward is to build our presence in Greece and to ensure that even more passengers travel with us and experience the award-winning product and service for which Etihad is renowned.

“I would also like to thank our partners at Athens International Airport for their tremendous support of our operations during the past 12 months.”

Etihad Airways’ goal is to provide convenient flights with strong connections to its passengers in Athens, and to strengthen the breadth and depth of its network through the implementation of codeshare agreements to respond to the growing demand of passengers who wish to travel to and from Greece through Abu Dhabi.

As an example of this, Etihad recently commenced a codeshare agreement with Olympic Air, which means Etihad Airways customers around the world are now able to fly to two of Greece’s leading holiday destinations, Rhodes and Thessaloniki, as well as Romania and Bulgaria for the first time.

Etihad also operates a codeshare service with Sri Lankan Airlines, providing passengers in Athens with connections from Abu Dhabi to Colombo and Male (Maldives).

Etihad offers a superior product and service experience to its Greek passengers and to all guests travelling to Greece. The airline has recently introduced its ‘Inspired Service’ concept in Economy class as well as in its premium classes, which seeks to provide all customers with service individually tailored to their needs.

In both cabins, Etihad offers its customers state-of-the-art, on-demand entertainment systems, allowing customers to enjoy the latest movies, TV shows, music and interactive games as well as recharge laptop computers and mobile devices.

Etihad operates two-class A320 aircraft to Athens, configured to carry 140 passengers with 20 seats in Business class and 120 in Economy class. Flight EY091 departs Abu Dhabi at 9.40am and arrives in Athens at 1.30pm. Flight EY090 departs Athens at 2.30pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 8.00pm.

Etihad, which began flying less than seven years ago, was awarded three titles at the recent 2010 Skytrax awards: World’s Best First Class; Best First Class Airline Seat; and Best First Class Onboard Catering. This win built upon its success at the 2009 Skytrax awards where it won the Best Business Class and Best Business Class Catering categories. It also won the title of the World’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards (WTA) in November 2009, as well as six Middle East awards at the WTAs in May 2010.

Rihanna live in Athens 2010

Rihanna will be in Athens, Greece for the first time 1 June at Karaiskaki Stadium for an unforgettable concert. In her four-year career, Rihanna has already sold more 12 million records worldwide and earned much acclaim. She has managed to get five singles on the Hot 100 No. 1 spot and in January 2010, Rihanna won two Grammy Awards for Jay Z’s single, “Run This Town”. Don’t miss Rihanna in her first concert inAthens, Greece 1 June at Karaiskaki Stadium.

In 2005, Rihanna released her first studio album titled Music of the Sun, which rose to the top 10 of the Billboard Top 100. The hit single “Pon de Relay” stood out. Less than one year later, she released her second album titled A Girl Like Me (2006). The album immediately made it to the top five of the Billboard Top 100 album charts. In the same year, Rihanna had her first US No. 1 hit single titled “SOS”, and was among the top 10 with “Unfaithful” and “Break It Off”.

Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), immediately rose to No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning her five Top 10 hits, including three at No. 1 (“Umbrella,” “Take a Bow” and “Disturbia”), as well as the international No. 1 hit, “Don’t Stop the Music”. This album was nominated for nine Grammy Awards, winning in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category for “Umbrella”, on which Jay Z participated.

Don’t miss Rihanna in her first concert in Athens, Greece 1 June at Karaiskaki Stadium.

Jean-Michel Jarre in Athens, Greece

A leading composer and performer of electronic music, Jean-Michel Jarrereturns to Athens, Greece for a single appearance at the Faliro Taekwondo Pavilion on 1 June. The concert is part ofJarre’s first world tour titled “2010″ which pays tribute to his friend and famed science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke. Jean-Michel Jarre will present in Athens, Greece pieces from his entire body of work in a mesmerising spectacle that takes advantage of state-of-the-art sound, light and special effects technology.

Since 1977 and the astounding success of his first album, Oxygene, which sold 18 million copies and became the top-selling French album in history, Jean-Michel Jarre, son of famous compose Maurice Jarre, has become one of the top names in music of all genres. More than 80 million copies of his albums have been sold worldwide, placing him on the list of artists with the most sales in the 20th century.

Jean-Michel Jarre’s concerts are unique audiovisual spectacles watched by audiences so big that he has earned four Guinness world records for attendance. He has appeared four times before audiences of more than 1 million spectators. He was the first Western artist to play live in post-Maoist China in 1981. In 1997, a concert at Moscow’s Red Square was attended by more than 3.5 million people, an open-air event record.

Jean-Michel Jarre has collaborated with NASA and has given concerts at the Pyramids of Egypt, the Eifel Tower, the Sahara sand dunes in Morocco, in Beijing’s Forbidden City and before Pope John-Paul II. He is a representative of UNESCO and the United Nations on matters of the environment and education. An asteroid has been named “4422 Jarre” in his honour.

Don’t miss this unique concert by Jean-Michel Jarre on 1 June at the Faliro Taekwondo Pavilion in Athens, Greece.

Union of Greek Shipowners launches Educational Project in Conjunction with Posidonia

Posidonia 2010 exhibitors have been invited to donate to Greek maritime educational institutions any equipment, machinery or software they plan to showcase at the Hellenikon Exhibition Centre this June in a Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) initiative designed to up the training standards of the next generation of sea going officers. “The lack of skilled seamanship is one of the biggest problems the shipping industry faces today and we believe that it is our obligation to support maritime educational institutions. As today’s ships become more sophisticated, demand for skilled personnel increases and it is up to our industry to keep up with technological progress.” said Theodore Veniamis, President, Union of Greek Shipowners.

The musical Evita at the Badminton Theatre

Athens earns prize for its promotional film “Breathtaking Athens”

Athens was recognised from among 150 cities for its promotional film “Breathtaking Athens,” taking third prize in the City Tourism category of the international Golden City Gate competition at the ITB 2010 trade show.

The award was presented to the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company (ATEDCo) during the formal ceremony that took place in a packed ITB Cinema on 11 March. Present at the event were representatives from all cities that had stands at the show, as well as those which had entered the international Golden City Gate competition, German tourism officials and journalists from around the world.

“This is a particularly important distinction, especially at this time when our country and Athens are getting a great deal of negative publicity. In addition, it is particularly significant that this award is made during one of the largest tourism trade shows in the world, the ITB, and in Germany, which remains one of the most important markets of origin for visitors to our country,” said Dr Katerina Katsabe, Athens City Council member and ATEDCo president.

The judges committee consisted of recognised personalities from various organisations in tourism and cinema. Each entry was rated on a scale of 50 points according to the script and creativity, as well as the visual, acoustic and emotional impact made by the film.

The promotional film on Athens, “Breathtaking Athens,” depicts Athens in a distinctive and modern way, showing the city as an ideal destination with many options. By presenting the modern metropolis in a creative and artistic light, a different side of Athens is brought out. The film has been posted onwww.breathtakingathens.com/breathtaking-athens-film, as well as on YouTube (www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5UufrTh-dw), and is also being used to present the city at trade shows, conferences and through third-party digital media.

As part of Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis’ strategy to establish Athens as an ideal destination throughout the year, the distinction earned by the “Breathtaking Athens” film created by ATEDCo is indicative of the systematic and targeted effort to promote Athens, placing emphasis on its comparative advantages and using modern means of communications.

The new promotional film on Athens receives dozens of positive comments daily on foreign blogs and is also a candidate for New York’s Clio Awards, Great Britain’s D&AD and the international Cannes Lion.

Athens Ledra Marriott: Change the way you stay; “The I-deal Flex Package™”

“I deal with my dynamic daily travel needs”

Workshop by the Athens Convention Bureau

As part of City of Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis’ strategy for developing conference tourism in Athens and the implementation of activities that promote the variety of tourism services and choices available to visitors to the city, the Athens Convention Bureau staged a workshop on the topic:

Destination Athens… revisited
Presenting more choices for things to do or see while in Athens.

The ACB workshop took place at the Megaron Athens International Conference Centre as part of the International Meetings and Incentives Conference 2010 with the participation of distinguished speakers and a huge response from individuals in the tourism sector, representatives of the foreign media and diplomatic missions, tourism enterprise executives and others.

During the workshop, unknown aspects of tourist Athens were presented, along with a variety of alternative activities that visitors to the city could choose from, regardless of whether they are in Athens for professional reasons – conferences, company meetings, etc. – or taking part in an incentive travel programme.

The main conclusion drawn from the workshop was the fact that Athens is a destination that uniquely combines the basic characteristics of a business travel destination (access, infrastructure, quality hotels, security, etc.) with a multitude of options of an ideal destination for city and pleasure tourism (culture, entertainment, tours-excursions, outdoor activities and water sports, etc.). As it was noted, the ACBuses these advantages in every one of its promotion and marketing activities abroad, strengthening the image of Athens in the “pre/post congress” activities sector.

City of Athens Council Member and President of the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company, Dr Katerina Katsabe, in opening the workshop, referred to the tourism policy framework that is being implemented on the initiative of Mayor Kaklamanis and presented ATEDCo’s activities.

“The City of Athens and the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company, in rising to the challenges and overcoming difficulties they have faced as a destination, invest in activities that reinforce existing tourism infrastructure and develop new ones, communicate a unified and competitive identity for Athens and promote the city beyond the country’s borders with professionalism, creativity and expertise,” she said.

The workshop included presentations and interventions by Giorgos Angelis, Director of the ACB; Artemis Skoubourdi, tour guide and writer on Athens; Diana Kohyla, journalist-author and expert on traditional cuisine and nutrition; Dimitris Efremoglou, CEO of the Foundation of the Hellenic World; Christos Anagnostou, winemaker and President of the Association of Wine-producers of Ampelonas Attikis (ENOAA); Penny Doska, Senior Project Manager for Kipling Events; and Giorgos Pittas, hotelier and author.

New promotional film on Athens “Breathtaking Athens”

The gaze of the traveller in Athens, Greece is captivated by the image of the contemporary metropolis. The new promotional film “Breathtaking Athens,” made by the City of Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company, showcases Athens as the ideal destination offering plenty of options.

The charm of Athens comes across scene by scene of the new film “Breathtaking Athens.” Projecting the city with a unique and modern way, it portrays Athens, Greece as a enchanting destination in a creative and artistic way while at the same time representing a constantly changing city that inspires awe with moments that take your breath way. The transitions between the images take the viewer one step further from the typical tourist clichés and present a different side of Athens, Greece.

The traveller, in one breath, literally following a bubble, is taken on a tour of 25 locations in Athens, Greece. Parks, the historical centre, museums, beaches, nightlife, all record on celluloid a message aimed directly at the heart. The bewitching music, which was created exclusively for the new film on Athens, also floats above the city to create a pleasurable experience.

“Athens is the feeling, the experience, something that we ultimately proved,” said Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis.

The new promotional film on http://www.athensconventionbureau.gr/?q=en/content/breathtaking-athens-film receives dozens of positive comments daily on foreign blogs and is a candidate for a Clio Award in New York, a D&AD in Great Britain, the Golden City Gate Award and the international Cannes Lion award.

80 of the world’s PCO leaders meet in Athens

Professional Congress Organisers (PCOs) are meeting in Athens for their annual gathering to discuss issues and answers to this tough economic period and to show that face to face meetings are still very important in such times. Greece has the honour to host the 41st IAPCO Annual Meeting and General Assembly, held in Athens in Grande Bretagne Hotel on 18-21 February 2010.

Unique moments in ancient Athens

Committed to providing your delegates and clients with the best ever meeting experience we’ve chosen the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens as our ‘Hot Pick’ destination this month.

Athens Ledra Marriott: Spirit to preserve initiative

Marriott aspires to be the global hospitality leader that demonstrates how responsible hospitality management can be a positive force for the environment and inspire personal action in the communities where we live and work.

The Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel associates showed this “Green” commitment by participating in a tree planting activity of 5.000 trees South West Athens. These tree plantings should restore the important ecological surroundings of Athens for our children, as the surroundings of the Attica region were severely impacted by the bush fires in 2009. The tree planting activity shows the commitment of our associates to make Athens a better place to live and work by bringing life back to a forest in the wider Attica region.

The Athens Ledra Marriott broadcasted the short experience movie on www.youtube.com/athensledramarriott

For more information on the Athens Ledra Marriott hotel please visit; www.athensmarriott.com

NEUROPATHIC PAIN CONGRESS, ATHENS, 2010

The 3rd International Congress on Neuropathic Pain welcomes basic scientists, clinical scientists and practicing clinicians with an interest in discovering exciting new developments in the understanding and care of patients with neuropathic pain.

WE’RE TAKING DOWN THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND CREATING A FOREST!

Happy, green 2010!

Kiev National Opera’s Cinderella at Megaron, Athens Concert Hall

Sergei Prokofiev’s Cinderella will be presented this Christmas in Athens, Greece by the Kiev National Opera Ballet at the “Megaron” Athens Concert Hall with the collaboration of leading dancers from the American Ballet Theatre, Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg. The well-known fairytale will be on this Christmas in Athens, Greece from 19 to 27 December with morning, afternoon and evening performances.

This Christmas at the Megaron, Athens Concert Hall, the 13 morning, afternoon and evening performances of this beautiful and beloved story will take us back to our childhood and a magical world through the unrivalled art of classical ballet and the magnificent scenery and costumes which round out the production. Cinderella’s love story is sure to touch the hearts of young and old this Christmas.

Prokofiev’s ballet features the poor but charming young girl who, in contrast to her two step-sisters, is no gold-digger, but in the end she nevertheless wins the heart of the handsome prince. It is one of the most bewitching presentations of the Charles Perrault story.

The ballet has been choreographed by Victor Litvinov, while Maria Levichka has designed scenery and costumes. The main roles of Cinderella and the Prince will be danced by two casts – the American Ballet Theatre’s Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg and the Kiev National Opera Ballet soloists Natalia Domracheva and Victor Ishchuk.

Don’t miss Prokofiev’s Cinderella this Christmas at the “Megaron” Athens Concert Hall by the Kiev National Opera Ballet.

Start date: 19 Dec 2009
End date: 27 Dec 2009
Venue:
Athens Concert Hall, Megaron Mousikis
Vas. Sofias & Kokkali Street, Athens
Closest Metro Station, Megaron Mousikis (Line 3)

CHRISTMAS IN ATHENS 2009

LAUNCH OF ZAPPEION & NATIONAL GARDENS

www.christmasinathens.gr

Zappeion and the National Gardens open their gates and welcome people of all ages on Friday, December 18, 2009, as they are transformed within the framework of City of Athens Christmas Events.

Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis will launch festivities at the Zappeion, at 10:30, on Friday, December 18.

Between December 18 and January 6, the Zappeion will be transformed and flooded with digital music, theatre and the fun of the Carousel, conveying the Christmas message through performances and musical chords.

In the Spectacle Dome, alternative fairytale-telling troupes will present musical performances focused on Christmas tales from around the world, on a 360-degree central stage, at the centre of the Dome.

In the Music Dome, children will be entertained and, at the same time, learn about music and musical instruments by playing kinetic and rhythmic games. Digital music games, songs, innovative, modern and digital instruments will introduce children to the magic of music. Children will have a unique experience as, within a short space of time, they will learn to recognize instruments, experiment with them, touch them, listen to the various sounds they make and, with the help of music teachers, create a chorus of musical instruments, percussion and wind instruments (from December 18, 2009, to January 6, 2010, 10:00 to 21:00 daily).

The National Gardens, a beloved Christmas venue, once again opens its embrace and welcomes Athens’ young citizens and takes them on a Christmas discovery tour. Cheeky hobgoblins guide the children to the little houses in Earth’s Christmas Forest to show them how the holidays are celebrated throughout the world. In a uniquely-illuminated Garden, the children take a tour of knowledge and entertainment, decorate the trees with ornaments they create, play music, transform into elves, send their wishes throughout the world, learn about the environment and enjoy performances, fairytales and Santa Claus’ stories!

“Forest of Hope” theatre performance programme.

Daily:

10.30-11.00

11.30-12.00

12.30-13.00

13.30-14.00

14.30-15.00

15.30-16.00

16.30-17.00

(From December 18, 2009 to January 6, 2010, 10:00 – 17:00)

Athens Convention Bureau at EIBTM 2009

The City of Athens Convention Bureau’s (ACB) participation in the EIBTM 2009 international conference tourism conference, which took place 1-3 December in Barcelona, Spain, was declared a crowning success.

ACB’s assertive presence at EIBTM, one of the most important exhibitions in the conference market worldwide, is one of the main axes of City of Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis’ strategy to establish Athens as one of the top international conference destinations.

ACB representatives, headed by City Councilor and President of the Athens Tourism and Economic Development Co. (ATEDCo) Dr Katerina Katsabe, used every available time slot to conduct more than 70 scheduled and unscheduled meetings with hosted buyers and trade visitors and representatives of international associations, Professional Conference Organisers, multi-national corporations, and meeting and incentive travel management companies(TMCs) from more than 30 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia.

The fact that the time for pre-scheduled meetings (about 42 meetings with hosted buyers) had been completely filled just a few hours after the electronic programme went into operation a month ago is indicative of the interest shown in the ACB’s presence at EIBTM.

For the most part, foreign visitors requested information about infrastructure and services, either because they have already undertaken to stage conference and company meetings in Athens in the near future, or because they plan to include Athens among destinations they are considering for future events. In addition, they commented positively on the fact that Athens in 2008 rose 10 places among top conference destinations internationally to finish in 15th place.

The main conclusion drawn from contacts made at EIBTM 2009 was that Athens is attracting an increasing amount of interest as a destination for conferences, company meetings and incentive travel. This is particularly important in the areas of company meetings and incentive travel, as these two sectors have been particularly hard hit by the economic crisis on both an international and a European level.

As results from the annual survey conducted as part of EIBTM (Industry Trends and Market Share Report 2009) indicate, the international conference and meetings market is looking to 2010 with reserved optimism, as 65% of respondents claimed that they will either not go through with cutbacks in budgets for conferences (38%) or that they will increase budgets or the number of planned events (27%).

Additional trends and findings highlighted by the survey include:

-The cancellation of events was the most common form of adapting to difficult economic conditions during 2009 (31%). “No change” was noted by 25% of respondents and 21% said they opted for “less luxury.”
-The process of selecting a destination in all categories of events – even for international conferences staged by associations which have not been particularly affected by the crisis – involves thorough market research and price comparisons in search of the best infrastructure and prices. Destinations which seem or could be conceived as “exotic” or “luxurious” are already at the bottom of the list.
-The H1N1 virus has not influenced the decisions or organisational plans of 74% of respondents. Nevertheless, 13% stated that they had decided to cancel an event because of the pandemic.

It should be noted that the ACB, as part of the new development actions it is planning and in cooperation with its members, will participate in the first AIBTM event in the USA, which is to take place in 2011 and is already drawing considerable attention in the international market.

Christmas getaway in Athens

Christmas and New Year’s Day is maybe the best period for someone to visit Athens: bright streets and buildings, luxurious display windows and glamorous parties create a unique celebrating atmosphere, you wouldn’t want to miss! The ideal place to be: Hilton Athens!

Choose one of the fabulous, spacious rooms with Acropolis view and feel the exceptional pampering and hospitality of the Hilton Athens. The bars and restaurants of the hotel, the Byzantine, the Galaxy Bar, the Aethrion Lounge and Milos, become the meeting point of all Athenians. On Christmas and New Year’s Day, the Byzantine restaurant, besides the rich festive buffet, has organized a kids’ entertainment program with clowns for its little friends.
On Boxing Day, the Galaxy Bar fans will be impressed by the ice sculptures and Belvedere vodka at the Ice Party. On New Year’s Eve, enjoy a Gala Dinner at the Byzantine with gourmet dishes and live music and welcome New Year at the Galaxy Bar with a breathtaking view of Acropolis and fireworks in the Athenian sky. DJs Vassilis Tsilichristos and Alexandros Christopoulos will host once more the popular Red Night Party, that brings together all the celebrities of the city. The first day of 2010 has an appointment with you at the Byzantine restaurant, enjoying the legendary “New Year’s Hangover Breakfast”.

Don’t forget to add a few hours of relaxation to your schedule at the Hiltonia Spa. Choose “Warm Christmas” for complete relaxation and “Christmas Beauty” to look stunning during the celebrations.
If you don’t want to miss all these unique moments at the Hilton Athens, benefit from the “festive stay” packages and experience these celebrations with style and luxury. Just like a VIP! For more information call 2107281350 or visit www.hiltonathens.gr.

THE VIEW on Ice Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel introduces the first rooftop ice skating experience in Athens

Athens, Greece – 30h of November – Rooftop ice skating in seasonal winter decoration

The Athens Winter Season top attraction “THE VIEW on Ice” by Athens Ledra Marriott Hotel will be welcoming you as of the December 4th 2009. Warm up with seasonal drinks and food in the winter scenery with the Acropolis and Athens at your feet.

“THE VIEW on Ice” is located next to the Athens Ledra Marriott hotel with an ice skating rink of more than 200 sqm on top of the Star City Cinema complex. Now you can combine the traditional Christmas movie with ice skating and the winter experience on the rooftop, or just come to have winter fun.

Visit “THE VIEW on Ice” with friends and family for a fun time on the ice and enjoy ice skating alongside the backdrop of the Acropolis, promising a unique Athens ice skating experience.

December 2009 to end of February 2010
Daily: 11:00 – 23:30
Free entrance
Easy access by public transportation
Paid car parking facilities available at Star City

Your Athens winter isn’t complete without a spin on the ice beneath the stars on the Star City rooftop.
You can also organize your corporate or private party with “THE VIEW on Ice” by contacting our Events department on 210 930 0284.

GREECE’s new Acropolis Museum comes to FITUR 2010

The Greek National Tourism Organisation comes to FITUR this year with the brand new Athens Acropolis Museum. This masterwork by the Franco-Swiss architect Bernard Tschumi will impress any visitor with its amazing geometry and vast glass walls that allow the building to be flooded with sunlight and enable visitors to admire the exhibits from all possible angles while moving freely across the nine halls.

Visitors to the fair will have a chance to obtain a wealth of information about the new ultra-modern-design museum, which offers the best possible conditions for the display of more than four thousand pieces of classical Hellenic art, most of them over 2,500 years old. A walk through the museum’s immense galleries immerses the visitor into ancient Athens in an experience of incalculable historical value.

As visitors to the stand will be able to see for themselves, the museum is a three-storey building where the collections have been divided according to the historical age to which they belong into two large groups: Archaic and Classical. The monuments that visitors to the museum have been able to see since its opening last June are fundamentally the elements of the classical Athens Acropolis: the Propylaea, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erecteion, as well as other treasures of the immensely rich Greek heritage.

In addition to its cultural and architectural richness, GREECE is also a modern country with a lot to offer by way of the friendliness of its people, its gastronomy, villages and areas of outstanding natural beauty. With 140 inhabited islands, a total of 16,000 km of coastline, a mild climate all the year round and a fantastic offer of boating activities, GREECE is set to prove its status at FITUR 2010 as a unique tourist destination at the international level.

Hall 6, Stand 6B04.
www.gnto.gr/www.theacropolismuseum.gr

Seven new flight destinations from Göteborg

City Airline is planning to launch seven new direct destinations from Göteborg Landvetter Airport next spring. The airline’s target is to double its operations during the year by increasing capacity by more than 100 per cent.

The new destinations are Palma, Alicante, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Malaga and Athens, giving City Airline a total of 19 European destinations from Göteborg.

The decision to expand is based on City Airline’s positive focus on the leisure travel market, in which Nice has become a successful route. This together with a more stable business travel market means that City Airline now sees good opportunities to grow and gain market shares.

“The new destinations are a natural step in our efforts to become the leading airline in West Sweden. In the spring we’re expanding our fleet with two more aircraft of a larger model than our current models, in order to operate our new routes,” says Jimmie Bergqvist.

For more information, visit www.cityairline.com

ATHENAEUM INTERCONTINENTAL ATHENS WINS TOP INDUSTRY AWARD

The Athenaeum InterContinental Athens has been awarded Greece’s Leading Business Hotel for 2009 at the World Travel Awards.

The World Travel Awards were established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the enormous achievements to be found in all sectors of the global travel industry. In the years since, dedicated travel agents & tour operators have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the best endorsement that any travel product could receive. The 2009 poll was the highest in the World Travel Awards’ 16-year history with 170,000 industry professionals from more than 200 countries casting their votes on the very best travel, tourism and hospitality products & services.

“Winning once again at the World Travel Awards Europe as we did in 2005, 2006 & 2007 is an enormous achievement for the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens” stated Mr. Panos Panayotopoulos, General Manager of the hotel. “We strongly believe that the driving force behind the hotel’s success is our ability to deliver the highest possible service standards whilst offering an environment of discreet luxury and comfort to all of our guests. Our goal is to ensure that the hotel continues to consistently deliver on its promise to its customers.”

ATHENS AUTUMN FLOWER SHOW OPENS AT KOTZIA SQUARE

Kotzia Square has been transformed into a flourishing garden as it hosts the Athens Autumn Flower Show, a new city institution, for the second consecutive year.

The Athens Autumn Flower Show, co-organised by the City of Athens and the Attica Agricultural Cooperative, aims to raise public awareness of and encourage citizen participation in a joint effort to plant more greenery in open spaces and on balconies and building rooftops.

From today through October 29 (operating hours 9:00 – 21:00), citizens and city visitors have the opportunity to purchase native Greek plants at reasonable prices and seek guidance from Greek producers on planting and maintaining plants.

Plan a meeting of excellence in Athens

If you’re looking for an inspirational destination, an award winning hotel, extensive and flexible conference facilities and a central location that allows delegates to enjoy enriching experiences, then the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens is the number one choice for you.

Awarded Greece’s Leading Business Hotel year after year, the hotel offers state of the art facilities including the grandest column free ballroom in the city that holds up to 2,500 delegates and 35 fully equipped break out rooms. The hotel has also acquired management of the Ethniki Conference Centre and features a 2,000sqm rooftop with stunning views so you can plan your next meeting or event where the possibilities are endless.

Back at the hotel, delegates can relax and unwind in the recently refurbished deluxe rooms and suites, browse the 350 works of Modern Greek Art displayed in the hotel, savour succulent Mediterranean cuisine, or indulge the senses at the I-SPA VIP Suite. At the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens we know only the very best will do.

NEW GREEN SPACE IN KERAMEIKOS

A new green space in Kerameikos, which Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis handed over to local citizens yesterday evening, has brought a breath of fresh air to Athens’ city centre.

On a 4,000-square metre site, which links Kerameikos train station with Technopolis, the City of Athens has created a recreational park comprising 3,000 square metres of greenery, namely 78 trees, 370 bushes and 2,000 seasonal plants, in collaboration with the Attiko Metro.

Furthermore,  Nikitas Kaklamanis delivered a fully revamped Persefonis St which, together with other spaces surrounding the station that the City of Athens regenerated and restored, bring new life to the area.