ICELAND: Hilton Reykjavik Nordica Opens

SWITZERLAND: The Grand Hotel Geneva Reopens as The Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva

BELGIUM: Brussels, New Dolce La Hulpe Resort & Conference Center

SOUTH AFRICA: Table Bay Hotel is the Readers' Choice

EgyptAir to Join Star Alliance

The I&MI On-Line Seminars are a new feature designed to help planners get a more in-depth overview of featured destinations and suppliers in an interactive format. Click the logo of the destination you wish to view and enjoy the trip!
http://www.i-mi.com



Incentives & Meetings International is introducing a new service to showcase select international destinations to qualified buyers of MICE programs. http://www.i-mi.com

The Rocco Forte Collection was voted Europe's Leading Luxury Hotel Brand for the third year in a row at the World Travel Awards. Plus, three individual Rocco Forte properties also received accolades at the World Travel Awards – the Hotel Amigo was named Brussels' Leading Hotel, The Balmoral was named Scotland's Leading Hotel and the Hotel Astoria was named Russia's Leading Suite Hotel.

Hamburg's new CCH was inaugurated last month. The Congress Center and New Trade Fair now feature a conference area, exhibition hall and Europe's largest roof garden. The new exhibition hall is over 7,000 sqm/75,347 sqft, the new conference area has 3,000 sqm/32,392 sqft of flexible space and there is a banqueting hall of 1,200 sqm/12,917 sqft. Many of the conference halls' foyers have direct access to the roof garden which has 40,000 plants, and recently hosted ZDF hansetreff, one of Hamburg's high-profile media events. The Roof Garden is not only esthetically pleasing, but also helps to conserve the building's energy.

Until next time
Best

The 4-Star Hilton Reykjavik Nordica opened last month in Reykjavik's financial district. The 252 room property is located across from Reykjavik's largest public park, Laugardalur, and features an executive floor, a club floor, business center and Nordic Spa. Event facilities comprise of 11 rooms ranging from a boardroom accommodating 12 to the ballroom, which can accommodate 644.
For dining, the gourmet Vox Restaurant features Scandinavian specialties made with local seasonal produce, the Bistro offers a casual atmosphere for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the Lobby Bar offers drinks and light snacks. The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica is a 20-minute walk to the city center and the hotel provides a free shuttle service.

Web site: http://www.hilton.com

The new Dolce La Hulpe Resort & Conference Center offers accommodation, conference facilities plus excellent off site event venues very close by. In addition to the resort and 25 room conference center, there is Chateau La Hulpe, a castle dating back to 1842, and the Wellington Museum. The Waterloo Museum and the Waterloo battlefield of Napoleon fame are all in close proximity.

Dolce La Hulpe Resort & Conference Center, situated in the Swan Forest, is 9 miles/12 km south east of Brussels city center. The resort has 264 guest rooms and suites including 70 Executive Rooms, 12 Conference Suites and 1 Grand Suite. All guest rooms have a view of the forest or Feng Shui Garden. The Conference Center has a total of 3,995 sqm/43,000 sqft of meeting space with 23 meeting rooms and 2 auditoriums, which can seat 500 and 150 attendees respectively. For exhibitions, there is 750 sqm/8,073 sqft of floor space. All event rooms have natural daylight, are equipped with ergonomic seating, state-of-the-art technology and free wireless Internet access. A new coffee break concept called 'E-coffee areas' provides continually refreshed coffee-break-buffets and multiple networking areas. The Conference Center has a dedicated staff of conference planners and AV technicians.

Dining facilities include the main dining room, which serves up to 320 people buffet style and 50 people "'à la carte" in a separate area. The Lobby bar, Badiane, features a library, fireplace and TV. The Oak Bar lounge offers games, TVs and also dancing.

For recreation, there is a fitness room, steam, sauna and indoor swimming pool with lounge chairs and an outdoor terrace. Plus, there are two tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, forest jogging trails, mountain bikes rental, golf, horse riding and the Feng Shui Garden.

Nearby, Chateau La Hulpe is also available for private hire. Chateau La Hulpe can accommodate from 150 to 500 attendees in four luxurious event rooms. The Falon Foundation, the farmhouse adjacent to La Hulpe Castle, houses a museum dedicated to Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. Its remodeled event space hosts six event rooms and accommodates 80 for a banquet and 200 for a reception. The Wellington Museum in Waterloo also has event space in the former 18th century coaching inn that served as the HQ for the Duke of Wellington.

Eamil: philippe.visette@dolce.com
Web site: http://www.lahulpe.dolce.com

Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town was voted Number 1 in Africa and Number 8 in the world by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine in the 20th annual Readers' Choice Awards published in November 2007. The 5-Star property and member of The Leading Hotels of the World is located on the historic Cape Town waterfront. The property's 311 guest rooms and 18 suites have views of either the bay and Robben Island, the city or Table Mountain.

Meeting facilities include the Ballroom, which accommodates 200 for dinner and 300 theatre style; the Victorian style Pavilion, adjacent to the Ballroom, is perfect for smaller events. The Boardroom seats 25 classroom style. Dining options at the Table Bay include the Atlantic Restaurant for fine dining, the Conservatory for more casual meals, the Lounge, which serves Table Bay's famous High Tea and the Union Bar for drinks.

The spa features a range of treatments including Thalassotherapy, hydrotherapy and massage. Facilities include the fitness center, exercise gym and a heated swimming pool and pool bar that overlook the Atlantic Ocean. The hotel is a 20 minutes drive from Cape Town International Airport. It is adjacent to Cape Town's largest shopping center and is just a few minutes walk to the heart of Cape Town's city center. There is also direct access to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront from the hotel.

E-mail: grouptbh@sunint.co.za
Web site: http://www.tablebayhotel.com