Author: Charlotte Gill

Malta on the inside

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Imagine the Isle of Wight with its own government, a bona fide place in the EU and a health service so exemplary that scores of visitors check themselves into its hospitals and clinics for medical procedures every year. It’s an unfeasible thought.

Then relocate this utopian island and drop it into the sparkling blue Mediterranean Sea just south of Sicily, where the sun shines at least 300 days a year and the winters are short and gentle.

Finally, picture if you can scenery so stunning and diverse that it beckons many of the world’s top filmmakers to use its dramatic landmarks – and rich heritage from more than 7,000 years – as the backdrop to their work.

It seems unlikely that such a place could exist, but it does, in the shape of the Maltese archipelago, half way between Europe and Africa. Made up of Malta, Gozo and Comino, as well as the two uninhabited islands of Filfla and Cominotto, the republic and one of the newest members of the EU covers just 316 sq km.

The biggest island, supporting a population of 400,000, is Malta, which at its widest point measures 27km across. Located some 93km from Sicily and 290km north of Libya, Malta has been at the centre of many fierce battles, with occupation by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs and more recently by France and Britain.

The British army finally took possession of the islands in 1814, and after more than a century of friendly relations – culminating in April 1942 with the presentation to the Maltese people of the George Cross for their heroism during the Second World War – relinquished power in 1964. In 1974 Malta was declared a republic, and in May 2004, it became the smallest Member State of the EU.

A rich reputation
Malta’s potted history would not be complete without including its entry to the Eurozone in January 2008, when the population of Malta gave up their Maltese lira for the euro. Some say that this pivotal moment has cost Malta dear.

Malta relies heavily on its tourist industry and critics bemoan the euro for hiking up the cost of living in a country which used to enjoy lower rates than other destinations in Europe. But a recent survey by the Post Office appears to have put paid to this by naming Malta as one of the best value resorts, losing out only to Spain and Portugal.

The country also gained another boost this year when it was voted the third best diving destination in the world, preceded only by Egypt and the Maldives. The waters around Malta and Gozo in particular offer exceptional diving conditions in the plentiful reefs and caves which hug the coastline. There are also a large number of shipwrecks in the outlying waters, throwbacks from the country’s tempestuous maritime history.

Culturally, the country is without doubt a winner. The capital Valletta – the Fortress City – is situated on the east coast of Malta, and is named after its founder, the Grand Master of the Order of St John, Jean Parisot de La Valette. Valette overthrew the Turks in the Great Siege of Malta in 1565 and a year later commissioned the creation of the new city of Valletta. The story goes that he lay the first stone with his bare hands but died in 1568, before the fortress, adorned with forts, bastions and a magnificent cathedral, was completed some 13 years later.

When Disraeli visited the city – which is now a Unesco World Heritage site – he said, “Vallette equals in its noble architecture, if it does not excel, any capital in Europe.”

Stylish sights
Valletta, which towers above the two ports of Marsamxett and Grand Harbour, is no less striking to the eye today. Built on the top of Mount Sceberra, with sea on three sides, the fortress offers breath-taking views of the Mediterranean below. Perhaps the best site to marvel at the view is the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which were created in 1661 as a private garden for the Italian Knights.

However, turning away from the ocean and in towards the limestone buildings can be just as rewarding. A highlight is the Co-Cathedral of St John, the spiritual home for the Knights of St John where a masterpiece by Italian artist Caravaggio can be found. Caravaggio fled to Malta to avoid the death penalty after committing a murder in Rome. His Beheading of St John the Baptist was created in 1608 for the chapel of the Co-Cathedral of St John, and at 361cm by 520cm is the largest work he ever painted. It depicts the moment in Biblical history where St John is beheaded by King Herod.

Another vital destination is the Grand Master’s Palace, which is now and has always been the seat of government in Malta, first for the knights, then the French and British. Today it houses the President’s office, and can be visited when parliament is not in session. The interior of the palace is adorned with works of art, and the armoury in the basement displays one of the largest collections in the world.

Although seated in Baroque history, Valletta is by no means dated. The Valletta waterfront, built in the 18th century, has recently undergone a massive renovation project and is now fully equipped with bars, designer shops and exclusive restaurants to meet the demands of Malta’s lucrative cruise liner business. It also serves as a venue for some of Malta’s most popular events such as the fireworks festival, held every May, and the summer jazz festival.

Another recent addition to Valletta is the shrine to British actor Oliver Reed, who died in a bar in the town in 1999. Known locally as ‘Ollie’s Last Pub,’ it is adorned with newspaper cuttings, film posters and other memorabilia of the actor, who died while having a drink – or 20 – with friends in the popular watering hole. Reed, who had been staying in Malta to film the blockbuster Gladiator, is said to have consumed eight lagers, 12 double rums and half a bottle of whisky before collapsing: this alleged last round is displayed on the wall, near the bar stool from which he fell.

Ancient attractions
It would be more than easy to settle back and enjoy the riches of Malta without even leaving Valletta, with its wide range of accommodation from hotels fit for a queen, through to elegant boutique hotels and more modest hostels. Indeed, the country’s tiny capital city was the chosen destination of the Queen and Prince Philip for their 60th wedding anniversary. It wasn’t their first visit: the couple lived there from 1949 to 1951 while Prince Philip was stationed there as a Royal Naval officer.

However, a visit to Malta wouldn’t be complete without a trip around the island. The old city of Mdina, west of Valletta, is certainly worth a look, enjoying a history that traces back more than 4,000 years. According to ancient beliefs, the Apostle St Paul lived here in 60 AD after being shipwrecked on the island. Illuminated solely by lamps at night and referred to as the ‘silent city,’ Mdina is one of Europe’s best preserved examples of an ancient walled city.

In the south of the island are the ancient temples of Hagar Qim and Mnajdra, which were given the coveted title of Unesco World Heritage Site in 1980. Hagar Qim was discovered under rubble in 1839; treasures unearthed at the site include a decorated pillar altar and two table-altars. Some 500m away is the Mnajdra Temple complex, which stands isolated on a cliff top. The temples are among the most ancient religious sites on earth, and are thought to date from around 3,400 BC.

Once you have had your fill of ancient architecture, head north to Malta’s largest sandy beach of Mellieha, or into the towns of Sliema and St Julian, for some bar action in resorts which offer sophisticated nightlife and some first-class accommodation.

Modern medicine
Another unmissable trip is the 25 minute ferry-ride to neighbouring Gozo, where life is a little slower. Indeed, there is only one set of traffic lights on the whole 67sq km island, implying the pace of life – and motoring in particular – is pretty gentle.

Once you have arrived on the island, head to Dwejra, on the north-west coast, where the impressive Azure Window – an arch created by thousands of years of crashing waves – stands 20 metres high off the shoreline.

While it might be fair to say that Malta used to attract a fairly aged tourist, featuring regularly in pensioners’ travel brochures, it has gone to great lengths to provide facilities which will appeal to a younger travelling set. There are now 13 five star hotels on Malta and two on Gozo – some of which offer first class spas.

The country has also developed a booming medical tourism industry, even hosting its own medical tourism summit this July. Malta prides itself on its medics, with many surgeons gaining postgraduate qualifications in the UK, and with a large number being members of the UK General Medical Council. It also prides itself on its bargain prices – £8000 for a hip replacement and £3790 for a face-lift – with the sunshine thrown in for free.

The buzz of BahIa

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Few people know a lot about Salvador, so it’s best to start with the basics. First – and confusingly – it’s called ‘Bahia’ by the locals, the name of the state of which Salvador is the capital. It sits on the north east coast and is considered a gateway into northern Brazil. For a time, under Portuguese rule, it was the capital of the country. It’s the third most populous city in Brazil and the second most popular tourist destination, yet a straw poll of my colleagues suggests that unless you have been there or are planning to go, then you won’t have heard of the place. Dry facts and straw polls don’t really address Salvador’s redeeming features, however, as it is a unique, incredible place.

Brazil’s often brutal history is more evident in Salvador than in any other city in the country. Before slavery was abolished in 1888, 1.3 million slaves were imported into Brazil – double the number shipped to the US – and 80 percent of the population of Salvador is black. The heritage of the African slaves has been well preserved, and is clearly evident in what the locals eat, what they wear and who they worship, as well as the sights and sounds of the city. Arguably this is the real Brazil, and it’s a Brazil well worth visiting.

A historical hub
Bahia is divided into the upper city (cidade alta) and the lower (cidade baixa) and you can choose to either schlep between the two on foot or take the marvellous Elevador Lacerda: an air conditioned lift with breathtaking views over the city that costs just a few pence. Few visitors will leave without at least catching a glimpse of Salvador’s two most well known neighbourhoods – Pelourinho and Barra. The latter is famous for its selection of hotels and excellent beaches, while Pelourinho boasts stunning colonial architecture, a throwback to when Bahia was the economic powerhouse of Brazil.

Although the buildings are wonderful to appreciate (Pelourinho is a Unesco World Heritage Site) visitors should also appreciate that this neighbourhood hasn’t quite made the transformation from the drug and crime ridden red light district that it was in the 1980s to the tourist mecca it appears to be today. Parts of Pelourinho are still sketchy and although it’s been prettied up and there is a constant visible police presence, it’s a good idea to be on your guard. A simple rule of thumb is to avoid unlit alleyways at night and rely on your instinct: if somewhere feels unsafe, then it probably is. Another word of advice is to act like the locals. Look as if you know where you are going, even if you don’t. Wear little or no jewellery and leave the Rolex in the hotel safe. Carry a camera that you would be prepared to lose, and be careful taking money from cash machines. Overall though, have a good time; the vast majority of visitors to Bahia leave without developing any scars more serious than a caipirinha hangover or a nasty case of sunburn. Indeed, I have spoken to a number of former residents of Sao Paolo and Rio who moved to Salvador to escape high crime rates.

Belongings can often be snatched on the beach, so again it’s best to behave as Brazilian as possible. Don’t take very much, because apart from trunks, flip-flops, a towel and a few reis for an ice-cream or a beer, you won’t need it. The beaches here are precisely what you might expect: ridiculously talented kids kicking around footballs, men swaggering up and down in revealing trunks and women in even more revealing bikinis, watersports, ice-cream sellers and some of the most impressive coastline in South America. The Porto de Barra was considered the third best beach in the world by the Guardian a couple of years ago and it’s easy to see why – the water is clean and calm, the people friendly and the sunsets, because the beach is west facing, among the most spectacular on the continent. Other beaches worth having a look at include Piata and Itapua, though to be honest you won’t struggle to find somewhere to laze around for a few days: Salvador is blessed with over 40km of mostly impressive beaches.

Party paradise
It’s practically impossibly to write about Brazil without mentioning carnival: the time of year when hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets, hell bent on spending weeks drinking and dancing, followed by a few days when, for a change of pace, they spend drinking and dancing until they fall over.

Rio de Janeiro is renowned as having the biggest and best carnival in the land, encompassing 700m of street and impressive stands and floats. But there’s a slight problem: although truly impressive, Rio’s carnival is dwarfed by Salvador’s, in terms of size (some two million people celebrate over 25km of the city) and the hedonism involved. Officially Salvador’s 2010 Carnival starts on 11 February and runs to 16 February. In reality, it lasts much longer and there are sporadic parties throughout the carnival season, running more or less between December and March.

Of course, such partying can take its toll on mind and body, but there’s plenty of nourishment to keep both together, including the excellent street food (from bean and shrimp fritters, to acarje – essentially a deep fried bread) and restorative cocktails (my favourite being Capetas – literally, ‘little devils’ – made with chocolate, ground peanuts, condensed milk, a healthy slug of vodka and the plant stimulant guarana).

One tradition you’re likely to encounter when visiting Salvador around carnival time (or any time, to be honest) is Capoeira. Fusing martial arts and dance, this Afro-Brazilian art form is thought to have originated in the plantations as a way of keeping fit and being ready to fight, without the actual intentions being too overt. Whatever its origins, Capoeira is impressive stuff, incorporating sweeps, kicks, headbutts and throws in its dazzling whirl. It’s practised in the streets and in squares – bear in mind that watchers are expected to tip – and travellers can train with local groups. Among the best is Mestre Bamba’s academy in Pelourinho: for a couple of pounds a day you can train with the locals and take home a skill with which you can impress your friends and colleagues.

The beadier-eyed will have noticed something by now: that this all seems a bit tiring. The Capoeira, carnival, drinking, and football on the beach all sound like fun, but where the hell do I sleep after it all? The Casa do Amarelindo is where. Located centrally in historic Pelourinho, this charming, personal hotel is about the best Salvador has to offer. The service is great, it’s clean and stylish and has a breathtaking view from the rooftop lounge. The food in the restaurant isn’t too shabby either and it’s very reasonably priced. Other places recommended to lay your head at night include the Pousada Casa Vila Bela, Aram Yami, and the Bahiacafe hotel. But be warned: the prices, much like the atmosphere, go crazy at carnival time.

Clean Copenhagen

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

From the air, Denmark is a shattered confusion of land and water, like a dropped plate lying on a slate-grey floor. The sea, wriggling into every intricate crevice, is as much a part of the country as the land. Descending toward Copenhagen, gazing at the fragmented islands and islets below, your eye is caught by something that’s neither land nor water: dozens of slender white windmills towering up from the waves. They form ‘Lillgrund,’ once the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Their serene, futuristic faces slice silently through the air, churning the coastal wind into clean, green electricity. It’s the first tip-off that you are about to enter one of the most environmentally forward-thinking cities in the world.

Step from the snazzy metro into the city centre, and the feeling of green enlightenment continues. While the booming cities of the Far East seem intent on replacing humble bicycles with grumbling automobiles, Copenhagen heads resolutely the other way. There are bikes everywhere – big and comfy-looking, with the plumpest saddles imaginable. Racks and racks of them loaf about, including some you can hire, shopping-trolley-like, by slotting in a 20-kroner coin. A constant stream of calm-faced cyclists spool past on the endless city-centre cycle paths. And we’re not talking notionally separate lanes flanking merciless traffic here. Oh no. We’re talking wholly distinct mini-roads, with their own dinky traffic lights, everywhere separated from motor traffic by a metre or more of concrete reservation.

More than a third of Copenhagen’s citizens take the bike to work or school every day. But this is far from being the city’s most impressive eco-statistic. How about the fact that it has one of the world’s best recycling systems, with 90 percent of the city’s industrial waste recycled and 75 percent of all household waste incinerated to create heat and electricity? Even the excess heat from human cremations is captured and used again (and distasteful as it may sound, the metal body parts of the dead, such as hip and knee replacements, are recycled as scrap metal). As you might expect, Copenhagen leads the world in consuming organic food – far better for the environment than non-organic. And an ever-bigger proportion of sustainably-produced energy (wind, wave and solar) keeps the whole city ticking over. All this puts Copenhagen on course for what could be its single most impressive eco-trophy: by 2015, it hopes to be the world’s first carbon-neutral capital city. Quite a goal.

Where better then, to hold the latest UN conference on climate change? The 15,000 delegates arriving here from all corners of the globe are sure to be wowed by a city that, environment-wise, has firmly put its money where its mouth is. Copenhagen seems to be valiantly trying to lead by example. If more cities were like this, we might not be in half as much of a carbon mess as we are right now. It makes you wonder whether modern cities might not be a fundamentally bad thing for the environment after all. With all those people in one place, cities are particularly good for spreading green ideas. Christer Owe, the affable sage behind Scandinavia’s ‘Ekocentrum’ think-tank, says “Cities can do a lot to mitigate climate change. Often they can be more advanced in this that the rest of their country.”

Second nature
In between their efforts to hammer out a successor to the underwhelming Kyoto protocol, the COP15 delegates should find some time to pound the pavements and get an eyeful of Copenhagen. They might see how eco-sustainability and general liveability seem to go hand in hand. This is an easygoing city where people set the pace, not cars. Buildings are low-rise, green spaces are plentiful, pedestrianisation is endemic (no surprise that the world’s longest car-free shopping street is in Copenhagen). Crucially, Copenhagen has a low population, with around a million inhabitants. No urban sprawl. No hostile outskirts. Copenhagen remains one of Europe’s most law-abiding cities, with one of its lowest crime rates.

How ironic that the pillaging Vikings should be the ancestors of today’s eminently peaceable Danes. It’s as if the nation purged all that lawless violence completely out of its system, like pus from a well-lanced boil. After three hundred years of terrorising much of Europe (and regularly sailing over to investigate North America), the Vikings cooled both their bloodlust and their wanderlust, and settled down to a peaceful Nordic life. In Denmark in particular, progressive-minded monarchs began steering the country toward an increasingly liberal social outlook from the 1200s onwards. Succeeding centuries brought an expanding bounty of enlightened laws, increased social egalitarianism, and an especially robust democracy. Cooperation and tolerance became – and remain – prized Danish virtues. Denmark was the first country to legalise pornography (in the 1960s) and the first to legalise same-sex marriage (in 1989).

This reputation for easygoing tolerance is one of the things that makes Copenhagen a magnet for the travelling young. Backpackers and stag partygoers love the place. Wander through the city’s central station on a Saturday afternoon and you’ll be confronted by any number of lairy British revellers wearing neon wigs, plastic breasts and other in-your-face tokens of revelry. They’ve come to drain the city dry of Carlsberg. Other youngsters are drawn from all across Europe by the promise of Christiania – the autonomous ‘free city’ or hippie commune that sprawls across 85 leafy acres in Copenhagen’s Christianshavn district. A long-term social experiment, Christiania was set up in the 1970s by free-thinking types who longed for a place to practise benign anarchy and smoke lots of drugs. They’re still getting away with it, despite occasional dark mutterings from the powers that be.

Most Copenhageners secretly admire the citizens of Christiania. They wouldn’t dream of indulging in anarchy themselves, but they’re proud of the fact that their city can tolerate such a community. And the social experiment has proven at least one reassuring thing: that even anarchists can’t live together without rules. The folk of Christiania exhort their fellows not to litter, not to urinate on walls, and to stay away from hard drugs. They even manage collectively to pay for their own street-lighting and rubbish collection. Typical of Copenhagen that even its anarchists end up running a sustainable society! They’ve invented a great bicycle too: the ‘Christiania bike’ is a stout tricycle with a big boxy container between its two front wheels, making it a sort of cross between a bike and a wheelbarrow. You can fit shopping, kids, or a full-grown friend into the box, making the distinctive anarchists’ trike hugely popular across all of Copenhagen.

The greater good
Thanks to a long line of influential liberal thinkers, Denmark, along with other Scandinavian countries, can be said to have taken the idea of a free and fair society to its global extreme. This doesn’t come cheap though. High taxes sustain the country’s excellent social welfare, health and education systems – which include the heavily subsidised childcare that allows both parents to work and so maintain the country’s exemplary gender equality. The Danish ideal is that no one – regardless of their age, health, gender or other circumstance – should be too rich or too poor, nor regard themselves as socially superior or inferior. As a traveller, one of the most refreshing things this means is that you never have to tip! Tipping insinuates an inequality between service-giver and service-receiver, and Danes instinctively wrinkle their noses at any whiff of disparity. So be sure to seize this one chance to save money in what is an otherwise eye-wateringly expensive country.

Of course, even a society which strives for minimal social inequality is going to have those who fall into serious trouble. In Copenhagen, there’s a conscious attempt not to shy away from the fallen or to pretend they’re not a part of society. Take the district of Vesterbro near the city’s main rail station. An increasing number of super-stylish hotels, trendy bars and restaurants are opening in this area full of sex shops and highly visible prostitution. Amidst the chic boutique hotels, you’ll spot the occasional small office advertising free counselling to help women rebuild a new life for themselves off the streets. Local people are trying in various ways to accommodate and assist those in their midst.

In the heart of Vesterbro, one conference and hotels business has an innovative Corporate Social Responsibility programme, which has been run entirely in secret for the past twelve years. DGI Byen, which operates a large eco-friendly conference centre plus several stylish, green-thinking business hotels, decided to help the people on its doorstep rather than the needy in a distant land. They began quietly adding local prostitutes and drug-addicts to their existing staff, starting them off with a few hours on reception, and slowly increasing their time at work as the new employees became more confident with the job. By offering constant support and respect, and by showing what a different life could be like, the company has given effective, hands-on rehabilitation to a great number of people – people who are, in effect, the company’s neighbours. It just goes to show the power of a sense of community.

Free and forward thinking
The same instinct that prompts Danes to try and organise society along the fairest possible lines also pushes them towards environmental sustainability. Both require an instinct for balance. A balanced society requires personal contribution to reap communal benefit, as does a sustainable ecology. For travellers to Copenhagen, there are lots of opportunities to take part in the eco-game. First of all, you can assuage some of your green-guilt if you flew here by staying in one of the city’s many eco-minded hotels. There are a dozen sporting the ‘Green Key’ – an international certificate awarded to leisure organisations reaching a high standard of environmental care. And there are around thirty other plush hotels in the city that meet this standard but haven’t applied for the ‘Green Key’, or have opted for the ‘Scandinavian Green certificate’ instead (wearing your environmental credentials on your sleeve is a growth area, and it’s only natural that there should be various green-label schemes running concurrently).

You might be wondering what sort of things a hotel can do to minimise its impact on the environment. This is the hospitality business after all, and they can’t ask paying guests to forsake creature comforts. Don’t worry, there’s no sleeping on hemp sheets or going without a shower. As you’d expect, hotels nab green certification by minimising their waste of energy or resources, and by using environmentally-friendly materials. There are many possible ways to achieve all this, from the little to the large. Glass water bottles are obviously preferable to plastic. Butter and other condiments need not be served in wasteful individually-packaged portions. Organic food is a winner. Fragrant soaps and shampoos can be provided in refillable wall-dispensers rather than in throwaway packets and bottles. Televisions need not be pointlessly left on stand-by. Meeting rooms can be designed to maximise cheery daylight, and make electric light unnecessary. Energy can come from sustainable sources, of course. Cleaners can adopt various eco-practices including using biodegradable cleaning products. Staff can cycle to work, or share the hotel’s electric cars. And so on.

A tiny gesture that’s sure to spread around the world is the wooden key card. Exactly like the plastic, credit-card-sized things we’ve all used many times to open our hotel room doors, these are fashioned from good old sustainable, biodegradable wood instead. And yes, the magnetic strip on the back works just as well. Pleasing to the eye and fingertips, wooden key cards are currently all the rage in Copenhagen’s greener hotels. Another cute novelty to the traveller from less eco-minded lands is the divided wastepaper bin – just as small as most litterbins in hotel rooms, but cleverly partitioned into spaces for paper waste, food waste, and other waste. All of it fodder for later recycling, of course. It is business hotels in particular which seem to be adopting many of the practices outlined above, so if you’re off to Copenhagen on business, keep a curious eye out for them.

Living green
After breakfasting on a hotel’s organic fare, you can easily continue with organic lunch or dinner in Copenhagen if you wish. Organic restaurants, cafés and delis are springing up all over the city. BioMio, which opened this year in the Vesterbro district, is typical of the breed. Affordably-priced and hugely popular, it serves creative Danish and international dishes in stylish premises, where acoustic ceilings ensure you don’t have to shout to be heard above all the usual clatter and chatter of a packed restaurant. Nutrition and calorie information is provided for every dish on the menu. Live off nothing but organic stuff for a few days, and you’ll really notice a difference in your general feeling of well-being. Follow it up with, say, a cheap chocolate crêpe from a street vendor, and your body will flinch and demand, “What’s this poison you’ve just put inside me?”

Whether you choose organic or not, Copenhagen is a surprisingly good place for public dining. The Danes may not have bequeathed many great dishes to the world, and their climate might seem to preclude much outdoor eating, but the whole city goes for fine al fresco nourishment with great gusto. The outdoor tables of bars and restaurants are packed and convivial, and if it gets too cold they just wrap a blanket round themselves or cosy up to an overhead heater. A classic spot to join the outdoor throng is Nyhavn, the canalside stretch of vivid-hued Dutch townhouses that adorns a thousand postcards.

Nyhavn is a great place to admire old-fashioned ships and their tidy maze of rigging, but for optimum ship-gazing you should make your way up from Nyhavn along the seafront all the way to the statue of the Little Mermaid. This is one of Copenhagen’s best walks, with constant views of big ships on one side and lots of small gardens on the other. When you finally reach the famous statue – which commemorates a story by Copenhagen’s greatest storyteller, Hans Christian Anderson – you’ll be surprised by how small she is. Or so say all the guidebooks. In fact, she’s human-sized, and perfectly proportioned. Gazing out to sea with a soft and poignant expression, she makes a fitting emblem for this city. Spread across land and water, and long having earned its wealth from marine transport, Copenhagen has its soul in the sea, while being equally at home in the sun and the wind. Especially these days, when the sun fires up the city’s solar panels, and the wind whirls those pretty, white turbines.

The beautiful game

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Stamford Bridge, situated in the heart of London and fondly known as ‘The Bridge,’ is home to Chelsea Football Club. Many footballing greats have graced the hallowed turf over the past 104 years, but the club is now becoming renowned off the pitch, after evolving into a first rate venue and destination.

Sitting proudly and firmly among Europe’s elite clubs, Chelsea’s ascent to become one of the true greats of world football has been both rapid and impressive. The traditional style stadium, which originated as an athletics track, ensures that almost 42,000 fans can create an enthralling atmosphere on match day, and every season Stamford Bridge welcomes thousands of football fans, tourists and business travellers.

Boasting an envious choice of suites and executive boxes, an array of fine dining options and luxurious seating, Chelsea FC continues to lead the way in the provision of sports hospitality. For those wanting to impress a client or reward staff, Stamford Bridge proves itself to be the ultimate corporate venue.

More than pie ’n’ peas
Hospitality at Stamford Bridge starts well before kick-off and continues long after the final whistle. VIPs are invited to arrive two hours before the game to witness the match day buzz start to build. The sight of the empty ground lends an air of exclusivity: looking out over the silent beauty of the pitch one can imagine running out alongside the team.

As the stadium fills up an excellent three course meal is served, and at kick-off visitors are accommodated in the best seats in the house – luxuriously padded and with stunning views of all the action happening on the pitch.

At half and full time, additional refreshments are available in the hospitality suite, which is fitted with plasma screens to keep visitors up-to-date with all the day’s action. And while the cheering crowds disperse, hospitality visitors can relax in comfort, reflecting on the talking points of the game.

“Here at Stamford Bridge we do everything we can to ensure our visitors’ experience is truly memorable,” explains Simon Hunter, Head of Venue. “We have placed much emphasis on providing a range of hospitality options that can be tailored to individual needs, whether that’s an intimate table for four or a party of 15.”

The Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum options are priced from £150 up to £295, and provide the perfect way to enjoy football in style, he says. “With close to five thousand hospitality seats at Stamford Bridge there is a huge range to choose from; there is also something for every budget included in the four main match day packages.”

The Gold and Platinum packages include a three course fine dining meal and complimentary drinks throughout the day, something sure to impress any guests. The spectacular seats are positioned either side of the directors’ box (Gold) or right on the halfway line (Platinum). The Platinum package also offers champagne on arrival and a tour of the players’ tunnel and pitch side.

The more affordable Bronze and Silver packages include a choice of sit down meal, informal three course buffet, carvery or fine dining, combined with different seating options for flexibility. Many of the options include a complimentary bar.

A venue of two halves
Outside of match days, Stamford Bridge becomes far less about the football and converts into a unique business and leisure destination. A number of areas within the stadium can be transformed into an array of meeting, conference and event spaces ideal for companies seeking a glamorous but affordable location.

The Millennium Suite hospitality boxes can also be used as unique meeting spaces, with views out over the Stamford Bridge pitch. The suites can easily be transformed to accommodate small corporate gatherings and provide a great way of conducting business away from the usual office surroundings, even though the views of the pitch can be somewhat distracting.

Stamford Bridge has become renowned as one of London’s most versatile events spaces over recent years, with good reason. The hospitality suites have been used for numerous high profile conferences and seminars, including Leaders in Football, the Labour Party annual lunch and the TNT Global Sales summit.

However, it is an unusual space within the ground that has become one of the most talked about locations in the capital. The concourse of the West Stand may seem like part of any other football ground on a match day, but the space is fully equipped to transform into one of the largest single events spaces in London: the Great Hall. In recent years it has been used for a wide variety of events, from lavish awards ceremonies and dinners for 800 people, to catwalk shows and conferences for more than 1000 guests.

A true destination
Stamford Bridge is also home to two first class hotels (Millennium and Copthorne), two restaurants from leading celebrity chef Marco Pierre White (Marco and Frankie’s Sports Bar and Grill) and one of London’s most exclusive and fashionable health clubs (The Chelsea Club).

Simon Hunter believes the club is becoming a true destination for the business community. “We strive for excellence in everything that we do at Chelsea Football Club and continue to be leaders in the provision of sports hospitality,” he says. “Over recent years Stamford Bridge has been transformed into a true business destination, and with a host of versatile events space, 275 hotel rooms and an exclusive spa, it is clear to see why more and more businesses are choosing to host conferences and events here.”

Tel: 0871 223 1155; www.chelseafc.com/hospitality; www.chelseafc.com/bluewing

Croatian class

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

The Dubrovnik Palace and the luxurious Excelsior, part of the Adriatic Luxury Hotels group, host numerous congresses, incentive groups and other events, offering guests every facility for the business part of their visit as well as the chance to relax in beautiful surroundings.

The Dubrovnik Palace Hotel is the leading conference and spa hotel in the eastern Adriatic, and was the venue for the Croatia Summit 2008 and 2009, attended by heads of state and government as well as representatives of international organisations. To meet the needs of its business guests, the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel has 10 stylish conference and meeting rooms, as well as a specially designed congress hall, all with the latest equipment and seating for nearly 1,000 participants. In a magnificent setting where natural beauty and luxurious hospitality go hand in hand, the Dubrovnik Palace can host the most ambitious presentations, seminars, business meetings, international congresses and conventions as well as video conferences.

The recently renovated Hotel Excelsior, one of the most prestigious luxury hotels in Croatia, has an iconic standing and makes a speciality of hosting international VIP conferences, conventions and senior management seminars. The hotel was completely renovated in June 2008 and, in addition to a large hall seating up to 500 participants and several smaller multi-functional conference rooms, has a new conference facility for up to 150 delegates with a large exhibition area suitable for welcome drinks and product launches.

A comprehensive collection of state of the art equipment, sophisticated service and the capacity for a variety of programmes and events within the same congress are the principal benefits of these two world class hotels. All conference halls in the hotels are equipped with the latest technology – and support staff who can operate it – to meet the requirements of even the most demanding international gatherings. Apart from standard audio-visual equipment, there are booths for multi-lingual simultaneous translation and video and teleconferencing equipment, with wireless internet access free of charge and fixed network connections available on demand.

sales@hotel-excelsior.hr; sales@dubrovnikpalace.hr; www.alh.hr

Ich bin ein Berliner

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Berlin combines history, culture, modern design and entertainment; the streets and squares telling the tale of its unique, turbulent history. The city has over 170 museums, packed with art treasures from around the world and fascinating historical exhibitions that span the centuries. New creative centres arise continuously and many international designers are inspired by the dynamic and pluralistic lifestyle of the capital. Berlin is entertainment, with countless restaurants, nightclubs, musicals and vaudevilles, as well as the Friedrichstadtpalast, Europe’s largest show theatre with its legendary high-step line of girls and breathtaking stage shows.

Ride of your life
As Berlin grows in the international market its MICE centres improve to match. One outstanding venue is the Radisson Blu, a contemporary hotel in the historic city centre between Alexanderplatz and Museum Island, with unique meeting and event facilities and stunning views of the capital.

A definite highlight for every event is the AquaDom, situated in the hotel’s lobby: the world’s largest cylindrical aquarium, containing one million litres of seawater. The two-storey glass elevator inside the aquarium can be booked as incentive to entertain delegates and guests. This breathtaking underwater spectacle gives delegates plenty of time to get up close to hundreds of exotic fish, as they ride up the 25m to the DomLounge.

The DomLounge is a unique event location on the top floor of the hotel with breathtaking views of the city, including the TV tower, red town hall, Nikolai district and Berlin Cathedral. Split over two levels, the venue offers function space of 1,400sq m, five function rooms and four foyers.

Business basking
In addition to this top venue, the Radisson Blu Hotel features more meeting and event facilities on the ground floor, covering a space of 1,340sq m. A five metre high foyer flooded with natural daylight forms the centre of this meeting section. This 530sq m space is graced with a futuristic glass roof, letting the outside in and invigorating delegates and guests with a burst of natural light. High-quality wood and fresh tones provide a pleasant atmosphere for the 10 air-conditioned meeting rooms.

405 guest rooms and 22 suites combine cutting edge comfort with timeless elegance and free wireless high-speed internet access.

The all-day restaurant HEat surprises its guests with a show kitchen and a large terrace. HEat is a modern restaurant, where diners can enjoy sumptuous international cuisine. A lively gathering place is the Atrium Lobby Lounge & Bar, beneath the AquaDom. For fitness and relaxation the hotel provides a swimming pool with counter current system, two saunas, a steam bath, solarium, 24-hour fitness room and massage and beauty treatments.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Karl-Liebknecht-Strasse 3, 10178 Berlin, Germany; tel: +49 (0)30 23828-0; info.berlin@radissonblu.com; www.radissonblu.com/hotel-berlin

Centre of Sweden

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city, was founded in 1621 by the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus II. As the largest port of the Nordic countries, it was dominated by shipping and trade for centuries, and for its 300th year the city celebrated by opening its first ever exhibition hall, covering a staggering 40,000sq m.

Today the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre, created after the success of Sweden’s first exhibition in 1918, manages a total floor area of 145,000sq m, and has expanded its experience and expertise to match.

The centre is a distinctive presence on the city’s skyline. As well as encompassing Scandinavia’s largest hotel – the 704 room Gothia Towers – the facilities include 41,000sq m of exhibition and conference space, comprising nine exhibition halls and 50 meeting rooms. Each year over one million people visit the centre to take part in around 30 exhibitions and hundreds of conferences and congresses, large and small.

Mix business with pleasure
The complex’s unique location in Gothenberg’s entertainment centre makes it especially attractive for cultivating business relationships during exhibitions, congresses and large events. The nearby Scandinavium arena hosts a variety of events including ice hockey, athletics and horse shows, as well as live music, comedy and other entertainment acts. The Universeum science discovery centre, the Museum of World Culture and the Gothenburg Concert Hall and Theatre also feature in the nearby thoroughfare of attractions.

And right on the doorstep of the Exhibition and Congress Centre is the Liseberg amusement park, home of the award-winning wooden rollercoaster Balder, a perfectly unusual and memorable venue.

Established expertise
The Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre foundation was established to promote trade and industry in western Sweden, and despite the recession they have continued to do so, contributing significantly to the city’s success. For Lennart Mankert, President and CEO, this is due to “our strong brand name, the commitment of our people, and our successful customer-oriented teamwork.”

All of the foundation’s enterprises are operated by their own in-house teams, allowing staff to learn from each other’s successes and develop the expertise and service expected in a first-class venue. The restaurant operation, Mr Mankert says, is a case in point. The seven restaurants, bars and party venues in the complex – the largest catering for up to 5,000 people – have been operated completely in-house since 2008, and have enjoyed large increases in turnover and results.

The foundation intends to continue its programme of investment, expanding the centre to match the growth expectations of its clients. “In 2008 we made net investments in our complex of more than SEK 100m (£9m),” Mr Mankert says. “We are continuing to pursue the detailed planning for a multi-purpose hall, which will increase our exhibition and congress space by 8,000sq m, equivalent to 20 percent of the total exhibition area.”

With a sterling pedigree, a vast amount of flexible space and the expertise of committed professionalism, the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre really offers the conference and event organiser a unique and engaging opportunity.

SE-412 94 Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tel: +46 31 708 8000; fax: +46 31 16 0330; infomaster@svenskamassan.se; www.svenskamassan.se

Simplicity ITself

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Every step of a business trip – from booking the flight to deciding where to have dinner – is accompanied by the arduous task of tracking and reporting expenses, often using a paper-based form or travel log submitted along with receipts at the conclusion of the trip. This rigmarole is followed by a lengthy waiting period involving various approvals until your employees are finally reimbursed. Aside from the reimbursement hassle, with this kind of time-consuming and complex manual process in place, your business often experiences significant inefficiencies and loss of control over travel expenditures. Regardless of the size of your organisation, this can add up to be a very significant chunk of change.

In fact, from a business standpoint, travel and expense (T&E) spending is one of the largest controllable costs of any company, so finding new ways to make arranging travel and reporting expenses more efficient, more visible and more accurate makes sense – and if it also happens to make the process simpler, you can get the added benefit of more satisfied employees.

Take advantage of technology
Reporting expenses is far from a science – for example, when business travel to the Big Apple intermingles with a personal sightseeing excursion to the Statue of Liberty. So how can travel managers promote compliance with the company’s corporate T&E vendor policies, verify that your employees use only authorised hotels, airlines and other services, and be sure that expense reports include all necessary information?

The technology is out there. IBM offers a web-based application, Global Expense Reporting Solutions (GERS), to simplify the entire T&E process and reduce administration costs by 50-75 percent. Employees can select from approved hotels and other vendors, submit T&E reports online and eliminate manual, paper-based reports.

Automation and imaging tools help track receipts and manage the reconciliation of expense reports for greater visibility and control, significantly reducing travel spend. And automated processes funnel approval authorisations to the appropriate people while detecting fraudulent expenses. Simple, efficient and cost-effective.

This type of expense reporting solution can also integrate with existing finance and human resources systems, for a virtually seamless automated workflow across the business. And with a more streamlined flow, both error rates and the time it takes to process reports are reduced. An added bonus? Built-in analytics to increase control and compliance.

Intelligence matters
Progressive companies are now beginning to truly appreciate and actively harness the power of analytics to take their organisations to the next level. Analytics is highly granular information that enables strategic, actionable decision making and improves the productivity, quality and competitiveness of your business. GERS is based on a sophisticated technology analytics framework that helps your business respond quickly to problems and gain insight to prevent future challenges. Predictive and behavioural analytics increase productivity, but also help improve audit, compliance, and business controls throughout the T&E processes.

In some cases, analytics can analyse data to detect and prevent fraudulent activities that would have been overlooked in a manual review. As a result you are better able to assess internal controls, identify process gaps and analyse trends in the business, reducing human intervention and creating continuous performance improvement across the board. Plus, analytics can help position your organisation to adopt best practice standards for performance comparisons and continual reviews that enable the ‘resetting’ of goals as business conditions warrant, resulting in significant error reduction, improvements in quality and substantial cost savings.

Here’s an example: A US services firm had recently outsourced their T&E management processes. Leveraging its provider’s analytics capabilities, the company began to track its employees’ compliance to the company’s expense policies. What they found was surprising: rampant policy abuse was resulting in excessive costs to the organisation every year.

One of the strongest violations involved the company’s policy on employee parking expenditures. A rapid, automated analysis of current and historical employee expenses reports quickly identified an average per-person parking expense rate of $16.00 per day. With local parking rates significantly lower than $16, the analysis identified that the company’s required receipt limit of $25 was resulting in abuse of the system. Because the employees weren’t required to supply documentation, they had developed the habit of claiming a $16 standard for parking fees, regardless of what they’d actually paid. As a result, the company was losing significant amounts of cash – completely under the radar of the organisation’s finance team and T&E systems.

Doing business better
Under the newly outsourced solution, the company was able to immediately make a change to their receipt rule, enforcing parking receipts as required documentation in all cases. As part of this change, all employees were required to fax in receipts electronically, eliminating the need for additional manual steps in the end-to-end T&E process. The net result? Significant annual savings without additional work for the company’s back office.

Ask yourself: how can I help my organisation improve its overall business performance? An innovative and flexible expense reporting solution like GERS helps companies like yours reduce the total spend associated with travel expense reporting. It’s quick to implement, cost effective and easy to use, making business travel hassle free.

Ray Curatolo: rac@us.ibm.com; www.ibm.com/services/expensemanagement

Turkish delight

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Located in sun kissed Antalya, the luxury resort Mardan Palace hails a return to the golden age of the Ottoman Empire. Opened to huge acclaim this year this palatial resort is Turkey’s finest luxury destination.
The hotel has 560 rooms, including two Royal suites with private pools. With Turkish heritage in mind, internationally acclaimed designers have created architecture to reflect the distinct landmarks of Istanbul – the main hotel resembles ‘The Dolmabahce Palace’ and bridges across the pool are based on original designs of the ‘Galata Bridge’ by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Mardan Palace has ensured guests will experience opulence reminiscent of the Ottoman Empire. Gondolas sail guests around the Mediterranean’s largest swimming pool, five giant aquariums reflect the Earth’s oceans in the hotel’s restaurants and spa, a swimming reef has been created to provide an aquatic haven for environmental enthusiasts to explore and a cliff face amphitheatre seating 900 will host world class entertainment and spectacular light shows.

Mardan Palace provides all the necessities for serious relaxation with an impressive 7500m2 Hammam-style Spa and Health centre created by world renowned Spa experts Klafs.  Designed to stimulate all the senses and accommodate every guest’s need, both holistic and medi treatments will be on offer. Features include a Vitamin and Champagne bar, Oriental Steam Bath and three Thalasso pools. Internationally inspired treatments include Hot Stone, Thai, Balinese, Shiatsu and Kneipp Treatment. More active guests will enjoy an exhilarating selection of watersports, tennis courts, bowling alleys, basketball, volleyball and squash.

Internationally acclaimed chefs have created ten a la carte restaurants including French, Japanese, Russian, Thai and traditional Turkish. Guests will dine a la carte in a replica of Istanbul’s famed Maiden’s Tower and sip the delights of Turkey’s finest wine cellar. Evenings can be spent relaxing in the plethora of bars, listening to live jazz, being active in the bowling bar, dancing till dawn in ‘The Monkey Club’ or simply sipping cocktails under the stars in the tent bar.

Mardan Palace’s spectacular business and event facilities have been designed for the meeting of hearts and minds, equally perfect for a grand ball as it is for a business conference. There are two grand ballrooms and 17 meeting rooms to choose from, as well as a private 18 seat cinema.  Mardan Palace offers a space second to none in the extraordinary palatial surroundings of a destination reminiscent of the ancient Ottoman Empire but combined with the intimacy, passion and world class service of modern Europe.

Mardan Palace marks a return to greatness and to the days of experiential luxury. The team have created one of the world’s finest luxury destinations, an incredible resort set to become a modern day wonder of the world and a must visit destination in the heart of the Turkish Riviera.

Rooms range from 360 Euros per night for a Superior Room in low season to 14,000 Euros per night for a Royal Suite with private pool in High Season. All costs are per night, per room and quoted on a bed & breakfast basis.

Ghana’s finest

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Golden Tulip Accra
This modern African-style hotel delightfully landscaped over spacious grounds with extensive tropical gardens and lush vegetation, offers the ideal accommodation for both business and leisure travellers. The hotel has 234 air-conditioned guest rooms inclusive of standard and executive rooms, junior suites, luxurious executive suites, executive apartments and chalets. All rooms have key card access, wireless internet, mini bar, safe, free coffee & tea facilities, trouser press, hair dryer, multi-channel TV, an accurate timed wake-up system and 24-hour room service.

Meetings and banquets
The hotel can accommodate meetings and conferences for up to 150 persons, and cocktail parties and receptions for up to 450 guests. The function rooms can be divided into five separate rooms by sound-proof sliding walls and are well equipped with modern equipment such as sound system, LCD-beamer, and so on. Tailor-made meeting packages are available to suit guests’ needs.

Restaurant and bar
The Golden Tulip Accra offers excellent dining choices with an extensive à la carte menu of continental and Ghanaian cuisine, in addition to a daily changing themed buffet served at the restaurant. The Piano Lounge and Pool Bar offer a wide variety of snacks and drinks with daily live music.

The hotel provides other facilities such as a well- equipped business centre, forex bureau, beauty salon, swimming pool, flood-lit tennis courts, gym, car rental, shop and casino.

Great benefits await bookers and guests of the hotel via the loyalty programs, ambassador club and flavours respectively: and www.flavours-benefits.com

Golden Tulip Kumasi City
This magnificent hotel in Kumasi in the Ashanti region of Ghana with its hill top location, has 160 rooms with various room types like apartments, suites, executive, superior and standard rooms. All rooms are air conditioned, have key cards, wireless internet access, in-room safes, hair dryers, television, tea & coffee making facilities and fridges.

Meetings and banquets
The Golden Tulip Kumasi City provides a multiple of meeting spaces and a variety of set ups for your banqueting and meeting requirements. The hotel can accommodate meetings and conferences for up to 500 persons, and cocktail receptions up to 900 persons. At the Golden Tulip Kumasi City, staff ensure that the requirements of you and your guests are met according to your specification.

Restaurant and bar
The Golden Tulip Kumasi City offers you excellent dining choices. Whether indoor or outdoor they offer a variety of snacks, buffets, à la carte menu, and drinks. The Bar Lounge offers you a unique location to meet with your colleagues and friends over drinks with live music.

Our restaurant also provides breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets with an option of an a la carte menu with both International and local dishes. 

Other facilities
The hotel provides other facilities such as a well- equipped business centre, a forex bureau, a beauty salon, swimming pool specially designed for adults and another one for children, a car rental, a shop, a lounge bar, restaurant, and casino.

Visit the Golden Tulip Kumasi City and experience exceptional service, delightful presentation and warm hospitality.

Malay milestones

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Malaysia’s growing appeal as a meeting, convention, exhibition and incentive venue is not surprising in view of the country’s many primary strengths to support such ventures. The country’s advantage lies in its strategic geographic location, value-for-money, modern integrated infrastructure, political stability and good accessibility, complemented with a wealth of natural and cultural pursuits. These contribute towards Malaysia’s competitive edge in the region.

Accolades like the 2008 World’s Be-st Airport (15-25 million passengers category) by the Airports Council International – Airport Service Quality (ACI-ASQ) bestowed upon Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and the Green Globe Award presented to Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), which recognises KLCC for its highest standards in food safety, quality, environment, safety & health (FOQESH) management systems, further strengthen trade confidence in Malaysia’s infrastructure and service providers.

The development of conference and meeting facilities has enhanced Malaysia’s popularity as an ideal conference venue. Located in Malaysia’s beautifully-landscaped administrative capital, Putrajaya International Convention Centre offers state-of-the-art conference and exhibition facilities and has the capacity to hold 10,000 delegates.

Other equally impressive venues include the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and Putra World Trade Centre, both of which are located within the Central Business District of Kuala Lumpur; MATRADE Exhibition & Convention Centre and Sime Darby Convention Centre, in well-connected suburban areas; and Mid Valley Exhibition Centre and Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, which are part of larger network of business, leisure and entertainment hubs.

Beyond Kuala Lumpur, other convention and exhibition centres with excellent facilities and unique attractions include: Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC) – located on the beautiful, legendary island of Langkawi in the northern region; Persada Johor International Convention Centre – strategically located in the southern region of Malaysia with convenient access to Singapore; Borneo Convention Centre in Sarawak (BCEC) – located on the exotic island of Borneo which opens in October 2009 and offers meeting facilities amidst a 120 million-year-old rainforest; Genting International Convention Centre – a venue up in the cool highlands developed as a city of entertainment.

With its diverse attractions and unique mix of culture, Malaysia also makes the ideal, exotic destination in the Far East for incentive groups. Tour programmes can be tailor-made to showcase the many sides of Malaysia, from an entertainment-filled tour of the city, a cultural experience in the local villages, to an exciting adventure in the wilds of the rainforests.

Heritage tours of historical Penang and Melaka, two UNESCO World Heritage sites, highlight the old-world charm of Malaysia, while the many islands that dot the seas bring visitors closer to the rich marine life in the waters. There is much to discover of Malaysia through jungle-trekking, diving, golfing, shopping, and gourmet tours.

Par for the courses

Posted on by Charlotte Gill

Golfers have one huge advantage over most other sports enthusiasts. While soccer and cricket fans, for instance, have to content themselves with the challenge of fantasy teams, golfers can actually live the dream. They can literally follow in the footsteps of the top pros, the likes of Tiger Woods, Paul Casey and Padraig Harrington, and see just how their game measures up, stroke by stroke, to that of their superstar heroes.

This is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why top golf resorts around the world continue to enjoy a boom. Add the obvious attractions of luxury hotels, stunning settings, gourmet food and fine wines, plus history, culture and hospitality, and it’s easy to see why this 21st century success story shows no sign of slowing down.

There is an amazing range of luxury golf resorts stretching across the globe from America to China, Australia to Mexico. The biggest problem facing most golfers is deciding which of their dream courses they should play first!

Florida offers an astonishing array of magnificent golf resorts. The aptly-named Sunshine State boasts 1,200 golf courses, with no fewer than six listed in Golf Magazine’s Top 100.

Golfers aiming to emulate the stroke play of the PGA professionals, just need to book into the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa, at Ponte Vedra Beach.

There they can drive, pitch and putt their way round the legendary Stadium course, home of The Players’ Championship.

The course, once a swamp sold for $1 in 1978, has been called “a baby-faced assassin” for the way it can dazzle a player with its beauty and then surprise him with a multitude of devastating water hazards. The Sawgrass Resort, which promises to combine elegance with ease, is recognised by golfers, families and MICE planners as one of the top resorts in the States. It has also been rated one of the Top 10 Best Golf Resorts In The World by Travel & Leisure Golf magazine.

If you want to take a tip from a top pro, you could do worse than listen to Curtis Strange, twice U.S. Open champion and captain of the 2002 American Ryder Cup team. He recommends The Greenbrier, in West Virginia, reckoned by some to be one of the most extraordinary golf resorts on the planet. The elegant 721-room hotel, nestling in the scenic Allegheny Mountains, is more imposing than Buckingham Palace and the White House put together. Since 1778, it has regularly attracted presidents and movie stars seeking comfort in its six-star facilities, dining and service.

The Greenbrier also has impeccable credentials from a golfing standpoint. A former venue for both the Ryder and Solheim Cups, it offers three championship courses, a 65,000 sq ft practice range, four putting, chipping and pitching greens, and coaching at the Sam Snead Golf Academy. Away from the greens, there is falconry, fly fishing, riding, outdoor tennis, shooting, white-water rafting and mountain biking, along with an acclaimed cookery school and swish spa.

“It is the complete resort,” says Strange. “To go and play golf at the Greenbrier…that’s just about as grand a time as you could have.”

On the other side of the world, on the isolated coast of northern Tasmania is Barnbougle Dunes, co-designed by Australian and European Tour winner Michael Clayton and Tom Doak, with its rolling dunes, marram grass and breathtaking ocean vistas. “One of the things I love about Barnbougle is the relaxed atmosphere of the place,” Clayton says. “There are none of the restrictions that are so much a part of the Australian private club scene. It’s very friendly, and guests feel none of the intimidation that public golfers experience when visiting a private club.”

Barnbougle is a relatively new resort, having opened just five years ago – but by 2006, just two years after opening, it made Golf Magazine’s “Top 100 In The World” list. Reckoned by many to be Australia’s premier golf resort, the accommodation is quirky but luxurious – offering guests the chance to stay in  spacious cottages designed specifically for foursomes, with two rooms, a modern bathroom, and a patio offering splendid sea views as well as golf course vistas. Just a short stroll away is the clubhouse and first tee, along with a good restaurant, snack bar and lounge reflecting the unique charm and style of the northeast of Tasmania.

For the adventurous golfer to whom distance is no object there is the lure of the world’s longest golf course at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Golf Club, in the northwestern corner of China’s Yunnan province. Ringed by 13 majestic peaks and situated at the base of a Himalayan glacier, it is a record-busting 8,548 yards long, which prompted one footsore golf writer to muse: “One can only hope that no one feels compelled to build a course that’s any longer!”

Elsewhere in China is the impressive Mission Hills Golf Club at Shenshen, a World Cup course designed by Jack Nicklaus and named last year (2008) as one of the ten “most influential golf courses of the last 20 years.”

Since opening in 1994, it has been held up as the prime example of golf’s outstanding international growth in the last two decades and was host to China’s first international golf tournament, the 41st World Cup of Golf in 1995.

The potential for attracting golf tourists in great numbers has been recognised by the opening at the Mission Hills Resort of the only five-star hotel in China to have been awarded the nation’s Golden Pillow Award for being the best business holiday resort. Perfectly situated in the heart of the course, the resort houses 317 bedrooms, each with a balcony offering a panoramic view of the entire course. Some golf insiders now predict that, thanks to the example of Mission Hills, China will boast more courses than Scotland by 2015.

For golfers visiting Japan, there is a bewildering array of superb courses and golf resorts. In fact, there are more golf courses – about 2,500 – in Japan than the rest of Asia put together, and the standard is extremely high.

Two of the finest courses are to be found at Hirono and Kawana.

Hirono has hosted all the major Japanese championships and presents the supreme test of golf, even though it is less than 7,000 yards from the back tees. The club was founded in 1932 by Englishman Charles Alison, who designed many of Japan’s best courses, and is 15 miles from the city of Kobe, Japan’s main seaport.

At the Kawana Golf Resort, on the mountainous Izu Peninsula, there are two courses – the Fuji and the Oshima. The Fuji course, designed by Alison in 1936, is rated the best and, taking golfers around a striking elevated headland with Mount Fuji in the distance, is a favourite with many who adore the Pacific Ocean and mature woodlands.

Famous guests who have stayed at the traditional   include Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio, who spent their honeymoon here in 1954, and John Wayne.

Golfers seeking exotic surroundings can certainly find them in abundance in  Indonesia. Golf has long been established on the 18,000 islands that make up Indonesia and there are now 150 courses. The best is the Nirwana Golf Club on beautiful Bali. It features a glorious Greg Norman layout which endears itself to many players by looking more difficult than it plays. Nevertheless, the 7th hole is especially challenging, requiring players to hit a cliffside tee shot across a stretch of ocean to a well-guarded green. The experience is made all the more enjoyable by the ever-changing panorama of glorious coastal views and ancient temples.

As Greg Norman says: “When I first saw the site I was taken by the dramatic location, the fascinating local culture and the rolling hills covered with rice paddies. I was determined to keep all these features…and am proud to have played a part in developing this world-class course.”

Located on the beautiful southwest coast, the Nirwana Bali Resort was the island’s first fully-integrated development of its kind and offers a peerless array of luxurious facilities on a site combining the best of both modern and traditional Balinese architecture in a lovely natural environment.

The undisputed No 1 golf resort in South Africa is the Durban Country Club, which has hosted more South African Opens than any other club and is regularly ranked one of the Top 100 in the world.

Established in 1922, it is an oasis of calm away from the hustle and bustle of the cosmopolitan city and just a kilometre north of the “Golden Mile“ beach. Set on the edge of the Indian Ocean, behind a tall ridge of sand dunes, players enjoy a course that winds its way through lush tropical vegetation.

The clubhouse is an impressive, stately, white gabled building in Cape Dutch style, surrounded by scrupulously groomed lawns, a swimming pool and various club amenities. Its restaurants offer fine or casual dining, plus an intimate cocktail bar and traditional bar.

For golfers looking for something completely different, Mexico is well worth considering, with the relatively new El Camaleon Resort, near the Playa del Carmen beach destination, already established as a major attraction. This 18-hole course, designed by the great Greg Norman, was opened in 2006 and winds through three distinct landscapes – mangrove jungles, limestone canals and stretches of Caribbean oceanfront – providing awe-inspiring views.

Just to add a touch of romance, there is a lovingly preserved ancient underground cavern, discovered during course construction, close to the opening fairway.  The year it opened, El Camaleon made history by becoming the first golf course to host an official PGA Tour event in México and the first  PGA Tour event ever held outside of America or Canada.

The course, just 45 minutes south of Cancun, is the centrepiece of the luxury resort development of Mayakoba which includes the 401-room deluxe hotel The Fairmont Mayakoba.

Looking for something closer to home? Well, Europe certainly has its fair share of world-class golf resorts.

Tourist bosses in Portugal spotted the possibilities of tapping into the golf market a long time ago – and continue to reap the benefits, not just in the Algarve but in other areas, too.

On the glorious Estoril coast, golfers can live it up like royalty at the Penha Longa Golf Resort, staying at a 194-room hotel that dates back to the 14th century. Over the years, it has been a favoured retreat of Portuguese royals and foreign dignitaries. This graceful palazzo-style estate, with two challenging courses, is set among the spectacular rolling hills and clear lakes of the southern Sintra mountains.

With five exceptional dining facilities, two world-class championship golf courses and a state of the art spa, there is little need to leave the resort – although there is a casino, the largest in Europe, at nearby Estoril.

The classy championship standard 18-hole Atlantico course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and opened in 1992 to such a chorus of acclaim that two years later it was chosen to host the Portuguese Open.

In neighbouring Spain, one of Europe’s most popular golf resorts is to be found at Montecastillo, to the northeast of Jerez. With its magnificent, late 19th century El Castillo clubhouse with crenulated walls, it is quite reminiscent of the clubhouse at Wentworth. The course, nestling deep in the heart of the sherry region, was created by Jack Nicklaus in 1992 and is long and demanding.

The resort occupies 400-acres and includes a five-star hotel, whose guests in recent times have included the Manchester United team, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, plus tennis courts and soccer pitches. Recent improvements have included the planting of 100-year-old olive trees around the course and the installation of a new drainage system.

For sheer Italian style, charm and sophistication, the Castelconturbia Golf Club, at Agrate Conturbia, in Piedmont – just 12 miles from Milan’s Malpensa Airport – takes some beating.

Opened in 1984 and designed by Robert Trent Jones, it features three nine-hole loops – The Chestnuts, Pines and Oaks – and is reckoned to be one of Italy’s most challenging courses.

It has played host to the Italian Open and has some wonderful mountain views. The whole area is cloaked in history and the Castelconturbia course dates back to 1898 when it was one of only two in the whole of Italy, having been built by Count Gaspar Voli, who was well and truly bitten by the golf bug after paying frequent visits to Scotland.

While many golf resorts have a link with one superstar, the Sport Club Berlin, on the banks of Germany’s tranquil Lake Scharmutzelsee, boasts design links with two – Nick Faldo and Arnold Palmer.

Palmer laid out the first course 14 years ago and Faldo saw the opening of his first Continental European design two years later in 1997. Top players  reckon Faldo’s layout is a fastidiously-designed but brutal masterpiece best left to serious golfers. The par five 11th hole, for instance, features an astonishing 14 bunkers. It’s small wonder that the course has hosted a number of major tournaments including the German Open.

The resort is set in 300 acres and away from the greens there are 11 conference and function rooms, three restaurants, a sailing marina, and a helicopter landing pad.

A huge vote of confidence in the future of golf resorts has recently come from the sport’s undisputed No 1, Tiger Woods. The American golfing genius is designing courses for new major resorts in Dubai, North Carolina and Mexico.

The first course he is designing, the “Tiger Woods Dubai,” is an incredible multi-million pound project involving palaces, mansions, and a boutique hotel, alongside a gigantic, luxurious clubhouse and striking golf academy. When it opens next summer, it will doubtless attract golfers in their thousands from all over the globe.