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Europe, Middle East, Africa Newsletter March 2008
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! I&MI Media is introducing a new service to showcase select international destinations to qualified buyers of MICE programs. http://www.i-mi.com - Scheduled inspections: Paris: September 2008, Croatia: May & October 2008 It is I&MI Media's pleasure to bring this collection of hotels and DMC's that have recently been added to our website and will be a part of our annual directory, The Workbook, in the 2008 edition.

Europe, Middle East, Africa Newsletter March 2008

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!

I&MI Media is introducing a new service to showcase select international destinations to qualified buyers of MICE programs. http://www.i-mi.com - Scheduled inspections:
Paris: September 2008, Croatia: May & October 2008

It is I&MI Media's pleasure to bring this collection of hotels and DMC's that have recently been added to our website and will be a part of our annual directory, The Workbook, in the 2008 edition.

In This Issue	Editors Note
GERMANY: Berlin – Always Good Value MOROCCO: The W Marrakech BAHRAIN: St. Regis Coming to Bahrain FRANCE: PCVB’s New Event Website & New Meeting Planners’ Guide TURKEY: Mövenpick Hotel Opens in Izmir In The Air Finnair to the Urals & More Lift to Moscow and St. Petersburg Air Berlin Soars with Long Haul Routes	Unconventional Malta is the proud recipient of two awards so far this year. The DMC received an Award of Excellence as ‘Most Proactive Supplier’ and an Award of Merit as ‘Best DMC’ at the annual BI Partners in Success awards gala held at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London on 12 February. BI is a UK motivation company, which recognizes its business partners with an annual awards dinner. BI associates vote on companies they’ve partnered with during the previous year and award those who provided ‘exemplary support’ to BI. Unconventional Malta’s managing Director, Fiona Captur, said, “We are delighted with the recognition these awards give us in the industry and are proud that Malta was showcased at its best, against stiff competition. Our ability to win these two awards is also a tribute to the ongoing support and professionalism of our suppliers in Malta across the whole spectrum of the tourism industry who all play a huge part in ensuring that every detail of a program we develop and deliver is executed perfectly. We are totally committed to the success of our clients, which inevitably underlines our own.” Website: www.unconventionalmalta.com. The Hilton Prague received ‘Best Hotel in the Czech Republic’ accolade at the TTG Awards 2008 gala held on 9 February at the Resort Svata Katerina. The property was voted the Czech Republic's Leading Hotel in 2007 at the World Travel Awards ceremony and Hilton was voted Best Hotel Chain in Eastern Europe for second year in a row in the same year by Business Traveler US Magazine. For more information on the hotel, go to www.prague.hilton.com. Until next time Best Helena Miele, CITE Editor electronic newsletters
Germany: Berlin – Always Good Value
Wanting to go to one of Europe’s capital cities but concerned about exchange rates? Berlin might just be the answer. Compared to other European capitals, Berlin stands out for value for money. Plus, Berlin is filled with historic and contemporary sights and venues and there is a cutting edge fashion and art scene. Hotel rates are competitive. Currently, Berlin has 90,732 available hotel beds in 592 hotels and guest houses with an additional 8,000 rooms becoming available in the near future. This large hotel inventory keeps Berlin in a buyer’s market. In 2006, the average room rate in a 4 or 5-Star hotel in Berlin was quoted at Euro 140 per night, compared to rooms of similar quality priced at Euro 314 in London and Euro 298 in Paris. (Average rates for 2007 are not available at this time.) The Berlin Welcome Card Getting around Berlin is also cost effective. The Berlin Welcome Card is perfect for attendees traveling to and from meetings and during free time. The card offers 48 or 72 hours of public transportation inside Berlin’s city limits and its accompanying booklet offers Berlin information and discount coupons for many sights and tourist attractions. There is also a Welcome Card Culture+, which is the combination of a transportation ticket (valid for three days) and a three-day museum pass. For more information on the Berlin Welcome Card, go to www.berlin-welcomecard.de. Website: www.visitberlin.de
Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf Schlossgasse 9 – 1 2500 Baden Austria Phone +43 2252 48 301 Fax +43 2252 48 301 150 A very unique place – Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf Residence & Spa Unique places to hold a meeting are rare. Unique meeting places combining a historic environment and modern facilities are even more rare. Unique historic meeting places with modern facilities and good accessibility are hardly to be found at all. One of the most compelling places to hold a meeting is the Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf in Baden, 26 km/16 miles south from Vienna. The hotel, a renaissance castle from the 13th century, located in a rose garden, has 100 lately renovated and air-conditioned rooms, 13 conference facilities with daylight from 30 to 200 people and a spa area of over 1,000 sqm/10,765 sqft with sauna, indoor pool and steam bath. With its felicitous combination of modern design, castle ambience and wellness oasis the Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf is the perfect location to tie up business with pleasure or vice versa. Information & Contact: weikersdorf@austria-hotels.at www.hotelschlossweikersdorf.at AUSTRIA HOTELS International offers 14 properties in Vienna, Baden (near Vienna), Eisenstadt (Austria), Prague and Brno (Czech Republic) with a total capacity of 1,568 rooms.
MOROCCO: The W Marrakech
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is bringing its W brand to Northern Africa to exotic, Morocco. The 5-Star W Marrakech and The Residences at W Marrakech will be part of the Al Maaden Resort, a mix-use development. The Al Maaden Resort will also include a total of three 5-Star resorts including the W Marrakech, 141 villas, 4 medinas with 350 Riads, and an 18-hole golf course with views of the Atlas Mountains. The 150-room W will have 14 W Suites, three WOW Suites, an Extreme WOW Suite and all the W signature comforts and styles including the W bed. The hotel will feature the familiar W Living Room experience, two restaurants, a destination bar and a poolside bar. There will be 1,000 sqm/10,764 sqft of event space at the W. For recreation and relaxation there is a fitness center, spa, indoor and outdoor pools and a gift shop. The property is scheduled to open mid 2010.
BAHRAIN: St. Regis Coming to Bahrain
Starwood is building a St. Regis Hotel in Bahrain. The hotel will be situated on a reclaimed island facing Manama city center. The 300-room property will feature famed St. Regis luxuries such as butler service with butler staff trained in the British tradition. Hotel facilities will include 3,000 sqft/279 sqm of event space, four restaurants and a large spa. The 5-Star St. Regis Bahrain, which opens in 2011, will be located less than a mile from the commercial district and a 15 minute drive to the Bahrain International Airport. The hotel will be also close to the King Fahd Causeway, a 15 mile/24 km bridge that connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.
Latest Berlin convention statistics The Berlin convention statistics, which have just been published for last year, indicate growth rates in all areas: 11% more bed nights in the hotel sector, a greater international dimension to conventions, meetings and events coupled with a 10% growth in sales revenues taking them to € 1.456 billion. A total of 101,200 events were staged in Berlin with approximately 7.97 million participants. This means a growth of 6% in events and of 7% in participants. The share of international events (23%) increased in 2007 by one percentage point compared with the previous year. This means that just under one in four events in Berlin has an international dimension. With regard to the origins of participants, the region with 47% is still very clearly to the fore. Overall there is, however, a trend towards larger shares of participants from Germany, Europe and the rest of the world. Source: ghh consult 2008 based on congress-berlin.net Berlin Convention Office Am Karlsbad 11 10785 Berlin, Germany Email: berlin-convention-office@b-c-o.com Tel.: +49 30 26 39 183 Fax: +49 30 2647 489 65 Website: http://www.berlin-convention-office.com Member of: ICCA, MPI, SITE, ECM, GCB
FRANCE: PCVB’s New Event Website & New Meeting Planners’ Guide
The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (PCVB) launched a new event-specific website in January. The site http://convention.parisinfo.com lists convention and exhibition centers, hotels with meeting rooms, event venues, museums, chateaus, boats, restaurants, cabarets, festive venues, private transportation firms, caterers, PCO’s, DMC’s and agencies. It also includes promotional tools for planners such as a PowerPoint presentation, a promotional film and guidebooks like the Paris Gourmand Guide. Meeting in Paris The 2008-2009 ‘Meeting in Paris’ guide is hot off the press and available now. This bilingual print guide (French and English) starts with a dozen pages detailing the added values of the city and includes a wide range of hotel accommodation, meeting infrastructures and outstanding venues. The guide also provides detailed and immediate comparisons of the suppliers listed within its pages. Meeting in Paris is available from Maison de la France offices worldwide and will be available for distribution at Parisian events and international exhibitions such as the upcoming IMEX. In can also be downloaded on-line from the PCVB website. Website: http://convention.parisinfo.com
TURKEY: Mövenpick Hotel Opens in Izmir
The 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Izmir recently opened after two and a half years of extensive renovations. The hotel, located in the heart of Izmir close to the Aegean Sea, features 185 guest rooms including 38 executive rooms, 17 junior suites and a royal suite. Most guest rooms have views of the square in the front of the hotel or the Aegean Sea. The hotel’s Executive Lounge, which is open 24-hours, serves refreshments and snacks around the clock. Meeting facilities include 9 function rooms accommodating from 15 to 210 attendees. The hotel provides planners with a ‘personal contact partner’ who works closely with them to insure event success. The property is within walking distance to the trade fair grounds and also to the city’s business and shopping districts. Dining venues include The Margaux Restaurant serving Turkish and international specialties, the Breeze Bar and the Swiss Cake Restaurant serving special Mövenpick coffee and ice cream, Swiss chocolate and homemade cakes. For health and relaxation, the Coral Health Club features a fitness center, sauna and steam room, yoga lessons, massage and a Vitamin Bar. Website: www.movenpick.com
In The Air
Finnair to the Urals & More Lift to Moscow and St. Petersburg
will begin service from Helsinki to Yekaterinburg in the Urals, next autumn. Yekaterinburg is in the center of the Urals Federal District and provides good connections to Siberia. Helsinki/Yekaterinburg flights will operate thrice weekly. Finnair is also adding more lift from Helsinki to both Moscow and St. Petersburg. In April, the number of Finnair and joint Aeroflot flights from Helsinki to Moscow will double to four flights daily and 28 flights weekly. Helsinki/St. Petersburg service operated by Finnair in cooperation with Rossiya will increase from 20 to 22 services weekly. In 2009, Finnair and Rossiya will fly four times daily (28 services weekly) between Helsinki and St. Petersburg. Website: www.finnair.com
Air Berlin Soars with Long Haul Routes
became Germany’s second largest carrier with its takeover of Düsseldorf-based LTU Airlines. It is also the third largest low-fare carrier in Europe. Air Berlin now operates LTU routes that are categorized as business routes such as flights from Düsseldorf to US gateways, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Ft Myers. LTU is still operational and flying primarily to leisure destinations. E-mail: AB-Corporate@airberlin.com and in the US e-mail: Joanne Rock at Joanne.Rock@atmsusa.net Website: www.airberlin.com

In This Issue

Editors Note

GERMANY: Berlin – Always Good Value

MOROCCO: The W Marrakech

BAHRAIN: St. Regis Coming to Bahrain

FRANCE: PCVB’s New Event Website & New Meeting Planners’ Guide

TURKEY: Mövenpick Hotel Opens in Izmir

In The Air

Finnair to the Urals & More Lift to Moscow and St. Petersburg

Air Berlin Soars with Long Haul Routes

Unconventional Malta is the proud recipient of two awards so far this year. The DMC received an Award of Excellence as ‘Most Proactive Supplier’ and an Award of Merit as ‘Best DMC’ at the annual BI Partners in Success awards gala held at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London on 12 February. BI is a UK motivation company, which recognizes its business partners with an annual awards dinner. BI associates vote on companies they’ve partnered with during the previous year and award those who provided ‘exemplary support’ to BI.
Unconventional Malta’s managing Director, Fiona Captur, said, “We are delighted with the recognition these awards give us in the industry and are proud that Malta was showcased at its best, against stiff competition. Our ability to win these two awards is also a tribute to the ongoing support and professionalism of our suppliers in Malta across the whole spectrum of the tourism industry who all play a huge part in ensuring that every detail of a program we develop and deliver is executed perfectly. We are totally committed to the success of our clients, which inevitably underlines our own.”
Website: www.unconventionalmalta.com.

The Hilton Prague received ‘Best Hotel in the Czech Republic’ accolade at the TTG Awards 2008 gala held on 9 February at the Resort Svata Katerina. The property was voted the Czech Republic's Leading Hotel in 2007 at the World Travel Awards ceremony and Hilton was voted Best Hotel Chain in Eastern Europe for second year in a row in the same year by Business Traveler US Magazine. For more information on the hotel, go to www.prague.hilton.com.

Until next time
Best

Helena Miele, CITE
Editor electronic newsletters

Germany: Berlin – Always Good Value

Wanting to go to one of Europe’s capital cities but concerned about exchange rates? Berlin might just be the answer. Compared to other European capitals, Berlin stands out for value for money. Plus, Berlin is filled with historic and contemporary sights and venues and there is a cutting edge fashion and art scene.
Hotel rates are competitive. Currently, Berlin has 90,732 available hotel beds in 592 hotels and guest houses with an additional 8,000 rooms becoming available in the near future. This large hotel inventory keeps Berlin in a buyer’s market. In 2006, the average room rate in a 4 or 5-Star hotel in Berlin was quoted at Euro 140 per night, compared to rooms of similar quality priced at Euro 314 in London and Euro 298 in Paris. (Average rates for 2007 are not available at this time.)
The Berlin Welcome Card
Getting around Berlin is also cost effective. The Berlin Welcome Card is perfect for attendees traveling to and from meetings and during free time. The card offers 48 or 72 hours of public transportation inside Berlin’s city limits and its accompanying booklet offers Berlin information and discount coupons for many sights and tourist attractions. There is also a Welcome Card Culture+, which is the combination of a transportation ticket (valid for three days) and a three-day museum pass. For more information on the Berlin Welcome Card, go to www.berlin-welcomecard.de.
Website: www.visitberlin.de

Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf
Schlossgasse 9 – 1
2500 Baden
Austria
Phone +43 2252 48 301
Fax +43 2252 48 301 150

A very unique place –
Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf Residence & Spa

Unique places to hold a meeting are rare.
Unique meeting places combining a historic environment and modern facilities are even more rare.
Unique historic meeting places with modern facilities and good accessibility are hardly to be found at all.
One of the most compelling places to hold a meeting is the Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf in Baden, 26 km/16 miles south from Vienna.
The hotel, a renaissance castle from the 13th century, located in a rose garden, has 100 lately renovated and air-conditioned rooms, 13 conference facilities with daylight from 30 to 200 people and a spa area of over 1,000 sqm/10,765 sqft with sauna, indoor pool and steam bath.
With its felicitous combination of modern design, castle ambience and wellness oasis the Hotel Schloss Weikersdorf is the perfect location to tie up business with pleasure or vice versa.

Information & Contact:
weikersdorf@austria-hotels.at
www.hotelschlossweikersdorf.at

AUSTRIA HOTELS International offers 14 properties in Vienna, Baden (near Vienna), Eisenstadt (Austria), Prague and Brno (Czech Republic) with a total capacity of 1,568 rooms.

MOROCCO: The W Marrakech

W Hotels Starwood Hotels & Resorts is bringing its W brand to Northern Africa to exotic, Morocco. The 5-Star W Marrakech and The Residences at W Marrakech will be part of the Al Maaden Resort, a mix-use development. The Al Maaden Resort will also include a total of three 5-Star resorts including the W Marrakech, 141 villas, 4 medinas with 350 Riads, and an 18-hole golf course with views of the Atlas Mountains.
The 150-room W will have 14 W Suites, three WOW Suites, an Extreme WOW Suite and all the W signature comforts and styles including the W bed. The hotel will feature the familiar W Living Room experience, two restaurants, a destination bar and a poolside bar. There will be 1,000 sqm/10,764 sqft of event space at the W. For recreation and relaxation there is a fitness center, spa, indoor and outdoor pools and a gift shop.
The property is scheduled to open mid 2010.

BAHRAIN: St. Regis Coming to Bahrain

Starwood is building a St. Regis Hotel in Bahrain. The hotel will be situated on a reclaimed island facing Manama city center. The 300-room property will feature famed St. Regis luxuries such as butler service with butler staff trained in the British tradition. Hotel facilities will include 3,000 sqft/279 sqm of event space, four restaurants and a large spa.
The 5-Star St. Regis Bahrain, which opens in 2011, will be located less than a mile from the commercial district and a 15 minute drive to the Bahrain International Airport. The hotel will be also close to the King Fahd Causeway, a 15 mile/24 km bridge that connects Bahrain with Saudi Arabia.

Latest Berlin convention statistics

The Berlin convention statistics, which have just been published for last year, indicate growth rates in all areas: 11% more bed nights in the hotel sector, a greater international dimension to conventions, meetings and events coupled with a 10% growth in sales revenues taking them to € 1.456 billion. A total of 101,200 events were staged in Berlin with approximately 7.97 million participants. This means a growth of 6% in events and of 7% in participants. The share of international events (23%) increased in 2007 by one percentage point compared with the previous year. This means that just under one in four events in Berlin has an international dimension. With regard to the origins of participants, the region with 47% is still very clearly to the fore. Overall there is, however, a trend towards larger shares of participants from Germany, Europe and the rest of the world.

Source: ghh consult 2008 based on congress-berlin.net

Berlin Convention Office
Am Karlsbad 11
10785 Berlin, Germany

Email: berlin-convention-office@b-c-o.com
Tel.: +49 30 26 39 183
Fax: +49 30 2647 489 65
Website: http://www.berlin-convention-office.com
Member of: ICCA, MPI, SITE, ECM, GCB

FRANCE: PCVB’s New Event Website & New Meeting Planners’ Guide

The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (PCVB) launched a new event-specific website in January. The site http://convention.parisinfo.com lists convention and exhibition centers, hotels with meeting rooms, event venues, museums, chateaus, boats, restaurants, cabarets, festive venues, private transportation firms, caterers, PCO’s, DMC’s and agencies. It also includes promotional tools for planners such as a PowerPoint presentation, a promotional film and guidebooks like the Paris Gourmand Guide.
Meeting in Paris
The 2008-2009 ‘Meeting in Paris’ guide is hot off the press and available now. This bilingual print guide (French and English) starts with a dozen pages detailing the added values of the city and includes a wide range of hotel accommodation, meeting infrastructures and outstanding venues. The guide also provides detailed and immediate comparisons of the suppliers listed within its pages.
Meeting in Paris is available from Maison de la France offices worldwide and will be available for distribution at Parisian events and international exhibitions such as the upcoming IMEX. In can also be downloaded on-line from the PCVB website.
Website: http://convention.parisinfo.com

TURKEY: Mövenpick Hotel Opens in Izmir

The 5-Star Mövenpick Hotel Izmir recently opened after two and a half years of extensive renovations. The hotel, located in the heart of Izmir close to the Aegean Sea, features 185 guest rooms including 38 executive rooms, 17 junior suites and a royal suite. Most guest rooms have views of the square in the front of the hotel or the Aegean Sea. The hotel’s Executive Lounge, which is open 24-hours, serves refreshments and snacks around the clock. Meeting facilities include 9 function rooms accommodating from 15 to 210 attendees. The hotel provides planners with a ‘personal contact partner’ who works closely with them to insure event success. The property is within walking distance to the trade fair grounds and also to the city’s business and shopping districts.
Dining venues include The Margaux Restaurant serving Turkish and international specialties, the Breeze Bar and the Swiss Cake Restaurant serving special Mövenpick coffee and ice cream, Swiss chocolate and homemade cakes. For health and relaxation, the Coral Health Club features a fitness center, sauna and steam room, yoga lessons, massage and a Vitamin Bar.
Website: www.movenpick.com

In The Air

Finnair to the Urals & More Lift to Moscow and St. Petersburg

will begin service from Helsinki to Yekaterinburg in the Urals, next autumn. Yekaterinburg is in the center of the Urals Federal District and provides good connections to Siberia. Helsinki/Yekaterinburg flights will operate thrice weekly.
Finnair is also adding more lift from Helsinki to both Moscow and St. Petersburg. In April, the number of Finnair and joint Aeroflot flights from Helsinki to Moscow will double to four flights daily and 28 flights weekly. Helsinki/St. Petersburg service operated by Finnair in cooperation with Rossiya will increase from 20 to 22 services weekly. In 2009, Finnair and Rossiya will fly four times daily (28 services weekly) between Helsinki and St. Petersburg.
Website: www.finnair.com

Air Berlin Soars with Long Haul Routes

became Germany’s second largest carrier with its takeover of Düsseldorf-based LTU Airlines. It is also the third largest low-fare carrier in Europe. Air Berlin now operates LTU routes that are categorized as business routes such as flights from Düsseldorf to US gateways, New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Ft Myers. LTU is still operational and flying primarily to leisure destinations.

E-mail: AB-Corporate@airberlin.com and in the US e-mail: Joanne Rock at Joanne.Rock@atmsusa.net
Website: www.airberlin.com