The Venetian Macao Named “Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel in Macau” for Fifth Consecutive Year

by TTG China Travel Awards

(Macao, May 8, 2012) – The Venetian^® Macao-Resort-Hotel has been named “The Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel in Macau” by the 5th Annual TTG China Travel Awards 2012 for the fifth consecutive year, demonstrating the integrated resort’s strong commitment to service excellence and its premium facilities.

Presented by one of the world’s most influential trade publishers, TTG Travel Trade Publishing, the TTG China Travel Awards plays a crucial and essential role in crediting the outstanding travel organizations that have achieved the benchmarks of service excellence and professionalism in the region. The winners of the 5th Annual TTG China Travel Awards 2012 were voted for by TTG China, TTG-BTmice China, TTG Asia, TTG India and TTGmice, through online and print voting held between January and March 2012.

Brendon Elliott, Vice President of Sales & Resort Marketing, Venetian Macau Ltd., said, “We are delighted to have been honoured again as the ‘Best Meetings & Conventions Hotel in Macau’ for the fifth successive year. The award signifies our continuous effort and commitment to strive to deliver to all clients globally. We are fortunate to be the largest and most diverse integrated resort in Northern Asia, which is ideal for hosting world-class events to intimate meetings. Our newest integrated resort, Sands Cotai Central, opened in April with the world’s largest Conrad and Holiday Inn, and with its international hotels it further cements Macao’s position as the largest integrated meetings destination in Asia.”

The Venetian Macao is specifically designed to meet the needs of meeting planners and event organizers and its award-winning service team makes anything possible for corporate events. With over 100,000 square metres of state-of-the-art exhibition space, flexible meeting space and ballrooms, the sheer size and scale of the CotaiExpo™ at The Venetian Macao sets it apart.

CotaiExpo offers more than 75,000 square metres of exhibition space, and is one of the largest exhibition centres in Asia. It is complemented by 7,000 square metres of pillar-free ballroom space and 108 meeting rooms with almost 25,000 square metres of flexible meeting space. The CotaiArena™, with seating for up to 15,000 people, is an ideal venue for major corporate events and product launches.

The Venetian Macao seamlessly combines state-of-the-art facilities, sensational entertainment and experienced MICE professionals to make sure every event is a successful one. Its team of tradeshow professionals works closely with organizers to ensure visitor promotion, marketing, travel services, logistics, conference management and technical support are all seamlessly integrated into the overall planning for events.

With the opening of Sands Cotai Central on April 11, Sands China’s meeting and convention capabilities have expanded, with the same guaranteed expertise and service that has made CotaiExpo the region’s MICE leader, providing organizers with a worry-free experience.

Some of the major events held at The Venetian Macao in 2011 were: 

·               Top Marques Macau

·               Ice World 2011

·               2011 China (Macau) International Automobile Exposition

·               Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2011 MIECF)

·               The 6^th Asian Hairdresser Festival

·               The 16^th Macao International Trade & Investment Fair (MIF)

·               G2E Asia 2011

·               Youth Career Expo 2011

·               Macau Education Fair 2011

·               The 4^th International Tourism & World Heritage Travel Expo (Macau)

·               The 4^th Macau International Ani-Com

·               The 2011 Macau Winter Real Estate Fair

·               The 4^th Computer & Digital Product Expo

Barbican celebrates 30th anniversary with bumper year for corporate events.

Barbican records second best year for corporate business as the combined arts and meetings venue celebrates its 30th anniversary. 

In March 1982, the Barbican opened its doors to the public for the first time. And as the iconic venue commemorates its 30th anniversary, the Barbican is also celebrating its second best year for corporate business.

Anthony Hyde, general manager of Barbican Business Events, comments: “Meetings, conferences and corporate hospitality are an important part of the Barbican’s overall offering. And despite the economy stuttering and budgets being squeezed, the financial year for 2011-2012 was our second best on record. It’s recognition of the unique setting and high quality service we provide to clients. As the Barbican marks its 30th anniversary we look forward to the introduction of exciting initiatives and the completion of new spaces which will make the Centre even more attractive for meetings and conferences in the years to come.”

Barbican is located in the heart of the City of London, and was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in March 1982. The architecturally renowned Centre – designed by Chamberlin, Powell and Bon in the Brutalist style – is now a Grade II listed building. Barbican is comprised of many spaces including the 1,949 seat Barbican Hall, the 1,166-seat Barbican Theatre, a 286 seat cinema, the Barbican Art Gallery, The Curve, Lakeside Terrace, a roof-top conservatory and Garden Rom as well as extensive conference facilities and three restaurants.

As the Barbican looks to the future, corporate clients can look forward to business becoming more integrated with the arts. The recently formed Barbican Business Events will bring together the venue’s rich heritage and history in this area and their professional expertise within the corporate events sector. The new approach is based on stronger partnerships with the artistic, creative learning and development teams.

Anthony continues: “As we look forward, the next couple of years promise to be very exciting. Our aim is to provide the best possible services. With the launch of the new Barbican Business Events team, which gives corporate clients access to highly professional event organisers as well as leaders in various artistic fields, the opening of new spaces within the Barbican’s portfolio and a host of other initiatives we’re confident the next 30 years will be even more successful for the Centre.”

Barbican, unlike many other venues was specifically built with the dual purpose of holding conferences and arts events and this ensures it remains one of the world’s most creative venues. Being centrally located the Barbican attracts clients seeking a high quality location for meetings and all events can benefit from the venue’s links with the arts in order to truly engage delegates.

COMPLIMENTARY WIFI FROM KUALA LUMPUR CONVENTION CENTRE

More value at no cost to event organisers and delegates!

Complimentary internet stations around the facility for convenient on-site accessibility

KUALA LUMPUR – In line with the Government’s call to get the federal capital all ‘Wi-Fi-ed up’, the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre) has upped its Wi-Fi connection to 40MB to offer guests faster connectivity at no cost on a best effort basis.
“Technology and social media are having a big impact on how venues are marketing themselves and packaging their product offerings.

It is becoming the norm; and not a competitive edge, for meeting delegates to expect to get their WiFi for free.

As a world-class convention facility, we are committed to ensuring we do our best to meet our guests’ expectations and needs in all areas, including information technology,” said Datuk Peter Brokenshire, General Manager, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“The great bandwidth means guests can not only remain ‘connected’ at all times and at no cost, but also enjoy faster and easier real-time access.”
The Centre’s public wireless internet is available through Wi-Fi ‘hot spots’ so anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled computer can access the service. There are also complimentary internet stations around the facility for convenient on-site accessibility.

TEAMWORK AND VENUE NETWORK DELIVER MORE GLOBAL RECOGNITION FOR AEG OGDEN

Two more significant international convention and exhibition centre awards have been added to the growing AEG Ogden trophy cabinet.

This week, the AEG Ogden managed Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) was judged “Middle East’s Leading Convention and Exhibition Centre” at the 2012 World Travel Awards in Dubai.

The annual World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

The QNCC was officially opened last December and debuted by hosting the 20th World Petroleum Congress. Since then, the venue has hosted 112 events attended by more than 128,000 visitors including the high profile UN Conference on Trade and Development.

In late March, the AEG Ogden managed Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) was named “Best Convention Centre in Asia” in the 2012 MICE Report Awards.

These awards are organised annually by the MICE Report, the ultimate magazine for business travellers, conference organisers and meeting planners.

The KLCC opened in 2005 and now features an impressive annual international event profile. It has won a number of industry awards including Travel Weekly’s Best Exhibition and Convention Centre in Asia two years running.

The awards to the Qatar and Kuala Lumpur centres follow other significant recognitions of a number of Australian venues managed by AEG Ogden. They include:

•    Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC)

The BCEC turned in a dominant performance at the prestigious Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) awards. It won Australia’s Best Meeting Venue for 500 delegates or more and was named joint winner in the Corporate Social Responsibility (over 30 fulltime employees) category. The venue had earlier won three MEA Queensland awards taking its total award tally to 124 including 57 for catering.

•    Cairns Convention Centre (CCC)

The CCC features regularly in the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC) client survey which recognises excellence in convention centre management. Cairns was named by AIPC as the World’s Best Congress Centre in 2004 and has been in the top four World Congress Centres every year since 2002.

•    Darwin Convention Centre (DCC)

The DCC recently was the recent recipient of a major award by the prestigious Meeting and Events Australia (MEA) association. The Centre was announced the Northern Territory winner in the highly competitive category of Best Meeting Venue for 500 or more delegates.

AEG Ogden Director of Convention Centres, Geoff Donaghy said the company highly valued international and national awards bestowed upon its venues.

“They are recognition of the commitment, dedication and hard work that our management and staff put into making their venues stand out from the pack in what is a very competitive industry.

“Just as importantly, it shows the great teamwork that exists and operates within the entire AEG Ogden group.

“While each of our venues operate in highly competitive markets, there is a collaborative sharing of information, intelligence and resources across all of our venues.

“We are a genuine network and expanding even further into Oman, India and China. By working together, we are able to provide a unique and valuable service to the respective owners which entrust the management of their venues to AEG Ogden,” Mr Donaghy said.

Amsterdam RAI confirms leading position in sustainability

Amsterdam RAI can look back on a successful and sustainable 2011. With various environmental (re)certifications achieved and by including the new core value ‘Amsterdam RAI aims for sustainable results’ in its corporate mission, the RAI has firmly embedded its CSR policy within the organisation. Moreover, as the newly published sustainability report indicates, over the coming period Amsterdam RAI will be looking into ways to make CSR even more measurable and transparent.

Amsterdam RAI has high ambitions with regard to sustainability and the inclusion of the official core value ‘Amsterdam RAI aims for sustainable results’ in its corporate mission reinforces the point. “Our aim is to be a successful business that contributes to a sustainable society and ensures a good balance in all the choices we make,” explains Hans Bakker, General Director of Amsterdam RAI. “We believe that sustainability adds value to an organisation, and including it in the company policy will generate more clients and greater engagement among employees.”

Certifications
In the final quarter of 2011 Amsterdam RAI received three important certificates, namely an ISO-14001 certification, a golden recertification from Green Key and a silver recertification from EarthCheck. The certifications confirm that Amsterdam RAI has managed to firmly establish its sustainability policy and goals within its organisation and operational processes.

Sustainability goals
Amsterdam RAI strives becoming a leader in the field of sustainability within the conference and event industry by 2013. She is being reinforced by similar organisations, which allows the RAI to exchange knowledge and experience with other exhibition and conference centres, and stimulates it to take CSR activities to a higher level. Over the coming period, Amsterdam RAI will study how CSR can be made more measurable and identifiable within the organisation. This will allow the RAI to better monitor its own progress, and demonstrate that Amsterdam RAI is realising its aim to be a frontrunner in this field.

Seven themes
Amsterdam RAI has divided its sustainability goals into seven themes: energy and climate, mobility, water, waste, employees, procurement and social engagement. The RAI is a European frontrunner in the waste theme and in 2011 succeeded in the difficult challenge of finding an end product for carpets. Carpet waste is now used as a combustion product in the cement industry. EarthCheck was particularly impressed with the waste separation process at Amsterdam RAI. With its silver EarthCheck recertification, Amsterdam RAI maintains its leading position in the European MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) market with regards to eco-friendly business.

GRI B
The sustainability report was developed in cooperation with the BECO Groep and established in accordance with the guidelines of the GRI B (Global Reporting Initiative). The complete sustainability report 2011 is available via www.rai.nl/csr<http://www.rai.nl/csr>

Vienna on top – the Congress Dances at the Hofburg

The latest meetings statistics make excellent reading for Vienna, with significant growth for the entire industry in 2011. Conferences and meetings totals jumped 7% to 3,151, overnight stays were up 6% to 1,412,133 and induced GDP for the calendar year rocketed 9% to EUR 838.4 million. The Hofburg Vienna stood out with a set of particularly strong results .

Putting the impressive statistics to one side for a minute, the capital also made headlines with numerous awards during the year. Vienna led the inaugural global Smart City Ranking, leaving traditionally strong competitors such as Toronto and Paris in its wake. Smart Cities are characterised by factors such as exceptional innovation, sustainability, quality of life and digital governance. The 2011 Mercer quality of life study and the latest ICCA Congress rankings both saw Vienna claim the top spot. And according to another international study you would be hard pressed to find anyone more hospitable than the Austrians in Europe.

With all of that in mind, it’s hardly surprising that the Hofburg Vienna is in a position to offer such an impressive line-up of events each year. Upcoming highlights include the 33rd International Vienna Motor Symposium (26-27 April), which will bring together 1,000 experts from the industry. After that it’s time for a series of medical events including the MedicRes Congress (7-9 June), the TERMIS World Congress (6-8 September) and the European Neuroendocrine Association Congress (11-15 September). The Hofburg will also host a number of scientific get-togethers later this year such as theICAR – International Conference on Arabidopsis Research (3-7 July) and the Third International Symposium on Life Circle Civil Engineering (2-6 October).

Jumeirah’s first European resort is now open

Five-star Jumeirah Port Soller in Mallorca welcomed its first guests on April 24

Dubai (UAE) and Puerto de Sóller (Spain): Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, celebrates the opening of its first European resort this week.

Nestled on the bay of Sóller in Mallorca (Spain), Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa is a luxury five-star resort ideal for travellers who want to discover the local traditions, connect with the destination and enjoy an internationally recognised service.

Strategically located in the northwest of the island of Mallorca, Puerto de Sóller is a small fishing village famous for its bay, its port and its location, one of the most charismatic sites in the island: the Orange Valley found in the Sierra de Tramuntana, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Crowning a cliff overlooking the splendid bay of Sóller, Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa occupies an area of 18,000 square meters, offering 120 rooms and suites, two restaurants, four bars, two swimming pools and Talise Spa.

The resort is divided into 11 low-rise structures respecting the harmony of the landscape and integrating the visitor into the exceptional natural environment. The interiors have been carefully selected in order to create a contemporary and comfortable look. Different shades of beige and earth colours and local woods such as olive and pine, local crafts and vernacular architecture, spacious rooms with large windows overlooking the sea, mountains or harbour make the resort an unparalleled experience.

The gastronomic is supreme with the opening of two restaurants, Es Fanals and Cap Roig, the latter promising to become a culinary must on the island thanks to its creative cuisine with a strong local accent and the use of the freshest seasonal products.

For leisure moments, the hotel boasts three terraces, one of them ideal for watching the sun go down whilst enjoying cocktails and tapas. Young pirates aged 3 to 12 will appreciate the Barbaroja Kids Club, while teenagers and adults will enjoy the guided tours, cooking classes and yoga sessions on offer.

The prime location of Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa will offer nature lovers the chance to explore by foot or on mountain bikes almost 200 kilometres of tracks that run along the coast or golf at any of the 26 courses on the island. There is the opportunity to go diving, snorkelling and fishing; the hotel can also arrange boat rentals with experienced skippers who will guide guests to secluded beach coves.

Talise is Jumeirah’s global spa brand. Talise Spa at Jumeirah Port Soller occupies over 2,200 square meters and offers magnificent views over the Port of Sóller and the Sierra de Tramuntana. It features ten treatment suites and a thermal area equipped with a Hammam, an ice room, a glass-panelled sauna overlooking the valley, a relaxation room with fireplace and an outdoor heated Hydropool.

Designed to set a new standard in the Spanish wellness sector, Talise Spa offers a complete programme of treatments that combine the latest cosmetic innovations from prestigious brands like Barcelona-based Natura Bissé, Aromatherapy Associates, Linda Meredith and Bastién Gonzalez.

Guests at Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa will stimulate all five senses, with a daily selection of local seasonal fruits in every room, a fragrance chart to scent the room to the guests’ taste, welcome hand massages, or orange aromas in the lobby to recreate the characteristic smell of citrus of the Sóller Valley. These small details will contribute to a cultural and social connection with the destination.

Jumeirah Port Soller is the latest addition to the Jumeirah portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in Europe, along with Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto in Rome, Pera Palace Hotel, Jumeirah in Istanbul and Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living in London. From the start of 2011 to the end of 2012, Jumeirah Group will have more than doubled the number of hotels it manages and almost quadrupled the number of countries in which it operates. In the coming six months, Jumeirah expects to open Jumeirah Bilgah Beach Hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan; Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, Kuwait; and Jumeirah Creekside in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Launch of Katara Hospitality heralds new era for Qatar’s expanding tourism sector

New corporate identity to replace Qatar National Hotels brand as company looks to international markets for opportunity; continues to drive domestic expansion under National Vision 2030 plan for economic diversification 

Dubai, 30 April 2012 – Qatar National Hotels Company (QNH) has chosen this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to reveal its new corporate identity to the regional and international tourism industry.

Rebranded as Katara Hospitality, the creation of a completely new corporate identity generated by a name more relevant for the company’s ambitious international expansion plans will herald a new era of opportunity for the hospitality giant, in line withQatar’s own tourism development strategy.

“Over the last four decades we have been at the forefront of the development ofQatar’s hospitality industry at both domestic and international levels. As we embark on a new wave of strategic expansion, we seized the opportunity to redefine the brand and set the scene for future growth of not only our rapidly expanding portfolio, but of Qatar’s reputation as a key player in the global tourism market,” said HE Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chairman, Katara Hospitality.

The word ‘Catara’ dates back to 150 AD and was originally used by the ancient Greeks to refer to the area known as the Qatar Peninsula, before European cartographers began using the spelling ‘Katara’ on historical maps dating from the first half of the 18^th century.

“The decision to revive the name Katara reflects our rich cultural heritage and honours the country’s ancient roots, while being symbolic for our recognition beyond the regional borders since ancient times. This cultural wealth is the foundation for our national vision, and is the basis on which the Government of Qatar and Katara Hospitality are developing a sustainable tourism offering for future generations to come,” he added.

The launch of its new corporate identity, designed by international branding consultancy Lambie-Nairn, has the twin goals of raising brand awareness in key targeted international markets as well as developing long-term business-to-business partnerships with leading global hospitality and tourism players.

Katara Hospitality will also use ATM as a platform to share exciting plans for future global development within its broad remit as asset owner, developer and manager of a growing hospitality portfolio on three continents.

“Our focus on international expansion began in 2006 with the acquisition of the Renaissance Sharm El Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort inEgypt, and we currently have 24 hotels operational or under development in eight international destinations. We are looking to increase that to 30 properties by 2016 and double that figure by 2030 to 60 hotels and resorts around the world,” said Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer of Katara Hospitality.

With more than 4,000 hotel rooms already operational or under construction, Katara Hospitality has a number of openings on the horizon including two new Qatar-based projects – an iconic development in the Marina District of the new Lusail city and the Merwebhotel City Centre Doha – and three new European properties in 2013 – the Royal Savoy Lausanne; the Gallia Hotel Milan; The Peninsula Hotel Paris, as well as a second Parisian location with a five star hotel.

2014 will mark the opening of an impressive project inSwitzerland, the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne. The luxurious resort will round out the year following the multi-million dollar refurbishment of Tangier’s famedTaziPalaceand a new build project – the Comoros Beach Resort located in the Union of Comoros.

“Our focus is on strategic investments and acquiring a collection of international properties that are true hospitality icons in the grandest sense; having said that, we are also building new icons of hospitality that incorporate the latest technology and offer a contemporary alternative, but with the same warm, genuine service that defines the new Katara Hospitality brand,” said Al Mulla.

Illustrating that point, a new iconic hotel that upholds the cultural roots of the Qatar-based company is being developed in a prime location inLusailCity. “With an architectural design inspired by the insignia of Qatar, the Lusail Marina property’s stunning architecture is set to become a leading hospitality landmark” Al Mulla added.

The strength ofQatar’s banking sector underscores the Gulf state’s ability to finance major planned projects given its financial sector performance and its projected GDP growth of 6% in 2012, as well as its liquid banking sector.

At the end of 2011, total assets of the country’s commercial banks grew by 22.3% to US$190.6 billion in 2011 from 2010 while customer deposits increased by more than 18.5% to US$100 billion. Meanwhile credit facilities to customers rose by 28.2% to US$103.5 billion.Qatar’s financial performance was all the more impressive given fears of contagion from the euro zone debt crisis and slow growth in the United States and other developed markets.

Associations ahead of the field

Cheltenham Racecourse sees an increase in business

Renowned sporting venue Cheltenham Racecourse has seen a 63% increase in business from the association sector.

Cheltenham Racecourse has a long history providing conference and events to a multitude of sectors, recently seeing  a marked increase in bookings this year from the association sector. Bookings for 2012 include the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Gloucestershire Ladies County Golf Association (GLCGA), the Association of School Business Managers and the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway.

The Centaur, a 2,250 seated auditorium, has proved a popular space, enabling clients from the association sector to take advantage of the state-of-the-art lighting and sound capabilities, as well as the numerous break-out rooms available. The Panoramic Suite, commanding scenic views of the racecourse, is also a favourite amongst this sector, providing guests with a refreshingly unique space complemented by countryside vistas.

Located only one mile from Cheltenham town centre, the course is accessible from the Midlands’ major arterial routes including the M40 and M5, as well as direct train links to London and Bristol. Cheltenham Racecourse also boasts over 10,000 free car parking spaces as well as 300 acres available for outside events, making it an ideal choice for large scale events.

Babatunde Akinfisoye, operations manager RCCG, said: “The entire team at Cheltenham Racecourse worked exceptionally hard to ensure the success of our Ordained Ministers’ Conference (OMC) 2012, which welcomed over 2000 guests. The brief was met really well and the support we received from staff before and during the day was first-class. The readiness of staff to be flexible where necessary and provide creative solutions to our needs was undoubtedly a contributory factor to the success of the conference.  Cheltenham Racecourse certainly was the perfect choice; our guests really enjoyed the benefits of the spacious venue and ample free car parking facilities and we have received some excellent feedback.”

Susie Bradshaw, conference and events manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “We are very pleased to have seen the significant increase in bookings from the associations sector this year. Our convenient location and large capacity means we are an ideal choice for associations, who favour venues with plenty of space.  The recent boost in bookings is testament to Cheltenham Racecourse’s position as a key destination for event and conference organisers.”

Successful year for Amsterdam RAI

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. In 2011 the RAI complex facilitated 595 events that attracted around 1.6 million visitors. Amsterdam RAI expects both turnover and net profits to be even higher in 2012.

Major events in 2011
Exhibition titles such as AutoRAI and Aquatech (as a prominent part of the International Water Week) and events organised by third parties such as IBC, IS Europe and PLMA were major cornerstones of the continuity of Amsterdam RAI in 2011. One-off successes were achieved with ERS (European Respiratory Society) and Gastech. Combined with the effects of the previous economic downturn in 2008-2009, the turnover from corporate events virtually disappeared in 2011. International exhibitions organised by Amsterdam RAI in India, China, the USA, Poland and Turkey (in the field of water management, traffic technology and professional cleaning) also made a significant contribution to the results.

Crisis-resistant
General Director Hans Bakker of Amsterdam RAI is pleased: “The past year showed once again how companies choose to continue to meet to find inspiration and create value, despite the economic situation. The international character and market-leading position of many events we organise or accommodate have contributed to making Amsterdam RAI sufficiently recession-proof thus far.”

Vision for the future
Developed by Amsterdam RAI in cooperation with the City of Amsterdam (Dienst Zuidas), the (Spatial) Future Vision RAI ensures the future of the RAI at the Europaplein for the long term. The Future Vision gives the RAI the space to realise high-quality innovation and expansion at its current location over the coming decades in order to facilitate more multi-day international events of the highest standard in Amsterdam.

This will include the start in 2013 of the construction of the ‘Scheldeplein building’, with which Amsterdam RAI will be adding a multifunctional and remarkably sustainable office and conference centre with restaurant to its premises. The vision also includes the construction of a new parking garage for 1000 cars to bring the RAI’s parking capacity back to the desired level. Moreover, the new park & ride facilities also enhance the sustainability of Amsterdam.

Renewed strategy
Amsterdam RAI has also defined its strategy for the coming five years in which connecting physical and virtual meetings, linking the new economic superpowers to Europe and strengthening client focus play an important part. In combination with the aforementioned physical innovations, Amsterdam RAI is well-prepared for the future.

Best International Venue
The RAI’s investments and (hospitality) policy of the past few years received industry recognition in London in March 2012 when Amsterdam RAI was named ‘Best International Venue’ by leading trade magazine Exhibition World. In this category the RAI faced stiff competition from renowned conference centres in Cape Town, Singapore, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi, making the achievement all the more impressive.

Expectations
So far 2012 is going well. All the large RAI-organised events (Horecava, Huishoudbeurs) and third party events (IS Europe) have booked positive results, and the BedrijfsautoRAI, which returned in a revitalised form after a five year hiatus, also met expectations. With the regular events and one-off international conferences in the field of gastroenterology, haematology and Microsoft’s TechEd in the planning, Amsterdam RAI expects a higher turnover and net profit in 2012 compared to the previous year.

In film:
- RAI CEO Hans Bakker on the 2011 annual figures; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plLYpOjCE0U
- RAI CEO Hans Bakker on the future of the RAI; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi0LCXS0d7o

Limo Bus, a luxurious coach, a “moving conference center of the highest standards”

Welcome the Limo Bus, a luxurious coach, a “moving conference center of the highest standards”.

The Limo Bus is a multi-seat limousine, with all the lavishness that comes together with such a superb vehicle. It is a world exclusive creation that was designed and manufactured for the Greek company Greek Limo Bus, at the VDL BOVA factory, situated at the Netherlands. Its creators aimed at introducing a moving conference center of the highest standards, which will cover the specific needs and demands of its special passengers.

This special group of people includes among others: businessmen, politics-related individuals, scientific committees, international showbiz and sport stars.

Limo Bus has been developed to cover this significant disadvantage observed in the Greek tourist product. We are addressed to all professionals connected not exclusively to tourism but also to the vast majority of business related companies, such as conference organizers, decision makers, pharmaceutical companies, luxurious excursions organizers etc.

The personnel of Greek Limo Bus is in a position to fully cover the entire service pack offered by the company. High level training, experience and specialization are its three main characteristics.

In order to best serve its passengers Greek Limo Bus offers:

• Air conditioning with an individual PSU for every passenger
• Blaupunkt Professional line Radio CD
• DVD-MP3- Apple iPod
• Surround sound systems
• 9″ passengers monitors
• Internet Routers
• VGA connections for computer projections on the monitors
• Electrically controlled curtains at the front
• Tinted double windows
• TV receivers
• Vogel Accent 280 seats 2-1 design
• Leather cushion-pillow
• Leather case in every seat
• Dust bins
• Computer network sockets
• Eight channel selector with headphones that enables travellers to watch TV and DVDs, listen to the radio and iPod devices and attend the meetings held at the table
• Workbenches
• Storage wooden shelves
• Black curtains for full obscuration
• A wooden parquet floor
• Wood faced Kitchen/bar with a refrigerator, a freezer, a coffee machine (espresso, cappuccino, filter coffee), icemaker, warm chamber, glass storage space, dishwasher, cold and hot water tap as well as mineral water tap.
• Special Chemical Toilet
• Especially Designed guard-robe at the luggage compartment
• IT and computing equipment, computers, printers, color fax, photocopy machine, audiovisual systems if required.

More info at : http://www.greeklimobus.gr

PortAventura Business & Events: boosting the CSR events division

 Some companies are starting to demand compliance with certain environmental and ethical standards on the part of their suppliers – a sign of what will soon become a reality in the business world. In the future social responsibility will be a necessity, something that society and consumers demand, and this focus highlights the opportunity that CSR offers those firms that choose to embrace social responsibility now. And it also makes PortAventura Business & Events the ideal partner to host every kind of event under the CSR (corporate social responsibility) banner. 

Vila-Seca/ Salou, 24 April 2012: A set of first class services brought together in a single space – PortAventura Business & Events has a large convention centre that can hold anything from 10 to 4,000 people, is equipped with all the latest technology, offers 2,000 rooms in four 4 star hotels, a full range of restaurant and catering services, one of the most important theme parks in Europe, three golf courses and team building activities. All of this, combined with a corporate social responsibility policy, is what has led so many institutions and companies to entrust PortAventura with the organisation of their socially responsible events. For example AFANOC, a Catalan association of families and friends of children with cancer chose PortAventura as the venue for its event for the benefit of children suffering from cancer, and the III Encuentro Down Catalunya (in support of adults and children with Downs Syndrome) was organised by the PortAventura Foundation, and co-ordinated and produced by PortAventura Business and Events under the aegis of the Invest for Children Foundation. Similarly, Catalan television channel TV3’s ‘Marathon Day’ (Jornada Especial Marató de TV3) was a particularly interesting event as the gate money went to benefit research into tissue regeneration and organ repair.

‘Sustainability’, says Franck Barbaras, director of PortAventura Business & Events and the PortAventura Convention Centre, ‘is much more than  a kind of green washing – it’s an active working commitment on an economic,  social, cultural,  and environmental level and implies the generation of a positive legacy. It’s important for the concept of sustainability to be applied in a comprehensive way in all company activities, and that the costs incurred are considered an investment. In the case of PortAventura, we are extremely proud to donate 0.7% of our profits to social programmes, which means that our clients can count on a venue with a firm commitment to CSR policies.’ 

A social and environmental commitment 

PortAventura has prioritised the integration of responsible, sustainable management into company policy. This is a facet that is particularly valued by the firms both from within Spain and from abroad who choose it for the organisation of their events, as they can be sure that they will have a partner who has previously integrated the highest standards of corporate social responsibility into their own business.  So, with the aim of guaranteeing that each company in the supply chain makes a commitment both to respect the principles underlying its corporate social responsibility policy and to apply them, PortAventura offers guidance in the implementation of those values. PortAventura reiterates its commitment to the defence of human rights, as shown by its adherence to the United Nations Global Compact. Their activities in the social and environmental spheres have taken on increasing significance over time. For example in 2001 PortAventura obtained EU EMAS certification, which was later extended to include the hotels. Furthermore, the Convention Centre is currently working towards obtaining EMAS in 2013. EMAS, the Eco Management and Audit Scheme, is a rigorous scheme designed to improve companies’ environmental performance, and is additional to the international ISO 14001, the reference point for the implementation of management systems aiming towards the ongoing improvement of the company’s environmental profile. In order to achieve continuity in the firm’s environmental philosophy, different projects have been undertaken over the years in the management of waste (100% of waste produced is recycled); water, (in 2010 alone consumption of both drinking water and non-potable water was reduced by 8% when compared with 2009) and energy, by means of  automatic control of  consumption, and also the protection of biodiversity (in  2009 Gold Signature Audubon International was obtained for the golf courses). True to their policy of social responsibility, in 2003 the PortAventura hotels received the distinction of the Garantía de Calidad Ambiental (Guarantee of Environmental Quality) awarded by the Department of the Environment of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan regional government.

Here the PortAventura Foundation deserves a mention – its aim, the consolidation of charitable projects, is reflected in the development of a broad programme of solidarity actions with a particular emphasis on supporting children and/ or young people.

Training and development

Ongoing training for employees is another of the elements that have been strongly present in the company’s CSR strategy – in 2010 alone employees did more than 54,470 hours of training, which represents added value above and  beyond a simple contractual relationship.

Gettys – Westin Abu Dhabi

By Tony Smyth

Nestled in the grounds of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, the Westin Abu Dhabi Hotel is a luxury destination resort and focal point of a community that has been built in and around the sprawling fairways and greens of this championship course. Owned by Abu Dhabi-based development company, Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), the interiors were designed by the international hospitality design firm Gettys.

The concept for the whole resort was that of creating an oasis. TDIC wanted this property to feel like a departure from some of the newer urbanized resorts in the city.

“We really wanted this to be a place of elegant yet relaxed respite,” says Meg Prendergast the project’s principal-in-charge from Gettys’ Chicago office. Being adjacent to the golf club, the developer anticipated that the hotel would be hosting and entertaining a variety of guests. Golfing enthusiasts, locals, business and pleasure travelers from around the world, as well as visiting dignitaries and major sports and arts media for events in Abu Dhabi would feel welcomed by the relaxing environment. Building on the themes of oasis and natural environment, Gettys developed the interiors to be reflective of discovery, relaxation and restoration.

The exterior of the building is clad with rough, chiseled limestone that wraps an extensive amount of the façade. Gettys continued this natural element into the interiors, creating a lobby of dynamic proportions where stone is complimented by bronze and metal screen partitions. Unexpectedly undulating and angled ceiling design also relates back to the organic nature of the property’s architecture.

“For the guest’s primary introduction to the hotel, we designed the lobby and grand staircase to feel like a continuation of the out-of-doors; walking the materials in with the guests felt like an extension of the exterior’s natural elements,” says Prendergast.

Gettys kept the lobby décor to a minimum, focusing on a simple palette. From the top of the grand staircase, crafted from hand-awled reclaimed wood and seeded glass balustrade panels, guests can look through 45 foot tall floor-to-ceiling windows out to the golf course, creating an intimacy with the greenery of the fairways, essentially creating a massive picture window.

To create this dramatic arrival experience, Gettys combined different materials and lighting that referred to the ancient history of the region. The back wall of the front and concierge desks features translucent slices of petrified wood suspended behind the embossed bronze desks. The complex circular striations of the wood fossils provide a striking visual experience as well as adding an additional layer of texture and color.

As the hotel has several grand spaces, Gettys wanted the guestroom experience to act as a form of departure from public area activity. They viewed the guest journey as a series of crafted experiences starting from departing “real life” at the hotel arrival and walking through the grandeur of the public areas to the more intimate guestroom corridors culminating in the guest rooms and suites. These corridors compress the journey to each guest’s room in terms of scale, lighting and materials which become saturated, deeply toned and restful.

“There are times, when in the Middle East it’s nice to get away from the sun and the heat; Emirati locals have known this for hundreds of years. We used that guest need as a leverage point between taking people from a very public experience to a very private experience,” says Prendergast.

Upon entering the guestroom, visitors find themselves in rooms that are light and bright with high ceilings and wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the golf course. Gettys paid attention to the fact that all of the guestrooms and suites have golf course views’ and let the scenery be the primary focus. The team then layered different textures and tonality to create a restful guestroom experience. The resulting palette combined caramel, honey, cream and walnut, with sea blue and sunset orange accents. The overall detailing incorporated stone, custom styled wool carpeting, several complimentary wood species, and rich bronze appointments.

Guest baths feature tile surrounds made from a natural horn mosaic that infused luxury and craftsmanship into the guest bath experience. The artisanal tiles pick up on local colors of medjool date, raffia, and coconut complimented by a vanity washstand with a hand hammered nickel finish; thus giving a classic washstand look but with a modern twist.

“The suites accommodate families or guests looking for more “elbow room”,” says Anne Faherty, Senior Project Designer, “Distinct living and dining areas are fully separated from sleeping rooms and the bathrooms are upgraded to include freestanding oval stone soaking tubs with a basket weave tile surround.”

As a destination resort there was an increased need to provide guests with a variety of upscale food and beverage experiences. Gettys worked with TDIC and Westin to develop the concept and function of the all-day-dining restaurant, concentrating on a wellness and discovery based lifestyle along with a variety of experiences over the course of a guests’ stay. Whilst the restaurant looks quite contemporary the roots for its design are based on the open air dining that might be found in a town square. Gettys used some interesting details throughout the space; some of note are the Asian action station’s Chinese dim sum steamer baskets as column cladding and the Arabic station’s saffron-colored lava stone wood-burning oven. While allowing for a variety of lighting and sound options, they also developed an interpretive lighting installation for the dining areas that referred to old European street lighting, bright and sparkly during the day, dimmed and glowing for evening.

Another space pivotal to guests’ needs is the Café on the lobby floor catering to modern day coffee convenience yet also acknowledging the longstanding Middle Eastern coffee and tea culture. The Café was developed as a modern grab ‘n go coffee bar with fresh, light food offerings but with available service. The Western traveler could feel very comfortable ordering from a counter “to go” and the local guest could feel just as comfortable sitting down having a server take and deliver their order.

“The design provides this coffee and light bite venue with dining and lounge seating and a library-esque area to give people different options on how to use these spaces through the course of their visit”, says Prendergast. “It’s definitely a casual spot, but guests still feel like they are in a dramatic space with fantastic views.”

According to locals, it is the Moroccan restaurant that has garnered a lot of attention. Designed to refer to an old Moroccan home (riad) Gettys layered finishes, found objects and authentically crafted elements resulting in an eclectic vintage Moroccan feel. Gettys worked with the owner to capture Berber styled detailing. Low levels of multiply cushioned and pillowed seating areas with collections of meze tables add to its exotic appeal. In pleasant weather, the mood can cascade out onto the leisure area terrace softly illuminated with candles and captured by colorful foliage of the area. Taking elements from ancient fortresses the restaurant reflects a modern authenticity and plays homage to a rich and ancient culture.

With 20,000 square feet of function space both the operator and owner wanted to cater to the local community for a variety of social, business and conference uses. Careful planning was implemented to maximize a gracious guest experience, state of the art meeting room facilities, sensitivity to local traditions, and appropriate levels of décor for anticipated formal functions.

Pre-function floors and ceilings accented in stone and rusticated wood continue the overall natural materiality of the hotel. Textured stucco finishes combined with rusticated wood beams create an air of local style. The design team developed a softly curved pre-function feature wall which in turn gives the interior of the grand ballroom its distinctive shape.

Gettys designed the Ballroom’s main entry doors in a unique hand-carved wood design again referencing the local architecture however with a modern eye. Ballroom walls are rich with wood millwork, upholstered in a slubby faux silk and accented with layered mother-of-pearl. The ballroom looks out onto its own private green-space courtyard that bathes the room in natural daylight and gives guests an outdoor area to enjoy during their event. Muted colors throughout the function spaces include elegant shades of abalone, pearl, aubergine, and dark cocoa which work well for business functions yet are also neutral enough for more formal events requiring specialty.

“We picked up on the idea that within an oasis one expects the rewards of water,” says Prendergast. “The chandeliers look like thousands of crystal droplets which are then reflected in the carpet pattern looking like the resultant ripple effects, creating a dramatic no-repeat signature carpet design.”

As with the overall hotel, each space delivers on an authenticity of materials and detail, treating each guest to a relaxed and luxurious experience throughout their stay. “We are thrilled to bring the multiple levels of Gettys’ expertise to the design of the Westin Abu Dhabi,” said Andrew Fay, president and COO of Gettys. “It is our largest completed project to date in the Middle East. We’re most satisfied with the results of this endeavor and we’re delighted to be working on several projects within the region

SICEEP development an opportunity to showcase diverse business event options

17 April 2012: Business Events Sydney (BESydney) welcomes the New South Wales (NSW) Premier’s announcement today of the tender for the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP) and is ramping up efforts to profile other venue options during the three-year build.

The tender confirms the functional brief and development timelines for the new precinct, which will see the existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre close in late 2013 and new facilities open in late 2016.

“Premier O’Farrell’s announcement today clearly demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to essential improvements to Sydney’s convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities and their understanding of the valuable legacies – both economic and social – that business events deliver to NSW,” comments Lyn Lewis-Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Business Events Sydney.

“The closure of the existing Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is an end to a stellar 25-year innings for these facilities, but the decision gives the industry welcome certainty about timelines and the Government’s intention to fast track the project.

“BESydney and the wider industry have been long-term advocates of the need to create a cutting-edge and world-class International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct to ensure that Sydney’s business event industry remains globally competitive well into the future.  SICEEP will cement our status as Australia’s number one destination for conferences, conventions, exhibitions, incentives and corporate meetings,” adds Lewis-Smith.

Commenting on the development period, Lewis-Smith says “BESydney will continue to work closely with clients and industry to ensure that it is well-known that Sydney is open for business.”

“Change presents great opportunity. It’s time to really show how Sydney businesses collaborate and innovate and how we can accommodate a growing business event sector with agility and enthusiasm. Sydney has a diversity of venue options that can be used as standalone venues, or as part of a combined solution for large events.

“When you look back at the 93^rd Lions Clubs International Convention in 2010, the 2010 Forbes Global CEO Conference, 2008 World Youth Day, the 2000 Sydney Olympics Games you’ll see it was not just one or two venues in the harbour city that made these events spectacular, but a raft of venues and a ‘whole-of-city’ approach. This is what makes the Sydney event experience like no other.”

For further information on the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct development, visit www.siceep.com 

For free assistance with business events in Sydney contact Business Events Sydney at www.businesseventssydney.com.au or call 1300 134 920.

Centre Shows It’s Switched On to Switching Off

The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has demonstrated again that it’s switched on to environmental issues – by offering exhibition organisers the option of switching off.

In a move designed to reduce power consumption and exhibitor costs, the Centre has installed dedicated electricity outlets for cleaning in its main exhibition halls, enabling exhibition organisers to switch off all other power overnight.

The new system was trialled at the Reed Gift Fair – the biggest trade show in Australia – during February, and played a major role in reducing power consumption at the event by an impressive 12 per cent.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said the new power reduction option would now be offered to all exhibition organisers.

“The Centre has won many awards for energy saving initiatives associated with its environmental program Ecowise but we are constantly looking for new ways to conserve energy,” Mr van Amerongen said.

“This latest initiative is part of our ongoing drive to reduce our carbon footprint and set the benchmark for the events industry.”

The Centre has won the Best Green Initiative category at the national Exhibition and Events Association of Australasia’s Annual Awards for the past four years and recently won the Meetings and Events Australia (MEA) New South Wales Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

The Centre participates in Earth Hour each year and has been recognised as a Green Globe (Silver) Benchmarked Convention Centre, a Bronze Partner of the NSW Government’s Sustainability Advantage program and received the Earthcheck Silver Certification and ISO 14001:2004 Standard for Environmental Management Systems.

Amsterdam RAI wins Best International Venue award

Amsterdam RAI won the Best International Venue award at the 6th annual Exhibition News Awards on Thursday 29 March in London. The Excellence Awards are conferred annually on businesses that make outstanding contributions to the exhibition industry.

Amsterdam RAI was shortlisted in the ‘Best International Venue’ category, where it faced stiff competition from other nominees including  Cape Town International Convention Centre, Suntec Singapore, Riocentro Rio de Janeiro, and last year’s winner, ADNEC Abu Dhabi.

In announcing its decision, the jury commented:  “Amsterdam RAI was a clear winner in the Best International Venue category this year for its standout exhibition facilities and professional approach. The venue boasted a great location and offering” .

“We are proud to have won this prestigious award, which is a great recognition of our ongoing service improvements,” says Maurits van der Sluis, Commercial Director at Amsterdam RAI. “It is our goal to help international organisers make their event as successful as possible and the best experience for exhibitors and visitors alike. Amsterdam RAI should always be a venue that people wish to return to.”

The universal attractions of Amsterdam as a city with its core values of creativeness, enterprise and innovation as encapsulated in the “I Amsterdam” campaign also help ensure events are a success. “The culture of our city means that everybody feels at home right away, all within a stable business environment,” adds Van der Sluis.

Exhibition News is one of the leading trade magazines for the exhibition, conference and events industry. The category ‘Best International Venue’ was open to all large international exhibition venues with 10,000 sqm or more floor space that attract major international events. This is the first time Amsterdam RAI has been recognised as Best International Venue by the Exhibition News Awards.

Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa: Greek Hospitality beyond Excellence

OURANOUPOLIS, Greece, March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Nuzzled amidst the gracious nature and the owe-inspiring ambiance of the enchanting region of Ouranoupolis in Halkidiki, the 5 star luxury multi awarded Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa embraces the magnificence of profuse luxury and unrivalled hospitality. Encircled by the miraculous seascape and the mystique atmosphere of the Holy Mountain, this eco-friendly hotel provides a paradisiacal haven of tranquility and peacefulness with private access to the stunningly beautiful blue flag beach of Ouranoupolis.

Following a tradition of quality and excellence with a philosophy committed to the highest standards of service by offering a whole new level of magical experiences, Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa has garnered a series of prestigious awards and prominent recognitions throughout the years.

From the European Ecolabel award in 2006 to the SLH Caring Luxury Award in 2007, the Best Spa Hotel in 2008, the TUV certificate in 2008, the Ecological Greek Key Label Certification in 2010, the Trip Advisor certificate of excellence in 2011, the Greek Conde Nast Traveler as the best hotel in Northern Greece in 2011 and the International 5 star Diamond Award in 2012, the Eagles Palace luxury hotel & spa continues to strive in providing outstanding services and amenities while maintaining its environmental consciousness and beyond comparison devotion to luxury and recognized excellence.

Brilliantly set in the captivating region of Ouranoupolis in Halkidiki in close proximity to the sacred land of Mount Athos, the Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa attracts celebrities, prominent guests and elite travelers seeking for a dreamlike holiday retreat in Greece. In order to enhance the accommodation experience and fully gratify the travelers’ needs and desires, Eagles Palace is launching the 7 experiences campaign, projecting the hotel’s philosophy and core values, the quality of services provided and the state of the art facilities ensuring an unrivalled holiday experience.

From the supreme spa experience to the multi cultural gastronomy, the thrilling water sports, the soothing scuba diving, the journey through culture, the divine ambiance of romanticism and the luxurious yachting excursions, guests are welcome to discover these exclusive hotel experiences, step into the fairy tale world of Eagles Palace Hotel & Spa and succumb to the pleasures of luxurious indulgence.

Radisson Blu Hotel Prague Restaurant Awarded First Michelin Star

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced that the Radisson Blu Hotel Prague’s fine dining restaurant, “The Alcron”, been awarded its first Michelin star. The intimate restaurant featuring just 24 seats is headed by Czech chef Roman Paulus and offers an exclusive menu focused on fish and seafood.

“We are very proud of Roman Paulus and his professional, dedicated team. Michelin honors the best of the best only and “The Alcron” is a true jewel where our guests enjoy food and hospitality of outstanding quality,” said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of the Rezidor Hotel Group that operates the hotel.

“The Alcron” opened its doors in 1932 and soon became a favourite venue for celebrities such as writer Frederick Forsyth, French cabaret owner Maurice Chevalier, U.S. General Douglas MacArthur and Czech athlete Emil Zatopek. Much like the Radisson Blu Prague hotel itself, the elegant dining room is designed in Art Déco style. It features an original fireplace from the 1930s and wall paintings of dancing couples by Tamara de Lempicka.

Chef Roman Paulus, who has worked in famous kitchens like at The Savoy in London and on board the legendary cruise liner “Queen Elizabeth II” before joining “The Alcron” four years ago, firmly believes in perfect, fresh ingredients and excellent service: “Food must have taste and be fun at the same time,” he said.

Together with David Patek, Food & Beverage Manager at the Radisson Blu Hotel Prague, Paulus has put together a carefully selected, rigorously trained and highly creative team at “The Alcron”.

“To have the right attitude and ambitions is crucial for us. We cannot work with people who are willing to make a soup out of instant powder,” he commented.

Located in the heart of the Golden City, the Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel Prague is just steps away from famous attractions such as Old Town Square, Prague Castle, Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge. A lavish, avant-garde accommodation when it opened in 1932, the hotel’s historic features have been meticulously restored, preserving details like glittering chandeliers, rich Italian marble and creamy milk glass. All 206 guest rooms retain the grace and elegance of a bygone era while offering modern conveniences, such as free high-speed internet access, LCD flat-screen televisions, Nespresso coffee machines and state-of-the-art online entertainment systems.

Aloft Cupertino is Set to Open Summer 2013

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.® (NYSE:HOT) today announced

its new destination sensation brand, Aloft® Hotels, will open a new
property in Cupertino, California in early 2013. Aloft Cupertino will be
the third Aloft to open in California and its second in Silicon Valley,
following the opening of Aloft San Francisco Airport in 2012. Owned by a
venture between Shashi Corporation and Somera Capital Management, Aloft
Cupertino will deliver style at a steal with 123 spacious, loft-like
rooms, forward-thinking technology and a vibrant, social atmosphere.

The Aloft brand is perfectly suited for Cupertino, one of the most
dynamic cities in Silicon Valley, said Allison Reid, Senior Vice
President of North American Development for Starwood. Aloft is now 55
plus hotels and, fueled by the brands popularity among savvy travelers,
we continue to aggressively grow the brand across North America and
around the world.

Located in the heart of Cupertinos business district, the new Aloft
will be convenient to numerous high-tech businesses such as Apple
Computers world headquarters, Hewlett Packard and IBM. Also nearby are
Santa Clara University, HP Pavilion, Winchester Mystery House, and a
selection of wineries and world-class golf courses. Amenities will
include an indoor pool, w xyz ^sm bar, 24-hour
fitness center and 2,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, ideal
for both business meetings and social gatherings.

Aloft Cupertino will offer a compelling blend of style and social
interplay that will appeal to both travelers and professionals in this
energetic high-tech hub, said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President,
Speciality Select Brands for Starwood. Alofts emphasis on high design
combined with its tech-savvy features and social atmosphere all at an
affordable price is attracting a growing group of loyal travelers who
expect their lodging to reflect their evolving lifestyle.

MAX ATRIA @ SINGAPORE EXPO OPENS

 SINGAPORE’S FIRST BCA GREEN MARK PLATINUM AWARD VENUE AND ASIA’S FIRST VENUE WITH COMPLIMENTARY, PATENTED WI-FI
Introductory packages invigorate meeting and banquet experiences

Singapore, 22 March 2012 – Managed by Singex Venues Pte Ltd, MAX Atria @ Singapore EXPO welcomes organisers and delegates with a new, redefined convention experience. Benchmarked as the first purpose-built MICE venue in Singapore to attain the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Platinum award, MAX Atria is also the first venue in Asia to roll out complimentary,
high performance Wi-Fi patented by Xirrus.

Developed at a cost of S$55 million, MAX Atria features 32 column-free rooms with spacious foyers, a garden courtyard and rooftop space. The 12,700sqm convention wing accommodates over 3,500 people in a variety of versatile spaces configured for meetings, conferences, banquets, light exhibitions and product launches.

Throughout the venue, natural light complemented by verdant landscaping, architecture and interiors appointed with green initiatives transform the event space and experience. Incorporated in the construction stage, energy efficient measures have been implemented in lifts, escalators and airconditioning systems. Additionally, light sensors installed in the pre-function foyers, staircases and restrooms, LED light fixtures in meeting rooms and landscaping will contribute more than 30 percent
of energy savings every year compared to a conventionally designed building of the same size.
Besides these energy saving measures, MAX Atria is extensively outfitted with Green Label certified products and products with at least 30 percent recycled material.

For an exceptional Wi-Fi experience, organisers and delegates connected to the patented high performance Xirrus Arrays will enjoy complimentary and seamless connectivity up to a bandwidth of 2mbps. Depending on the number of events and visitors, the Xirrus Arrays can be scaled up accordingly to accommodate a larger capacity and bandwidth. The energy-efficient Xirrus Arrays require fewer access points and less cabling to be installed, contributing to the venue’s sustainability efforts.

“In our capacity as a venue manager, it is incumbent upon us to partner with our clients to create sustainable and impactful event experiences. Enabling onsite organisers and delegates to stay connected and multi-task seamlessly is the new norm, hence, we are pleased to offer complimentary and high performance Wi-Fi access”, said Singex Group Chief Executive Officer Aloysius Arlando.
“The opening of MAX Atria caters to a growing trend of integrated event platforms, be they co-located exhibitions, conferences, symposia, workshops or product launches. This customisation allows organisers not only to enjoy versatile options in personalising the event experience, but to maximise their return on investment (ROI)”.

Recently appointed as the resident caterer at MAX Atria, TungLok’s culinary team will serve guests attending corporate luncheons, gala dinners or banquets signature dishes and innovative creations from their award-winning Chinese and fusion menus. Mr. Arlando continued, “Our partnership with TungLok is complementary as they share our commitment to enrich our visitors’ experience through an exceptional culinary selection”.

Vincent Phang, senior vice president of TungLok, said, “With MAX Atria set to become one of the region’s leading event venues, we are pleased to be given a platform to showcase our culinary and catering services. Be it a board meeting lunch or a banquet for 800 guests, we will strive to create excellent dining experiences in Singapore’s newest convention centre setting”.
Supported by the operational and service excellence of Singapore EXPO, a unique visitor experience through a customised scentscape and soundscape invigorates the experience. Designed to bring nature into the venue, the combination of bergamot, white rose and cardamom infuses the air with a refreshing scent. For the soundscape, distinct tempos and musical styles differentiate the experience from a morning conference to an afternoon meeting or an evening banquet.

Opening package rates and accompanying benefits are available for half-day or full-day meetings.
Full-day meeting packages start from S$66 and enquiries can be made by contacting sales@maxatria.com.sg For couples looking to tie the knot, the introductory rate for an eight-course banquet starts from S$918 per table, inclusive of a complimentary bottle of wine for a minimum booking of 25 tables. Banquet enquiries can be made through events@maxatria.com.sg

Panda Delegate Rates (PDRs) launched for corporate market

Edinburgh Zoo, a unique venue offered as part of the Lime Venue Portfolio collection, has created two corporate packages giving delegates the chance to view the Zoo’s newest additions, giant pandas Tian Tian and Yang Guang, also affectionately known as ‘Sweetie’ and ‘Sunshine’*.

Located close to Edinburgh’s city centre, Edinburgh Zoo has capacity for up to 200 delegates, with a range of conference and meeting facilities available.

The half-day and day packages are priced at £35 and £45 respectively, with a percentage of the profits earned from events re-invested into the Zoo to support their charitable objectives.
The rate includes a panda viewing (subject to availability), room hire, buffet lunch with seasonal produce, tea and coffee with homemade biscuits, water, conference pads and pens and free entrance and parking.

Helene Van Der Ploeg, Catering General Manager at Edinburgh Zoo said: “Event organisers on the lookout for memorable experiences now have the opportunity to offer an event that will be unique, and leave a lasting legacy for both delegates and Edinburgh Zoo’s charitable work.”

Kempton Park Racecourse aims for Guinness World Record

Kempton Park Racecourse is to be the new home of The Mascot Grand National.

Taking place on Bank Holiday, Monday 7^th May, the race is set to break boundaries as Kempton Park ups the stakes with an attempt at a Guinness World Record for the largest mascot gathering, currently held at 166 mascots at a venue in Germany. Now in its 13^th year, The Mascot Grand National draws mascots from across the UK with past entries including squirrels, hippos and giant dogs, all taking part to fundraise for charity. There are high levels of anticipation to see who will become lead sponsor in what organisers expect will be the race’s Guinness World Record-breaking year.

As horseracing is the second largest spectator sport in the UK, coverage of the event is anticipated through Sky Sports as well as screening via Turf TV and to an audience of over 500,000 viewers on Racing UK. YouTube and social media channels are also expected to feature as significant ways for potential sponsors to benefit from the event.

Kempton Park is part of The Jockey Club, the largest commercial group in British horseracing, and is renowned for its creative take on traditional horse racing. In December 2011, Kempton Park hosted its inaugural Christmas reindeer racing, which was picked up by media across the globe, as well as hitting gaining over 29,000 YouTube hits. With 3.2 million homes in a 60 minute radius of the racecourse, sponsors have become increasingly attracted to the branding and sponsorship opportunities that the racecourse offers and the access it affords to a wider televised audience.

Simon Beynon, sales director for Kempton Park Racecourse, said, “We are really excited to be running The Mascot Grand National, as the race embodies a fun take on a traditional sport – something we are keen to be associated with. We are looking forward to seeing who becomes the lead sponsor and benefits from the massive reach this race has across all media channels.”

Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai Wins a Second Award as Best New Hotel from TimeOut Shanghai

Dubai, March 2012: Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel Shanghai is one of the biggest winners at TimeOut Shanghai’s 2012 Best Hotel Award Ceremony with three prestigious awards.

After being honored as Best New Hotel in China 2011 by Voyage magazine at the beginning of the year, Jumeirah Himalayas Shanghai once again won as Best New Hotel 2011 from Time Out Shanghai magazine.  The hotel’s Lobby Lounge has been rewarded as the Best Lobby Lounge by the Reader’s Pick.  Shang-High Cuisine won as Best Chinese Restaurant in Shanghai and is the second restaurant to win an award after J-Mix won as Best Restaurant by Modern Weekly.

TimeOut is a world renowned publication providing guidance for readers to the best thing to do in the cities they cover.  The Chinese version, Shanghai edition is one of the most popular lifestyle publications well received by many local Chinese.  The final result of this annual award competition combines the reviews from specialists and editors’ feedback and readers’ choices.

More than 90 per cent of waste is sorted at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre

Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre’s aim of generating only five percent unsorted waste is realistic for next year. The amount of unsorted waste has dropped dramatically from 2007 levels, when some 44 per cent of waste ended up unsorted in landfills. In 2011, the corresponding figure was only 6 per cent.

The Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre was the first Finnish exhibition and conference centre to receive ISO 14001 environmental management certification for its environmental management system. On the basis of an environmental survey, three primary environmental goals were set for its operations: reducing the waste load, optimising energy consumption and promotion of the use of public transport. Moreover, all co-operating partners are expected to act responsibly and commit themselves to the environmental management system.

Energy consumption and waste create the highest environmental load at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre. In recent years, particular attention has been paid to waste sorting, and this has resulted in a remarkable reduction in the amount of unsorted waste: in 2007, some 44 per cent of waste from the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre ended up in landfills unsorted, but this year, the corresponding figure was only 6 per cent.

- Today, sorting of waste is possible at all facilities of the Centre. In addition, we have managed to control energy consumption regardless of major investments in new premises, comments Lasse Willberg, Property Manager at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre.

CottoCrudo Restaurant, Bar and Lounge Opens at Four Seasons Hotel Prague

Vibrant new restaurant on the banks of the Vltava introduces a new dining concept to the city beginning March 2, 2012.

The stylish new restaurant, bar and lounge CottoCrudo opens atFour Seasons Hotel Prague on March 2, 2012. CottoCrudo, which means “cooked and raw,” introduces a new dining and lounge concept to the city. An Italian classics menu with a modern twist, a central culinary station with prime Italian delicacies, a crudo bar, variable seating options and a unique design showcases the latest in dining trends.

Awaking the Senses

CottoCrudo is a stylish choice for dining, casual meetings or rendez-vous. Guests enter the restaurant through revolving doors from Veleslavínova Street and are instantly attracted by the central culinary station featuring the crudo bar – “raw” bar in Italian – a cheese cellar including the mozzarella bar, a salami and prosciutto tower, pane e grissini freshly baked breads and wine displays.

Executive Chef Richard Fuchs is uses the very best seasonal ingredients. “Working with the best of our seasonal quality ingredients, we offer an extensive menu of Italian and Mediterranean dishes, including fresh seafood, homemade pasta, choice meat cuts, and artisan products from the Piedmont and Tuscany regions of Italy.

“Here are some of my favourites: saffron arancini di riso and tomato basil salsa or Piedmont beef tartare from starters; fresh tagliatelle with wild boar and pecorino di Pienza or Mediterranean seafood soup with fregola sarda as Italian primi and grilled yellow fin tuna with eggplant caviar and caponata or costoletta alla milanese as main dishes. For a sweet finale I would recommend Amarena cherries chocolate cake or cannoli.

“The crudo bar will definitely be a new statement for the city. Crudo is an Italian interpretation of traditional sashimi. Our team of chefs will prepare and garnish fresh seafood right before our guests. Tuna, branzino, lobster, scallops and oysters are just few of our offers at the Crudo bar.”

Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy an extensive wine list of more than 300 labels, of which 26 wines will be available by mezzo(Italian carafe), and an eclectic cocktail list featuring Italian and Czech twists on classic recipes.

Casual, But Smart and Unpretentious

The CottoCrudo concept was inspired by the design and architecture of Prague. The aim was to create a sense of patina and history to contrast with the sleek, modern aspect of the bar and culinary stations. The new lay-out is a synergy between the restaurant, lounge and the bar, so it becomes one multi-faceted space. Restaurant design highlights are the Berkel slicer, full height leather booths and decorative light fixtures made by Preciosa.

“We wanted the culinary station to be the equivalent of a Maserati parked in the middle of the dining room,” adds Mark Wilson, Studio Director of EDG, the architects and authors of the concept.

CottoCrudo is located in the very heart of Prague and reflects guests’ expectations and needs: an attractive, informal, stylish and elegant venue in Prague, defined by high quality cuisine. “Opening CottoCrudo is one of our strategic initiatives for this year. Our ambition is to introduce a preferred dining venue in Prague that will be accommodating for a wide public, as well as our most discerning clientele,” says Rene Beauchamp, general manager of Four SeasonsHotel Prague.

The new urban space is the creation of EDG Interior Architecture + Design, with 142 seats in the dining room, lounge and bar, and will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails daily.

Cheltenham Racecourse asserts itself as a South West business destination

Cheltenham Racecourse is raising its profile with Gloucestershire based businesses, hosting a series of networking events in partnership with The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo Women in Business Awards 2012.

The racecourse hopes the series of networking events will help assert itself as a leading South West events destination through showcasing the range of conference and events facilities at the venue. Located only one mile from Cheltenham town centre, the venue offers a multitude of event spaces including The Centaur, a 2,250 seated auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting and sound capabilities, as well as 300 acres available for outside events.

Cheltenham Racecourse has hosted two networking events this year in conjunction with the Women in Business Awards, the final event will take place on Thursday 8^th March before the Awards ceremony in the venue’s Centaur Suite on Thursday 29^th March. The annual awards ceremony shines the spotlight on women at the heart of the county’s business community, sponsored by Coutts & Co, the Awards consist of eight categories including Woman of the Year, Women in the Workplace and Rising Star of the Year.

Emma Samways, head of events Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset, said “We are very pleased Cheltenham Racecourse is sponsoring The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo Women in Business Awards which are now in their third year. The networking events are a great way to help promote the Awards and they have been really well received by women in business from the Gloucestershire area, guests have been treated to Bloody Mary shots, desserts from across the globes and tasty Spanish tapas.”

Susie Bradshaw, conference and events manager at Cheltenham Racecourse, said: “We are relishing the opportunity to host local business women at our venue, creating networking opportunities whilst also revealing the catering and event spaces we have to offer to our key target audience. The events have been highly successful and we are very honoured to be working with the Women in Business Awards, which highlight the hard work and determination of the talented women who help drive Gloucestershire’s economy.”

ICCA France-Benelux Chapter meeting in Paris : « An inspiring summit! »

30 members from France, Belgium and the Netherlands participated in the ICCA France- Benelux Chapter Summit held this month at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris (February 6-7, 2012).

This one-day event was a great opportunity to learn about some of the latest industry trends from expert speakers: Ben Hainsworth from the European Society of Cardiology presented the new destination selection process which is going to be implemented for all their congresses, and James Bedford and Deirdre Jarvis from Cisco Systems presented a simultaneous live and virtual session on Hybrid and Virtual Meetings with speakers from their headquarters in San Jose, California.

One of the highlights of the event was a new idea for a session open to abstracts from the different members. On the general theme of “What is your greatest challenge in winning international business and what creative solutions have you found to overcome it?” four different members came forward to share their success story with their peers.

“Feedback from post-event evaluations were extremely positive: all the participants thought that the event met their primary objectives, the speakers were graded at 83% excellent or very good, 92% enjoyed the networking opportunities, and most important of all, 100% of participants say they will come back next year!” concludes Marta Gomes, Congress Department Director of Viparis and Chairperson of the ICCA France-Benelux Chapter.

A feeling shared by the participants: “An interesting and thought provoking session. I look forward to the next one”; “I had time to do some networking and liked the idea to share our ‘success’ stories”; “A great way to, within a small group, exchange ideas and interact”; “It was an inspiring summit!”.

Spanish conference centres welcomed more international visitors in 2011 and generated an impact of €1,200 million

20th February 2012

The activity report published by the Spanish Association of Conference Centres’ (APCE) members reveals that in 2011 its venues held a total of
4,981 events and welcomed 3,918,629 visitors. This generated an economic impact for their cities of around €1,200 million.

The aggregate data provided by APCE members show that last year Spanish venues held a total of 436 congresses which were attended by 446,076
delegates. They also held 393 conventions which were attended by 267,403 participants and 1,324 symposia with a total of 389,348 visitors. The
direct and indirect economic impact generated from these activities reached €1,200 million.

In comparative terms, the report seems to indicate that the number of congresses and visitors, which had remained reasonably stable until 2010,
fell slightly during the year. However, corporate events, which had been harder hit by the difficult economic circumstances, seem to have slowed
their downward trend.

In terms of types of events, 65% of conventions and 80% of congresses were national or international meetings, whilst 75% of congress delegates
and 88% of convention delegates had a national or international profile.

The study highlights an increase in international visitors which rose by 35% in the case of congresses and 8% in the case of conventions
compared to the previous year. This type of participants contributes to reduce the seasonal nature of tourism and generates an economic impact
which is far superior to that of an average holidaymaker, thanks to higher daily average expenditure.

In terms of the conclusions to be drawn from the study figures, José Salinas, the Valencia Conference Centre’s CEO and Chairman of the APCE’s
Board of Directors, stated that “the presence of key factors in boosting our cities’ economies, such as conference centres, is even more
important in difficult times. The adverse economic environment has generated a slowdown in the domestic market which has partly been
balanced out with increased activity on the international stage compared to the previous year. This puts us in a better
position on the international market and makes us more competitive outside Spain”.

Salinas also added that “It is important for Spanish venues to continue to climb the international MICE ladder. In fact, one of our strategic priorities is to promote conference centres using both traditional channels and new online tools”.

Lord’s Cricket Ground appoints AV specialists

Officials at Lord’s Cricket Ground have announced that three new audio visual providers – Aztec Event Services, Smyle and Fisher Productions – have been added to the Ground’s exclusive AV supplier list.  Eclipse Presentations, who have worked at Lord’s for eight years, will continue to offer onsite AV support throughout the Ground, with a resident venue manager overseeing operations.

Lord’s – the Home of Cricket – has hosted a range of external events over the past twelve months, including the International Wine Challenge, British Swimming Awards Dinner, and the LTI Taxi launch, in addition to the internationally acclaimed MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in July last year.

Nick Kenton, Meetings & Events Sales Manager at Lord’s Cricket Ground, said: “Aztec Event Services, Smyle, and Fisher Productions are three of the leading lights in the audio visual industry, and I am delighted they are now official suppliers at Lord’s.  With Eclipse Presentations continuing to offer in-house support, clients now have more choice and flexibility for AV solutions, which allows us to provide a world class service from the best in the business.”

John Robson, Aztec Managing Director, said: “This is another step in our expansion of audio visual service offerings to sporting venues that host conferences and meetings.  We believe that Lord’s chose us because of our experience in this type of venue, and our reputation for quality, reliability and efficiency which reflects the same ethos as that of Lord’s.  We have worked at Lord’s before and see this as the beginning of a closer long-term relationship.”

Rick Stainton, Smyle’s Managing Director, said: “Smyle has been blessed through being able to produce events in some of the UK’s most historical venues.  Our team are absolutely thrilled that another of London’s unique venues has recognised our capabilities.  We are renowned for our technical creativity and the team are really looking forward to reinforcing this reputation by producing events in this globally iconic venue.”

Kelly Yeomans, Venue Relationship Manager at Fisher Productions, said: “Fisher are very excited to be appointed by Lord’s Cricket Ground to provide creative production.  Lord’s is a particularly versatile canvas for events therefore Fisher Productions are looking forward to providing creative solutions for the Ground’s future clients.”

JW Marriott Marquis Dubai Set To Be World’s Tallest Hotel

355 Meter Hotel Scheduled to Open in Q4 2012.

Dubai, UAE – A symbol of Dubai’s resurgence and its growing importance at the centre of the global business crossroads will emerge later this year when the 1,608-room JW Marriott Marquis Dubai opens its doors to guests in Q4 this year.  [See additional photos below.]  A stunning addition to Marriott International’s JW Marriott world-class luxury hotel brand, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will open in two phases, with the first section featuring 807 rooms and numerous restaurants and lounges.   At a height of 355 meters (1,164 feet), the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the tallest dedicated hotel building in the world and is just 26 meters (85 feet) shorter than the Empire State Building in New York.

In addition to serving the luxury business traveler, the hotel is targeting the lucrative and increasingly important MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market, which currently does not have a hotel of sufficient scale to host such large groups.   In addition to all the dining and entertainment options, the hotel will have two ballrooms, 24 meeting rooms and a total of 5,100 square meters (54,895 square feet) of event space.

“The potential to cater for the growing needs of the global business community is huge and we believe the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is uniquely placed in that regard,” said Rupprecht Queitsch, general manager.   “The hotel will fill a long identified gap in the market where groups, meetings and conventions of up to 1,000 people can meet, sleep and dine under one roof, in one location. There are businesses of this size choosing various cities around the world in which to meet, but until now, Dubai has not had a single location of this size to accommodate this type of group. In simple terms, we will establish Dubai on the global conference market landscape.

To give this market some context, the United States’ MICE segment, which will be one of the key targets of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai team, contributes $106 billion to that country’s GDP – higher than automotive manufacturing ($78 billion), performing arts/spectator sports/museums ($71 billion) and information and data processing services ($76 billion).

Dubai’s excellent air service, especially with the emerging BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies,  are expected to create further opportunity. Nasser Saidi, chief economist for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has already noted the growth in Chinese firms coming to Dubai to set up a hub to access the African markets, and China is becoming an increasingly important export partner for the UAE. In the first quarter of 2011, for example, China exported AED10.68bn worth of goods to Dubai and was the emirate’s second biggest export partner during that period.

“As for general business, Dubai is perfectly positioned, with its proximity to huge growth markets such as India and the fact it has literally billions of people within a five-hour flight range,” said Queitch. “What those business travelers are looking for is a hotel that has everything they could possibly need under one roof and we truly believe this iconic new property will set a new standard in business hotels, not just in the region but globally.”

Dining, Entertainment & Wellness Options

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will offer an enticing array of nine restaurants and five lounges and entertainment venues. The Vault lounge will sit on the 71^st and 72^nd floors with panoramic views of the city; a yet-t0-be named late-night music venue will offer live music daily.  Restaurants will range from Prime 68, a boutique steakhouse, to Atul Kochhar’s Rang Mahal Indian restaurant, Positano for Italian coastal cuisine, an Arabic restaurant and La Farine, an attractive boulangerie and social meeting spot.

The 1,500 square-meter (16,000 square-foot) Saray Spa draws inspiration from the caravanserai silk route across Arabia, with treatments designed to ensure mind and body renewal.  Treatments include the signature milk and honey treatment, an Arabic coffee awakener, a lemon and mint body polish and pomegranate renewal treatment.  For sun worshippers, an enormous pool deck covers the seventh floor of the hotel with a 32 meter swimming pool and deck with elegant cabanas, lounges and umbrellas.

The Marquis endorsement is reserved for iconic properties in the Marriott International portfolio, defined by their scale, grandeur and location. The new JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai will be the first JW Marquis branded property outside of North America (after the JW Marriott Marquis Miami) and sends a strong signal about how Marriott International views Dubai’s growing importance and global influence.

KYOTO IMPROVES OFFERING WITH NEW EVENT VENUE

Kyoto, Japan is continuing to grow its offering to the conference, events and incentives market with the launch of a new venue. The Fortune Garden, Kyoto, is located in the centre of the city and will open in early 2012.

The building dates back to 1927 and was designed by Takeda Goichi, who played a role in the development of modern Japanese architecture.
The Fortune Garden was built for one of Kyoto’s global leaders Shimadzu who used the venue as its headquarters until 1986.

The Fortune Garden is still owned by hi-tech manufacturer Shimadzu and as part of its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
the company wanted to breathe new life into the historic building by opening it up for use for corporate events including incentive
parties, company commemorations, networking receptions and exhibitions. The Fortune Garden provides four floors of event space,
each with a capacity of 130 people with first class French and Japanese cuisine available.

James Kent, Kyoto Convention Bureau’s international marketing manager welcomes the news of the new venue. He says: “The
addition of The Fortune Garden as a new venue in Kyoto shows the strength of facilities available to the meetings and conference
market. Its central location, excellent transport links and accessibility to a range of high quality hotels – including the
under construction Ritz Carlton – makes it ideal for a variety of international events.

“Kyoto is increasingly becoming an important centre for global events and conferences because of the wide range of modern meeting
facilities, unrivalled international access, high-quality service, stunning special venues, and plethora of sightseeing and cultural
attractions. New venues such as the Fortune Garden will only help make Kyoto a more attractive place to do business”.

HOFBURG Vienna – set for success

Results for 2011, outlook for 2012

A series of high ranking events, and an upswing in catering revenue set 2011 apart.

The conference centre continues to invest in trailblazing 3D and mobile technologies.

Le Grand Bal ready to debut this New Year’s Eve.

2011 – a successful year all round

With revenue of more than EUR 10 million, 2011 was an extremely strong financial year. “There was a slight upturn on the conference market, while banquets and galas moved into the ascendancy with significant gains,” explains HOFBURG Vienna Managing Director Renate Danler. Accounting for 14 percent of total revenue, the booming Banquets and Galas segment advanced to become the second largest area of business after the Conferences and Meetings segment (56 percent of the total). A number of new arrivals including the Styrian Ball and the Confectioner’s Ball saw the Ball segment claim 10 percent of revenue, followed by fairs and exhibitions with seven percent. Revenue generated by events did not reflect the additional EUR 7 million accounted for by catering activities. The highlights of the year included a line-up of high-level political meetings such as the World Economic Forum, the Vienna Energy Forum and the World Policy Conference. All in all some 320,000 visitors attended the 328 events and conference hosted by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the international conference and event centre. Added value for the national economy generated by the HOFBURG Vienna ran to about EUR 190 million in 2011. After the meeting spaces reserved for use by the OSCE, the Festsaal reported the highest occupancy rates. The Grosse Redoutensaal and the Zeremoniesaal were the next most in-demand. 

2012 – a year of innovation

From July 2012 the HOFBURG Vienna will be offering culinary creations from three exclusive new catering partners: DO & CO, a premium international caterer; GERSTNER, an established gourmet specialist; and COPALOCA, a byword for creative, fresh event catering. The new catering partners give the conference centre’s customers access to a greater choice than ever before and add a new dimension to event catering. 

The HOFBURG Vienna’s very own innovation management strategy is helping it to keep pace with all the latest technological developments and communications trends in the events industry. Recent introductions include free WiFi on request, a smartphone-optimised website and 3D models of the event spaces. 

The next phase will see the launch of an augmented reality application which will enable the HOFBURG Vienna to give customers an even more lifelike virtual tour of the facilities. This new technology will bring hybrid events a step closer. 

With 21 conferences already booked, 2012 is already shaping up to be a highly promising year for the HOFBURG Vienna. Like scientific events, medical conferences are in the ascendancy. Highlights include the MedicRes World Congress (7-8 June) with around 1,200 medical professionals, the International Conference on Arabidopsis Research with 1,000 cell researchers (3-7 July) and the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine (TERMIS) World Congress (6-8 September) with 1,000 doctors. The international conference of the European Resuscitation Councils (16-20 October) will attract more than 1,900 physicians. Other major dates include the Tara – life goes on benefit gala (1 December) and the inaugural ReiseSalon travel fair (23-25 November). Returning events include the Romy gala (21 April), the Una Notte Sportiva sports gala (28 September) and the Entrepreneur of the Year award ceremony (10 October). 

The year will be brought to a glittering close with the first ever Le Grand Bal, the HOFBURG Vienna’s very own New Year’s Eve ball. “The HOFBURG Vienna’s Le Grand Bal is a unique combination of a traditional Viennese ball night, with a luxury gala dinner and New Year’s Eve celebration,” Renate Danler explains. Between 2,500 and 3,000 ballgoers from Austria and abroad are expected to attend.

Vienna Convention Bureau to certify Green Meetings

The Vienna Convention Bureau supports sustainable action and environmentally friendly conference tourism. As a licensee of the Austrian EcoLogo, it is now authorized not only to assist conferences in matters relating to environmental impact, but also to certify them as “Green Meetings”.

The ecological footprint left by a congress has long been an important issue for congress organizers and congress destinations world-wide. For a long time now, the Vienna Tourist Board’s Vienna Convention Bureau (VCB) has advocated sustainability and responsible treatment of the environment. Now Nikolaus Berlakovich, Austria’s Minister for the Environment, has awarded the VCB the Austrian Green Meetings EcoLogo. This means that the bureau is now licensed to certify as Green Meetings conferences whose organizers take climate protection, regional value-added and social compatibility into account.

“Congresses of any size make an impact on the environment, whether it be due to their energy consumption, waste production, or CO2 emissions.
The Vienna Convention Bureau has set itself the task of raising awareness of sustainable action in the conference industry, and supports initiatives and projects involving the themes of green meetings, sustainability and corporate social res- ponsibility. As a licensee of the Austrian EcoLogo, we are not only pointing the way, but also aiming to enhance the competitiveness of Vienna as a congress city in the long term,” explains Christian Mutschlechner, Director of the Vienna Convention Bureau.

The Green Meetings EcoLogo was created in the year 2009 by the Austrian Ministry of Life and the Consumers’ Association of Austria. In order to obtain certification, an organizer needs a licensee such as the Vienna Convention Bureau who can not only handle the formal certification process, but is also bound by strict environmental protection regulations.

Additional benefit in the long term

Karin Stattmann is the person responsible for handling the certification process through the Vienna Convention Bureau (tel.: +43–1–211 14-528, e-mail: karin.stattmann@vienna.info). Karin is the point of contact for all congress organizers wishing to have their events in Vienna certified as Green Meetings. “We have clearly seen the steadily growing interest of customers, and this will result in other Vienna providers, such as hotels, congress centers and PCOs, qualifying as certification bodies in order to remain competitive,” predicts Karin. She is also quick to point out another aspect:

“The know-how which international customers gain as a result of the certification process in Vienna is also an excellent basis on which to handle their events abroad in line with the same criteria, thus applying the principles of the Austrian Green Meeting certificate. This additional benefit should not be underestimated – in the long term it can only reinforce the sustainability effect.”

Besides the Vienna Convention Bureau, the following companies in Vienna are also certification bodies for Green Meetings:

• Austropa/Interconvention
• RAM Consulting
• Hannah’s Plan
• Hotel Modul

THE HOTEL PORTAVENTURA UPDATES ITS FACILITIES

Just 100 metres from PortAventura Convention Centre, this has become one of the favourite hotels for attendees and delegates holding their professional events in the facilities of this venue.

Vila-seca/Salou, January 2011.- After several months of refurbishment work, the Hotel PortAventura, just a stone’s throw from PortAventura Convention Centre, is looking completely renovated. Exclusive decoration and a highly personal design: these were the key to the refurbishment of every one of the 502 rooms in the Hotel PortAventura.

“We want our guests’ stay to be as comfortable as possible, and this is why we have chosen every detail with great care, from the furnishings to the decoration,” stresses Franck Barbaras, head of PortAventura Business & Events. “But there can be no doubt that the biggest improvements have been in the field of technology. All the rooms now have a WI-FI connection and a comfortable work space, as well as a plasma television. Like this,” adds Barbaras-“Attendees and delegates at any of the numerous events we host in our facilities and who are staying at the Hotel PortAventura because of its nearness and convenience, will have a full range of comforts and amenities to make their stay a much more pleasant experience.”

The refurbishment work which has been carried out at the Hotel PortAventura in recent weeks has also included two of its most outstanding spaces, the facilities of which have been expanded and improved: the Buffet del MarRestaurant and the Sala Bosc.

In the very near future, agencies throughout Spain will be the target of a special promotional campaign concerning the new amenities and comforts of the Hotel PortAventura, which join those it already boasted.

Meeting Package: a unique product

The Hotel PortAventura in fact plays a starring role in the “Complete Meeting Package,” a highly interesting product to make any event or professional meeting into a unique experience, at a price which is more than attractive. The Meeting Package represents a comprehensive offer: a welcome drink, a night’s accommodation at the Hotel PortAventura (double room for single use plus breakfast); the hire of a room with equipment (one day); two coffee breaks (morning and afternoon); lunch and dinner; wi-fi connection free of charge, late check out by 5.00pm and one free room for every 30 paid for. All this at an exclusive price, from 185 Euros. “With the launch of this package, unique in our sector, we aim to share our excellent facilities and amenities with all those in the Meetings & Events segment,” states Franck Barbaras, head of PortAventura Business & Events and PortAventura Convention Centre.  

OCCC EVENTS DONATE MORE THAN $1.6 MILLION TO LOCAL CHARITIES

Orange County Convention Center tradeshows donate more than $1.6 million locally in 2011 Food, school and building supplies among donations

While the Orange County Convention Center is known for providing an economic boost to the Central Florida community, it’s also become a major source of donations for several of the area’s charitable organizations. In 2011, it’s estimated more than $1.6 million in goods and services were donated to local organizations by visiting conventions and tradeshows and their exhibitors and attendees.

More than four dozen visiting shows made donations that included nearly 250,000 pounds of food to local food banks, more than $175,000 in educational supplies and grants and more than $100,000 in building supplies.

“We are so proud of all the conventions and shows that choose to make a donation to one of our local groups,” said Kathie Canning, the convention center’s deputy general manager. “It’s great to see our visitors are providing a positive economic impact to our community not only by spending locally, but also giving locally.”

London Hotels Insight Inspects the Heathrow Meeting Rooms at Radisson Edwardian Heathrow

London Hotels Insight recently launched a free advisory service for companies to help them identify the best free WiFi meeting venues in London. A recent visit to the Radisson Edwardian Heathrow revealed that it ticks many of the criteria.

Marriott International Announces First SpringHill Suites Branded Hotel in New York City

SpringHill Suites, an all-suite brand by Marriott International (NYSE:MAR), announced its first SpringHill Suites hotel in New York City.  Marriott will manage the 173-room

New General Manager for the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bristol

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Bristol,  has appointed Christopher Peach as the General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bristol. Christopher brings managerial experience and a range of other hospitality-related skills to the position.

Christopher has an extensive background in the hospitality industry, spanning 23 years. Having started his career in 1987 as Commis Chef aboard the Queen Elizabeth II cruise liner, he has since held various management positions at different international hotel chains in South Africa, China, Bahrain, UAE, Turkey and Russia.

This new appointment has Christopher returning to his native Britain, where he will manage one of only a few waterfront hotels in Bristol city centre. Though this is the first time Christopher will work at the Hotel Bristol, he isn’t new to Rezidor, having joined the hotel company in February 2011 as Executive Assistant Manager of the Park Inn by Radisson Pribaltiyskaya in St. Petersburg. His role at this Russian hotel was Christopher’s most recent position.

In addition to his experience in the hotel industry, Christopher holds a Diploma as Chef from the Bournemouth and Poole College of Further Education in the UK. Acclaimed as a young chef, Christopher won the regional and national Junior Chaîne Des Rôtisseurs Competition, and represented South Africa in the World Finals in Germany. Among his many additional professional qualifications, Christopher holds a Master in Food Services Management from Cornell University. Though Christopher is filling a management role, and not working as part of the hotel’s food service team, his experience in this field will undoubtedly help him in his position as General Manager.

Hilton Worldwide Opens Two New Hotels at Frankfurt Airport

FRANKFURT, Germany – Hilton Worldwide announced the opening of Hilton Frankfurt Airport and Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport, part of the renowned, futuristic THE SQUAIRE complex. The project is a first for Hilton Worldwide in Europe with two individually branded hotels operating beside each other under the same roof.

Simon Vincent, area president, Europe, Hilton Worldwide, said, “THE SQUAIRE is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings in Europe and we are delighted to welcome these two spectacular properties to our portfolio in this iconic, design-led development. With more than 220 hotels now in Europe and more than 110 hotels in our development pipeline, Hilton Worldwide is experiencing phenomenal growth across the continent and this opening marks an exciting milestone for us with two hotels operating alongside each other – a first for our company in Europe.”

Approximately 14 kilometres from the city centre, business and leisure guests have a prime vantage point to the financial capital of Germany and the numerous cultural delights of the city such as the Alte Oper concert hall, the historic city hall Römer and the Goethehaus – birthplace of the famous German writer, Goethe.

The two hotels are located directly above the ICE Railway Station with trains direct to downtown Frankfurt in approximately 15 minutes and across the continent to a variety of exciting locations. Guests are connected to Frankfurt Airport, the second largest airport on the European continent, via pedestrian skywalk and the A3, A5 and Frankfurter Kreuz motorway interchanges also have direct access to the airport with an adjacent junction interchange. .

The internationally renowned interior designer, JOI-Design, has mirrored the mobility theme featured in THE SQUAIRE within both hotels, whilst also creating an oasis of tranquillity for guests seeking rest and relaxation. Natural tones throughout the properties provide a relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, with golden ceilings above the reception and modern features throughout, resulting in contemporary and stylish surroundings.

Hilton Frankfurt Airport offers 249 elegant guest rooms and suites featuring sound-proof windows, an LCD TV and a work area with an ergonomic desk chair. Guests will also be able to enjoy international cuisine and local delicacies at the all-day dining restaurant, Rise, and The FIFTH Lounge & Bar, positioned in the hotel’s light-flooded atrium. World champion pastry chef, Bernd Siefert, also provides a selection of delectable pastries and cakes to the hotel, every day, for guests to enjoy.

The hotel features two executive floors with an exclusive lounge and ten modern meeting rooms with natural lighting. A 24-hour business centre features state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel.

Hilton Frankfurt Airport also offers a spacious 24 hour fitness centre with a steam room and sauna, all of which is also accessible to guests of Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport. Both hotels can also enjoy access to a grand ballroom accommodating up to 570 people and can access the 125 hotel-allocated parking spaces or the 600 parking spaces in THE SQUAIRE.

Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, said, “Since 1959, when Hilton Hotels & Resorts pioneered the airport hotel concept in San Francisco, airport hotels have continued to play an important role in our brand’s development. Stylish, forward-looking and innovative, Hilton Frankfurt Airport will offer the signature hospitality that our guests have come to expect in this unique environment.”

Award-winning Hilton Garden Inn recently celebrated a top ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM – in the first year the brand has qualified for the index. The Frankfurt Airport property offers a total of 334 rooms featuring complimentary wireless internet access, a king-size Garden Sleep SystemTM bed, a refrigerator and a spacious working desk with ergonomic Mirra® chairs designed by Herman Miller.

Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt also offers guests a bar and restaurant with show kitchen, The Restaurant, that delivers buffet and grill specialities and a stunning view over the Taunus mountain range. The signature Hilton Garden Inn Pavilion Pantry® also provides guests with healthy snacks and drinks anytime of the day or night. Three contemporary meeting rooms with natural light are also available accommodating up to 28 guests.

Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn, said, “Germany is a special destination for Hilton Garden Inn, having opened our first European hotel in Stuttgart in 2006. To be opening our 21st Hilton Garden Inn in Europe, the second largest Hilton Garden Inn in the world, here in Frankfurt is a momentous occasion and demonstrates the dynamic growth of our brand across the continent. Hilton Garden Inn prides itself on signature architecture and our upscale level of essential service and amenities, all of which are exemplified at Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport.”

The two hotels take up around a quarter of the 140,000 square meter THE SQUAIRE, which hosts an ultra-modern business and conference centre and an array of shops and restaurants, making the development an attracive focal point for the whole region.

Hilton Frankfurt Airport and Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport both participate in Hilton HHonors®, the only guest rewards program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with No Blackout Dates at more than 3,800 hotels worldwide.

In 2011 Hilton Worldwide has opened more than 20 hotels across Europe with the most recent openings including Hilton Garden Inn Mardin, Turkey and Hilton Baku, the first Hilton Worldwide property in Azerbaijan. In 2012 Hilton Worldwide looks forward to welcoming, amongst many others, Waldorf Astoria Berlin, Germany; and Hilton and Hampton by Hilton Bursa, Turkey, which will open as the second dual-branded hotel from the Hilton Worldwide portfolio in Europe.

Lord’s Cricket Ground has announced a new day delegate rate exclusive to January and February 2012.

The Home of Cricket, which has become recognised for the variety of its different event spaces from the ultra-modern J.P. Morgan Media Centre to the historic Grade II* listed Pavilion, is offering a £49.50 DDR targeted at budget conscious conference bookers. The no frills package includes a choice of three different menus and can be booked in a number of rooms within the Ground.

The choice of venues, within Lord’s, include the Thomas Lord Suite; a fully AV-supported conference space and the Nursery Pavilion, a 1000sq of event space which is extremely flexible and can cater for up to 600 guests.

The J.P. Morgan Media Centre, which overlooks the most famous field in world cricket, has seen demand from organisers for forum style events, with its tiered seating promoting a high level of interaction.

Corporate clients who have held conferences at Lord’s over the past 12 months include The Incorporated Society of British Advertisers, Ascert and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Menus reflect Lord’s commitment to sourcing local provenance; meat from the award-winning Pipers Farm, Cullompton in Devon and deliveries of field-fresh vegetables and herbs daily. Three different varieties of cold buffet lunches feature homemade recipes such as Scotch Quail Eggs and Lemon Poached Salmon Ballantine with a Light Caesar Salad, while tea, coffee and herbal infusions are served to delegates at four different points throughout the day.

Nick Kenton, Meetings & Events Sales Manager at Lord’s, said: “This new DDR underlines our dedication to keeping conferences at Lord’s attainable and affordable, without compromising our quality and service values.  The New Year looks set to be a busy time in the Capital and this offer will allow us to keep a competitive edge as 2012 comes to the boil.”

* Minimum numbers apply and will vary for different venues. Bookings must be made for events that take place in January or February 2012.

Centre Wins National Environmental Award

For the fourth year running, the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has won the Best Green Initiative category at the national Exhibition and Events Association of Australasia’s Annual Awards.

 Announced at a gala dinner in Sydney last night, the award recognises the ongoing emphasis that the venue places on its environmental practices as well as its role as an industry leader on sustainability issues.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said he was extremely proud of the achievement, which reflected the passion and enthusiasm of the Centre’s team.

“The fact that the Centre has won this award every year since it was first launched in 2008 recognises the commitment of our team,” Mr van Amerongen said.

“They are focussed on creating a more sustainable events industry and are always looking for new ways to improve our environmental performance.”The award comes at the end of a year which has seen the Centre win more than 10 major industry accolades, including C&IT’s Worldwide Convention Centre Team of the Year , Australasia’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre in the 2011 World Travel Awards and Best Meeting Venue for 500 delegates or more in the Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) National Awards.

The Centre’s submission for the national EEAA awards highlighted its continued improvements in its environmental measures, overseen by its own Ecowise team, as well as work this year to create a long-term strategic plan for the venue which identifies new waste management targets for the period 2011 to 2015.

In the past year, the Centre’s green initiatives have earnt it a number of industry awards. It has also been recognised as a Green Globe (Silver) Benchmarked Convention Centre, a Bronze Partner of the NSW Government’s Sustainability Advantage program and received the Earthcheck Silver Certification and ISO 14001:2004 Standard for Environmental Management Systems.

The Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is to open Europe’s first fully automated convention center in autumn 2012

Located at the heart of Europe, just 60 km from Geneva, the Swiss Tech Convention Center – with a total capacity of 3,000 – will include a 2,200-seat conference room with an 800-seat balcony, as well as fifteen fully modular meeting rooms on the garden level.

SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts Announces the Addition of More Services

SENTIDO Hotels & Resorts is expanding its holiday

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis Announces its Festive Celebrations

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis has announced its schedule of events for the 2011 festive season.

From fun filled Christmas parties to welcoming New Year in style, the Radisson Blu Hotel Cairo has a variety of events planned to suit every taste, with culinary delights awaiting guests on Christmas Eve, Christmas day and New Year’s Eve at the hotel’s outlets.

For Christmas, guests can choose between a rich, open buffet at the MIX restaurant or selective five course set menus at the Filini eatery where Executive Chef, Nasser Ewais has created a festive menu complete with all the trademark creativity and mastery usually found at Filini. Adding to the ambience will be a live band playing a selection of background music while patrons enjoy watching the chefs at work in the show kitchen at this award-winning concept restaurant.

At 1122, a stylish bar serving fresh juices, international cocktails and shisha, guests will be able to enjoy snacks accompanied by live entertainment, either inside the lounge or outside at the terrace.

Guests will also be able to enjoy Terrace on 9, located beside the hotel’s rooftop pool. This relaxing venue serves healthy meals and snacks, along with an array of refreshing beverages. Guests can stretch out in the sun while enjoying one of the bar’s fresh juices.

For New Year’s Eve, whether guests prefer a dancing the away night or exclusive dinners for singles, couples or families, the hotel will be able to offer something for everyone.

The hotel Cairo Egypt also offers great Cairo conference facilities, with eight flexible meeting rooms featuring natural light and state-of-the-art equipment.

RIU opens the Riu Palace Bavaro

Palma de Mallorca, December 2nd 2011

The opening of this new hotel coincides with the celebration of 20th Anniversary of the international presence of the hotel chain

The new Riu Palace has a modern Convention Center with a capacity for up to 1,000 people

RIU Hotels & Resorts opened today the Riu Palace Bavaro, a modern and elegant hotel located in the RIU Punta Cana Complex, becoming the 34th RIU resort in Latin America & the Caribbean. The opening of this new hotel coincides with the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the international presence of the hotel chain which in November 1991 began operating outside of Spain the hotel Riu Taino. Two decades later, on the same site where this historic hotel was located, the hotel chain opens the Riu Palace Bavaro hotel.

After an investment of more than 80 million dollars, the Riu Palace Bavaro will be the fifth hotel in Punta Cana and the third of the luxurious range Riu Palace, as the hotel chain already has the Riu Palace Macao and Riu Palace Punta Cana in this destination.

This elegant hotel will feature 610 rooms distributed between the main building and luxurious villas that will offer wireless internet access in their suites and Jr. Suites, (Wifi service also available in the lobby). The new hotel presents a vast gastronomic selection of tastes in its main restaurant, four specialty restaurants, a lobby bar with ice cream and pastries as well as a Sport Bar open 24 hours. The hotel will offer four swimming pools, two of which have integrated Jacuzzi, a children’s pool with a mini-club, the famous entertainment programme and a Spa with sauna, jacuzzi, gym, casino and a Convention Center of 12,916 sq ft which will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 people, all under the renowned 24 Hours All-Inclusive programme.

The evolution of the hotel chain in the Dominican Republic has been consistent, satisfying customer demand and demonstrating a strong commitment to the country which has been reflected by the last year renovation from the Riu Bambu, the refurbishment of the modern and spectacular Riu Naiboa, the opening of the Riu Palace Bavaro, the renovation of the Riu Palace Macao for 2012 and the upcoming merge of the ClubHotel Riu Mambo and ClubHotel Riu Merengue in Puerto Plata for next year.

The RIU Punta Cana complex, which form part the Riu Palace Bavaro, Riu Palace Punta Cana, Riu Palace Macao, Riu Bambu and Riu Naiboa, is located on one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Playa Arena Gorda, and where its music and cheerful Dominican culture, offers the perfect attributes for an unforgettable vacation.

QNCC Officially Opens

The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), a member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will officially open on 4 December 2011. In support of the country’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy, Qatar Foundation has made significant achievements in building and developing capacity for creativity and critical thinking through research in education and science. The Qatar National Convention Centre advances these objectives as the new global hub for ideas and innovation.

With its state-of-the-art facilities, cutting edge technology and iconic design, the QNCC today is one of the most sophisticated convention and exhibition centres in the world.

The project was given the go-ahead in 2004, with construction commencing two years later. Now, after five and a half years of construction and planning, the QNCC is ready to welcome the world. QNCC’s General Manager, Adam Mather-Brown described the occasion as “exhilarating”.

“The QNCC is not just a meeting place, it’s a vision that has materialized from years of hard work and dedication involving many multi-skilled teams,” he said.

Designed by renowned Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, the Centre boasts a stunning signature façade, a 250 metre long, curved steel tree structure reaching up to support the exterior canopy. The design of the building was inspired by the local Qatari icon, the Sidra tree, symbolizingQatar Foundation’s three key pillars of education, science and research, and community development. The tree is a beacon of learning and comfort in the desert which traditionally provided shelter for scholars and poets to gather, and to exchange and share knowledge.

According to Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, Qatar Foundation, Vice President of Capital Projects and Facilities Management, “The opening of the QNCC will undoubtedly advance Qatar in the field of infrastructure and build human capacity on a global scale. The Centre’s guests, experiencing our unique atmosphere, will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and brainstorm together for the future of Qatar in the modern world.”

With a 2,300 seat lyric theatre, three auditoria, a multipurpose conference hall for 4,000 guests, 40,000 square metres exhibition space and 52 meeting rooms, the Centre could accommodate 27,000 people in the venue at one time.

QNCC is the first of its kind built to the gold certification of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED).

Mr Mather-Brown said following the opening, the QNCC will take centre stage as it welcomes the much-anticipated 20^th World Petroleum Congress (WPC) and its 5,000 delegates from 4 to 8 December 2011.

The 20^th WPC is a triennial event organized under the umbrella of the World Petroleum Council and whose members represent 95 percent of the global oil and gas production. This will be the first Congress to be hosted in the Middle East and the largest oil and gas gathering in the world. Immediately after the 20^th WPC, the Centre will prepare for the 4^thUnited Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum (UNAOC) from 11 to 13 December 2011.

QNCC rounds off an exciting month with its first full-scale international theatrical production in the 2,300 seat theatre. An all-international cast for Shakespeare’s Richard III will fly into Qatar, showcasing the title role played by Oscar-winning actor and Artistic Director of the Old Vic, Kevin Spacey. The production will be directed by Academy Award-winner Sam Mendes. Qatar is the only Middle East destination included in the global tour.