Author: Ben Debski

Crafted with love

Posted on by Ben Debski

To deem Ghana the epicentre of arts and crafts of Western Africa wouldn’t be too far off the mark. International art collectors and casual travellers alike descend to the country in great numbers to get their hands on pieces of traditional artefacts – be it intricately carved figures in ebony wood, colourful Kente cloths or a wardrobe’s worth of indigenous costumes. There’s no doubt that the allure of the art scene helps to boost the country’s tourism industry, and thus spur its economy.

Although steeped in tradition and deeply rooted in set principles, the arts and crafts movement is far from stagnant, and today the segment is adapting quite flexibly to meet the specific demands of the international market. Prolific to say the least, the enthusiasm with which the native craftsmen create art, traditional variants and novelties alike, is remarkable and their inventiveness and creativity knows no boundaries.

Ashanti art reigns supreme
The arts and crafts culture of Ghana is established across the entire country and practised by several ethnic groups. Reigning supreme, however, are the Ashanti people of the Akan ethnic group that resides in central Ghana. An area rich in gold, the Ashanti (also called, Asante) kingdom traditionally produced art and crafts to flaunt their wealth and status. Encompassing many different types of arts and crafts, the most famous is undoubtedly the Kente cloth. Often referred to as the crowning glory of African weaving, the Kente cloth is made by the Ashantis as well as other Akan subgroups. In terms of design specifics, the style is signified by geometric patterns in an uninhibited mix of colours.

Construction-wise, the cloth is intricately hand woven and assembled using individual strips of cotton or silk fabric. Traditionally, the Kente cloth was used only at very special occasions and worn primarily by kings. Over time, the use of the sumptuous textile has become more widespread, but is still considered a very important part of the culture and heritage of the Akan people and indeed Ghana as a nation.

Yet another traditional cloth associated with the Ashanti people is the Adinkra textile- a printed or stamped traditional cloth featuring the Astante tribe Adrinkra symbol. The production of the cloth has its base in the village of Ntonso. Being an important part of Asante culture, the Adrinkra symbol is not only applied to textiles, but also crops up on the surfaces of pottery and walls.

Another prominent form of craft strongly associated with Ghana is the Krobo bead. Made by the industrious bead makers of Krobo (another Akan subgroup) as well as the Ashanti people, the distinctive beads are used primarily for bracelets. Characterised by their powdered look and rich colour palette, the little gems are entirely made from recycled glass. Holding on to tradition, the beads are still produced in open-sided huts with thatch-roofs under which the bead makers practise labour-intensive methods, using ceramic molds to shape the beads. Once made, the beads are carefully painted by hand, often using a multitude of colours to decorate each one.

To list yet another Ashanti speciality, the Ashanti ceremonial stool is a highly decorative specimen, encrusted with gleaming brass studs and to add glamour to important public occasions to show a prince’s status.

Coffin art – a collectable treasure
Removed from its original purpose but no less covetable, another art-form that has taken the western world by storm is the coffin. In this particular case, the object of desire takes the novelty shape of items dear to the person to be buried. A fisherman, for example, would end his days in a fish-shaped vessel. Originating in Teshie, a fishing community in Accra, this type of unorthodox funeral essential surfaced in the 1950’s, and they’re still used in Ghana at funeral ceremonies by affluent locals. On the international arena, meanwhile, the eye-catching items have become highly collectible and sell for small fortunes. As such, the coffin trade has become something of a booming business that’s extended well beyond its original morbid purposes.

The straw baskets, hats, fans and clothing of Bolgatanga
Located between Burkina Faso and Togo, Bolgatanga, also known as Bolga, is the capital of the Upper East Region of Ghana. Perhaps not as famous for its crafts culture as Ashanti, Bolgatanga is still notable owing to its heritage in naturally crafted straw baskets, hats and fans, as well as the indigenous clothing category, the Fugu. The locale is also significant producers of leather works.  If visiting town, the full spectrum of speciality products can be purchased at the Bolgatanga Market where local artists sell their wares.+

Hot Dam

Posted on by Ben Debski

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most exciting and promising cities. Attractive and open to the world, it’s a city that reflects the personality of its people. Amsterdam has a lot  to offer, such as a rich cultural program with many theatres, museums, numerous restaurants and last but not least a lively night life. The Amsterdam Metropolitan Area has what it takes to help your business excel. Over 2,100 international companies have set up shop here and have chosen to become part of our long history as a successful business hub and leading trade centre.

The American magazine Marketing called Amsterdam ‘the ideal place to experiment with different business areas and attract global talent, poised to emerge as one of the most attractive cities of the European continent’. Established international newspapers such as Der Spiegel and The New York Times called Amsterdam ‘The Creative Magnet’ and ‘The Hub of Europe’. This status is reflected in our worldwide top ten position in the ICCA rankings, and of course this attracts global talent and business.

Each and every year, Amsterdam RAI bids a warm welcome to more than two million visitors. The combination of excellent service, perfect accessibility and the exciting city of Amsterdam for business and pleasure, is what makes Amsterdam RAI unique. Just 15 minutes from both the centre of Amsterdam and Schiphol International Amsterdam RAI provides the location and flexibility to host almost every event imaginable.

Convention centre
The fully air-conditioned RAI complex covers a total exhibition area of 84,000sq m (904,168ft). Eleven multifunctional halls are available for exhibitions, congresses, meetings and other events. The congress centre comprises 48 congress and conference rooms with a capacity up to 1,750 people. In addition, the state-of-the-art ballroom offers event space of up to 1,883sq m (20,268ft). When more capacity is needed, the exhibitions halls can be fitted out as fully fledged conference halls.

Built in 2009, RAI Elicium is the contemporary face of Amsterdam RAI. As well as enriching the RAI itself, this innovative building is also a major addition to the Amsterdam landscape. The futuristic structure connects the various parts of Amsterdam RAI and was built with the latest environmental technology, such as a climate facade and thermal storage 187m (614ft) below the ground, in mind.

Facilities
Amsterdam RAI’s strategy is aimed at the flexible and intensive deployment of the existing property of 23 hectares to create the maximum number of lettable square metres. This has been further realized by the addition of the Elicium and the development of more flexible areas in the building and the outside terrain. In the long term we may build new added value facilities such as a hotel.

Buildings and grounds
Amsterdam RAI has eleven multifunctional exhibition halls, a conference hall and theatre that can seat 1,750 people, a large hall (ballroom) in the Elicium (suitable for exhibitions and conferences for a maximum of 2,000 people and gala dinners for up to 750 people), 31 smaller high-quality conference rooms and 35 meeting rooms. The number of meeting rooms can be expanded to 125 and the total floor area is 87,000sq m. In addition, part of the outside space can facilitate around 10,000sq m of floor surface for temporary pavilions. Amsterdam RAI also has a total of 3,200 parking spaces.

Location
With its central location and excellent physical and ICT infrastructure, Amsterdam is a gateway to Europe and beyond. Amsterdam’s international airport Schiphol, with direct flights to over 200 cities in 97 countries, is nearby. The train from the airport takes eight minutes to reach Amsterdam RAI station. NS-station Amsterdam RAI is 300 metres from the RAI and has regular connections to all parts of the Netherlands, like Schiphol, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and is also linked to the international train network. If you arrive at Amsterdam Central Station (CS) the express tram will take you to Amsterdam RAI in 12 minutes.

Hotel & travel service
For international guests RAI Hotel & Travel Service can arrange hotel accommodation in and around Amsterdam, book flights, transfers, excursions, car and bicycle rental and social events. The RAI Convention Centre manage bookings for large and small events each year, arranging thousands of hotel reservations for conferences, exhibitions and other events, naturally, at the best rates available. As a result it has strong buying power, excellent knowledge and booking experience of the hotels in and around the Dutch capital.

The organisation also understands the importance of a good hotel where guests can unwind and recharge every night. Every detail of your reservation can be organised, leaving your time free for more important matters.

The RAI Convention Centre can organize every detail of your reservation, leaving you free for more important matters. No handling or management fee will be charged. Via a dedicated website, created in the look and feel of your event, your delegates can book whatever they need for a well organised trip and pleasant stay in Amsterdam.

Contact
Amsterdam RAI, P.O. Box 77777 NL
1070 MS Amsterdam
Tel: +31 (0) 20 549 12 12
Fax: +31 (0) 20 646 44 69
Email: raimarketing@rai.nl
www.rai.nl

The grand life

Posted on by Ben Debski

“Of all the countries I have visited, the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is the smallest, but it is the one that has charmed me most and where hospitality has been most simple and cordial”.  – Winston Churchill.

As the above quote shows, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a fascinating place, with a touch of difference. The Grand Duchy (502,000 inh. often abbreviated to just “Luxembourg”) is the sixth-smallest country and the only Grand Duchy in the world. The capital city (90,800 inh.) is also called Luxembourg – and there are certainly many reasons to be convinced to hold a meeting there.

A cosmopolitan and welcoming meeting destination
Bordered by Belgium, France and Germany the Grand Duchy is connected to the far corners of Europe by an excellent network of highways and rail links and the international airport is located only seven kilometres from the city centre. The country is also a linguistic puzzle and several languages – French, German, Lëtzebuergesch – a Franconian language of the Moselle area – and English are spoken and written at the same place. The city has 159 different nationalities among its residents, not to mention more than 100,000 cross-border workers on a daily basis.

A European city and a financial centre of international stature
The smallest member of the European Union, Luxembourg was nevertheless the cradle where the concept of a unified Europe was born and is the official seat of many of the European Union’s major institutions. Banks and investment trusts have settled in the capital, as the fiscal legislation, which dates back to 1929, favoured Banks and Holding Companies. Luxembourg indeed plays a major role as a prominent international financial centre and represents the greatest banking concentration in the European Community.

The safest city in the world
Luxembourg is regularly ranked as the world’s top city for personal safety by the renowned Mercer Survey Institute. A glance at the city’s history shows that this more than thousand year-old capital, founded in 963, has always known how to protect itself. Luxembourg was occupied by Burgundians, Spanish, French, Austrians and Prussians, all of whom contributed to making the city one of the best fortified in the world usually called the “Gibraltar of the North”. Today, the fortress, along with the old city, has gained international fame. In 1994, UNESCO recognised the city’s historical importance by naming it a World Cultural Heritage Site.

Impressive meeting and event locations
Luxembourg provides meeting facilities for any meeting size, up to 2.000 persons and event venues accommodating up to 8,000 persons, with a savvy mix of technical know-how, flexibility, comfort and aesthetics. Featuring both prestigious hotel chains and quality independent hotels, there are some 3,600 rooms on offer. The city also offers a number of unusual banquet and event venues such as the Bock casemates, which are a labyrinth of underground galleries and passages inside the fortress on the Bock promontory or the prestigious former Abbey of Neumünster in the lower city.

Catering to the gourmet
There can be no doubt that the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg is truly a gastronomer’s delight. It has more Michelin-starred Restaurants per square mile (or per head of inhabitant) than any other country in the world. Most traditional dishes are of peasant origin, but Luxembourg’s affinities with both French and German culture have long ago been translated into the country’s speciality foods. Outstanding wines of the Moselle Valley, chocolates and Villeroy & Boch porcelain are typical products and make ideal souvenirs and gifts.

A thriving cultural life in the capital and great attractions in the surroundings
A wide variety of city sightseeing tours, an attractive pedestrian zone with a lot of cafés and shops as well as idyllic and relaxing parks, provide the ideal setting for refreshment and revitalisation and also ensure the success of an event in the city. From the vineyards on the Moselle, to sites marking the Grand Duchy’s iron and steel-making past to the thermal spa, the range of touring programmes and individual sites for leisure and enjoyment is infinitely varied.

For more information
Luxembourg City Tourist Office
Convention Bureau, Place Guillaume II
B.P. 181 · L-2011 Luxembourg
Tel: (+352) 22 75 65/Fax: (+352) 46 70 73
convention.bureau@lcto.lu
www.lcb.lu

Moscow moments

Posted on by Ben Debski

Cutting a respectable figure in the vibrant centre of Moscow, Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel and Business Centre cater for clients looking for a high level of comfort and dependable efficiency for personal relaxation as well as business undertakings. Since the location of the hotel is so central, guests find themselves immersed within the very epicentre of the business and cultural hub of the city.

Perhaps one if its biggest draws, the Business Centre forms a prominent part of the Slavyanskaya Hotel and is one of the most significant first-class business centres in Russia that brings together a  set of practical and aesthetically pleasing offices and conference halls, along with a broad range of business services  that can be adapted to suit any activity. The residential part of the establishment is no less impressive, and the 427 rooms that form part of the hotel are designed in a manner best described as state-of-the-art, yet without losing out on the ability to inspire relaxation.

Conference spaces designed to inspire
Having made a name for itself as a high-end and leading business centre, Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel has hosted a number of large-scale international forums in recent years, including the Russian Steel Summit and the International Conference on Railway engineering, as well as a string of major conferences organised by globally recognised names such as Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, Avon and Siemens. The hotel provides many different kinds of business spaces, the largest one being St George Hall. An environment with a definite grandeur, the St George Hall covers 1006,8 sq m. and is decorated in classic style. The hall lends itself perfectly to events such as business gatherings and banquets for groups encompassing numbers between 30 to 200 people.

Offering additional space aside from the hall itself, a reception area and a separate room located in the far end of the main space is particularly suited for VIP events and boardroom meetings.  The St. George Hall is not equipped with an integrated audio-visual system, but the hotel management is happy to provide clients with any equipment they may need, be it amplifier systems, projectors, screens, plasma panels, or simultaneous translation systems.

More dramatic in style, the Library Hall measures 60 sq m and functions as a space for VIP events, presentations, negotiations, dinners and cocktail parties. The hall can accommodate anything from 15-50 people, and the design theme brings together dark mahogany panels, bookshelves, vast windows and large mirrors to create to convey an air of splendour. As in the case of the St George hall, the Library Hall is not equipped with integrated audio-visual system but these practical essentials can be added if need be.

In addition to the beautifully imposing St George Hall, Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel comprises as many as five boardrooms of different sizes, ranging from 20 sq m to 56 sq m, with the capacity to accommodate 5-30 people.  These rooms are specifically designed to hold business meetings, presentations, and celebratory lunches and dinners. Conceived to create a pleasant but neutral environment, the large windows and white- washed walls work as perfect backdrops that allows each room to be decorated and furnished  according to each client’s needs. Across the board, all business spaces within Radisson Slavyanskaya Hotel feature free Wi-Fi Zones for guests and delegates, while the management can easily install telephone lines, high-speed Internet equipment for video conferences upon request.

For those who don’t want to wait until they get back to the office to start work, the hotel also features a professional print centre with colour and monochrome printing – also in large formats. A copy corner, binding and laminating and computer rental services are also available.

A hotel with many strings to its bow
To find an establishment that combines as many practical and pleasure inducing qualities as the Radisson Slavyanskaya hotel is no mean feat, in Russia or elsewhere. Forming an all-round environment to complement its spectrum of business-focused services and spaces, the hotel serves up a plethora of other elements. To meet to guest’s every practical need, the parking lot is designed to accommodate a vast number of cars and remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  For leisurely days, shopping is not out of reach. Located in the Shopping Mall of St George Street, a cluster of stores stocks collections and products from globally recognised names in the field of fashion and jewellery. Adding yet another layer to the mix, the hotel’s resident Picture Gallery showcases art exhibitions spanning paintings and sculptures by notable Russian artists focusing on everything from modern art to Soviet realism.

Moving over to the crucial component that is cuisine, the dishes available at the different restaurants and cafes that form part of the Radisson Slavyanskaya concept is of such notable calibre that it’s become a covetable aspect in its own right. To offer a taster what’s on the menu across the different eateries Japanese delicacies are the order of the day at Sumosan Restaurant, while the Italian kitchen prevails at the Talavera restaurant. Café Amadeus, meanwhile, offers dishes of a lighter sort with culinary influences from around the world.

For guests  inclined to enjoy some sports while staying at the hotel, the in-house Health Club offers a broad range of services and as many different forms of training, including swimming and individual workouts on the various types of equipment available in the exercise room. If relaxation is high on the agenda, guests are invited to enjoy a spot of massage or a quiet  moment of tranquillity in the Jacuzzi.

Radisson Slavyanskaya
Hotel & Business Center
Europe Square, 2
121059, Moscow, Russia
Tel.: + 7 495 941 8020
Fax: + 7 495 941 8000
www.radisson.com

Thirsty work

Posted on by Ben Debski

Czech nationals love their beer. So important is the amber-hued beverage in the Czech Republic that it’s been given the term of endearment, ‘liquid bread’. With a history going back over 1,000 years, beer has been brewed and enjoyed in the country for a respectable time indeed. Brits may be among the biggest tea drinkers in the world, but when it comes to beer the Czech nationals are out on top, guzzling a hefty 160 litres a year. Encouraging beer drinking further, beer is cheaper than bottled water. Another significant fact, the universally celebrated variety, Pilsner, is a brainchild of the Czech Republic.

It’s no surprise, then, that beer aficionados tend to favour Prague above all beer-worthy spots in the world. When embarking on a beer expedition in the city, one won’t be short of options- a wide plethora of drinking establishments line the quaint streets of Prague, and the number of brews available can seem almost overwhelming, despite the fact that mega brands have started to gain increasing control over the market. Covering a wide spectrum of varieties still, the most popular beer types in the Czech Republic include Kozel, Gambrinus, Pilsner Urquell, Radogast, Staropramen, Bernard and Budvar, as well as a slew of lesser known names.

When on the hunt for a beer or two, the two most famous beer haunts in town are U Zlatého tygra, situated near the Old Town Square; and U Cerného vola, located a hop and a skip away from the castle. If the length of the beer list is the most important criteria, steer your step to the Pivovarsky Klub or the Pivní Galerie- both establishments offer hundreds of beer types each.

Notable major breweries
In addition to the wide range of pubs and bars present in Prague and its surrounding areas, many breweries also welcome thirsty visitors. The Královsky Pivovar Krusovice (the Royal Brewery of Krusovice) is one of the most notable breweries in the Czech Republic. With several centuries behind it, the history of the brewery dates back to the 16th century. Not located within Prague itself, but still well worth the trek, the brewery is situated 50km away from the city and can be reached via the Prague- Karlovy Vary route. As a reward for having made the journey, most brewery tours end with a beer tasting session in the Meeting Room- a space that previously functioned as a malt house.

Next in line, Velkopopovicky Kozel is a Czech brewery established by Franz Ringhoffer in 1874. This Prague-based establishment is perhaps best known for its dark beer, but the brewery also produces pale and medium varieties. Using the symbol of a goat and having acquiring a tongue twister of a name, the company is recognisable as much for its logotype as for its name, that has been popularly shortened to Kozel to make life easier for its fans.

To continue the count of noteworthy breweries, one of the most famous is Pilsner Urquell – a beer brand that has grown considerably in the past few years, becoming increasingly ubiquitous on the international arena. In keeping with its high status, the brand’s brewery is of quite some calibre. Albeit being as modern and sophisticated as one would expect, the venture has retained some traditional means of making beer – a small team creates oak barrels on-site, in which the beer is fermented in traditional ways dating back » centuries. As well as brewing standard Pilsner Urquell, the company also produce varieties made in more traditional, labour-intensive ways. Another well-known contender is Staropramen brewery. Founded in 1869, it’s the second largest brewery in the Czech Republic.

The rise of the microbrewery
As a reaction against the homogenised market, which is putting the very beer heritage of the Czech Republic at risk, the rise of the microbrewery is gathering force. The market has seen a number of marginal beer types cropping up as a result, and beer aficionados- tourists and locals alike ardently endorse the movement. One such establishment is U Fleku, which serves home brewed beer as well as food of the traditional sort. Pivovarsky dum, meanwhile, is a microbrewery located in Nové Mesto. Alongside its offer of beers sourced nationally and internationally, it also develops many inventive brews of its own. Another strong contender on the indie beer scene is The Richter Brewery at the Pivovar u Bulovky pub, where a wide range of beverages brewed in-house are served up to eager drinkers looking to treat their taste buds to new flavours.

Tankovnas (tank pubs)
Being the world-renowned beer nation that it is, it would be surprising if the Czech republic didn’t push the boundaries. To do just that, the phenomenon of the tankovna, which translates to tank pub, is on the rise. Unlike pasteurised beer, the beverage found at a tankovna pub is unpasteurised. In Prague, entire establishments are dedicated to this form of beer making, and the movement continues apace. So what are the benefits of unpasteurised beer? Taste, mainly. Defined by a flavour that is decidedly rounder and more multi-faceted with obvious notes of hops and spices, fresh beer presents the drinker with a more rounded experience. On the other end of the scale, the pasteurisation process, that is used when brewing standard beer, involves advanced measures such the bacteria-busting sterilising process at high temperatures. Beneficial as the procedure is on some levels, it also comes with drawbacks, since there’s a risk that the beer will oxidise and thus acquire a taste that is anything but refreshing, along with a flat flavour.

Needless to say, beer that hasn’t been pasteurised faces a shorter shelf life. To avoid the doomed destiny of a limited sell by date, tankovna beer makers have come up with the nifty invention to contain the fresh beer in plastic sacks with a capacity of about ten hectolitres. The sacks are stored and served from large steel tubes or tanks and hold the recommended temperature that hovers around the 10oC mark. To serve, the beer is pressed out of the tanks via a high-pressure air compressor, and is thus kept well away from bacteria contamination. To mention only but a few tankovna pubs, Malostranska Pivnice, U Zlateho Tygra, Beograd, U Pinkasu and U Medvídku are all centrally located.

Pioneers of the sky

Posted on by Ben Debski

Affiliated with Kayigroup, which has been epitome of Turkish tourism’s pioneering spirit, Sky Airlines is an airline company located in Antalya and accredited by the Ministry of Transportation to carry scheduled and charted passengers. Following its foundation at the end of the year 2001, Sky Airlines began its commercial flights operation and has been delighting passengers ever since. With experienced and expert staff within the organisation, Sky Airlines offers a high quality and reliable service to customers, many of whom are tour operators, by flying to more than 100 different destinations including Europe and countries in West Asia.

According to the latest data, Sky Airlines has flown a total of 190,000 hours, carried 9,500,000 passengers aboard its six B737-400, four B737-800, two A320-211, one A321-231, one A320-232 and two B737-900ER aircrafts. The company also puts great emphasis on internal and vocational training, has been authorised by all international and national civil aviation authorities, including ICAO, FAA, JAA and IATA, and operates according to their instructions. As of August 2003, Sky Airlines has operated with an ISO9001:2000 certificate and proudly received an ISO9001:2008 and IOSA certificate in 2009 from the TÜV Rheinland company.

SKY Airlines has also built a very modern management and technical maintenance facility, its first in Turkey, consisting of a 4,000sq m complex, with 2,000sq m of it being an indoor facility at the Antalya Airport.  With this, Sky Airlines has gathered all of its operations and maintenance units under one roof and has subsequently had the opportunity to work closely alongside its fleet of aircraft.

Mission
Sky Airlines is committed to continuously leading the way in the Turkish Aviation sector and to be an efficient, reliable and dynamic company that continues to innovate. Sky Airlines prides itself on is providing safe, prompt and economical flight services to its customers by giving utmost priority to quality of service and customer satisfaction.

Vision
Sky Airlines has led the way within the Turkish aviation industry with its service quality and the importance afforded to flight safety and training. Its goal is to be a leader within Turkish Civil Aviation whilst maintaining its stance as an international brand.

Quality policy
Sky Air Transportation Inc. is a company that aims to provide comfortable and safe flight services with thehighest level of customer satisfaction. With the emphasis on the goal to become an ever-evolving airline company with all of its products and operations, Sky Airlines has produced a charter of principles and missions in order to achieve this goal:
– To provide customer satisfaction.
– To follow all regulations and requirements of General Directorate of Civil Aviation (GDCA), EASA, IATA and ICAO in order to secure the operation and maintenance safety.
– To keep the flight service cost in an optimum level by providing operation efficiency and efficiency and proficiency.
– To provide on-time flight services,
– To perform Quality Management System and constantly improve it.
– Keeping a constant contact and relationship with suppliers for our mutual benefit to provide top quality products and services.
– To take Human Factor consideration during Operations and Maintenance.
– To consider safety and security as a prime objective at all times.

SKY Airlines Kayi Plaza
Ay 1 Sokak, No. 1
Güzeloba/ Lara/ Antalya/ Türkiye
Tel: 0090 242 310 88 00
fax: 0090 242 310 88 08

A world-class rendezvous

Posted on by Ben Debski

Situated on the banks of the Vltava River, the Hilton Prague is located within walking distance of the city centre with its numerous attractions, shopping and lively night life. It is also just 25 minutes from Ruzyne International Airport, a few steps from Florenc metro station and one kilometre from the main railway station for seamless transport connections.

The largest upscale hotel in the Czech Republic, the Hilton Prague features 791 renovated Guest Rooms, Executive Rooms and Apartments over eight floors, making it a perfect rendezvous for business meetings and leisure trips.

For a comfortable stay in the historic city of Prague, the range of 618 Hilton Guestrooms and 173 refurbished Executive Rooms, Suites and Apartments feature flat-screen TVs with international channels, air conditioning, high speed and WiFi internet access, hot drinks facilities and safes for added security. Guests staying on the two Executive Floors will also have access to the esteemed Executive Lounge with private check-in facilities, complimentary breakfast, snacks and bar area.

The Hilton Prague is fully equipped to meet the needs for world-class business meetings. A state-of-the-art Congress Hall is available for 1,500 guests while the elegant Hilton Grand Ballroom is an ideal venue for social events of up to 650 guests. Thirty-three multifunctional meeting rooms, the majority of them with natural daylight, also offer the latest high-tech equipment. A dedicated Business Center is an ideal hub for large and complex events and the Hilton Prague catering team can also arrange catering outside of the hotel, including charming castles, palaces, gardens or other venues based on the client’s choice.

For extraordinary dining experience or just for relaxation, The Hilton Prague offers three different restaurants serving international as well as Czech and Mediterranean cuisines and two bars in which you can have your business meeting or just enjoy a cocktail. Hilton Prague also offers free access to the gym, swimming pool, sauna and wet areas of its state of the art health club & spa.

The Hilton Prague Hotel was awarded as the ‘Best Hotel in the Czech Republic’, TTG Travel Awards 2011 for the fourth consecutive year;  the ‘Best Business Hotel in the Czech Republic’, Business Destinations Travel Awards 2010 and the ‘Best Business Hotel in Eastern Europe’, Buisiness Traveller Magazine 2010.

For the chance to earn air miles and HHonors Points for meetings and events, the Hilton Prague also offers guests the HHonors Event Bonus loyalty program.


Amenities
– The CzecHouse Grill is Hilton Prague’s flagship restaurant and features a show kitchen offering Czech and European specialities alongside fine international wines.
– The Hilton Prague also features the colourful 24-hour Café Bistro
– The Atrium Restaurant with a capacity of 350 persons, offers a lavish all-you-can eat breakfast and is ideal for group lunches or dinners.
– The Cloud 9 sky bar & lounge is the first true sky bar in Prague located on the rooftop of the Hilton Prague, with unique views of the Prague Castle and the city from the all-glass interior and well as from the two outside terraces. It is also suitable for cocktail receptions.

Hilton Prague, Pobrezni 1, 186 00 Prague 8, Czech Republic; +420 224 841 111
www.hiltonprague.com

Your very own metropolis

Posted on by Ben Debski

Sometimes choosing the right location for an event is very simple, because who needs to compromise if everything is possible in Berlin? The choice of special locations ranges from the 368-metre-high television tower to the hangar of former Tempelhof Airport, accommodating 5,000 guests. Europe’s most modern hotel landscape offers a unique diversity at favourable rates. To put it in a nutshell: the German capital convinces as a perfect meeting and convention host.

Berlin Convention Office
During the past ten years the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office (BCO) of Berlin Tourismus & Kongress GmbH has offered competent support at the organisation of conventions, meetings and incentives. Customers benefit from the experienced team, a broad network of contacts and the free-of-charge agency and reservation services for hotel allotments.

Since the beginning of 2011 BCO has offered a completely revamped Internet presence on Berlin as an event metropolis. On www.convention.visitBerlin.de, Germany’s leading congress destination is presented in a comprehensive, structured and interactive manner. Event planners are provided, for instance, with ideas for framework programmes, participants get information on the tourism offering of Germany´s capital.

Berlin in numbers
The visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office is the initiator of the congress statistics launched in 2001 as a pilot project which has since provided sound data on the development of the meeting and convention market Berlin. On a half-yearly basis the data is collected and evaluated by an independent market research company and serves as a basis for future planning.

The specialised collection of all Berlin convention and meeting business data shows excellent event and participant numbers for 2010. More than 113,000 events took place in the metropolis on the River Spree (108,500 in 2009). They attracted 9.11 million guests to Berlin (8.26 million in 2009). The share of international visitors amounted to 20 percent. The Berlin meeting and convention market generated sales revenues of k1.65 billion in 2010. This corresponds to a ten percent increase compared to 2009.

Berlin’s hotel landscape convinces through an excellent service quality and high quality standards with a very good value-for-money ratio. This is particularly appreciated by meeting and convention participants. More than 5.5 million room nights from this group of Berlin guests were counted in 2010; this corresponds to an 11 percent increase versus the comparable prior year period. The role of the 170 meeting hotels of the German capital remains strong. Apart from their accommodation capacities, they represent 53 percent of all providers of event spaces. In 2010 a total of 95,000 events was staged ( up five percent) and a total of 5.5 million participants were catered for ( up 11 percent).

On a worldwide level Germany´s capital is amongst the four major locations for association meetings. This is confirmed by the statistics of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) for 2009. With 129 events of international associations, the German capital moved up by one rank and left metropolises like Singapore (119) and Buenos Aires (90) behind. The leading destinations in the ranking are Vienna (160), Barcelona (135) and Paris (131).

Meeting and convention offerings continue to increase
Berlin is Germany’s meeting metropolis number one and one of the four major locations for association conventions worldwide. This is attributable to the excellent conditions which event organisers find in the German metropolis. Berlin boasts, for instance, the most modern hotel landscape in Europe. It has accommodated the needs of congress participants and constantly expands its offering.

With the opening of the Scandic Hotel on Potsdamer Platz Square, Nordic charm has conquered Berlin’s new centre. Since October 2010 the hotel has offered its guests 563 rooms, several restaurants and conference rooms with state-of-the-art equipment. Another focus is on “Green Meetings” and environmentally sound services. www.scandichotels.com. At the end of 2011, a breath of New York air will be wafting over Berlin. This is when the luxury Waldorf Astoria Group will be opening their first new-build hotel in Europe. This will be going up directly opposite the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which means it will be located in the immediate vicinity of the Kurfürstendamm and the Zoological Garden.

The 31-storey Waldorf Astoria Berlin will feature 232 luxurious rooms and suites, a conference area covering more than 1,100 square metres and a lavish spa facility. It is the second hotel in the Hilton family to grace the German capital and is intended to supplement the facilities on offer at the Hilton Berlin, which lies four kilometres away. Visit www.waldorfastoria.com for more informaton.

Berlin: Future-proof event location
The German capital continues to gain in attractiveness as a location for large-scale events. By the end of 2013 a new congress and trade fair centre will be built on the site of the former Deutschland Halle. Between 2014 and 2016 it will replace the International Congress Centrum ICC Berlin, which will be completely closed and refurbished during that time. With the re-opening of the ICC Berlin, Messe Berlin will then have almost the double convention capacities. At present more than 530 events with around 240,000 participants per year take place in the congress area of Messe Berlin.

A decisive share in the future development of the flight services to and from Berlin will be accounted for by the new capital airport Berlin Brandenburg International BBI. It is currently built on the site of Schönefeld Airport. The latter will be replaced by the BBI Airport in the same way as Tegel Airport and the already closed Tempelhof Airport. The opening of the new airport is scheduled for June 3rd 2012. In addition, a shuttle service will be provided between BBI and the Berlin main station. It will take passengers every 20 minutes to both the airport and the city centre.

For more information, please visit us at www.convention.visitBerlin.de

Flight of fancy

Posted on by Ben Debski

Leading aircraft manufacturer Airbus has unveiled its vision of how air travel will look – and feel – in the future; the year 2050 to be precise. The ‘Concept Cabin’ promises a whole new flying experience and jet setters of the future will be able to join an interactive conference, a game of virtual golf and recharge in ‘vitalising seats’ whilst watching the earth from 30,000 ft.

Inspired by nature, the Airbus Concept Plane features a ‘bionic’ design and technologies to help reduce the amount of fuel burnt, emissions, waste and noise. This is achieved through mimicking the efficiency of bird bone, which is optimised to provide strength where needed and allows for the inclusion of a cabin wall membrane which controls air temperature and can become transparent to provide passengers with magnificent panoramic views.

Also integrated into the Concept Cabin is a ‘neural network’ which creates an intelligent interface between passenger and plane, allowing for an integrated entertainment and tailor-made comfort. This will take the form of personalised zones that will provide a range of services from aromatherapy and acupressure treatments to pop-up projections in an ‘interactive zone’ which will allow passengers to indulge in anything from holographic gaming to virtual shopping – all with the aim of providing passengers with a complete luxury service as if they were on the ground.

Showcasing the innovative interior design, Charles Champion, Airbus Executive Vice President Engineering, said: “Our research shows that passengers of 2050 will expect a seamless travel experience while also caring for the environment. The Airbus Concept Cabin is designed with that in mind, and shows that the journey can be as much a voyage of discovery as the destination. Whichever flight experience is chosen, the passenger of 2050 will step out of the Airbus Concept Cabin feeling revitalised and enriched.”
More than 90 percent of Airbus’ annual research & development investment of over €2 billion has environmental benefits for current and future aircraft. For example, due to advances in technologies the concept cabin will be 100% recyclable. It will have self-cleaning materials made from sustainable plant fibres which reduce waste and maintenance and will harvest passenger body heat to power cabin features.

Such technologies are already being developed and, while they may not be seen in the exact same manner as in the Airbus Concept Plane and Cabin, some of them could feature in future Airbus aircraft programmes.

In the company of saints

Posted on by Ben Debski

If you were to choose, as a host city for a premier business travel education conference, somewhere in Canada that was truly a microcosm of North America; one that was a central city for transportation links, that had a large port, a strong service sector and had industries that reflected every facet of the national economy, where would you choose?
And if you were to look for a city that also offered your delegates a choice of over 6,000 restaurants and over 80 varieties of national and regional cuisines, in addition to being designated a UNESCO City of Design, where would you look? Does the ranking of second by Lonely Planet’s list of The World’s 10 Happiest Places help?

Well, every one of those ingredients made Montreal a natural choice for the sixth annual ACTE Canada Education Conference 2011. For this coming November, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) will visit the “City of Saints” to hold what is widely held to be the premier business travel event in the Canadian calendar.

Montreal, due to its location, has not only been a major port, but is also a hub for business, finance and transportation in Canada. It has the largest inland seaport, and is also the railway hub of Canada as it is home to the eastern terminus of Canadian Pacific Railway and headquarters of Canadian National Railway.  So travel, and particularly travel for business, plays a big part in the life of the city and therefore makes Montreal a natural home for ACTE’s 2011 Canadian Education Conference.

The membership of ACTE, which includes corporate travel buyers, suppliers and travel management companies, really does come from every segment of the world of business. Montreal with important industries in the city including pharmaceuticals, high technology, finance, software engineering, city engineering, transportation and aerospace along with many others, matches the profile of ACTE and its membership uniquely.

This year’s conference, (6-8 November) with its theme of Revisit, Reconnect and Readjust will see a range of powerful and insightful speakers introduce, debate and illustrate new and innovative approaches to managing the business of business travel.

And with the challenges that every manager in the business travel sector faces, be they a buyer, seller or facilitator, the need to meet peers, hear new thinking, compare notes and network is more vital now than ever before. And that, in essence, is what the conference in November will be all about.

Technology, environmental sensitivities, geo political unrest globally, increased regulation and the emergence of new social and travel trends means that every manager needs to revisit their business objectives, reconnect with customers and stakeholders and readjust their current strategies and practices to prepare for what many call “a brave new world”.

This conference is famous for bringing the very best speakers and thought leaders together to address the issues that really matter to the business travel community. And the conference is also famous for being set in destinations that give delegates the opportunity to meet their clients, experience distinctive cultural delights and gain exposure to new thinking.  Montreal offers all that and more.

The Conference, and where delegates stay, is the wonderful Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth II Hotel, arguably Montreal’s most famous hotel.  Here in suite 1742 back in 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their famous “bed-in” and where that iconic song “Give Peace A Chance” was both written, performed and recorded for the first time.

Over the years the hotel has entertained statesman and women such as The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, General Charles de Gaulle, President Gorbachev, President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela.

And Montreal is a city that the delegates to the ACTE Conference will owe it to themselves to discover.  With the accolade of one of the cleanest cities in the world Montreal was founded by French explorers over 350 years ago. As such it is one of the oldest cities on the North American continent boasting a rich history with a strong French influence and a vibrant multicultural lifestyle.  With its bustling feel full of shopping, attractions and gourmet style it has to be one of the most exciting Canadian destinations that the ACTE conference has taken place in.

The secret to a great conference is informative, insightful and entertaining content coupled with a high calibre of delegates and set against a vibrant, multi cultural background destinations. Put that all together and there’s absolutely no doubt about it – the ACTE Canada Education Conference 2011 in Montreal is going to be the place to be between 6-8 November.

The benefits and risks of international trade

Posted on by Ben Debski

Exports in the UK are growing. The major catalyst was sterling’s weakness which meant that the demand for UK goods and services expanded greatly. What is interesting though, is the benefits are not just price driven. Earlier this year, we attended “International Giftware” which fills all 20 halls at the NEC Exhibition Centre just outside of Birmingham. We found international buyers purchasing UK goods because of the quality and innovation as well as the price. We then decided to talk to our clients about the benefits and the risks of trading internationally and the key points they highlighted are discussed below:

Top five benefits:

1 Grow your business
When trading internationally the “universe” of potential clients and suppliers will increase significantly. Just imagine increasing the number of potential clients by 100 percent each time you start selling in a new country. In all likelihood, this will probably be much easier than trying to expand your market place in your “home” country.

2 Diversify risk
The idea that a business relies solely on one market and directs all its resources into a single currency may prove to be more risky than it may first seem. Just look at the number of unprecedented global “disasters” (financial meltdown, earthquakes and unrest in the Middle East) over the last few years and the drastic impacts these have had on markets. Your home market could contract or even disappear, but your business may be saved by the revenue it generates overseas.

3 Better margins
As well as seeing increased sales, you may well enjoy better margins. Sterling which is currently weak may give you a head start when exporting. Pricing pressure could be less and it could also reduce seasonal market fluctuations.

4 Earlier payments
When working with companies overseas, both you and your customer will want to execute the transaction in the safest and most efficient manner possible. One of the many advantages when trading internationally is that overseas payers often pay upfront. This reduces payment risk and may well help your working capital.

5 Less competition
The ability to stand out amongst competitors is a crucial factor in business. When there are fewer competitors, this task is made easier. Your business, which may be viewed as comparable to others in the UK, may, when placed in a larger and more diverse environment, turn out to be a unique product or service not to be missed. By making the product or service available to worldwide buyers, you instantly create another life line for the business by being in less competition and increasing the possibility of standing out. This will in turn boost sales potential and allow your business to flourish.

The top five risks:

1 Not spending enough time defining the risks of international trade
Are you clear why you want to trade internationally? Are you aware of its risks? What are the reasons you want to sell or buy from overseas? It is crucial that you have a clear understanding of what international trade involves. It is easy to become engulfed in the excitement of its benefits and marginalise the risks to your detriment.

2 Misunderstanding the local legal framework
It is dangerous to assume that laws in other countries are similar to that of the UK. The reality is laws differ in every country which means it is essential you spend sufficient time educating your company about the legal framework of the country you are doing business with. Identifying a local lawyer is a good idea so that you can get a full picture of the laws that will apply and which ones will affect your business. Doing something legally right the first time can save you a lot of time, money and possible future heartache.

3 Not communicating effectively with your business partners
Relationships have to be worked at as there are always problems and emails can be very easily misunderstood. Time spent on the telephone and visiting will make life so much easier in the long term as you are likely to develop a rapport and gain a firmer understanding of how your partner works and thinks. Invaluable.

4 Not spending enough time with your potential business partners
Long distant relationships leave a lot to be desired. Two good friends of mine who have been buying goods from China and selling to a number of countries for more years than any of us wish to remember, spend even now, a huge amount of time up front with new potential partners. This is time very well spent as it has meant they have developed some very good partners and avoided some very dodgy characters along the way.

5 Unstable profits
With so many aspects to consider when trading at an international level, it is easy to leave currency exchange to the last minute. Unfortunately, in doing this, there is a risk of not getting the best exchange rate which in turn could have a negative impact on your business’ profit. As we live in the UK, anything we export or import will have to be exchanged into sterling. This means that between setting your budget, buying the goods and then paying for them, if you do not plan ahead, the market’s volatility could always change the worth of the sterling – and not always for the best.

Many of my clients’ international trade has brought them huge benefits but not without additional risk. International trade has to be approached sensibly and with a clear thought process so as to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks.

Charles Purdy is a Director at Smart Currency Exchange, For further information, go to www.SmartCurrencyBusiness.com or call: 0207 898 0500.

Emden’s maritime heritage revived

Posted on by Ben Debski

“The Signory of Emden…”
The city of Emden is the economic and cultural centre of East Freesia, unifying tradition and innovation. Emden’s maritime tradition is more than twelve hundred years old. Ever since being founded and to the present day, Emden has been closely connected with the sea. Its economic development has been moulded by sea trade, ship building industry and fishing, and maritime traditions have long shaped the city’s cultural landscape. In 1592, at the peak of economic bloom, when the city of Emden was home to as many trade ships as England, Christopher Marlow’s Faustus claimed: “The signory of Emden shall be mine!” In 2011, the signory of Emden shall be yours – and payment for your visit certainly won’t cost you your soul.

Maritime tradition and innovation
“The wind thou canst not guide your sailing well”, as an old saying goes. Aware of this insight – as derived from the maritime tradition itself – the people of Emden always adjusted their sails to the winds of change. In the last few decades, fishing and ship building lost their economic importance but meanwhile water tourism and offshore wind energy parks replaced them. Like the sea, the city’s continuity rests in its motion.

Cultural summer 2011
The theme year “Emden’s maritime heritage” consists of more than 20 events between May and September 2011. Never before, the maritime legacy was reflected from so many different angles. One of the highlights is the exhibition “Emden’s Ships and Herring Fishing”, which displays paintings of ships that were built and based in Emden as well as the history of work in the field of Herring fishing. Another exhibition is dedicated to the pioneers of life rescue on sea, who in 1861 founded the first German life boat organisation in Emden. The exhibitions constitute only a small part of the comprehensive cultural program. Concerts, lectures und festivals are waiting for you throughout the summer.

You’re invited
For centuries, Emden’s famous harbour gate has been wide open for guests from all over the world. In 2011 the city presents more jewels of its maritime heritage than have ever been seen before. The signory of Emden shall be yours, just come and see.

www.maritim.emden.de, Tourist Information: +49 04921 97400