Prevue March/April 2013 - (Page 84)

Au VIENNA, [ON LOCATION] GREG OATES F or almost 600 years until the early 20th century, the Habsburg dynasty was the wealthiest ruling family in Europe. Their official winter residence was the magnificent Hofburg Palace in central Vienna, where today the President of Austria presides. Inside one of the palace wings, Hofburg Congress Center was the setting for last year’s Austrian buyer/supplier tradeshow. It is difficult to imagine hosting a conference for 1,800 people in a more elegant, reverential setting. “Regal” was likely invented in Vienna, which for centuries has been a primary meeting place for Europe’s elite. There is arguably nowhere with the quantity of well preserved grand palaces, museums, cafes and hotels as the Austrian capital, situated closely together in a spotless, graciously landscaped and perfectly planned urban core. Meeting here at Hofburg, for example, is a spectacle beneath towering Rococo ceilings and priceless chandeliers, with natural light streaming through windows built during the Renaissance. These types of venues are a major factor for why Vienna has ranked #1 globally during the last eight consecutive ICCA city standings. 80 | prevue magazine “Apart from the excellent infrastructure and top location in the heart of Europe, above all, our hospitality, the innovative power of our tourism companies and the special quality of our attractions add up to make Austria an ideal venue for conventions and conferences,” says Dr. Petra Stolba, CEO of the Austrian National Tourist Office. “And there have never been more opportunities for the planning of events.” During the conference, we learned the two most popular conference/incentive destinations in Austria are Salzburg and the Tyrol region in the Austrian Alps. Everyone knows Salzburg from The Sound of Music. Kitzbühel, however, was an amazing surprise. Combine either destination with a program in Vienna to balance out the capital city’s aristocratic aplomb. THE RITZ-CARLTON, VIENNA If Vienna lacks anything, it’s globally-branded luxury hotels designed with this century in mind. The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna opened last fall with a very modern mojo, cool rooftop lounge and the fresh market-themed DSKRIKT restaurant. The best part was meeting Roland Hamberger, the young director of sales/marketing who showed us around.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2013

Planner's Pick: Miami
Fresh Meets: Renaissance Hotels
Bureau Buzz: Austin
Good Business: Washington, DC
Sea Shores: Cruising Sweden
Feelin' Good About Incentives
Special Section: California
On Location: JW Marriott Desert Springs
Caribbean & The Bahamas
On Location: U.S. Virgin Islands
On Location: Aruba
On Location: Omni Amelia Island
The South: Best of Golf & Spa
On Location: Fairmont Scottsdale
On Location: W Singapore
Austria
Ireland
On Location: Mexico City
On Location: Starwood Los Cabos
On Location: Universal Orlando
On Location: Villas of Grand Cypress, Orlando
Check Out: Alpina Gstaad, Switzerland
Club Med

Prevue March/April 2013