Europe/Middle East/Africa Newsletter March 2007 Edition

The Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko is the first property in Bulgaria to achieve membership into the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World consortium. On 13 February 2007, the hotel was appointed as one of the Leading Hotels of the World after an intensive three-day incognito audit.

The 159-room property is comprised of five buildings located at the foot of the ski slopes of Bansko and offers stunning views of Pirin Mountain and direct access to the gondola station.

Event facilities , located on the first floor adjacent to the Bella Vista Lounge & Terrace, include two conference rooms accommodating 160 delegates each. Coffee breaks and cocktail receptions can be taken in the Bella Vista Lounge or on the sunny Bella Vista Terrace, weather permitting. To assist planners with arrangements, the hotel appoints a dedicated Resort Meetings Concierge for each program. The hotel also offers special Recreation Meeting Packages and Sport & Fun Meeting packages that include services at luxurious Zalez Spa & Wellness center or such activities as horse back riding days, rafting and kayaking on the Struma River, mountain biking and climbing and guided hikes in the Pirin National Park up to the glacial lakes. And the property can also arrange sightseeing day trips to the Rilla Monastery or wine tasting in the town of Melnik . These activities and day trips are excellent suggestions for groups or to use as pre and post activities. 

E-mail: meetings.grandarena@kempinski.com

Hilton Gives You Twice As Much In Barcelona

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is adding two more luxury cruisers. The ships, the Mövenpick M/S Royal Lily and the Mövenpick M/S Prince Abbas will join with the three ships already in the Nile fleet.

The Mövenpick M/S Royal Lily has 56 spacious cabins 21.5 sm (231 sf) and four Royal Suites 42 sm (452 sf). All of the cabins are located on the ship's upper decks to assure passengers unhindered views of Egypt as the ship cruises the Nile from Aswan to Luxor . The fully air-conditioned ship includes a restaurant that serves Egyptian and international specialties including vegetarian selections, a Salon Deck with panorama windows and Oriental-style lounge, a Sun Deck with swimming pool, whirlpool and pool bar.

The Prince Abbas , which is presently being refitted and modernized, will re-launch in November 2007 as the Mövenpick M/S Prince Abbas. The ship will have five fully air-conditioned decks with exterior promenades and 65 cabins including 18 Junior Suites and four Royal Suites. The ship's swimming pool will be located on its new two story Sun Deck and there will also be a library, fitness center, lounge, bar and restaurant. The Mövenpick M/S Prince Abbas will cruise on Lake Nasser bringing guests to historic and lesser known Nubian treasures including the awe inspiring Temple of Abu Simbel with its colossal statues of King Ramses II.

Web site: http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com

The Rezidor Hotel Group is doubling its participation with the German Convention Bureau (GCB). The hotel company is benefiting from the GCB's chain membership option, which markets all of a group's properties located in Germany to event planners. Now, Rezidor's twelve hotels in Germany will be represented by the GCB affording the hotel group greater visibility to MICE market planners looking for venues in Germany.

GCB managing director Lutz P. Vogt comments:  We are very happy that such an important and well-established hotel group like Rezidor is upgrading the GCB's portfolio with further hotels and providing our customers with a broad and high-quality range of offerings in the field of meetings and conventions. This will also benefit Germany as a meetings destination. The GCB's successful introduction of hotel chain membership shows us that we are following the right strategy.

The GCB web site www.germany-meetings.com is very user friendly and provides clear and comprehensive information on holding events on Germany. The site features a very efficient venue selection search engine. In my opinion, it is one of the best convention bureau web sites. 

E-mail: info@gcb.de

Web site: http://www.germany-meetings.com

18-20 March at the Bella Center, Copenhagen, Denmark

MPI (Meeting Professionals International) will hold its Professional Education Conference (PEC) later this month. Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mary is the Official patroness of the event and the Crown Princess will attend the Opening General Session at the Bella Center.

This year's conference will highlight leadership and global business skills with educational sessions offering successful methods and best practices from leaders in the field. The PEC-E provides motivational and educational sessions for professionals of all levels of industry expertise.

Conference events will take place in some of Denmark 's stunning venues. Opening Night Networking will take place at the new Opera House, Rendezvous-Europe, a benefit event for the MPI Foundation, will be held at the Concert Hall Foyer in Tivoli Gardens and the Closing Night Gala will be held at the 120-year old Wallmans Salonger building in downtown Copenhagen.

Details on sessions, events, travel information, online registration and housing are available on MPI Web.

Web site: http://www.mpiweb.org