The Hilton Coventry, a 172-room property in central England, is undergoing a refurbishment that includes approximately one third of the hotel's guest rooms and the largest event space in the hotel, the Minster Suite. Completion of this project is expected in Summer 2010.

Meeting facilities include 13 meeting and function suites accommodating from 20 to 600 attendees, and the Minster Suite has its own private lobby and is perfect for hosting galas, awards dinners and product launches. Dining venues include the Voyageur Restaurant, Caffè Cino and Hemingway's Bar, along with a health club, heated indoor pool, sauna, steam and treatment rooms ,and a solarium. Two golf courses are also nearby. The property is located in central England, 20-minutes from both the Coventry and Birmingham Airports and also close to the Birmingham NEC (National Exhibition Centre), Warwick Castle and Stratford upon Avon.

Website: www.hilton.co.uk

One of the world's most iconic museums is available for event hire. Attendees can enjoy a private visit with Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo as they saunter through the museum's permanent collections in over 65,000 sqm/699,654 sqft of event space filled with art treasures. For large events such as galas, award ceremonies, product launches, or film screenings, the spaces available are very varied, from the Pyramide and the Hall Napoléon, and the mezzanine areas, to the Sully rotunda, the cafés in the Denon, Mollien and Richelieu wings, and the auditorium.

The Musée National Eugène Delacroix located in Saint Germain des Prés is also available for private events with a maximum of 100 attendees. It is possible to host a reception in the garden or arrange meetings or dinners in the artist's studio surrounded by the works of Eugène Delacroix.

Website: www.louvre.fr
Email: aline.charretier@louvre.fr
The Louvre on www.i-mi.com

Berlin, Germany's number 1 congress destination, is investing in the North American market, with the opening of the first Berlin Convention Office (BCO) in the USA. John Cardona, CEO of Ancar Marketing, Inc. of New York City, will represent the BCO and will market Berlin to congress, event and incentive organizers and agencies in North America. The association market will continue to be managed by Marketing Challenges International, also located in New York City. Email: www.mcintl.com. "The U.S. and Canadian markets are of immense importance to Berlin’s meetings industry," said Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Berlin Tourismus Marketing. "Our new representation brings us closer to our clients in the meetings and congress industry, and will significantly increase our visibility in North America. John Cardona will provide our services to all our clients in the USA and Canada, and expand our network of corporate meeting planners and agencies."

Email: cardona@bco-na.com
Website: www.berlin-convention-office.com
Berlin Convention Office on www.i-mi.com

The Villaitana Wellness Golf & Business Resort is a stunning resort complex made up of 25 separate buildings including two hotels, a convention center and two 18-hole golf courses designed by Nicklaus Design. Villaitana is located in Benidorm, in the province of Alicante on the east coast of Spain. The 5-Star Grand Hotel Villaitana has 176 guest rooms and suites, and the 4-Star Hotel Villaitana has 279 guest rooms and suites. The Villaitana Convention Centre has five meeting rooms and one main room, the Salón Levante, which accommodates up to 1,300 for a reception and 800 theater style, and is divisible into two separate rooms. The five additional flexible meeting rooms range in size from 135 sqm/1,453 sqft to 205 sqm/2,207 sqft, and there is also a 400 sqm/4,306 sqft foyer. Eight restaurants, bars and entertainment venues are also on site, and the wellness center features 13 treatment rooms and massage cabins, swimming pools, a solarium, gym and relaxation area.

Website: www.villaitana.com

5-Star Amsterdam Marriott Hotel recently completed a multi-million Euro renovation that revitalized the lobby space, guest rooms, meeting spaces, restaurants and lounges.

The redesigned lobby features an open space that invites guests to meet, mingle, work and dine casually. The hotel's 539 newly appointed guest rooms are outfitted with luxurious bedding and the latest in-room technology. Meeting spaces include 16 meeting rooms of 711 sqm/7,653 sqft, The Grand Ballroom, the largest meeting room accommodating 500 in theater style, and is divisible into 5 separate rooms. Wired and wireless Internet access is available in the meeting rooms. Dining venues include the Midtown Grill, a New York style steak house, Sorel's Midtown Bar and Lounge, and the Midtown Cigar Club lounge. The Amsterdam Marriott Hotel Fitness Centre is also on property.

Website: www.marriott.com

The Fairmont Nile City opened on 1 October 2009 in the new Nile City office and retail complex. The property's 556 guestrooms and suites include Fairmont Gold rooms, which offer such extra amenities as dedicated check-in/out, butler service and access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge and the executive meeting room. Meeting facilities comprise 925 sqm/9,900 sqft of flexible event space, which includes 13 meeting rooms with natural daylight, a ballroom and outdoor function areas. Event space is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment. Eight food and beverage venues offer varied menus including Lebanese cuisine in the Rooftop Bar, fine dining in Saigon Bleu, and eight different types of cuisine in Spectrum on the Nile, which opens Fall 2010. The Willow Stream Spa with full service health club and rooftop swimming pool is ideal for relaxation.

Email: nilecity@fairmont.com
Website: www.fairmont.com

Dubai based Emirates Airlines will launch a service to Dakar, Senegal on 1 September 2010. The service will be non-stop, and operate five times weekly on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Equipment for this route will be an Airbus A340-300 aircraft configured for three classes of service with 12 First Class, 42 Business and 213 Economy Class seats. Flights will depart Dubai at 09:55 hours and arrive at Dakar's Léopold Sédar Senghor International Airport at 16:00 the same day. Return flights will depart Dakar at 17:40 and arrive in Dubai at 07:15 hours the next day. Last year, the Emirates Group signed a joint agreement with the Government of Senegal to assist in the start-up and long term future of Senegal Airlines. Emirates Group will provide commercial support, technical expertise, training and aviation-related goods and services for the carrier, which is due to commence operations later this year.

Website: www.emirates.com