As the Vienna Convention Bureau embarks on its 40th year of operation, there is plenty to celebrate. According to the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) 2008 stats, Vienna ranked first for the fourth consecutive year as the most popular international congress city. In this latest ranking, Vienna tied for first place with Paris. And as of June 2009, the Vienna Convention Bureau can proudly say it has 4 CMPs (Certified Meeting Professionals) amongst its staff, the most of any European convention bureau. The 4 ‘Certified Meeting Planners’ at the Bureau are Ulrike von Arnold, Deputy Director at the Vienna Convention Bureau, and Marketing Managers Ingeborg Schneider, May Sollinger-Soucek and Astrid Vuketich. Regardless of a program’s country of origin, the Vienna CVB can truly say that is speaks their language - the language of events.

Website: http://vienna.convention.at

On 2nd June, the Musée Magritte opened at the Place Royale, in Brussels, Belgium. The museum is dedicated to life and work of René Magritte, the 20th century's most celebrated, surrealist painter. It was Magritte who along with friends such as Salvador Dali and Max Ernst spread the global surrealist movement that impacted all media, including advertising, theatre and movies.

Musée Magritte is available for exclusive hire and accommodates up to 500 attendees for a reception. One suggestion from Verhulst Events is ”A Surrealistic Evening Event’ that starts with a welcome drink and private guided tour of the museum. The tour is then followed by a cocktail reception with ’Walking Cassolettes,’ a food concept created by their internationally renowned 3-Star chef, Peter Goossens. The event company offers different event formats to suit the individual needs of each group.

Website: www.musee-magritte-museum.be   

For programs going to Reykjavík in Iceland, the Reykijavik Welcome Card provides value to attendees traveling around the city and seeing the sites on their own. The new and improved Welcome Card is available for 24, 48 or 72-hour increments. It includes unlimited travel on buses in the Reykjavík Capital Area and discounts at shops and restaurants. It also includes free admission to the Reykjavík thermal pools, the National Museum of Iceland, the Settlement Exhibition Reykjavík, the Reykjavík City Museum - Arbaer Museum, the Culture House, Reykjavík Family Park and Zoo, the Reykjavík Maritime Museum, the Ferry to Videy Island and free internet access at the Center.

A new brochure accompanying the card will be out next month. For more information about the Reykjavík Welcome Card and to obtain the new brochure, go to Visit Reykjavík.

Website: www.visitreykjavik.is 

The landmark Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation that touched all areas of the hotel. Each of the property’s 402 guest rooms and suites were redesigned and outfitted with Renaissance bedding and new technology including high-speed Internet access, 42” HDTVs and digital music sound systems. Event facilities were renovated and updated with state-of-the-art technology as well. In house event facilities comprise 369 sqm/3,972 sqft of space that accommodates from 6 to 150 attendees. Across the street, the historic Koepelkerk built in 1668 offers another 996 sqm/10,721 sqft of space with 6 flexible function rooms and accommodating up to 700 attendees. New F&B venues include the Scossa restaurant with a Mediterranean style menu, the 2b Lounge bar and Koepelcafe. The fitness center is open 24-hours.

Website: www.renaissanceamsterdamhotel.com

The former Hotel Ukraina in Moscow is undergoing extensive renovation in preparation for its 1st December re-opening as the Radisson Royal Hotel, Moscow. The 34-story hotel is part of the “Seven Sisters” Soviet skyscrapers project that was conceptualized by Stalin and built between 1949 and 1957. The Radisson Royal will feature 507 guest rooms and 38 serviced apartments. The conference center will have 9 meeting rooms, a large ballroom, a business center, and a library and accommodate up to 1,000 delegates. 4 restaurants will present menus featuring Russian, French, Asian, Italian and Japanese cuisines and the bar on the 31st floor will provide exceptional views of Moscow’s intriguing skyline. The Wellness Centre & Spa will have a 50 meter 6 lane swimming pool, Jacuzzis, Turkish bath, sauna, and fitness facilities.

Further information & contact:

Ms. Christiane Reiter, Director Corporate Communication
Christiane.Reiter@Rezidor.com

www.rezidor.com and http://www.ukraina-hotel.ru/

The new Missoni Hotel opened last month in a landmark building on Edinburgh's Royal Mile. The property was the former home of the Midlothian County Council, and is now a GBP 50 million venture between the fashion House of Missoni and the Rezidor Hotel Group. Today, the interior of the building has been transformed into a luxury hotel with individually designed guest rooms and public spaces, all featuring colorful and world famous Missoni textiles.

Many of the hotel’s 136 guest rooms and suites overlook Edinburgh’s landmarks and the Royal Mile. Meeting spaces consist of 3 intimate rooms available for smaller sized meetings. One of the rooms can be divided into 2 rooms. There is an events team to assist with all aspects of planning. The hotel’s restaurant, Cucina, serves authentic Italian dishes on china and glassware from the Missoni homeware collection.

Website: www.hotelmissoni.com

From now until 27 September 2009, the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois in Basal, Switzerland is presenting the Van Gogh table where a few lucky people will actually enjoy a meal at the same table the famous artist dined on while he lived and worked at the Auberge Ravoux in 1890. A special “Van Gogh” menu has traditional dishes served at the tiny inn during Van Gogh’s stay. And every meal ends with a discussion of the artist’s life and work.

The hotel is offering a special one-night package that includes in-room breakfast, admission to the current Van Gogh Landscapes exhibition at the Kunstmuseum of Basel, an exhibition catalogue, a gift from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and free public transport in Basal. Combine this with dinner at the Van Gogh table and you have a truly unique individual incentive experience.

Website: www.lestroisrois.com

Starwood’s trendy Aloft brand opens in Abu Dhabi this October. The hotel is located in the state-of-the-art Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The 11-story property has 408 guest rooms with 42“ HDTVs, Play n Dock stations for iPods and Bliss bath amenities. As always there is free WiFi throughout the hotel, the W XYZ bar, re:mix lobby and re:fuel the ‘grab n go’ Aloft food concept. Event facilities comprise large banqueting space and 2 meeting rooms outfitted with 50" flat-panel plasma TVs with laptop hook-up and DVD players. The Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre offers 55,000 sqm/592,015 sqft of multi functional meeting space. An outdoor swimming pool is located on the roof along with the rooftop bar, which offers super views of Abu Dhabi.

Website: www.aloftabudhabi.com