Anguilla is one of is one of the Caribbean’s little gems. Although small in size, it offers a big welcome to visitors who come to explore and enjoy its tranquil environment. Anguilla is one of the 14 British Overseas Territories and the northernmost of the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands.
Anguilla’s passion for the sea is boundless and its beaches and coves are unspoiled and uncrowded
Measuring just 35 square miles, Anguilla boasts unrivalled white beaches and breathtaking turquoise waters, and has a unique blend of sophistication and casual elegance. This special island has sun-filled days and balmy tropical nights that bring visitors back time and time again.
Natural paradise
Anguilla is a charming and sophisticated island, warm, friendly and always welcoming. It boasts some of the Caribbean’s best beaches, with 33 pristine sand stretches to choose from, tempting crystal-clear waters, and a contemporary international style. Anguilla’s passion for the sea is boundless and its beaches and coves are unspoiled and uncrowded. The island offers visitors the choice of quiet days basking in the sun or the peacefulness of a simple sunset stroll.
Anguilla island is home to 33 white sandy beaches, each offering beautiful views of the turquoise ocean
With a small, select portfolio of the Caribbean’s finest international hotels and luxury spa resorts, and an enviable choice of desirable modern designer villas, Anguilla’s accommodation is hard to surpass. Visitors will also find fabulous apartments, intimate hotels, inns, and welcoming guesthouses, with something for every budget
Food plays a big part in Anguillan culture. Visitors and locals all enjoy dining out; whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, when it comes to cuisine you’ll be spoilt for choice. The island has over 100 restaurants offering international and local cuisine created from award-winning chefs. Travellers should try the casual Caribbean fare, including fresh fish, lobster and crayfish, which are all local favourites.
Museums and music
For those wishing to explore the island and learn more of Anguilla’s history, they can choose from tours of historic sites, the Heritage Collection Museum at East End Pond -which catalogues the island’s history – and guided walks across the island or through historic Sandy Ground, including tales of the island’s historic challenges. Anguilla is known for its abundance of creative talent and art galleries showcase the island’s painters, sculptors, potters and carvers.
For the more energetic traveller, there is horseback riding, tennis, sailing and golf on land, as well as snorkelling, scuba diving and kite sailing on and under the water. To wind down, find seclusion, relax and be pampered at one of Anguilla’s superb spas, or have one of the island’s wellness specialists come to you – the choice is yours.
Visitors to Anguilla island can choose from a variety of outdoor activities, including horseback riding
Anguilla’s heritage, culture and love of music features in the festivals and carnivals held throughout each year. Summer Carnival brings the island alive with music, colourful costumes and parades, while Moonsplash Festival in March is all about the full moon and music. The sea is part of everyday life and Festival Del Mer is dedicated to Anguilla’s love of the ocean and food. Boat racing is the island’s number-one sport, and not to be missed on a race day.
Anguilla offers an experience like no other: glorious weather, breathtaking vistas, azure waters, incredible beaches, mouth-watering cuisine, and both land and sea-based activities. A warm and friendly welcome awaits visitors to Anguilla; it is the end of your search for the idyllic Caribbean escape.
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital (ADFH) is a unique place for tourism – nothing similar exists worldwide. Opened to tourists on July 1, 2007, the global institution has received a large number of visitors eager to experience the exciting world of falconry.
The falcon plays a pivotal role in Abu Dhabi’s history. The aim of the hospital’s tourism programme is to let guests experience the rich tradition of falconry and gain a better cultural understanding of this heritage. An annual rise in visitor numbers of 20 percent – bringing the total to several tens of thousands of visitors – shows the great interest of tourists from all over the world.
During the tour, guests are encouraged to…see the falcons, touch the falcons, play with the falcons and even feed the falcons
ADFH is not just the world’s largest falcon medical institution, it gives visitors the opportunity to connect with these magnificent birds of prey. It also displays all of the tools and equipment that Bedouin falconers use for training their beloved creatures. During the tour, guests are encouraged to embrace the Bedouin life: they see the falcons, touch the falcons, play with the falcons and even feed the falcons. Normal falcon shows in zoos or rehabilitation centres are of no comparison to the hospital’s combination of falcon history, museum displays, and active visitor participation during procedures like feather repair or the ‘manicure’ and ‘pedicure’ sessions – which cannot be seen at any other institution.
Flying high
Due to the overwhelming success and increased demand from businesses and travellers, the Shaheen Conference Centre was established to provide a second unique venue for MICE visitors. With the opening of the centre in 2009, ADFH complemented its successful leisure tourism programme and embarked on a journey into event and business tourism. Apart from conferences, workshops and training, the centre can be booked for corporate events, gala dinners and recreational activities like birthday parties. Many international companies and event management companies have already used the excellent facilities for meetings in uniquely fascinating surroundings.
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital
Launching on October 3 1999, ADFH became the first public falcon hospital to open in the UAE.
With more than 8,600 falcons, it is the largest hospital of its kind worldwide. It is also the leading centre for falcon medicine internationally.
ADFH contains multiple other departments, including its Pet Care Centre, with its veterinary hospital and extensive boarding facilities.
Built to the highest international standards, the Shaheen Conference Centre includes a large hall fitting up to 200 people, with beautiful traditional surroundings. It has a museum for Arab falconry with a view looking out onto live free-flying falcons. The combination of a wildlife programme with the cultural background of falconry and the traditional heritage of Bedouins complement each other and provide business guests with a deep insight into the world of falcons and the passion of Emiratis. The bond between the falcon and the Emiratis is very strong, a message that the hospital has helped broadcast to a wider audience by providing a completely different outlook on meetings and events.
Cultural education
MICE events are not purely about work – the venue’s staff dive into the cultural identity of Abu Dhabi, which is an experience beyond compare for any business traveller. The combination of modern conference facilities and traditional falconry is an entirely new and exceptional experience. That is the hospital’s competitive advantage and exclusive selling point, distinguishing ADFH from its competitors.
Delegates enjoy the facilities at a WSPA event in Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital’s Shaheen Conference Centre
Corporate guests can choose to maximise their business meetings with an additional tour through the hospital. This award-winning tour is unrivalled, exploring the fascinating world of falconry and the deep-rooted knowledge and experience of treating such impressive birds. The tour shows how the UAE people love their falcons and how the government cares for the birds and preserves Bedouin heritage.
Passion and prestige In recent years, the hospital has received 17 international awards, including Business Destinations’ Best Cultural Venue for Corporate Events, Middle East, 2014. Dr Margit Gabriele Muller, Director of ADFH said: “At Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, we celebrate the majestic falcon species and are delighted about adding the prestigious accolade of the Business Destinations 2014 Travel Award.
“Since opening our doors to global visitors in 2007, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital has provided visitors with the unique opportunity to get close to an important element of UAE culture and heritage – falconry. With our Shaheen Conference Centre we extend our love and passion to falcons to business travellers and provide truly outstanding and fabulous MICE events in an unique and innovative atmosphere.”
In May 2013, ADFH was awarded the Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award by the World Travel Awards. In the same year the hospital received the Winner Certificate by the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor, for its tourism programme, which recognised ADFH for earning exceptional traveller ratings over 12 months. TripAdvisor currently ranks ADFH number two out of 66 must-see attractions in Abu Dhabi – accolades which highlight the lasting feeling of visitor satisfaction.
Over the course of its inaugural year, the new Art Factory in Finland has proven itself to be of international standing, placing itself among the best culture and congress centres in the world and earning itself the title of Business Destinations’ Best Cultural Venue for Corporate Events, Europe, 2014.
The Art Factory is an old factory building, which reopened as a culture and congress centre in 2012. It is located in Porvoo, a charming town famous for its unique Old Town district. The historic ambience of Old Porvoo is created by idyllic wooden houses, gardens, boutiques and cobbled streets, anchored by its medieval, stone and brick cathedral.
As a conference venue, the Art Factory gives hosts the pleasure of inviting their guests into a beautiful old building with modern facilities
Combining business events with lifestyle services in an inspiring manner, The Art Factory is easily accessible being just east of the capital and is only 40 minutes from Helsinki Airport.
Conferencing and culture
As a conference venue, the Art Factory gives hosts the pleasure of inviting their guests into a beautiful old building with modern facilities, a warm heart and an interesting mix of old brickwork and contemporary architecture.
The main event halls are the Avanti Hall, which holds up to 800 seats, and the Factory Hall, which can accommodate 250 seats. In addition, there are two large foyers, five smaller meeting/breakout rooms and four movie-theatre auditoriums that can be used for conferences, which each contain between 50 and 250 seats.
The 800-seat Avanti Hall, one of the Art Factory’s main event halls
All guests are welcomed by the spacious Avanti Hall foyer, which sets the tone for the rest of the day. This area can also be used for receptions, exhibitions and cocktails, as the halls are intelligently designed as multi-purpose spaces. The seating arrangements are flexible and a specially designed portable seating construction allows either rising or flat seating arrangements. The halls can be used for conferencing, banquets, and exhibitions – and even for car shows.
Since its reopening just over a year ago, the Art Factory has hosted a range of business events, from meetings to extensive seminars; from product launch galas to car exhibitions; from customer breakfasts to amazing art creation workshops, all efficiently carried out by clients’ teams.
“This first year of operation has proven that the venue works perfectly for all types of events. But we have also noticed that when the customer has high expectations of the construction and flexibility of the venue – that is when we are at our best,” says Art Factory CEO Susanne Dahlqvist.
The Art Factory’s staff are encouraged to make customers feel at home, and they take care of customers’ needs in a flexible way, from first contact to the finish line, ensuring clients are left with a lasting feeling of satisfaction.
History and art
The building is about 100 years old and until the 1980s served as a mechanical factory, producing horseshoes, wooden frames and plywood. At the end of the industrial years the halls were used for assembling tractors, but in 1986 the City of Porvoo bought the building with a different agenda in mind – to become a hub of creativity. It was filled with artists’ studios and the industrial halls were used for concerts, fairs and events.
The Art Factory offers visitors a chance to experience Finland’s beautiful landscapes
Eventually the building needed a thorough renovation and a widened range of services. So, in 2010, a massive project to turn it into a modern culture and congress centre began. Today, the Art Factory has 20 studios for professional artists and space for art exhibitions, allowing corporate customers to create or enjoy art during their stay.
“We can offer live painting presentations and encounters with our artists. Creating communal art together with an artist has become very popular, as has simply enjoying an exhibition during the coffee break,” says Dahlqvist.
Architecture and lifestyle
The head architect of The Art Factory is Hannu Kiiskilä, from Arrak Architects. The architectural design focuses on restored features, such as original brick walls and reconstructed wooden windows, as well as creating new extensions, like the movie theatre. Key features of the building’s new section are the use of modern concrete surfaces and stairs, high windows and steelwork. The staircase’s concrete walls retain the pattern of plywood, reminding guests of the factory’s history.
The halls can be used for conferencing, banquets, and exhibitions – and even for car shows
“The Art Factory is part of a larger area on the western side of the Porvoo River that is being developed into an area of business, apartments and recreation,” says Dahlqvist. The housing in the surrounding area provides an example of modern wooden architecture, and complements the buildings in the wooden Old Town Porvoo on the opposite side of the river.
The new Art Factory is a delicate mix of business, art and lifestyle services, attracting people to concerts and public events, art exhibitions, movie theatres, the shopping street, restaurants and cafés. “Many of our corporate guests have actually enjoyed getting a glimpse of normal life in between business: dance school students walking by, movie theatre audiences gathering before the show, and happy shoppers with their purchases,” says Dahlqvist.
Experience Finland
Porvoo, the small town that houses The Art Factory, is situated just east of Helsinki. Customers can enjoy the arctic atmosphere in the winter and experience the midnight sun in the beautiful archipelago – the inspiration of Tove Jansson, artist, writer and creator of The Moomins. The author was born exactly 100 years ago and the Art Factory’s summer exhibition 2014 will present her life, work and relation to the area.
The Art Factory is also a good base from which to experience Finland’s nature and stunning outdoor landscapes. Just outside the Art Factory ferries head out to the archipelago, and a short bus ride away is the beautiful countryside, dotted with old manors. The Art Factory’s partner Hotel Haikko Manor is located by the seaside and offers accommodation as well as excellent spa and Finnish sauna facilities.
Macau has become a hotspot for discerning travellers around the globe. We take a look at the glamorous Sheraton Macao Hotel, which has dazzled guests with its stunning views and first-class services.
To read more about the Sheraton Macao Hotel, click here
Dubai has a deep-rooted history at the global crossroads of trade. For centuries, the young, provincial port served as a strategic maritime hub on the iconic Silk Road – a series of cultural and economic trade routes between networking civilisations, stretching from Europe in the west to China in the east.
Although the Silk Road is more metaphorical than physical these days, Dubai’s significance on the global stage has been underlined by futuristic air and land infrastructure, developed to complement the nautical roots of the city’s trading heritage.
DWTC has built a reputation for being much more than just an events venue – it is now a destination in its own right
With close to 60 million passengers passing through its airports in 2012, Dubai is internationally recognised as a decisive player in connecting the world. Nowhere is this more apparent than for the business traveller. The emirate expects to almost double the number of business visitors entering its borders by the end of the decade; four million a year are anticipated by 2020. At the heart of this push is Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the MENASA region’s largest Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) venue operator and event organiser. In 2012 alone, DWTC’s calendar of events generated in excess of AED8bn ($2.22bn) for the year – a 25 percent increase on the AED6.5bn ($1.78bn) contributed in 2011.
As a regional event hub for global commerce and entertainment, Dubai’s business and consumer events sector is a key pillar of economic growth forecasts. In terms of economic impact, Dubai continues to rank among the global leading MICE destinations with DWTC fuelling 2.2 percent of the emirate’s GDP contribution in 2012 and more than 45,000 jobs being supported directly and indirectly by the sector.
In terms of growing visitor attendance, international participation and spend per attendee, DWTC is working to sustainably enhance the strategic relevance of MICE, and its GDP value. Of the venue’s record 1.85 million visitors reported in 2012, 1.5 million attended large-scale MICE events and 38 percent of these were international travellers. This inbound contingent had a citywide spend 11 times greater than domestic participants.
Beyond the figures
Yet the figures, successful as they are, only tell part of the story. As one of the region’s longest-serving MICE venues, DWTC draws on more than 30 years of experience and a rich pool of expertise that many other regional players have yet to accrue.
DWTC has built a reputation for being much more than just an events venue – it is now a destination in its own right. With a rich diversity of services, food and beverage outlets, and accommodation, DWTC is a bustling visitor hub in the heart of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan and dynamic cities. Its ample offering makes DWTC Business Destinations‘ Best Congress and Convention Centre, Middle East, 2014.
The Dubai World Trade Centre attracted a record 1.85 million visitors in 2012, 38 percent of which were international travellers
Dubai has emerged as a leading regional commercial capital with state-of-the-art infrastructure and a world-class business environment. It has become the logical place to do business in the Middle East and provides investors with a unique and comprehensive value-added platform. With its strategic location, tax-free living and consistently strong economic outlook, Dubai has regenerated its ancient Silk Road credentials and established itself as a gateway for all manner of companies to target markets in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Asian subcontinent.
What sets Dubai apart is its reputation as one of the world’s most exciting leisure destinations. Famed for a diverse choice of hotels and resorts, mega shopping malls, white sand beaches, orange-hued sand dunes and stunning attractions, the possibility to seamlessly combine business with leisure only strengthens the city’s appeal.
Digital assistance
To help business travellers plan their trips, DWTC has launched an interactive, 3D ‘Neighbourhood Finder’, giving online visitors a visual tour of key attractions and hotels in close proximity to the venue, including onsite options. The tool will incorporate a Google Maps plug-in allowing visitors to find restaurants and malls, read reviews, and make bookings. Soon a mobile app for iOS and Android will be launched, featuring a ‘Way Finder’, allowing users to navigate their way to points of interest in real time. Streamlining the customer journey is a core facet of DWTC’s strategy.
Some of the globe’s leading hotel brands and restaurants are within walking distance of the venue
One of DWTC’s key selling points is its position as the region’s only MICE destination to offer a comprehensive management service under one roof. Through its standalone Hospitality and Event Serve divisions, DWTC offers an organiser, exhibitor, customer or visitor a full end-to-end service. There is no need to employ third parties; at DWTC you have one point of contact in one venue, streamlining the whole process.
For the business visitor, the same applies. Booking excursions and activities can be done through DWTC’s partner destination management company, Alpha Tours, ensuring visitors maximise their time, for the best price. With more than 1,000 hotel rooms and serviced apartments located onsite, picking the right accommodation is as simple as clicking a mouse.
Some of the globe’s leading hotel brands and restaurants are within walking distance of the venue, while DWTC’s dedicated Dubai Metro station means the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa, and its surrounding downtown neighbourhood, including the flagship Dubai Mall, are only a few minutes away.
As Dubai focuses on the next instalment of the ambitious expansion plan laid out by its visionary leaders, DWTC will continue to be at the heart of the city’s business, trade, commerce and leisure growth.
The Sochi Winter Olympics might be over, but the interest in winter sports generated by the event will linger for some time.
[P]roperty in an Alpine resort provides not only a place to go on holiday in the winter and summer, but can also be a good rental earner
In addition to that, appetite for ski property is on the up too, with agents and developers in the Alps reporting a surge in enquiries in January 2014 compared with the same time last year.
Much of the demand is being driven by international buyers, many of whom are buying ski property as a solid long-term capital investment rather than putting their money into more traditional ventures, such as saving accounts and stocks and shares. Not to mention, a property in an Alpine resort provides not only a place to go on holiday in the winter and summer, but can also be a good rental earner.
Things are set to improve further this year, as conditions for purchasing in the French Alps are favourable for British and foreign buyers too. Mortgage rates in France are still at historic lows and the euro is showing no signs of strengthening, meaning it makes financial sense for some foreign buyers to purchase with a French euro-mortgage. David Windell, an accountant from West Sussex who owns and rents out a chalet in the Savoie region of the Alps, is benefiting from France’s cheap mortgages.
David, who spends five to six months of the year at his chalet enjoying his two passions in Iife, skiing and paragliding, bought his six-bedroom property in the village of Montagny for €362,000, including fees and taxes. Not being in a ski resort, but still just 15-20 minutes’ drive from the Three Valleys and Paradiski ski areas, meant his budget stretched further than if he were in a property hot spot close to ski lifts.
“I’ve bought with a tracker mortgage from BNP Paribas and benefited from the reduced mortgage rates in France, so I’m now paying around three percent interest,” said Andrew, who can keep on top of his work by working remotely when he’s in France.
David has another strategy to help keep the sterling cost of his mortgage to a minimum – he uses a currency specialist to send money to France, thereby getting a better pound/euro exchange rate than if he sent the monthly payments direct through his bank. He also saved money by using his currency specialist, called Smart Currency Exchange, to transfer the balance to France for the purchase of his property.
[C]onditions for purchasing in the French Alps are favourable for British and foreign buyers too
“Typically I transfer around €2,000 to France each month, which covers the mortgage and running costs of the property,” adds David. “I had 10 weeks occupancy last season and that about covered the costs. I try to be fair with my rental charges and don’t push the price up during school holidays. Renting out the property helps me to afford to enjoy skiing and paragliding, I don’t do it to make lots of money. In fact, I’m usually on hand to help out guests when needed.”
David dedicated two summers paragliding and touring the French Alps in search of the right property. He estimates he saw between 150 and 175 properties before finding his chalet, which includes a self-contained basement studio where David stays when he has guests. The village of Montagny is situated above Brides les Bains, a thermal spa town at the foot of the Meribel Valley. The pretty village of Bozel, at the foot of Courchevel ski resort, is just six minutes’ drive from the chalet.
Perched majestically in Abu Dhabi’s Al Markaziyah business district, the Royal Rose from the City Seasons Hotel Group is the first five-star property of the Bin Ham Group, and its flagship property in Abu Dhabi.
Royal Rose is built to resemble the splendour and grandeur of a seventeenth-century French palace. It features 355 well-appointed luxury rooms and suites, state-of-the-art meetings rooms for up to 300 guests, a signature restaurant and other delicious dining outlets, a fully equipped health club, swimming pool and full service spa, as well as three executive floors.
An exciting opening
Mohammed Al Aamri, Managing Director of City Seasons Hotel Group, said: “The opening of Royal Rose marks another successful step forward of our expansion in the capital and in the country. Royal Rose is our first five-star property and we are very proud of this spectacular hotel.
The ambience of the rooms will make guests feel like royalty, with high-quality beds and a selection of different pillows to ensure utmost comfort
“The architectural design of the structure, both exterior and interior, reflects great opulence and it will definitely catch one’s attention, especially during the evening when the hotel is illuminated in its splendour.”
Gianni Malerba, General Manager of Royal Rose, added: “We are opening a stunning new hotel that offers a sense of richness and elegance. Royal Rose was built in the style of pure royalty, with walls overlaid in intricate gold-leaf designs, decorated with plush furnishings and accented with ornate chandeliers. With contemporary design, modern facilities and warm, engaging service, a stay at Royal Rose offers an exceptional guest experience.”
To ensure unsurpassed comfort, the rooms at Royal Rose are very spacious, with sizes ranging from 35sq m in the deluxe rooms to 61sq m in the luxury suites. The ambience of the rooms will make guests feel like royalty, with high-quality beds and a selection of different pillows to ensure utmost comfort, and an en suite bathroom featuring a bathtub, walk-in shower and large variety of high brand bathroom amenities.
Royal Rose can assist in the organisation of lavish banquets, intimate parties or large corporate events. The four Rose Suites, larger versions of the luxury suites with a size of 71sq m, are located on the fifteenth and sixteenth floors, and each has a balcony. Guests staying in these suites will have access to both the executive and the royal lounges and will enjoy a wide range of exclusive services and facilities, including a butler service and the hotel’s VIP limo transfers.
Relax and unwind after a day sight seeing in one of the Royal Rose Hotel’s luxurious rooms
For those in Abu Dhabi on business, the hotel offers modern meeting rooms. For larger gatherings and special events, the luxuriously decked out Al Ain ballroom juxtaposes a rich baroque interior with high-end technology.
Food and fitness
The Royal Rose is host to a variety of restaurants, designed to cater to every taste. The Brasserie Café is set on the upper level, overlooking the lobby. It’s ideal for any informal meeting, or simply as a place to catch up with friends.
The Printania is an all-day dining restaurant offering buffet service for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The hotel’s signature restaurant, Barocco, can be found on the upper lobby level and has a skilfully designed interior oozing an elegant French Baroque ambiance. Its Mediterranean cuisine spans a delectable range of traditional dishes from Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece – all recreated with a French touch.
To keep active on your break in Abu Dhabi, a fully equipped health club and gym offers the latest in cardio equipment and free weights. Women can also attend personal fitness classes in an exclusive male-free zone. After a strenuous workout – or just to relax – the spa is a tranquil oasis, a place to unwind and rejuvenate. It features beautifully decorated rooms and offers a range of treatments for both face and body.
Sample some delicious Mediterranean cuisine at one of the Royal Rose Hotel’s charming restaurants
The open-air, temperature-controlled pool is perfect for a refreshing dip or for lazing in the sun. Guests can enjoy a selection of healthy refreshments and hearty snacks from the poolside café, or pop back in the late afternoon to enjoy a shisha. An adjacent shaded children’s pool and play area are a great attraction for young ones.
Strategically situated in the business district of Abu Dhabi, Royal Rose is ideal for business and leisure travellers alike. The hotel is within walking distance of the business hub, government institutions, shopping malls and other leisure facilities. The Abu Dhabi Corniche and promenade, with its exuberant beach, range of outdoor cafés, and opportunities for water sports, is a mere five-minute drive away. The traditional souq, the Abu Dhabi Fort and countless other points of interest are also within easy reach.
City Seasons and Bin Ham Group
Established in the UAE in 2005, City Seasons Hotels currently owns and operates five four-star properties in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and Muscat; Royal Rose is its first five-star property. Another property is scheduled to open in Dubai – next to BurJuman shopping mall – this year. Highly committed to customer service and attention to detail, City Seasons Hotels has already built a strong reputation among international travellers who enjoy the family atmosphere of the hotels and suites, as well as their prime location in the heart of the city.
Established in 1972, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Musallem Bin Salem Bin Ham, the Bin Ham Group includes over 30 companies. The group first ventured into the hospitality sector in the late nineties with small properties in the capital, then in 2005 it opened City Seasons Suites in Dubai – a move that was successfully followed up with further expansion within the UAE and Oman.
Venice, one of the most charming and fascinating cities in the world, visited by tourists from all over the globe, has also turned, in recent years, into a favoured destination for meetings and congresses. In this context, Hilton Molino Stucky Venice has become one of the most qualified hotels in the MICE sector. Its wide range of meeting facilities now places it as the number-one location for meetings in the Veneto region.
On the banks of the Giudecca Island, a thriving artistic district of Venice, stands this modern Venetian masterpiece. The Molino Stucky, once a flourishing flourmill, is internationally recognised as an iconic example of Italian industrial architecture. Beautifully restored, it now houses a hotel unlike any other.
Meeting options
The hotel is a short, five-minute boat ride from St Mark’s square, providing peaceful respite from the intensity of the city, and is exceptionally well served by easy access to the airport and rail station. With 379 rooms including 88 executives, 44 wonderful suites and a unique presidential suite, the hotel manages to balance intimacy with scale. The hotel also presents an exceptional food and beverage offering and the Kelly Spa, a 600sq m wellness centre, the largest one in Venice.
For art lovers, the hotel can set up a private cocktail reception in the terrace facing the Grand Canal of the Guggenheim Museum
Being one of the Queen of the Adriatic Sea’s most imposing and curious hotels, the property owns the biggest and best-equipped congress centre in the city, at a size of 2,600sq m. For big events, the Venetian ballroom can host up to 1,000 delegates and can also be divided into five smaller rooms, all of which are soundproofed and have an independent entrance.
The 700sq m foyer, located next to the ballroom, is ideal for exhibitions, product launches, coffee breaks, cocktails and aperitifs for a maximum of 750 delegates. The hotel also presents 14 meeting rooms, a business centre and an executive boardroom, all equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, to Hilton’s high standards.
Thanks to these exceptional facilities, the Molino Stucky is able to host successful corporate events throughout the year for some of the world’s biggest brands. These have included car and boat launches, congresses, product launches, sales and trade events, and award gala dinners.
Unique experiences
For companies with specific requirements or those wanting to experience the uniqueness of Venice, the hotel proposes a series of one-of-a-kind initiatives. Thanks to a special agreement with the Patriarch of Venice, it’s possible to arrange a private evening visit to St Mark’s Basilica, one of the most exclusive experiences in Venice. The wonderful mosaics will be illuminated and guests will have the Basilica at their exclusive disposal. The atmosphere and sense of spirituality are unforgettable.
The Hilton Molino Stucky Venice offers gorgeous views over the old city
For art-lovers, the hotel can set up a private cocktail reception in the terrace facing the Grand Canal of the Guggenheim Museum, which hosts the Peggy Guggenheim Collection – a very important selection of modern art masterpieces.
The Hilton Molino Stucky has become a landmark within Venice as well as a gourmet reference-point for all food-lovers
Guests can also enjoy walking tours of Venice. The Giacomo Casanova path is an original tour of the secret places where Giacomo Casanova, the famous Venetian libertine, was born, where he used to meet his lovers and, finally, where he was imprisoned. With a dedicated guide, guests discover the piquant anecdotes, the novels about his women, as well as historical details of The Enlightenment and the gambling, gallantries, pleasure and entertainment that surrounded him. Alternatively, the Secret Venice guided tour covers the most charming quarters of the city, far from the crowded square. It shows fascinating highlights of the town, including the Church of San Giovanni and Paolo, the largest church in Venice. This grand Gothic church became a popular burial place for the doges of Venice and it now contains 25 ducal tombs.
Guests can also see the Church of Miracoli, a beautiful example of Renaissance artwork, before passing by Marco Polo’s houses up to the Rialto Bridge arched high over the Grand Canal. Re-built several times over the years, today’s bridge was constructed by Antonio da Ponte in 1591. It is in the centre of the city’s old trading area and old industries such as wine, coal and iron are reflected in the nearby street names. Shops are strung along this famous bridge, selling jewellery, linens and Murano glass.
True Venetian food
The Hilton Molino Stucky has become a landmark within Venice as well as a gourmet reference-point for all food-lovers. The gastronomic offerings here are traditionally Italian and always refined, across the hotel’s rich selection of restaurants and bars. The Aromi – which is undergoing major renovation works in 2014 to become a unique yachting-style venue – welcomes its clientele into a warm and cosy atmosphere, offering excellent Mediterranean cuisine. In 2013, the hotel also launched the newly refurbished Bacaromi, a contemporary bacaro (a classic Venetian wine tavern) where tasty cicchetti pay homage to the Venetian tradition. Experience its vintage atmosphere while enjoying the panoramic view over the Giudecca canal.
Yet another restaurant, Il Molino, is located in two of the thirteen buildings of the ancient mill. It’s perfect for big events and can host up to 218 guests in a unique environment. Next to the lobby, for quick and easy lunches, is the Rialto Bar & Lounge, while the Campiello Lounge serves cups of tea and cocktails. The jewel in the crown of the hotel is the Skyline Rooftop Bar. Located on the eighth floor, it is the perfect place for glamorous parties with a breathtaking view of Venice’s baroque skyline. This location also will be totally renovated in the first months of 2014, a sign of the ongoing spirit of improvement, one of the main strengths of the legendary Hilton Worldwide hospitality.
Sometimes selecting the right location for an event is very simple, because who needs to compromise when everything is possible in one location?
Enter Berlin, the seventh most populated urban area in the EU and Germany’s largest city. Berlin has a broad choice of special locations available, from the 368m-high television tower, to the hangar of the former Tempelhof Airport, which can entertain 5,000 guests. And with Europe’s most modern hotel landscape, the city offers diversity at favourable rates.
The German capital convinces as a perfect convention host and offers many unique, cultural highlights. The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989 and to honour this historic milestone 25 years on, a series of special events and museum exhibitions will take place across the city. In November this year, thousands of illuminated white balloons will form a 12km-long wall to represent a ‘symbol of hope for a world without walls’. If the weather is good enough, the wall will even be visible from space.
The German capital convinces as a perfect convention host and offers many unique, cultural highlights
Starting in March, the German Historical Museum is going to feature the works of photojournalists in an exhibition entitled Colour for the Republic – Photo Reportages from Everyday Life in the GDR. Also in November, the permanent exhibition at the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre will reopen its doors to the public after a year’s renovation.
Venues to visit
In spring, the CityCube Berlin will open. This new, multi-functional congress hall will be able to host events with up to 11,000 participants. It is set to feature two main floors, flexible wall partitioning, numerous conference rooms and the southern section of the exhibition grounds nearby. The CityCube will act as a temporary replacement to the International Congress Centre, which will be closed for refurbishment.
The Estrel Berlin is the only major venue in the city used equally for entertainment, conventions and hotel accommodation. The building complex, with its striking glass façade, includes a convention hall that can accommodate up to 6,000 people. The adjacent hotel has 1,125 rooms ready for the night. The Estrel Berlin also organises its own successful shows, such as Stars in Concert.
Arrangements for an expansion of the Estrel venue are also in place, with a new 700-room hotel tower and a convention centre planned. The exhibition space will be approximately 8,500sq m and will be able to host events with up to 4,200 participants.
New conventions
For 13 years the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office (BCO) of Berlin Tourismus and Kongress GmbH has offered excellent support for the organisation of conventions, meetings and incentives. Customers benefit from an experienced team, a broad network of contacts, free-of-charge services and reservations for hotel allotments.
Since October 2013 the BCO website has boasted a whole new design. The structure and editorial content has been improved, making it easier to search for information about Berlin as a meeting and convention destination.
Whether users are planning a conference or looking for the perfect incentive offer in the German capital, with just a few clicks on the BCO website they will find the right advice. Under the service section, all BCO offerings for associations, corporates and agencies are listed, while the event planning section introduces suitable locations for all kind of events. To find the perfect location in Berlin, visitors can simply use the new venue finder.
The buildings in Riga’s Old City look like dollhouses. The streets are narrow and cobbled, and the iron church steeple of St Peter’s is visible at almost every turn, its light a consecrated guidepost. Riga is one of those cities that look like a Christmas card all year round. It feels intimate in the way only a medieval city can; sometimes streets are a mere two metres wide, forcing human proximity. It has been a cult tourist destination for some years, but has remained shielded from the crowds, tucked away in Latvia and removed from the European backpacking trail. But Riga has now been chosen as the European Capital of Culture, in 2014, the same year that it joins the euro, and so is about to become the next must-visit destination.
Because of its rich and diverse tradition, Riga survives as an old cultural capital
Riga sits on the mouth of the mighty Daugava River, where it meets the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic. Because of its strategic position linking Scandinavia to the rest of Europe, Riga has always been a hub for trade, commerce and multiculturalism. It was once a Viking stronghold, and a central point of their navigation routes, before the arrival of German settlers and Catholic monasteries in the twelfth century. It is a small but bustling city, with just under 700,000 inhabitants, but it prides itself in being the industrial, commercial, cultural and financial centre of the Baltics.
The colourful houses that line the streets of Riga’s Old Town have been compared to dollhouses
Riga is emerging as hot property in the European tourism market. An economic crisis in 2008 made Latvia extremely affordable for foreign visitors, and tourism emerged as a reliable revenue-booster for the country. Latvia grew 50 percent between 2004 and 2007, partly because it remains a heavily industrialised country and partly because it made a rapid move towards embracing the free market after independence in 1991, when the country earned its moniker: ‘The Baltic Tiger’.
Crash comeback
But 2008 and the global economic downturn hit the country particularly hard, with GDP contracting 10.5 percent that year. The country required a bailout from the IMF, and in 2009 earned the unwelcome accolade of having the highest unemployment in the EU. In just two years, however, Latvia had regained control of its economy and finances and got unemployment back under control.
“Those who change will endure,” said Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director, at the opening of a 2012 IMF conference in Riga. “You have pulled through. You have returned to strong growth. You have lowered budget deficits and kept government debt ratios to some of the lowest in the EU. You have become more competitive in world markets through wage and price cuts. You have restored confidence and brought down interest rates through good macroeconomic policies. We are here today to celebrate your achievements. If we want to single out one factor for Latvia, it would be the impressive determination.”
Because of its rich and diverse tradition, Riga survives as an old cultural capital. The birthplace of art nouveau, and Baltic wooden architecture, the historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and tourism is increasing at an astounding rate. In 2010, as the rest of Europe was floundering in recession and economic turmoil, Riga attracted 1.3 million tourists to its streets, an increase of 18 percent from the previous year, and only 30 percent of those were domestic visitors.
The cobblestone streets of the UNESCO World Heritage Site are popular among tourists
“Our biggest tourist groups – Germans, Scandinavians and Russians – make up about 12-14 percent of the total each,” Gastons Neimanis, director of the Riga Tourism Development Office told bestriga.com. “We don’t have such a large group of tourists coming from any single country as our neighbours do. More than 50 percent of all tourists in Tallinn are from Finland. That means we have to work with each country individually.”
An ever more diverse selection of guests are expected this year as Riga fulfils its duties as the European Capital of Culture. The initiative, launched in 1985 by the European Commission, aims to highlight the “richness and diversity of European cultures”. Riga fits the bill perfectly; it is well equipped to receive masses of visitors and boasts well-funded cultural apparatus. A report assigned by the European Commission suggested the Capitals of Culture initiative was rated the “most beneficial cultural events for cities in terms of development”, with the events that accompany the title boosting numbers of incoming visitors by up to 12 percent. For Riga, this will be a unique opportunity to capitalise on the city’s rich architecture and history, so often overlooked by tourists in lieu of more showy European capitals.
The increase in tourism and accolade of Capital of Culture are deeply significant of Latvia’s economic and cultural rebirth after full independence was restored just over twenty years ago
Rich heritage
Winning European Capital of Culture is also a wonderful economic opportunity for Latvia, as events are designed to raise the profile of the city as a viable business centre. It is significant that Riga was selected to receive the honour in 2014, a year in which many European countries will host events commemorating the centenary of the start of World War I. The Great War and subsequent Treaty of Brest-Litovsk were two of the most significant events in modern Latvian history and led to the country, along with its Baltic neighbours, finally making a move for independence from the Russian Empire. Though it was short-lived, as Latvia was soon occupied by the Soviet Union, it was the first step on the path to liberation.
Though Latvia and Riga in particular hardly feature in the dialogue about the interwar period and World War II, it is a huge part of modern Latvian culture. The multicultural nature of Riga’s population meant that during both World Wars and subsequent annexation to the USSR, the city was a constant target for attack, something that has left deep emotional scars on the native population. The increase in tourism and accolade of Capital of Culture are deeply significant of Latvia’s economic and cultural rebirth after full independence was restored just over twenty years ago.
A Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Riga. Latvia was part of the Russian Empire and then the USSR until 1991, when it gained independence
However, though Riga has been steadily rising through the ranks of most-visited capitals in Europe since 1991, the arrival of budget airlines in the last decade was the final push the city needed to become a top destination. Along with Prague, Tallinn, Budapest and Warsaw, Riga benefited from the intersection of low living costs and cheap transport. According to Yahoo Travel, Riga has topped the list of cheapest weekend city breaks for British tourists since 2010. Flights and accommodation in Riga cost around a third of that in Stockholm, another city that has benefitted from the emergence of low-cost airlines.
And visitors get plenty for their money in Riga. The city’s fascinating architecture mixes medieval and art nouveau as well as an amalgamation of nineteenth-century wooden buildings, giving the city a unique look. And every nook and cranny of the cobbled streets is packed with history. Throughout the ages, philosophers, musicians and artists have come to Riga seeking a home or a refuge. And the city has received them all with open arms; Immanuel Kant, Richard Wagner and Sergey Eisenstein all lived here and were inspired by the city’s rich heritage.
Cultural investment
Around 40 percent of the buildings in central Riga and around the old town have an art nouveau influence – the largest collection in the world. During the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century, when art nouveau was at its most popular, Riga was experiencing a demographic and economic boom as it emerged as the largest port in the Russian Empire. Around that time, the Latvian National Opera, and a number of other opulent theatres and museums sprung up around the city, and have since become notable tourist attractions.
Riga is a city that blossoms in the winter, but is warm and inviting in summer too. It is deeply culturally engaging, with new concerts, operas, ballets, and exhibitions debuting almost every day. This year, Capital of Culture events will peak in August to cash in on the higher influx of tourists to the city. Highlights will include the Riga Opera Festival that runs through the summer. Along with cultural events, Riga will be hosting a variety of markets and trade fairs. Boosting trade and revenue and raising the business profile of a city are one the main aims. Riga will be spending just over €44m on the city’s investment programme in 2014, plus a further €80m on public transport, much of which will be used to boost resources for the events.
Latvia has rebuilt itself twice in the last two decades; first as it adapted to the demands of the free market and then when, after years of herculean growth, the economy crashed in the European Crisis. Not that any of that is apparent in the well-preserved streets of the capital. Riga has withstood the test of time, and managed to hold on to its charm and character even while so many other former Soviet capitals succumbed to the industrialisation of their streets. Its medieval alleys are a testament to its rich heritage, and proof that Riga has been a European Capital of Culture for centuries before the European Commission decided to grace it with the title.
Celebrating its twentieth birthday this year, Restorāns Vincents is one of Riga’s most exciting and well-respected eateries. Head chef and founder Martins Ritins is President of Latvia’s Slow Food Association and has instilled this philosophy in his restaurant. The menus change every week, depending on which products are in season and available from local farmers.
This focus on quality, organic ingredients, and the way they are skilfully crafted into beautiful plates of food, has attracted a litany of famous faces and master chefs, including Elton John, the Emperor of Japan and Heston Bluhmental. Expect delicate starters, Asian-influenced fish dishes, wild game with luxurious accompaniments, and charcoal-cooked dry-aged steaks, as well as a flavoursome vegetarian menu. Every dish is exquisitely presented, treating your eyes as much as your stomach. For a comprehensive sample of Restorāns Vincents’ style, try the seven-course tasting menu, at €110 per person.
Bufete Restaurant
31a K Barona Street
+371 67281141 istaba@istaba.lv
Set on the upper floor of Galerija Istaba, this café and restaurant overlooks a quirky art gallery, setting a unique ambience for your dining experience. The décor is eclectic, combining found objects and original artworks. Mārtiņš Sirmais is the popular head chef here, and creates a small but deeply satisfying menu, in line with the capacity of his miniscule kitchen. He is known to visit diners at their table, sounding out their culinary preferences and advising them on their choice of meal.
Variety is the spice of life at Bufete Restaurant, with chefs sourcing fresh produce from the markets every morning
Most of the ingredients are local and organic, bought fresh each morning from the city’s markets, so expect different dishes every day. The restaurant’s balcony provides a great place from which to watch Riga’s street life, while the indoor view over the art gallery shop allows you to browse potential purchases before buying.
Le Dome Fish Restaurant
4 Miesnieku Street
+371 67509010 zivjurestorans.lv
Located in an UNESCO-recognised building, part of a quaint street constructed in the first half of the thirteenth century, Le Dome Hotel and Spa was established in 2009 by a group of Latvian designers, artists and craftspeople. The acclaimed Fish Restaurant has been voted the best in the Baltics and serves only freshly caught produce, from local fishermen. Diners can sample plaice, sturgeon, Baltic pilchard, sander and more, as well as local game, berries and vegetables, seasonally dependent. Head Chef Maris Astics is an experimental cook and favours Latvian eel, catfish and pike. The restaurant’s chilled, sophisticated atmosphere is set by live evening music from one of Riga’s finest pianists. In the summer months guests can even dine out on the charming roof terrace, taking in tranquil views of the famous Dome Church and the colourful buildings of Riga’s Old Town.
Le Dome Fish Restaurant is located in a UNESCO World Heritage building and offers great views of the Dome Church
WHERE TO MEET
Riga Congress Centre
5 K Valdemara Street
+371 67181800 kongresunams.lv
Opened in 1982 as the House of Political Education, Riga Congress Centre initially housed Communist party conferences and meetings. Designed by state architects J Gertmanis and V Kadirkovs, the building boasts marble and granite lobbies and its own library. In the late eighties, the centre became a hub of debate and discussion regarding Latvian independence.
Riga Congress Centre has been home to lively political discussions since it opened in 1982
Now, an exciting reconstruction project is underway, equipping the building with state-of-the-art audio systems, and enlarging the main stage to accommodate a full-size symphony orchestra and choir simultaneously. There are currently three halls and 10 auditoriums, as well as a lobby and dining hall, with capacity for 5,000 guests. The areas can be hired for concerts, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and many other types of event. Riga Congress Centre has held seasonal balls, the Carrot Festival, the Baltic Pearl Film Festival, the annual Riga Festival, and more.
Ozo Golf Club
16 Milgravja Street
+371 67394399 ozogolf.lv
If your business associates like golf as much as the corporate clichés suggest, then Ozo Golf Club is the perfect place to host a meeting. The club offers bespoke business packages, which can include: drinks receptions at the club house; talks on the history of the club; golf tutorials overseen by professional players; an introduction to the basics of the game and golfing etiquette; one-on-one training with elite coaches; and practice sessions on the driving range.
Offering views of the gorgeous Lake Kisezers, Ozo Golf Club is the perfect place to relax and unwind
There is also a conference room, holding up to 20 people, while the Bloom restaurant provides gourmet food and business buffet options. Ozo is Latvia’s first 18-hole golf course and features 16 man-made ponds, 50 sand bunkers and views of the lovely Lake Kisezers, whose banks are incorporated into some of the holes. Corporate events can be hosted here from April to October.
Baltic Beach Hotel
23-25 Juras Street
+371 67771400 balticbeach.lv
Located 15 minutes from Riga Airport, on the edge of a beautiful beach and surrounded by pine forest, this hotel treats business guests to an array of idyllic natural backdrops for their meeting or conference. Inside, the Baltic Beach Hotel offers 10 conference halls, the largest of which holds 350 people. All of the usual technical extras – wi-fi, sound systems, projectors, laptops, simultaneous translation, and on-hand technicians – are available to make the day run smoothly. But a Baltic Beach conference really excels on the luxury touches. Coffee breaks come with French cakes, business lunches come with a sea view, and the day ends with a back massage and rejuvenating juice drink in the hotel’s spa. To get ideas flowing in a new setting, meetings can even be moved outside to the hotel’s forest park, and evening receptions may be held on the beach.
The Caviar Club restaurant at the Baltic Beach Hotel
WHERE TO STAY
Neiburgs Hotel
Jauniela 25/27
+371 67115522 neiburgs.com
Situated in the centre of Riga’s Old Town, this beautiful art nouveau hotel has a rich history to match its sumptuous interiors. Ludvigs Neiburgs arrived in Riga in 1891 and quickly mastered masonry, becoming one of the city’s best-respected builders. In 1903 he constructed the hotel, which was originally used as a residential building, from the designs of architect Wilhelm Bockslaff. After World War Two, Latvia’s autonomy was lost and Neiburgs’ properties were nationalised by the Soviet government, becoming a hotel and restaurant for visiting Communist officials. But with the renewal of state independence in 1991, Neiburgs’ buildings were returned to his heirs and in 2003, they decided to establish a hotel. Merging art nouveau aesthetics with modern comforts, the hotel opened to guests in spring 2010.
Hotel Neiburgs is situated in the heart of Riga’s Old Town
Hotel Neiburgs has 55 apartments, ranging from standard rooms to gargantuan suites. The deluxe suite, the largest offering, is set over two stories and has its own living room, bar, kitchen area and work space. Guests don’t have to go far for an exquisite dinner; on the hotel’s ground floor the Neiburgs Restaurant provides traditional Latvian food in a subtly stylish environment. Dishes combine local flavours such as herring, pearl barley, liver, rhubarb, pumpkin and beetroot, and everything is complemented by a carefully selected wine list. Neiburgs is also associated with Riga’s Park Spa, and will chauffeur guests to a Latvian buckwheat honey wrap or Baltic amber scrub – very rejuvenating.
Guests can read up on Riga’s culture in the hotel’s library
RIGA TIMELINE
2nd century
A settlement, ‘Duna urbs’, is established close to the mouth of the Daugava River
1158
Merchants from Bremen, Germany, arrive. This century also brings German Christian crusades and the first church is opened
1201
City of Riga is founded by Bishop Albert von Buxhovden of Bremen, who later sends his Livonian Knights to Christianise the Baltics
1515
Riga castle (originally constructed in the 1440s) is rebuilt and expanded. Nowadays it houses the Latvian president
Riga castle
1561
The city converts from Lutheranism to Catholicism and is soon granted status of Imperial Free City by the Holy Roman Empire
1710
The Siege of Riga occurs and the Russians take power
1796
Riga becomes the capital of Livonia, an area now divided between the Republics of Latvia and Estonia
1845
Riga Naturalist Society founds the Museum of Natural History. It is the first in the Baltic States
1861
Riga Central Station is built and the 218km-long Riga-Daugavpils Railway comes into operation
Riga central station
1891
Russian becomes the official language of the Baltic nations
1918
Riga becomes the capital of independent Latvia, as World War One ends
1940-1
In quick succession, Soviet and then German occupation, before Soviets take permanent power in 1944
1991
On August 21, Latvia declares independence. On September 6, USSR recognises this
2004
Latvia joins the European Union, but does not yet adopt the euro currency
CITY DIARY
Riga Wine and Champagne Festival BIBLIOTĒKA N°1 Restaurant March 7-9
A new addition to Riga’s cultural scene, the festival’s spring sessions begin with a Moët & Chandon champagne tasting, and the Nordea Great Bubble parade – a sparkling wine walking tour of Riga. March 9 brings a trio of master classes from wine connoisseurs.
Mikhail and Mikhail Play Chess Latvian National Opera March 12 onwards
Created by young Latvian composer Kristaps Pētersons, this opera is dedicated to Riga-born world chess champion Mikhail Tal. The story centres on the tense 1960 world chess championship in Moscow, 1960, where Tal beat celebrated Soviet chess master Mikhail Botvinnik.
Visionary Structures The National Library of Latvia Until March 23
A celebration of Latvian avant-garde art since the twentieth century, this exhibition features celebrated Latvian constructivists Gustav Klutsis and Karl Ioganson, whose spatial constructions have never before been shown in Latvia. Works from artists in the 1970s give an insight into Soviet-era Latvia.
329th Jubilee of Bach The Big Guild March 31
Riga’s brass orchestra, conducted by Mārtiņš Ozoliņš, celebrate Johann Sebastian Bach’s anniversary with modern Latvian interpretations of the great composer’s work. Riga’s finest wind instrument players perform in the old guildhall, in a concert focusing on Bach’s dance suites and instrumental pieces.
1914 Arsenāls Exhibition Hall Until April 20
This collection of art explores the First World War and its impact on Latvian culture, from the perspective of both wartime and modern artists. The exhibition includes eyewitness photography, paintings, graphic works, and a prestigious collection of sculpture from all over eastern Europe.
Re:visited Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art March 15 – April 27
A carefully curated selection of European art, the LCCA has mined some of the continents most successful recent exhibitions and biennials creating an exciting and enlightening journey through the contemporary creative scene.
Magic Dance Expo Kipsala International Exhibition Centre May 3-5
A three-day celebration of dance in all its forms, Magic Dance kicks off with competitions, including the Open Baltic Cup, the Open European Street Dance Cup and the Latvian Dance Sport Federation’s annual contest. The expo concludes with a musical performance, based on The Jungle Book.
Alternative Grand Piano Baltais Flīģelis Concert Hall May 5
A little outside Riga, in the picturesque town of Sigulda, the Baltais Flīģelis (White Grand Piano) presents a night of unconventional performances. The building’s exterior wall becomes a screen for visual art and the night ends with Concert on Seven Synths III by electronic music composer Kaspars Tobs.
Located on one of Ghana’s most beautiful beaches and warmly characterised by a distinctly West African aesthetic, the Labadi Beach Hotel caters for corporate and leisure travellers in a way that rival players in the region can only dream of. Already renowned for dining expertise and its unique spirit of Ghanaian hospitality, the Labadi Beach Hotel is looking to expand upon its impressive arsenal by opening additional conference facilities and broadening its appeal to those in the corporate world. The quality of its efforts have been recognised by Business Destinations, awarding the Labadi Beach Best Luxury Hotel, Ghana, 2014.
This five-star establishment “stands head and shoulders above the rest,” says Labadi’s General Manager Adrian Landry, due in no small part to its focus on what the discerning professional seeks when abroad. “With regards to the corporate and business traveller, it’s important to know that Labadi Beach Hotel certainly listens to the clients’ suggestions, recommendations and requests, and swiftly aligns our property and services with their needs in this way,” he adds.
Conference hub
Each of the hotel’s 164 rooms has a unique decor and the property stays true to its roots, paying homage to West African tradition and heritage. “The tropical landscaped gardens are lush, with an extensive amount of coverage, and we’re the only hotel in Accra with direct access to a serviced beach, as well as the only one with two swimming pools and a spa,” says Landry.
Each of the hotel’s 164 rooms has a unique decor and the property stays true to its roots, paying homage to West African tradition and heritage
However, what differentiates the Labadi above all else is the hotel’s impressive range of conference and corporate facilities, which, alongside other areas of the hotel, have recently been expanded upon. The entire property has been remodelled at a cost of approximately $18m, says Landry, with the most impressive addition being a large conference centre, due to open in March this year.
“I would say the conference centre is one of our key selling points,” says Landry. “It has a 600-seater capacity, divisible into four separate rooms, which is far more than our existing conference centre, which seats 120, divisible into two rooms. Throughout the building process we have consulted numerous lighting and sound experts to ensure that the facilities match international standards, and we have equipped the centre with state-of-the-art equipment throughout.
“Having that additional space will certainly broaden our appeal for those looking to hold local and international conferences in the region,” says Landry. “A lot of work has gone into this space, which will soon be named a first-class conferencing and banqueting venue. We believe this will make us the premier facility in Accra, not only in terms of catering, but in terms of service.”
A room with a view. Labadi Beach Hotel offers travellers scenic views and luxurious facilities
While the Labadi Beach Hotel has long existed as one of the region’s premier stopovers, the hotel continues to review its guest offering in order to better services and remain the top choice for travellers in the area. Landry points out that the brand new conference facilities of this magnitude will put the hotel on the map. “It will certainly make the hotel far more relevant in terms of competition. We will be hosting both international and local conferences and we hope to be seen as a primary conference hub in West Africa. Put simply, the project looks to raise our standards above and beyond what they were previously.”
Best in the region
The Labadi has earned a number of accolades in recent years, due in no small part to its continued efforts to expand upon existing services and facilities. Only last year, says Landry, the Ghana Tourism Authority recognised the Labadi as the best five-star hotel in Ghana, and, provided the hotel continues its current form, awards look likely to keep on coming.
The hotel and its staff are acutely aware of industry standards – both domestically and internationally – and prides itself on creating the best experience for visitors. “It’s about listening to the consumer and about making sure that the management team stays up-to-date, with regards to international press, hotel developments and industry changes. As a team, we’re familiar with the industry’s subtleties and nuances in various other parts of the world so as to remain at the forefront of any changes.”
Only last year…the Ghana Tourism Authority recognised the Labadi as the best five-star hotel in Ghana
Landry says that the expertise of staff members is crucial in differentiating the Labadi’s services from those of its competitors. “Each one of our staff sees themselves not only as an ambassador for the hotel, but as an ambassador for Ghana, and in their own way endeavours to give the traveller the most positive impression possible.”
The hotel is part of Legacy Hotels & Resorts, which has proven instrumental in raising Labadi Beach Hotel’s image and competitiveness in recent years. Under Legacy’s management, the hotel has deployed sales agents around the world who are working to promote Ghana and the hotel as a dream place to stay – this tactic has attracted parties from around the world.
As well as this, says Landry: “In terms of information, systems, technologies and standards, the Legacy Hotels Group keeps us well abreast of international changes and standards. Furthermore, the fact that the hotel is associated with numerous other premier properties in Nigeria and in South Africa certainly establishes us a part of a premier network that operates across the African continent.” It can be said with some confidence that the Labadi’s comprehensive conference facilities and close ties with Legacy Hotels & Resorts sets the hotel apart from the rest.
Surrounded by the beauty of West Africa and offering an unparalleled range and quality of services, the Labadi offers luxury, tranquility and hospitality like no other hotel in the region. No matter your reason for visiting, Ghana’s premier hotel aspires to be recognised the world over as the place “where tourists and business travellers meet and play”.
During the celebration of 200 years of Royal Relations between the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean in November 2013, most of the attention went to Curaçao and Sint Maarten. But in the background Sint Eustatius lay unhurried and unspoiled, protected from the fray. In contrast to its bustling sister islands, life on Statia remains a breath of fresh air – fully living up to its holy namesake St Eustatius.
A special island
Although it is located in a crowded tourist area, the small island of Statia cherishes its special status. There is no mass tourism or gargantuan all-inclusive resorts ravaging the local community, no 24/7 casinos and raucous nightlife, no empty glitz and glamour. Life on Statia is pure.
The diversity of nature, culture, and distinguished history is treasured
The diversity of nature, culture, and distinguished history is treasured. This gives trendy concepts, such as sustainability and authenticity, a special meaning on Statia. Because despite the presence of eight complete eco-systems and 36 totally different dive sites, there has been no large-scale commercial exploitation of the island, and its values remain untouched. As a matter of fact, it is Statia’s small scale and originality that define its individualism within the region.
Strengthening its position
To get to St Eustatius visitors need to take a short connecting flight from Sint Maarten International Airport. This extra effort has always worked as a natural dividing line. However, things are in positive motion on the island.
A painted house in the island’s capital Oranjestad. Credit: Cees Timmers
Director of Tourism Charles Lindo says: “We’re most certainly moving in the right direction, but we’re doing it step by step.” The focus is on strengthening Statia’s position in the international market. The local tourist office works as a catalyst in this revitalisation. The island’s logo and corporate identity have recently been modernised, exciting new brochures have been printed, and presentation materials for exhibitions and events have been refreshed. Take a look at the online image bank at statia-pictures.com and see for yourself.
Private parties are now investing in the renovation of existing hotels and apartments, while St Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) continues its careful monitoring of the management and conservation of the island’s flora and fauna. Last but not least, the government is working to improve the infrastructure. “By carrying out these steps we’re poised to take a small bite out of the tourism pie in the Caribbean,” says Lindo.
Originality and durability
Statia is looking for niches. Mr Lindo and the island’s tourist office specifically appeal to diving and nature lovers who avoid mass tourism. Statia is for people who choose trips based on originality and durability – “Especially those who feel that they belong here,” says Lindo.
Alongside its reputation as the top global spot for divers, Statia’s strongest asset is its fascinating history, seen in buildings and artifacts across the island – tangible reminders of the important role that the small island has played in world history. With a surplus of coral reefs and a tropical rainforest in the crater of The Quill, all within walking distance of one another, St Eustatius is a true Caribbean paradise.
