FlorIan sengstschmId Azerbaijan, an emerging meetings hub - Headquarters Magazine
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
MIM Europe Magazine, the meetings and incentives
magazine for European corporate planners,
in exclusive partnership with EUMA,
the European Association of Management Assistants,
supported by ECM, European Cities Marketing and Site.
europe magazine #129
Incentives feature
Make them special
Interview
Florian Sengstschmid
Azerbaijan, an emerging meetings hub
Published 2 times a year:
April, October
Edition October 2015
Online today
NEW WEBSITE
www.meetingmediagroup.com
totally revamped design
bi-weekly updates
daily news
destination focus
in-depth interviews and analyses
association management issues
congress organisation topics
New digital opportunities:
Cyber Tours
new Partners Directory
Events
extended articles
leaderboards
banners
etc.
Includes all three magazines:
HQ Europe HQ Asia-Pacific MIM Europe
3
Events in European cities
are booming!
Colophon I find it quite remarkable that in recent times all
MIM magazine is the european magazine for
the meetings industry. It is published by European cities seem to be hosting major events
meeting media company bvba/sarl,
with a circulation of 5000 copies. every year. And they are not just catering to local
In exclusive partnership with audiences but most notably also to overseas guests.
The spectrum of what they offer is large and covers
sports, culture, music as well as a variety of city
Marcel A.M. VISSERS entertainment options. In my hometown of Antwerp
European Management Assistants Association.
Editor in Chief the saying goes that during the summer months
In partnership with
there is no need to travel abroad for a vacation.
The choice of events is so staggering that one can hardly keep track. This phenomenon
is very likely the result of city marketing or the strategic positioning of a city as an
European City Marketing Site Europe entertainment centre.
Editor in Chief
Marcel A.M. Vissers
T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81 Vienna most definitely carries off the honours in this respect. In 1999 the city created
marcel@meetingmediagroup.com
Managing Director
‘Stadt Wien Marketing GmbH’. Today this city department, which is actually more like
Cécile Caiati-Koch
T. +32 (0)2 761 70 52
a company, employs 17 people who are totally dedicated to profiling Vienna as an
cecile@meetingmediagroup.com attractive and viable city. When visiting the city on the occasion of the most recent
International Business Development Manager
Jesús Guerrero Chacón edition of the Eurovision Song Contest I was very fortunate to be able to talk to
T. +32 (0)2 761 70 54 Michael Draxler, CEO of Stadt Wien Marketing, receiving first-hand information on how
jesus@meetingmediagroup.com
Managing Editor Vienna handles events (www.wien-event.at).
Rémi Dévé
T. +32 (0)2 761 70 55
remi@meetingmediagroup.com
To summarise my conversation: it is simply amazing what is happening there.
Finance & Accounting
Farhana Khan If you’re looking for a master class in city events handling this is the man you need
T. +32 (0)3 226 88 81
farhana@meetingmediagroup.com to meet. I know of no other city in Europe where events are approached with so much
Contributor respect. His company does not only produce its own events but also acts as a coordi-
Katie Lau
Address
nating body. Every year Vienna hosts up to 50 large and small events which contrib-
4 avenue des Prisonniers Politiques ute sizably to the city’s finances. They cleverly take inspiration from prevailing trends
1150 Brussels (Belgium)
T. +32 (0)2 761 70 50 and have clearly understood that events bring people together and appeal to visitors.
F. +32 (0)2 761 70 51
www.meetingmediagroup.com A city at its best! Please also read ‘Vienna, a city at its best’ on page 40.
press@meetingmediagroup.com
Publisher
Meeting Media Company
Marcel A.M. Vissers » More stories on www.meetingmediagroup.com
Mechelseplein 23, bus 1
B - 2000 Antwerpen (Belgium)
www.meetingmediagroup.com
Design & Print
Press Point.be
Contents
Guido Gezellelaan 109 - 9800 Deinze
T. +32 (0)9 362 52 50 - www.presspoint.be
GENERAL DESTINATIONS
Air France-KLM 4 Switzerland 22
EUMA 6 Luxembourg 24
ECM 8 Antwerp 32
SITE 11 Vienna 40
BOZAR 13 Malaysia 44
Korea 46
Cécile Caiati-Koch INTERVIEW
Florian Sengstschmid, Azerbaijan
Convention Bureau 14
SPECIAL FEATURE
Rémi Dévé Jesús Guerrero Chacón Incentives with a twist 16
MIM Europe Magazine sets great store by sustainable development
and therefore chose responsible FSC certified paper which comes
from a controlled source.
More info: www.fsc.org FSC, A.C. FSC-SECR-0045
5
AIR FRANCE KLM, a vast network
serving the African continent
Each airline, whether Air France or KLM, has a stronger presence in certain parts of the world. Air France, for
instance, is stronger in West Africa. KLM, on the other hand has more flights to East Africa.
Consequently there are numerous ‘sole’ The Group has also signed agreements Around 1,000 local staff make up
destinations, i.e. destinations operated with various African air transport players the Air France and KLM teams on the
by either one airline or the other. (Kenya Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines, African continent. They receive contin-
Air France and KLM have, of course, Air Côte d’Ivoire, kukula.com, Comair) uous training in international industry
designed simple tools to allow passen- offering its customers over 20 additional standards, working on a daily basis to
gers to make the most of this dual net- destinations on the continent. provide customers with the best of Air
work, notably with: France and KLM.
• The hubway, a system of 12 daily AIR FRANCE KLM is operating
flights distributed regularly through- flights to 47 destinations On board, more than 2,500 cabin crew
out the day linking Paris and staff, belonging to Air France’s Africa
Amsterdam, and connecting Air
on the African continent and Middle East Division, meet the
France and KLM networks. Personalized services on African routes specific expectations of customers on
• Fare combinability, an innovative Air France offers customers on its African African routes. The Company offers a
concept allowing passengers to build routes tailor-made services as soon as specific range of gourmet dishes includ-
their own trip to destinations oper- they arrive at the airport, as well as the ing examples of African gastronomic
ated by both airlines, combining a excellence of French in-flight service. produce such as chili or bissap juice in
flight leg on KLM through Amsterdam Business class.
with a flight leg on Air France though At Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, a
Paris. In this way passengers may team of experts from the African conti- And even more
benefit from connecting flights via nent is present on all flights to and from Enjoy the comfort of the Airbus A380 to
one or the other hubs either on the Africa, where they provide commercial Abidjan and Johannesburg. The A380 is
outbound or inbound flight and make assistance to passengers, taking into a particularly quiet aircraft and features
use of most suitable flight times account the geopolitical, commercial, the latest entertainment and comfort
(thanks to a better offer in terms of regulatory and cultural characteristics of technology.
frequencies) and the most attractive each country.
fares (based on the addition of two corporate.airfrance.com/en
half return trips). Air France and KLM also offer a larger nieuws.klm.com/en
baggage allowance than on the rest of
AIR FRANCE KLM is operating flights to the long-haul network, to most African
47 destinations on the African continent. destinations.
6
Developing
Excelence for
Management
Assistants
You don’t have to be
the Steve Jobs of
communication to make
your event a success
Whatever the size of your event, big or small, you will always need a
well-defined communication strategy. Communicating effectively with
your participants is an important part of making any event a success. In
this article, we will discuss the different aspects of event communication
and consider some things you should think about for your next event. Linda Kullas
Preparation is key you manage all registrations on one before the event another reminder can be
Your participants should receive their platform. One platform will make your sent to the actual event attendees.
invitations well ahead of the date, so life as an organiser a lot easier.
that they have time to react. Include When registrations are over and the
only the essentials in the invitation, and It is vital to use one platform event is fast approaching, create
make additional information available for your event and a text message that will be sent a
from your site. day or a couple of hours before the
try to automate as much event starts. Whilst smartphones are
A short invitation will keep your partici- as possible common, not everyone reads their
pants interested long enough for them e-mail constantly. A text message is
to read all the details. People get invita- After registering, your attendees a short and simple way to welcome
tions and e-mails from left and right, so should get a confirmation to reassure attendees to your event. Furthermore,
it’s crucial to make your message short them that their registration has been a text message receives ten times more
and simple. The final thing you should received and processed. The confir- attention than a regular e-mail and will
do before sending out the invitation is mation message will also give you a set you apart from other events that
to test it on somebody who hasn’t been chance to recap important informa- might not use reminders at all.
part of the planning process. It’s neces- tion, including the contact information
sary to get impartial feedback. for the organiser, the schedule, how Event communication can be a dreadful
to get to the venue and the informa- task, but with the help of event man-
Essentially, a good invitation will lead tion the attendee has given when agement tools, communicating even the
to easy and successful registration. registering. biggest events will feel like a walk in the
Your registration options depend com- park.
pletely on your target group. Some A week or two prior to the event, it’s
target groups might require several good to send a reminder via e-mail to the First published in the EUMA magazine
registration options next to the typical people who haven’t registered yet. This proActive No 43.This article was written
by Linda Kullas, Lyyti-Event Management
online registration. Whichever way you will increase the visibility of your event Software. Lyyti is a Gold Partner to European
choose, it is strongly recommended that among all the other invitations. A week Management Assistants (EUMA).
7
Stockholm
A great city to be a guest in
One of the most connected cities in commitment toward becoming the best
the world, Stockholm city has 900,000 person you can be.
inhabitants. Next year the capital of For more information please visit:
Sweden will host the 2016 Eurovision www.euma.org
Song Contest. The contest will be held
in the Stockholm Globe district in May. Clarion Sign (www.clarionsign.com),
Stockholm Globe
The Monocle’s annual Quality of Life Stockholm’s largest hotel is located in the
Survey lists the world’s top 25 cities to heart of Stockholm city adjacent to the
© Eson Lindman
live in, ranking Stockholm at #6! More Central Station and Arlanda Express as
about the city: www.visitstockholm.com well as near all the best of Stockholm’s
favorite spots. It all started with the idea
The next European Management to create a unique, timeless, first-class
Assistants (EUMA) annual Training Day hotel. By combining the best of
will be held in Stockholm on 16 April Scandinavian architecture and design it
2016 at the hotel Clarion Sign and the would create a source of inspiration for the Clarion Sign
theme for the training day is Self- guests. A collection of icons in their areas
Development. Nowadays it is crucial that that together would celebrate Scandinavia! around the hotel and discover world-
you can lead your own development and famous furniture, such as Egg, Wave and
follow what is happening around your The renowned Swedish architect Gert Lily, classic pieces that have been around
profession and the business. In itself, Wingårdh, sketched his vision of a for up to 50 years and will stay the same
personal development involves the set- facade stooping hotel building which for another 50, at least. All over the hotel
ting of goals as well as their correspond- creates a spectacular view. Dominated you will find beautiful black and white pho-
ing action plans within a specific time- by granite and glass, it leans over the tography art by well-known Scandinavian
frame. Keep in mind that self-develop- square, reflecting the green park. photo artists.
ment requires active participation on the
part of the individual from the day the The interior was provided by Scandinavian Else-Britt Lundgren,
goals are set to the day these are design icons, such as Arne Jacobsen, European Chairman, European
achieved. Self-development is a daily Bruno Mathsson and Alvar Aalto. Wander Management Assistants (EUMA)
8
About European Cities Marketing (ECM)
European Cities Marketing is a non-profit
organisation improving the competitive-
ness and performance of leading cities
in Europe by providing a platform for pro-
fessionals of the meetings industry, the
leisure business and city marketing to
Ongoing Education as Success
exchange knowledge, best practice and
widen their network to build new business.
European Cities Marketing is promoting
Factor of Future Business
and linking the interests of 100 members
from 36 countries.
For more information, please contact:
Freshly elected ECM Vice-President for the Meetings Industry, Bettina Flavie Baudot,
Bunge, CEO and Managing Director of Dresden Marketing Board, flavie@europeancitiesmarketing.com,
explains the importance of education to face the continuing changes T. +33 380 56 02 00
in the Meetings Industry. www.europeancitiesmarketing.com
MIM Europe: What should meetings package of seats to attend ECM Summer Meetings Industry right from the beginning
industry professionals do to face the School and then asked its members of a career; it’s a four-day course with a
constant evolution of the industry? to send application letters where they faculty of 15 widely recognised industry
Bettina Bunge: We live in a constantly would show their motivation to go to the professionals. The programme sets out
changing world, and the Meetings ECM Summer School. Five of them were the background and context of the indus-
Industry is no exception. To face this selected: learning, knowledge sharing, try (key players, exhibitions, press, social
ongoing challenge, professionals have team building, all ingredients of success media, sustainability, clients, intermediar-
to educate themselves and others were there, in this simple idea! I find it ies, RFP and decision making processes)
every day. To me it’s a crucial task for a great example of educating others by with a focus on European and interna-
top management in each organisation, offering them such an opportunity. tional best practices.
whether it is a CVB, tourist office, con-
gress centre, airline, hotel, DMC, PCO or MIM Europe: What educational options The ECM Summer School has consis-
meeting planner, to train every employee would you recommend? tently been the bridge to a successful
continuously. Bettina Bunge: In the Meetings Industry, career in the Meetings Industry. More
there is a variety of high quality offers than 1,500 students graduated from the
In the Meetings Industry, with independent education pro- School and now hold strategic positions.
there is a variety of grammes that can also be used as a It’s also important to note that the ECM
high quality offers with career ladder and an ongoing process Summer School is qualified for CMP cer-
of education and training. Among them, tification, and students earn a total of
independent education we can find ICCA Research Sales & 17.75 clock hours for their overall CMP
programmes Marketing Program, the Forum for Young certification.
Professionals at ibtm world, the IAPCO
I personally do that for my whole staff at Edge Seminar, the AIPC Academy, the The next edition will be held in Zagreb
Dresden Marketing Board: for the CVB, Association Expert Seminar at IMEX (Croatia), August 27-31, 2016 and we
Tourism, Business Development and (Frankfurt) and the Future Leaders will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the
other departments we set up a long- Forum (IMEX America), and of course ECM Summer School!
term personnel development plan and the ECM Summer School.
yearly training courses with incentives MIM Europe: Are there other tools
corresponding to the success of the MIM Europe: Can you tell us more developed by ECM to provide education
training. I have this other example, with about the ECM Summer School? to its members?
VISITFLANDERS, the promotion board for Bettina Bunge: The ECM Summer School Bettina Bunge: Well, that’s the least
Flanders and Brussels, which bought a is a door opener to understand the we can say! One of the main missions
9
© Sven Döring
of ECM is to provide its members with Additionally, the Future Leaders Award
educational opportunities all year long. is a friendly competition around best
First through ECM meetings twice a practices in the industry - and is open
year; this is when members exchange exclusively to ECM’s members. It allows
knowledge and best practices, a young talented professional, employed
benchmark among themselves and by one of ECM member organisations
anticipate future needs. [The next ECM to win and study for a part-time two-year
Meeting will be held in Madrid (Spain), MBA at MODUL University in Vienna.
February 24-27, 2016]. Then through
the ECM Knowledge Groups; they are Then ECM is part of IMEX Smart Monday
expert teams focusing on specific educational session, prior to IMEX
aspects of the Meetings Industry, America in Las Vegas, providing clients
city marketing and urban tourism (agencies, associations and corporate
development. They discuss issues, involved with meetings, conferences, and
share best practices, prepare reports, conventions) with a full education day of
conduct surveys and, in certain cases, various learning formats for cutting-edge
undertake joint marketing activities career development. ECM is proud to
through meetings, expert meetings and provide a 45-minute educational session.
monthly chats. People should never stop learning and
teaching in the Meetings Industry!
Next ECM Events for the Meetings Industry and education possibilities
• IMEX Smart Monday, 12 October 2015, Las Vegas (USA) Bettina Bunge
• Meetings Industry Steering Group, 16 November 2015, Barcelona (Spain)
• ibtm world, 17-19 November 2015, Barcelona – Come & visit ECM at stand D75! Bettina Bunge, the fast facts
• Meet Europe Workshop, 10 December 2015, Paris (France), followed by a net- • Born in Lueneburg (Germany) in 1967
working educational session on 11th December • Studied Business Administration in
• India Meetings Industry Workshop, March 2016, three cities in India Muenster (Germany) and San Diego
• ECM Spring Meeting, 24-27 February 2016, Madrid (Spain) (USA) with a Fulbright Grant
• ECM Annual Meeting and General Assembly, 8-11 June 2016, Madeira (Portugal) • Taught, worked and received a PhD
degree in the research field of Service
Quality and Customer Satisfaction in
the financial industry at the European
Business School (Germany)
• Worked at Lufthansa German Airlines,
German National Tourist Board,
Hamburg Convention Bureau
• Since 2009: CEO and Managing Director
of the Dresden Marketing Board in
Germany, responsible for promoting
Dresden as a Meetings, Tourism,
Business and Science destination
worldwide
• Since June 2015: Newly elected
Vice President Meetings Industry of
European Cities Marketing Association
• More than 20 years of work experience
• Very passionate about education, train-
ing and teaching
Students and Faculty members of the last ECM Summer School in Vienna
11
Pride is Back
When you work in an industry that has a hard time defining its name, you get
used to misperceptions. Across the globe, the Incentive Travel sector is described
in many ways - “Motivational Events”, “MICE”, “Meetings and Events”, “Hospitality
Business”, etc. All of these labels don’t adequately address the business that we
are in; the business that uses the power of bringing people together to reward
Olga Navarro
performance, create engagement and generate business results.
This lack of understanding is due to not think to do on their own, financially performance. We use creativity to
limited knowledge of the value proposi- afford to do on their own, or even be design once-in-a-lifetime, high-end travel
tion for incentive travel, and I don’t only able to do on their own. experiences that result in lasting mem-
mean a lack of understanding of people
that are alien to our industry. It is true
At SITE, we have proof ories and motivate future performance.
We have the powerful ability to connect
that in the past there have been some that incentives are incentive travel to business results and
bad practices in the implementation of connected to business results we provide research that confirms that
incentive travel programs and scandals incentive travel is an important busi-
have marked the industry’s reputation. The day has come where an increase in ness tool used by companies to change
It is also clear that, as incentive indus- the use of incentive travel is no longer behavior and create a measureable
try advocates, we need to do a much a trend, but a fact. At SITE, we have return on investment.
better job communicating the value of proof that incentives are connected to
this important business tool beyond its business results. In a survey by the SITE We are Loving “it”, Knowing “it”,
reputation of exotic destinations, lavish Foundation, corporate executives who Experiencing “it”, Proving “it”, Growing
entertainment and fine dining. use incentive travel report that it pays for “it” and Living “it”. And we are proud,
itself many times over and has a positive because pride in our industry is back,
Increasing expectations impact on future economic investments and here to stay.
In today’s world where global travel is no and job growth. And, companies that
longer limited to wealthy people, there use incentive travel have seen individual To learn more about SITE visit
are numerous opportunities available to performance increase by 22% and team www.SITEglobal.com
the average consumer. Destinations and performance by 44%.
activities that used to be considered This text was written by Olga Navarro, CIS,
Vice President, SITE International Board of
unique and special are now at the reach Value of incentive travel Directors, and Executive Director, ITB dmc -
of everyone on their home computer. To spread the word about the benefits Destination Management Services in Spain
This is why the expectations of clients and value of incentive travel, SITE has
and program participants are constantly recently launched a campaign “Incentive
increasing and incentive travel planners Travel (it) Works”. SITE members
are having to work harder to design around the world believe in what we do
experiences that a typical traveler would and the effect “it” causes on people’s13
© From the Diptych Series - Jerome Latteur, 2008
[ The Centre for Fine Arts ]
Your trusted go-to partner for truly inspired events
Very centrally located in the Art District and easily accessible by (public) transport, the Centre for Fine Arts
Brussels is Belgium’s largest cultural institution, welcoming over 1 million visitors a year.
Collaboration with the business world Come and discover the 33,000m² Art Studio (210 seats) alongside the flexi-
is in our DNA and we are proud to have Deco building, designed by renowned ble, multi-purpose Terarken rooms which
organised an impressive number of cor- architect Victor Horta and imagine your can accommodate up to 700 people.
porate events, ranging from seminars, event in one of our theatres, exhibition Welcome your guests in magnifi-
congresses, fashion shows, debates, halls and magnificent reception rooms. cent reception rooms: the Bertouille
gala dinners, and many more. The building contains almost 4200 m² Rotunda, the Royal Salon, and the jewel
in our crown: the Horta Hall.
Whether in synch with BOZAR’s artistic programme or not,
Discover all of these and more on www.
you can rest assured that your event is in professional hands bozar.be/business, and contact one of
in a setting that is filled with history and creativity our Account Managers for a tailor-made
assistance on your next project.
Whether in synch with BOZAR’s artistic of exhibition spaces, the large Henry
programme or not, you can rest assured Le Boeuf Hall (2,100 seats), which is BOZAR Corporate Development Team
that your event is in professional hands ranked among the five best concert T +32 2 507 84 45
in a setting that is filled with history and halls in the world for its acoustics, the E corp@bozar.be
creativity. Chamber Music Room (480 seats), the W bozar.be/business14
Azerbaijan, an emerging meetings hub
An interview with Florian Sengstschmid
Baku
Since 2014 Austria born Florian Sengstschmid is the Executive Director of the
Azerbaijan Convention Bureau (AzCB). With his wide-ranging experience combining
multiple perspectives on tourism development with a strong strategic and operational
approach, he explains to MIM Europe how Azerbaijan is set to become a major player in
the meetings industry.
MIM Europe: The Azerbaijan Convention partners. Our aim is to put Azerbaijan
Bureau is rather young and leading in back on the meetings industry map.
the region, we understand. Can you Welcome to the 21st Century Silk Road!
tell us about the beginnings and the
development and your strategy to MIM Europe: Is there some kind of Florian Sengstschmid
put Azerbaijan on the map? collaboration between countries
Florian Sengstschmid: Azerbaijan has around the Caspian Sea to promote MIM Europe: We understand the country
been a key transit point along the themselves as a region? What’s the as a whole has grown exponentially in
famous Silk Road in Europe-Asia trade role of Azerbaijan in it? the last years. How is this reflected in
for centuries. Throughout the history the Florian Sengstschmid: The Azerbaijan the meetings industry?
country has served as a business hub. Convention Bureau is a proud member Florian Sengstschmid: The Eurovision
Centuries later and thanks to a great of ICCA and active partner in ICCA’s Song Contest, which was held in Baku
development of the country - Azerbaijan Mediterranean Chapter. In 2017 we back in 2012, has for sure been an
has all what it takes to be a successful will be hosting the ICCA Mediterranean important step in this context. The
meetings destination - the Ministry of Chapter Summit in Baku. One of our following years Baku and the rest of the
Culture and Tourism together with pri- objectives for this event is to actively country have gradually invested in the
vate sector partners have founded the involve relevant authorities and partners meetings industry sector.
Azerbaijan Convention Bureau (AzCB). from neighbouring and Caspian Sea
countries to jointly discuss the potential It’s true that Azerbaijan has been a hub
The AzCB is a public private partnership of the meetings industry in the region for regional conventions, sporting con-
and non-profit organisation to support and its further development. On a bilat- test, cultural conferences and trade fairs
the development of the meetings indus- eral level Azerbaijan is taking an active from mid 1990s on. And it’s important
try. In spring 2014 we started with a role in supporting the development of the that the country manages to keep the
handful of partners, while in 2015 our industry in the region. For instance this right balance and secures multilateral
‘Azerbaijan Meetings Alliance’ already September an official delegation from exchanges and developments.
counts 27 members - Azerbaijan Airlines, Georgia was invited to Baku to discuss
Skytrax awarded four-star national flag possibilities of collaboration in tourism This summer the country hosted the
carrier and leading carrier in the region, and meetings industry and to study the very first European Games in history, an
top quality hotels, venues, a network of structure and strategy of the Azerbaijan amazing sports celebration. Baku is also
selected PCOs and DMCs and technology Convention Bureau as a good practice. on the preliminary Formula 1 Calendar15
for July 2016 and the Islamic Solidary One is the city of Gabala, located three
Games are confirmed for 2017. On the hours drive or 30 minutes flight from
other hand, Azerbaijan, and namely Baku, Baku in the North-Western part of the
has always been selected to host (inter) country, offering a state-of-the art con-
cultural events, from the annual Baku Jazz vention centre for up to 1,200 delegates,
Festival and the bi-annual World Forum high quality accommodation, and an
on Intercultural Dialogue to the Regional international airport, all set in beauti-
Conferences of ISESCO and UNESCO. ful nature on the slopes of the Great
Caucasus Mountains.
Not to forget industry specific events
- this year the city hosted the Asian MIM Europe: We heard about con-
Development Bank’s 48th Annual Meeting gresses and conventions taking place
of the Board of Governors, the Caspian in Azerbaijan, but rarely about incen-
Oil & Gas Exhibition, the International tives. Can you share some activities
Conference on Telecommunications you can do in Azerbaijan only?
and Information Technologies and many Florian Sengstschmid: Azerbaijan has long
others. been known for its rich oil resources.
Few people know that the Nobel brothers
MIM Europe: Can you tell us about Baku Petroleum Company had its origins in a
as a meetings destination, and in com- distillery founded in Baku in 1876, provid-
parison with the rest of the country? ing the funding for the prestigious Nobel
Florian Sengstschmid: Baku is a wonder- Prize. No wonder that Baku is also the
ful city with an amazing atmosphere: rich homeland to probably one of the most
historical and cultural background, unique unique and fascinating forms of Art - the
seaside location on the Caspian Sea, Oil Painting. There are a couple of studios
Heydar Aliyev Center
state-of-the-art urban and meetings infra- in Baku where experienced artists hold
structure, delicious cuisine and… being a master classes on oil painting. It’s an
foreigner in Azerbaijan for some years now, amazing experience and I can say that
I can testify that local people and society it’s getting more and more popular as an
are amazingly hospitable, peace-loving incentive programme.
and multicultural - when I look at the world
today, this is truly important. Speaking of oil, I’d also highlight
Azerbaijan’s miracle oil Naftalan, which is a
Baku is a world capital and a vivid unique grade of oil, famous for its healing
national and regional hub. It boasts the qualities. Our partners have been design-
best infrastructure in the country - some ing a variety of breath-taking programmes
architectural gems like the H.A. Center, where everyone can enjoy this unique spa
the brand-new Baku Congress Centre by treatment and learn more about the
Austrian architects Coop Himmelb(l)au or incredible benefits of Naftalan oil.
the awarded international airport with its
giant wooden ‘cocoons’, top quality brand MIM Europe: Give one example of a
hotels and venues, cosy restaurants very unusual meeting venue you can
and much more. Apart from modern and find in Azerbaijan.
booming Baku, the walled Old City with its Florian Sengstschmid: That’s definitely Baku Old City
narrow streets and stairways, the Maiden Heydar Aliyev Center, Zaha Hadid’s archi-
Contact
Tower, the Shirvanshah’s Palace, tradi- tectural masterpiece and landmark of
Ayan Zeynalova
tional tea houses and Hamams, is one modern Baku. This state-of-the-art venue
Sales & Marketing Manager
of the country’s hotspots and a UNESCO is a proud host of high profile govern-
Azerbaijan Convention Bureau
World Heritage Site. ment meetings and international events.
+994 50 411 24 33
The architectural design and facilities are
ayan@azcb.com
There are several other destinations with simply amazing. It is definitely a venue
great meetings potential in the country. one won’t forget. Ayan Zeynalova www.azcb.com16
A Melting Pot of Landscapes & Cultures
Around the Caspian and Black Sea
Special
A meeting place for continents, spots surrounding the Caspian and Black Sea from Tbilisi
to Tehran are thriving with cultural riches, from brand-new ski slopes to astounding wine
feature
routes where delegates can soak up 8,000 years of history in one glass.
Text Lane Nieset
Astounding
Architecture
in Azerbaijan
Strolling through the Icheri Sheher, Baku’s
mazelike core of medieval alleys with 12th cen-
tury walls surrounding three sides, it’s hard to
imagine that just beyond the fortress and its
tower a modern city is thriving with skyscrapers
and luxury yachts cruising on the Caspian. Baku, Azerbaijan
The capital of Azerbaijan and the largest building in the world, constructing the
city on the Caspian Sea, Baku is seen kilometer-high Azerbaijan Tower. You’ll Day Trips Beyond Baku
as the spot where East meets West, have to wait a few more years before In less than four hours, you can get
where modern marvels mix with ancient you see this vision come to life, but in out of Baku and explore a number of
architecture. Baku’s Heydar Aliyev the mean time, there’s plenty of other activities in the countryside. Three
International Airport is the main entry skyscrapers to gawk at. The trio of hours away you’ll find Azerbaijan’s
point into the country, with direct flights 30-story buildings forming the Flame two newest ski resorts, Shahdag and
to nine major European cities like Paris Towers – currently the city’s tallest Gabala, both set up with state-of-the-art
and Frankfurt, as well as the Middle skyscrapers – look just like their name equipment. Shahdagh is still in the
East, the Gulf, China and New York City. suggests, a series of flames shooting process of expanding, so the longer
The city boasts 530 hotels and resorts up over Baku Bay, with a funicular bring- pistes and cablecars aren’t up and
– with 15 international hotel brands – ing visitors up to catch views over the running just yet, but you can still hit the
including the stunning seaside Four city and sea. Swing by after sunset for lower slopes or set off on a hike from
Seasons Hotel Baku and the Jumeirah a light show transforming the buildings the base and to the nearby village of
Bilgah Beach Hotel, just 10 minutes into a true vision of flames. Laza. Shahdag is also home to the luxe
away from the airport on its own stretch mountain resort Pik Palace Hotel that’s
of private sand. Then there’s the Heydar Aliyev Cultural a favorite for conferences and events.
Center, designed by celebrated architect
With Baku’s building boom, five-star Zaha Hadid, seen as a landmark of For a more extreme experience through
hotels as well as modern 21st century modern Baku with its wave-like design the mystic mountain villages, head up
venues have popped up around town, symbolizing an eternal cycle. With a roof to Azerbaijan’s highest town, Khinalug,
putting the city on the map when it composed of 12,000 panels, not one crossing canyons and rough roads
comes to astounding architectural of which features a straight line, the by 4WD. Get a truly local feel with a
feats. Baku is even in the process of 57,519 sqm center makes for quite a village homestay by spending the night
topping Dubai when it comes to tallest unique spot to meet in Baku. en route in a guesthouse.17
Walking
through Tehran’s
Cultural Beauties Tehran, Iran
Set in the northern part of the country at the foot of
the Alborz mountain range, the city of over 14 million
Daytripping from Tehran
inhabitants beautifully blends its past and present
A few hours from Tehran, groups can delve deeper into the country’s
through a series of museums, palaces and modern
history touring landmarks in the city of Kashan, which dates back
towers that captivate visitors.
over 6,000 years. Strolling through town, stop and take in the archi-
Joining the ranks of Istanbul and Cairo, been home to tecture of the 18th century Agha Bozorg mosque, located smack-dab
Iran’s capital Tehran is one of the three trade for over a in the centre of Kashan, with its sunken courtyard and wooden door,
largest cities in the Middle East. The city thousand years, rumored to have as many studs as the Quran has verses.
is teeming with UNESCO World Heritage the oldest parts of
sites like the Safavid-period Golestan the marketplace
Palace, once home to the Qajar kings, date back to the 16th century. The spraw sixth-tallest tower in the world, for pan-
featuring a series of buildings and man- ling bazaar continued expanding in the oramic views of the city and a revolving
icured gardens dating back five centu- 19th century, earning its current reputa- restaurant seating up to 300 people just
ries. Another don’t-miss is the mazelike tion as a “city within a city”. below – giving diners 360-degree views
grand Bazar-e Bozorg, a bazaar of arched For a more modern look at Tehran, visi- as it makes one complete turn per hour.
passages with vendors selling carpets, tors can head up to the 280 meter-high
silver and spices. While the area has observation deck at Milad Tower, the
Armenia’s Cultural Wonders
Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Armenia, measuring the same size as Belgium or the state of
Maryland, is made up of mostly mountainous terrain that ancient geographers gifted the title of “Island of
Mountains” or “Rooftop of Asia Minor.”
Once upon a time, Armenia stretched Georgia in the north, Turkey, Azerbaijan they are diverse, with mineral springs,
from the Caspian to the Mediterranean and Iran in the south. Armenia’s nat- rapids and rich basins, but its cultural
Sea, but now the nation borders ural features are as breathtaking as wonders are also a major attraction
for visitors heading to the landlocked
country.
Groups can feel like New Age explorers,
hopping throughout Armenia’s cultural
highlights like the ruins of the Zvartnots
Temple, which served as Armenia’s main
cathedral in the 7th century, or visiting the
pagan Garni Temple, the summer resort
for Armenian kings two thousand years
ago.
Meanwhile, at the Yerevan Brandy Company,
groups can learn more about Armenian
spirits with a tour through Yerevan’s first
workshop and factory, which has been craft-
Kohrvirab, Armenia ing Armenian brandy since 1887.19
Food & Wine Tours
Through Cyprus
Cyprus may be the third smallest member of the EU, but it’s teeming
with a large history – spanning 10,000 years – scattered around an
island the size of a large metropolis.
Located in the Eastern Mediterranean, Better yet, pair Cypriot cuisine with
tucked between Turkey to the north and local wine exploring one of the
Syria and Lebanon to the East, Cyprus six wine routes snaking their way
is a compact destination enjoying over around the island, with 40 boutique
300 days of sun a year. Thanks to its wineries along the way. You can for
size, it’s quick for groups to get from instance explore the Commandaria
point A to point B, with 309 conference region, known for producing Cyprus’
rooms around the island, 30,604 people most popular wine. Commandaria is
seating capacity and 34,189 beds in acknowledged as the oldest named
hotels with conference facilities alone. wine in the world and probably the
first ever to be given an ‘Appellation of
A number of unique venues and archae- Origin’, having had the same name for
ological sites throughout Cyprus lend eight centuries. Richard the Lionheart
themselves to small conferences, gala is said to have enjoyed it greatly at
dinners, themed nights or opening his wedding in Cyprus and to have
ceremonies, offering unusual surround- pronounced it “the wine of kings and
ings that are bound to impress your the king of wines!”
conference participants or incentives
group like the ancient Kourion Theatre, Outdoor activities also take place all
the Pafos Castle square, the Medieval year round in Cyprus, especially on
Manor at the Aphrodite’s Temple. the island’s many beaches, which
have been named the cleanest
With a fascinating blend of cultures, in Europe! Cycling, golf, trekking,
it’s no surprise the country is rich in paragliding, bird-watching and
cuisine that’s essentially Mediterranean windsurfing are among the many Luxurious Island Incentives
with hints of Middle Eastern and Asian additional activities for delegates to It’s not hard to sit back and lap in luxury
influence. There’s no better way to wit- enjoy outside of the meeting room. on Cyprus. The warm, Mediterranean
ness Cypriot food firsthand than with Whether you want your share of climate makes it a dream for those looking
a Jeep excursion into the countryside, adventures, need to converse with to get out on the sea setting sail on a
tasting local fish and vegetables, olive nature and are fond of learning all private yacht cruise around the island’s
oil and wine, straight from the farms and about traditions, anything seems to coastline. If spas are more your speed,
vineyards. Spend the afternoon soaking be possible in Cyprus! the island has plenty resorts with world-
up village life, drinking freshly brewed class facilities. Visitors can be whisked off
Cypriot coffee in the humblest coffee Contact on a limo tour of the bustling city Limassol
shop, while playing a traditional game before retreating to a five-star boutique
Cyprus Convention Bureau
of backgammon. For companies looking beach hotel for VIP treatment at the spa.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation
to strengthen the bond between employ- And don’t forget Mark Anthony once gave
T. (+357) 22 69 12 51 /54 / 55
ees, add a local touch to teambuilding Cyprus to the Queen of Egypt, Cleopatra,
ccb@visitcyprus.com
experiences learning how to bake olive as a token of his love. Doesn’t it say
www.visitcyprus.com
pies or halloumi bread with the locals. everything about the beauty of the island?20
Stroll Through History in Sofia Three Ways to See Bulgaria’s Natural Beauty
• Catch views of Sofia from Vitosha Mountain.
Just 10 km from the city, visitors can head
here for skiing in winter or trekking in summer,
with chairlifts starting on the outskirts of
One of the oldest cities in Europe, the Bulgarian capital has a history
Sofia. Even if you’re not one for sports, the
dating back to the 7th century B.C., with tribes settling around the ther- cabin lift ride alone is worth it for the views
mal springs in today’s downtown as early as the 8th century B.C. you’ll get over the city.
• Explore Vitosha National Park. The oldest
Centrally located in the Balkans, with 4,000 seats. And while the modern nature park on the Balkan peninsula, the
Bulgaria’s longest river, the Iskar, cutting meeting venues are a plus for groups park not only includes the mountain, it’s also
across the city, Sofia is a mix of cultural visiting the capital, the city also has home to 61 types of habitats, 200 bird spe-
and natural beauty that’s easily accessi- a bevy of historical sites to see, from cies and over 300 km of paths.
ble to travelers thanks to five mountain the largest church monument on the • Go windsurfing and yachting in the
passes leading to town and Sofia Airport, Balkan peninsula, the Neo-Byzantine nearby Pancharevo Lake. Set between the
just a 15-minute drive from the city center, St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with its Vitosha and Lozenska mountains, the man-
offering 400 flights on 24 airlines weekly. crypt containing a museum-like collec- made lake is just a quick drive away with tons
The city features Southeastern Europe’s tion of Bulgarian icons, to the National of options from watersports and hiking the
largest multifunctional complex, the History Museum, showcasing a vast surrounding trails to posting up at a restaurant
National Palace of Culture, a congress collection of 650,000 Balkan items. sampling local specialties while taking in the
centre with 14 halls, the largest with scenic views.
Sofia, Bulgaria Tbilisi, Georgia
Exploring Georgia’s Traditional Food & Winemaking
At the point where Europe meets Asia, Georgia boasts Black Sea beaches on its western edge and the Caucasus
Mountains in the north, prime for skiing, snowboarding and scaling, with 12 peaks taller than Mont Blanc.
The New York Times named Georgia harvest, checking out the satskneheli, or Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is easy to reach
one of the “52 Places to Go in 2015” wooden tub, where grapes are pressed from both Europe and the Middle East,
because it has “the makings of the next while wearing special footwear, and with direct flights into Tbilisi International
great wine destination,” but it’s been exploring the marani, the cellar where Airport in under three hours from Dubai,
known for winemaking techniques for the the grapes are fermented in clay ves- Vienna and Istanbul; four hours from
past 8,000 years. Seen as the birthplace sels called qvevri. All of the hard work is Munich; and six hours from London. Pair
of wine, Georgia has all the right condi- followed by a traditional dinner, or supra, convenient flight times with a history
tions for producing over 500 varieties of with a feast of herb-heavy dishes, local dating back to the 5th century AD, as well
grapes thanks to the Black Sea air. pork and lamb, cheese, eggplants, and as a number of four- and five-star busi-
soups, while toasting the guest of honor ness hotels, and you’ve got the perfect
Groups coming in the fall can take through poetry. home base for groups to start their wine
part in the ancient tradition of rtveli, or tasting tour through Georgia.21
Medieval Castles
and Towns
in Transylvania
Move over Bucharest and Brasov. Groups are
looking outside of Romania’s main meeting
hubs and heading straight to the heart of
the country – Transylvania. Peles Castle, Transylvania
With its spa resorts dotting the Carpathian Travelers can go medieval town hopping on
Mountains and Black Sea, charming medi- a sightseeing roadtrip through Transylvania, Dracula-Filled Day
eval villages and castles, Romania has where they’ll eat and drink their way through When most people hear Transylvania,
drawn large-scale international events, such the historic region. Using Bucharest or visions of vampires come to mind.
as the 2008 NATO Summit and Universal Brasov as a starting point, groups can make Set out and explore the eerie side of
Postal Union Congress in 2004, as well as their way to Sinaia, a ski resort at the foot of Transylvania’s medieval towns start-
incentive groups exploring the more cultural the Bucegi Mountains where the 19th century ing at the source – the Gothic-style
side of its cities. Bucharest alone features Peles Castle is located. The first European Bran Castle, which inspired author
37 museums, 22 theatres and two opera castle to be lit by electrical current, the 160- Bram Stocker’s classic “Dracula.”
houses. But destinations outside of the cap- room Neo-Renaissance beauty is decorated Perched on a 60-meter cliff overlook-
ital are now stepping in the spotlight with with handmade silk embroideries, German ing the village of Bran, the castle sits
new hotels and venues sprouting up just stain-glassed windows and Murano crystal on the Teutonic Knights stronghold
next door to historic towns. Case in point: chandeliers. After touring the architectural from 1212 and features 60 rooms
Transylvania. masterpiece, pause for a group lunch at the connected by underground passage-
nearby Rhein-Azuga Cellars, where guests ways and winding staircases, filled
Now the second-most popular meeting spot can sample Romanian specialties, as well as with furniture and weapons spanning
in the country, the centrally located region sparkling wine right where it’s made, learning from the 14th to 19th centuries. After
is surrounded by the Carpathian mountain the traditional techniques used to produce wandering through the castle’s muse-
chain and home to some of the most well the wine that supplied the Romanian royal ums, it’s time for lunch at a local
preserved medieval villages in Europe. court between the world wars. farm in town dining on specialties
From 14th century castles and fortresses like pastrama, dry-cured lamb meat
to Saxon-fortified churches and palaces If groups are looking for more adven- and aged cheeses. The day doesn’t
boasting art museums, Transylvania is a ture-driven days, the Apuseni Nature Park end there, though. That evening,
wealth of opportunity for incentives. Plus, has great spots for caving, such as Bears’ groups continue feasting over tradi-
the region features three international Cave with its 22,000-year-old stalactites, tional music and dance in the Old
airports with direct flights from major or Piatra Craiului Natural Park, with its chal- Town of Brasov, which dates back to
European hubs like Madrid, Munich, Rome lenging hiking trails and traditional villages medieval times and has been used
and Vienna. scattered along Romania’s highest (and as a backdrop in a bunch of period
longest) limestone ridge. piece films.22
Switzerland’s Meeting Trophy 2015
All fun… and a bit of work
It has become a habit for MIM Europe Magazine to participate in the Switzerland Meeting Trophy. Every year,
the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau (SCIB) indeed organises an annual event for about a hundred
congress and incentives professionals from Europe and North America. Last year’s champion, Belgium, came
just second after Russia and missed - by only 3 points! - the coveted title again after three days of non-stop
activities and entertainment.
Report Rémi Dévé
2015 was the 11th edition of the added “je ne sais quoi” your participants Oh, and one note about moving around
Switzerland Meeting Trophy. Like any will remember. in Switzerland. In three days, we saw
other year, the fam trip was a unique
and innovative experience, combining The Switzerland Meeting Trophy trip is a unique and innovative
great networking opportunities and experience, combining great networking opportunities and
inspection of fantastic venues. The
trip started with a short stay in Zurich,
inspection of fantastic venues
before delegates travelled by train to To my humble opinion, highlights included four different destinations, and it didn’t
Lucerne for a two-night stay. On the a climb to Mount Pilatus, just outside of feel like a hassle. With five international
Saturday, the teams travelled by car to Lucerne - from Hotel Pilatus-Kulm, you airports, Switzerland is easy to reach,
Bern, with a stop in Emmental, where have breathtaking views and you can and once you’re there, going from one
they enjoyed a fondue reception and a host meetings for up to 100 people - the place to another is fast and smooth,
cheese-rolling competition. Swiss Museum of Transport, in Lucerne not only because of the relatively small
as well, where you can organise gala size of the country, but because of the
The Swiss Trophy was the occasion dinners amidst planes, cable cars and efficient transport network covered by a
for me to ponder over the whole fam old-timers, and Congress Centre Kursaal single system, and especially the Swiss
trip experience. As a journalist, I have Interlaken, seating up to 1,300 people in Travel Pass that grandly facilitates the
attended many trips with no spirit, where a fascinating historical venue. As to Bern, commuting from one place to another!
they just take you from hotels to con- in addition to the nicely located Allegro
ference centres, from venues to restau- Hotel adjoining the congress centre, it Contact
rants, with no “feeling” whatsoever. The can provide, among many other things, a Switzerland Convention &
Trophy was totally different: not only was host of team-building activities including Incentive Bureau
it well organised, with a smooth com- chocolate tasting, duck hooking, tower Myriam Winnepenninckx
muting of the teams, but we got to taste building and flag dancing – all this against T. + 32 (2) 345 83 57
what Switzerland is really about: a “seri- a leafy background of green mountains or myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com
ous” destination, but with a twist, and in the UNESCO listed medieval centre of www.MySwitzerland.com/meetings
the ability to provide your event with an the city.24
Luxembourg
A European gem waiting
to be discovered
Luxembourg is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets – I can say so with
absolute confidence after a three-day fam trip in early September.
Widely seen as a financial haven, Luxembourg is commonly known to
the outside world as a major financial hub and headquarters for many
European institutions such as the Court of Justice of the European
Union and the European Investment Bank (EIB). However, this scenic
little country is full of pleasant surprises – it has a lot more to offer
than just a place for bankers and diplomats. Its natural beauty, diverse
population, history and culture, as well as the cuisine and wine make
the country a vibrant and cosmopolitan place – ideal for organising
meetings and teambuilding activities.
Report Katie Lau Luxembourg City
Easy access Recent revamps exhibition halls, upgrading the confer-
Located at the crossroads between Luxembourg is also a country that con- ence space and logistics (two separate
Belgium, France and Germany, stantly reinvents itself. During the visit, entrances instead of one), and improving
Luxembourg is well connected to the I couldn’t help but notice that many public access (the impending construc-
major European cities and hubs, be it by projects were underway throughout the tion of a tramway) and parking facilities.
car, train or plane. Cities like Frankfurt, city and beyond, from venue extensions Just located 7km from the airport and
Paris, London and Amsterdam are just to hotel renovations to construction of 2 km from the city centre, Luxexpo cur-
one hour away by air. Luxembourg also highways. This upgrade of infrastructure rently offers nine conference halls with
boasts a trilingual and multicultural is a testament to Luxembourg’s resolve the total area of 4,000 sqm, which will
population of more than 500,000, in becoming a more competitive and become more flexible and versatile after
about two thirds of which hold a foreign attractive MICE destination. the renovation.
passport. English is widely spoken and
the locals are often friendly and eager The current upgrade of Luxembourg’s infrastructure is a
to help.
testament to Luxembourg’s resolve in becoming a more
With residents from more than competitive and attractive MICE destination
160 nationalities, the Grand Duchy of
Luxembourg can be considered as a Indeed, a lot has changed in recent While some parts of Luxembourg City
model for integration and a melting pot years. According to Tom Bellion, direc- can be commercialized like any major
of different cultural influences that tor of Luxembourg City Tourist Office & cities, the capital city balances it out
coexist harmoniously. As Anne Hoffmann, Luxembourg Convention Bureau, the with its UNESCO-listed historic old
managing director at Luxembourg country has considerably increased its town perched on a plateau above green
National Tourist Board, told me, “This hospitality and meeting infrastructure gorges. After witnessing the magnificent
amazing mixture of nationalities and and know-how for more than a decade. Luxembourg fortress myself, there’s little
cultures reflects in all aspects of Most recently, Luxexpo, an iconic venue doubt why the capital city was formerly
Luxembourg society through the use of for international congresses and trade known as the “Gibraltar of the North”.
languages, in gastronomy, the arts, shows, has been undergoing a massive Featuring narrow old town alleys, charm-
leisure, sports, and others.” upgrade, to be completed by mid-2017. ing old quarters and magnificent fortifi-
The renovation includes recreating the cations in a hilly, picturesque setting, the25
Bourscheid Castle European Museum
old town offers a convenient, relaxing Luxembourg at a glance hosting your event in a traditional indoor
break from the urban hustle-bustle of the • Population: 562,958 location, you can customise your event
city. The beautifully restored Neimënster, • Area: 2,586 sqm in an outdoor setting.
a former Benedictine Abbey, was inau- • Hotels: 36 and about 3,600
gurated as a culture, meeting and event rooms, mostly in the four-and five- Besides doing your shopping in Grand-
centre 10 years ago, and it has become star category Rue and Rue Phillippe II, visiting the
one of the most symbolic meeting • Conference venues: 108 (including world-class museums and dining out
venues in Luxembourg. hotels) at many Michelin-starred eateries in
• Getting there: By air: Amsterdam the city, the countryside boasts a good
Charming countryside (1h30), Berlin (1h20), Frankfurt/ number of charming villages nestled
As my guide drove us away from the Geneva (50min), London (1h10); in the rolling hills, a perfect setting for
capital city, Luxembourg continued to By train: Paris (2h), Metz (1h), sightseeing and teambuilding activities.
fascinate me with its compact size Brussels (3h) and Trier (43min). The Moselle Valley, best known for pro-
and ease of access. As Luxembourg’s • Official languages: French, German, ducing white wines and sparkling wines,
well-maintained roads took me through and Luxembourgish (national is well worth visiting for its wine tast-
the scenic landscapes with rivers mean- language) ings and wine cellars. In the Moselle
dering past vast meadows and forests, • Climate: Temperate maritime region you can also visit the small
I realised it takes only less than hour to with cool summers and moderate village of Schengen, located on the
go between different venues and spots. winters border with Germany and France where
Clervaux, a small town in the Ardennes • Government system: A the influential Schengen Agreement was
northern Luxembourg, only takes about representative democracy within a signed in 1985. In the following pages,
35-40 minutes by car from the airport constitutional monarchy you shall get more ideas for incentives
with the opening of the newly built high- and teambuilding activities that suit dif-
way in October. With the major venues ferent needs and budgets.
and hotels located within walking dis- organising meetings and events, in col-
tance and the very well organised public laboration with the town’s mayor, local Last but not least, Luxembourg ranks
transportation, “This unique situation representatives and other organisa- very highly for personal safety with a
enables event organisers to combine tions. This synergy enables Clervaux to very low crime rate, and usually features
urban and countryside activities easily,” unite all participants to professionally in the top 20 countries in global surveys
Hoffman said. and efficiently organise teambuilding on “quality of life”, such as the one con-
activities and events in just one single ducted by Mercer’s.
Clervaux might be small in size, but place with just one single contact
the locals know how to think big and person, who is in charge of arranging There is so much to do and see in this
make the most of its attractions. The and coordinating services such as little landlocked country. What are you
Le Clervaux Boutique & Design Hotel accommodation, infrastructure support, waiting for?
and the Hotel International came catering and entertainment options.
up with the “Rent-A-City” concept for Another advantage is that instead of More info on visitluxembourg.comYou can also read
