Spain for events by Grupo eventoplus

04 EDITORIAL 05 MARKET TRENDS 06 SPANISH CREATIVITY! 12 GOLFERS’ PARADISE 14 WINE DESTINATIONS

DESTINATIONS:

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Editor: eventos magazine S.L. Rambla Catalunya, 73, 2º, 08007 Barcelona (España) Tel: +34 902 90 31 90. Fax +34 93 272 09 12 info@eventosmag.com www.eventosmag.com News and content: noticias@eventoplus.com Director: Lynn Wong Chief editor: Eric Mottard Editorial Committee: Luciana Salvador, Neus Duran, Alberto Martín Design: Maria Leone Advertising: Christian Bergmann, Isabella Costa, Mariví Bermejo, Silvio Camafreita, Alex Barbero, Cristina González

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EDITORIAL

Spain: passion for MICE As President of the Spain Convention Bureau, representing 49 cities, I firmly believe that Spain, despite the global economic situation, is still attracting the most important and numerous congresses, conventions, events and incentives due to it’s unequalled attractions, it’s great accessibility by air, sea and land, and its modern and excellent congress infrastructure: more than 50 congress centres, hotels, spectacular & historical venues… All the above, together with our outstanding complementary offer -gastronomy, cultural heritage, nature, leisure, sea, among others- enables Spain to defend its privileged position compared to other destinations, and maintain it in the long term. Spain is one of the top leading destinations in the world within the important segment of MICE, but we should all keep working hard in order, not only

to maintain our privileged position, but also to place Spain as the number one country in terms of the number of congresses and delegates worldwide. Spain also has something that you can’t see but you can feel: the great hospitality of our people and the vast experience of our professionals. Please take advantage of the professional staff from our 49 member cities throughout Spain, to get the right advice on how, when and where to bring your congress, event or incentive to it’s respective destination. Spain is a country with multiple destinations, each of them offering something different and original from the others, making our cities not compete but rather complement one another. Francisco de la Torre, President of the Spain Convention Bureau

Spain, the place for your life-packed events A few years ago, in a MPI seminar, I met an American professional who said “Yes, I am a party organiser, as much as this word is derided. Making people have a good time is a very serious, very difficult and very respectable activity”. He made a lot of sense. And you will experience it in Spain: the country is really the kingdom of fiesta. Not as a vulgar, confetti-filled and beer-packed gathering, but as a place where you feel good, have fun, talk and dance the night away, and still have energy to get the work done the day after. ¿Fiesta? Spanish people love it; they love to celebrate and have a good time and, in the end, isn’t that what events are often about? The fact is, this passion for events has become extremely serious in the last 20 years: Spain has turned into a machine geared for getting large events and organising them very professionally, from the Olympics to the Universal Exhibition, from the Forum of Cultures to the Formula 1 Grand Prix and the America’s Cup. And now, even in difficult economic times, Spain is among the most visible cities in the Shanghai Exhibition with pavilions of Spain, Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. Spain has meetings and events in its DNA and it should be no suprise that it is consistently at the top of rankings for international meetings, according to entities like the ICCA and UIA. If you look for more frivolous events, look to local traditions. Controversial (even in Spain) bullfighting

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Spain loves events! It is one of the most visible country in the Shanghai exhibition is an indicator of the Spanish love for tradition and the unique activities you can experience here. Yes, Spanish people are unique: they really do organise the running of the bulls in the streets of Pamplona, burn huge paper statues in Valencia and have religious processions in Seville. Barcelona has street parades with pyrotechnic throwing dragons and, most colourful of all, people in Buñol even throw tonnes of tomatoes at each other in the Tomatina celebration. All this gives you endless possibilities of thematic activities to make your event truly unique. We could remind you the historic richness of the country, its variety of natural settings, its amazing offer of congress centres and hotels and its logistics networks. We could tell you how cities like Valencia and Bilbao have reinvented themselves and become fantastic places to visit. We could tell you about the close to 50 convention bureaus which show the meetings mindset of this country. But more important than all this, Spain has in its culture, in its blood, the notion of passionate events. Come and see for yourself. Eric Mottard, Chief Editor of Grupo eventoplus

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MARKET TRENDS

MARKET TRENDS: BACK TO BASICS!

Every year, Grupo eventoplus surveys three groups of professionals: agencies, corporate clients, and providers, to get quantitative information about market trends and ways of working in the industry. How is the market doing this year in 2010? Here are a few snapshots:

Local market still quite soft, but green shoots appear

Image: still an issue, but a lighter one

What elements are gaining importance in events?

Creativity, networking, simplicity in setups are the key demands of the market right now

According to corporate planners, their budgets will slightly decrease this year (-5%, according to the weighted average of responses), a cautiousness probably justified by the still delicate economic situation in Spain. But some brighter news appears: first, most point to a difficult first half of the year, and a recuperation after summer… and we are almost there! But also the congress market is much better, as Andre Vietor, CEO of Viajes Iberia Congresos and former President of IAPCO tells us. And the Spanish presidency of Europe in the first half of the year has kept the market busy, with loads of meetings in various Spanish cities. Another reason for optimism is the recuperation of several foreign markets which bring groups back to Spain after a poor 2009. As Airy Garrigosa, Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau says, “2010 looks better, with many requests for proposals, although usually with very short notice”.

Providers Creativity

Agencies

45% 42% 47% 36% 39%

Simplicity in setups

38% 33%

Sustainability and CSR events

34% 34%

Web 2.0

27% 28%

Educational activities

17% 21%

Group activities / teambuilding

14% 17% 11%

Humour and fun

Health and relax activities

Technical elements

Gastronomy

Corporate clients

Networking

5% 3% 4% 0% 0%

13% 15%

13%

12%

26%

Spain has not experienced the “event phobia” that some other did. And there were no big scandals of large companies caught red-handed organising luxurious incentives with public money. But cautiousness has been present here and still remains. For almost half the agencies and providers, and a third of corporate clients, there is still an image problem, which in many cases has been as strong as real budget cuts, as a justification to cancel events or make them really lowkey. The event, here as in other countries, pays for its failure to prove the value of meetings.

34% 34%

40%

42%

47%

55%

57%

Market components: back to basics

What is in fashion this season, which elements of events and meetings are gaining importance? Definitely these are not frivolous times. All event components which top our ranking are serious or low cost. • First comes creativity, more necessary than ever. This has been an obsession for professionals here, always eager to make their event different from the last one. Creativity has topped this ranking of events components gaining more importance over the last four years. • Then follows networking (clearly a strongly emerging component of events). Networking, in the middle of the league last year, is the clearly emerging one this year, probably because companies have realised that people go to events to get new contacts, and networking formats so far have been quite poor. • Simplicity in setups. This came in sixth place last year, and shoots up this year. And we analyse it not just as a reaction to tight budgets, but also as a longer-term trend: a lot of attention has been given to impressive setups, and not much to good old one-to-one communication. Setups may get simpler, and be completed by a good coach, good facilitator, or simple conversation… • Sustainability, third last year, is now fourth. Not that all the work is done, but the economy probably suggests to people that they may be forgiven if they don’t save the earth right now. Shame, shame… • Web 2.0 closes the top 5 list of elements gaining importance. These are not very fun times, and most of the frivolous elements suffer this year (quite logically, if you come to think of it): health and spa activities, technical elements, and fine food are no longer in fashion, and close the list. Back to the good old tortilla? Spain has been sobering up, and its meetings and events have become much simpler. But this could be positive, as networking, integration with social networks, and focus on real communication rather than on impressive setups take a more important role. It could help have more meaningful events. For more complete results, contact us or visit www.eventoplus.com (section Articles, subsection Market research).

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Spanish creativity! Spain can surprise you… Here is a stroll through some cool events from the last year, which also illustrates some trends in the highly dynamic event market.

THE CLASSICAL ONES Some good old classical events, with nice setups, cool creativity, a bit of surprise, good experience… The market still offers nice events! The Cutty Sark puts on quite a show in the Madrid Sports arena

This event by Draft fcb won the award for best event in the 2009 eventoplus awards. The objective was to get 11,000 consumers in Barcelona and Madrid to experience the route that ran through the Cutty Sark between Shanghai and London over 100 years ago. The show, created by Dragone (a Cirque du Soleil founder), found inspiration in some of the places along the trail: old tattoos, primitive dances, spectacular scenery, and the universe of water. An impressive choreography with more than 40 artists revolved around a 25x14m structure reminiscent of the famous vessel. This circular conception of space was reinforced by a 600m2 screen around the boat. The choreography included loads of acts around the event, with equilibrists, tribal dances, aerial acrobatics, shadow plays, percussion, and a team of DJs to get people dancing.

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The world´s longest graffiti, by Sörensen

In order to encourage teamwork, during the Endesa 2008 Convention, the agency organised an activity in which attendees had to create a huge piece of graffiti inside the Expo Zaragoza. The teambuilding activity, based on the concept “No limits”, was awarded a Guinness World Record as the world´s longest graffiti. After five hours of work and more than 1600 cans of paint, the 652mlong graffiti was finished. The event also managed to gain the award for best motivational event in the eventoplus awards 2009.

Telefonica’s clients spend 48 hours with the brand

Every year the telecom company offers its top clients 48 hours with conferences, leisure moments, and networking with other professionals. This year, agency Quum Comunicación based the event on the concept of evolution, from the big Bang to the 21st century. An impactful setup included static and dynamic backdrops, live acts, a laser show, large projections, live electronic music, live video art… Golf, mailing, 4x4 routes and cooking classes were among the possible leisure activities offered to the group.

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PARTICIPATION A key trend: make guests work! Increasingly, guests are no longer mere spectators; they participate in (sometimes really cool) activities. This is probably only the beginning of a new style of conceiving events, from a show to an activity. Colour fight in Madrid!

The agency Pelonio reinvented the Caracol venue in Madrid for a Swatch event titled “War of colours”. The 200 participants in this party for Colour Codes, the brand’s new line, played like children. Dressed in white overalls and armed with pistols, glasses and a pot of paint, they went on a crazy and highly entertaining colour fight.

EVENTS GET SOCIAL…

Love is in the air…

A mix of participation by the target, street action, and web 2.0 buzz… Le Coq Sportif used social networks to gather people for a surprising action in Barcelona, in which people gave hugs and t-shirts on Valentine’s Day. Social networks were also used to create buzz after the event, with a video released after the action.

The hybrid event is getting more frequent, and many congresses, meetings, conferences have started to include a streaming service or other online content options. But the phenomenon of the year comes from Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn… Social networks are the new cool kid in the event sector. Their advantages (low cost, possibility to reach communities and interact with them, buzz generation…) are such that events are definitely starting to get their virtual component. “Today, in our creativity meetings, we systematically include an interactivity expert” told us agency La Despensa recently. Time to update your skills!

Saving the planet can be fun…

… and even more so with a glass of cool beer on a nice beach. As part of the initiative “Corona Save the Beach”, the beer brand (Coronita in Spain) launched a series of parties with beach-style atmospheres. People could also vote online for which beaches should be saved. The beer brand will invest to preserve the beaches selected by Web users. This was organised by Delvico and Sr Goldwind.

Trina party gets 17,000 fans

The “Trina Fiestaca” showed the potential of Web2.0 to gather people for events. Organised by Arena Media Communications, this party promoted by Trina (Schweppes) brought together 750 people. In just two weeks, 17,000 fans from all over Spain expressed, via the web, their interest in attending the festival…

marbet events incentive travel design

In 1996, the sisters Marion and Bettina Würth created the marbet Group in Germany. Now we are a company stablished in four European countries as organisers of events, incentive travels and corporate meetings as well as corporate anniversaries, product presentations, road shows and press conferences. We have the right experience, size and resources to bring you a high added-value service. Enjoy a highly gratifying experience with marbet’s eﬀect. SPAIN GERMANY SWITZERLAND ITALY

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We imagine your success events incentive travel design www.marbet.es

00 34 902 602 300

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SPANISH CREATIVITY!

TECHNICAL SETUPS

Christie bathes the Valladolid church in images

17,000 people could see the San Pablo Church in Valladolid painted in a thousand colours to celebrate the end of the restoration of its facade. Organised by the City and under the artistic direction of Xtrañas Producciones, a projection was shown on this monument, the most representative of the city, with Christie projectors totalling 92,000 lumens.

Technical budgets are usually down but there are still beautiful things happening. A few examples… Newspaper El Mundo celebrates birthday surrendering to audiovisuals

The celebration gala of the first two decades of this newspaper brought together around 4000 people in the Palacio de Deportes de Madrid. Organised by Last Lap, the event was broadcast on Channel 7 and on the portal VEO elmundo.es. Projected on large screens creating a 360º effect, there were direct connections with the European Space Station, the Colombian President and the President of the European Commission, among others.

Nussli creates the largest ramp in Europe

The stage and structure company built this ramp for a surf contest in Barcelona. International snowboard and freestyle ski riders competed during the LG FIS Snowboard World Cup Big Air and the International Freeski Big Air. The construction of this 35m-high structure required 250 tons of material.

FLASHMOB AND IMPROV’

These surprising acts and crazy group choreographies on the street, seemingly improvised (not at all, actually) have been one of the key trends this last year in Spain. Benefits? Word of mouth, media coverage, and a cool, young image for the brand (ahhh, yes, this is another novelty: these events, born as hobbies for small groups of fun guys, have been snatched up by brands and used as a highly effective marketing tool).

Diesel’s flashmob in Barcelona

The agency Asmalljob created this “stupid mob” for Diesel in the heart of the Ramblas, in Barcelona. A themed flashmob designed to reinforce the message of Diesel’s latest global campaign: “Be stupid”.

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Improv everywhere

The improv’ organisation Improv Everywhere came to Spain in 2009. Hundreds of people attended the experiment in Madrid, Vigo, Murcia and Barcelona. Participants had to come with their MP3 players including an audio track previously downloaded from a website, press the play button at the same time, and follow the instructions...

POPUP FEVER

Is ephemeral the best way to create lasting impact? The ephemeral spaces, which appeared a couple of years ago, confirm their status as not just a passing fad, but rather a real option to offer an experience without opening a permanent structure. And from being just popup stores, they can now represent quite a few formats, from hair salons to restaurants or lounges…

Chivas Studio presents a brand experience with a glamorous ephemeral venue

The Chivas Studio has earned a good reputation among the pop-up spaces that take place every year in Spain. For this third autumn edition, the agency Mr.Goldwind included new ideas, from a fashion show to a poker game. Always in a very chic atmosphere, (selected) guests could have a drink with glamorous celebrities.

L’Oréal offers popup hair salons for a good cause

Movistar gets closer to students with popup venue

Arena Media Communications designed the space Universia Mobility Network for Telefonica Movistar, where students could get access to training, study and internships.

For 12 hours, 40 hairdressers offered express haircuts or hairdos to raise funds for a NGO. The action “Hairdressers against AIDS” by L’Oréal Professionnel took place on 1st of December, the World Day against this disease. event.one is your professional partner in communicating emotions through smashing events. Outstanding venues strongly connected to your brand´s marketing strategy - incentives in amazing settings designed to motivate and reinvent communications within the company - congresses supported by high technology and celebrated in product and content matching atmospheres. event.one is pulling the strings in the background, by creating the best surroundings for your marketing strategy, to make the participants not only understand but feel your message.

Spain DMC

mail: info@event-one.com phone: +34 961 105 200 E N T O S M A G Awww.event-one.com Z I N E | 09 S P A I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | E Vweb:

SPANISH CREATIVITY!

EVENTS TAKE TO THE STREETS Street marketing has been around for quite a few years, but its growth does not seem to stop and many brands fall for its mix of low cost, interaction with the public, ability to materialise a brand’s message, and publicity potential. Here are a few actions whose venue was the walkway…

Martini paints Madrid in Pink

The presentation of Martini Rosato transformed the famous Plaza de Santa Ana in Madrid into a pink and positive environment. A mime handing out balloons, pink umbrellas, newspapers full of good news, live music and free hugs filled this event which aimed to remind everyone that there is an optimistic way of seeing life.

Peugeot surprises the crowd with a surprise concert

Not improv’… but improvised: Invited by social networks, hundreds of young people came to Plaza Colon in Madrid, not knowing that they would see Hombres G musicians perform live. The group offered this surprise show as part of the new Peugeot 207 promotion. MPG conceived this campaign under the concept of “digital advertainment”, integrating entertainment content and digital environment.

Candy car draws attention

The creation from the agency’s department to promote the Connect car-sharing service by Hertz, is a model of a Mini Cooper, made out of fibreglass and coated with candy, which was displayed in Madrid.

Guerlain dances in the street

The scene from the movie “Singing in the Rain” was chosen for the launch organised by Lamar de Eventos, in which four dancers sang and danced in the centre of Malaga and Barcelona under drops of Idylle, the new fragrance by Guerlain.

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Blue your events!

Events with a blue touch :

Product Launch BMW Serie 3 - Valencia

Incentive RENAULT - Tenerife

Product Launch BAUKNECHT - Valencia

Incentive UNICREDIT - Lanzarote

Incentive CASTROL - Seville

Product Launch CITROËN - Madrid

Convention SCHWEPPES - Lisbon

Product Launch PUMA - Barcelona

Leisure Fair PLAY SEVILLA - Seville

Convention TECNOCASA - Seville

Product Launch NOVARTIS - Seville

Stand JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA - Seville

Product Launch E-CAR SIEMENS - Madrid

Road Show CAFE CREME - Spain

Convention MSD - Canary Islands

Incentive MITSUBISHI - Barcelona

Inventors Awards EPO - Madrid

Convention HEINKEL - Tenerife

Stand T-MOBILE - Barcelona

Creative Concept NOVARTIS - Istambul

Road Show FAGOR - Spain

Product Launch SAMSUNG - Madrid

Incentive ING - Costa del Sol

Product Launch LAMBORGHINI - Tenerife

Incentive PRUDENTIAL - Barcelona

Product Launch MINI CABRIO - Valencia

Product Launch MINI COOPER - Barcelona

Product Launch SMART - Madrid

Incentive ORIFLAME - Barcelona

Product Launch BMW Z 4 - Alicante

Product Launch AUDI - Costa del Sol

Convention SCHWEPPES - Tenerife

Gala Dinner VODAFONE - Barcelona

Formel 1 Presentation BMW - Valencia

Multiconference SIEMENS - MAD/SVQ/BIO/BCN

Convention ROCHE - Barcelona

Product Launch BMW S 1000 RR - Portimao

Convention BANCA POPULARE - Cadiz

3 GSM Fair T-MOBILE - Barcelona

Convention ORIFLAME - Rimini

Product Launch FRIGO - Barcelona

Incentive BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM - Madrid

* Since 2001

MADRID (+34) 915 917 830 BARCELONA (+34) 934 442 598 SEVILLE (+34) 955 602 360 VALENCIA (+34) 963 553 185 CANARY ISLANDS(+34) 822 028 151 COSTA DEL SOL (+34) 952 861 237

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GOLFERS’ PARADISE

Scotland-like greens… but without the rain! Making the most of its perfect climate, limited wind and good visibility, Spain has developed an impressive offer of golf courses, especially in touristic areas such as in Andalusia (Costa de Sol and Costa de la Luz), Catalonia, Balearic and Canary Islands, and Valencia. With no less than 313 courses for golf fanatics, there is definitely a spot for everyone! And also, a wide range of options to organise the most original golf-related activities for incentives. Golf in the sea

Using biodegradable balls which dissolve in the water and become food for the fishes, Admeeting proposes a tee-off from a boat in the sea and enjoy champagne at the same time. Other complementary activities on the boat include classes for massage, dance with DJ included. The agency also organises night golf in a football stadium, in the snow or with professionals such as Severiano Ballesteros. Another company, Making Golf, also organises tournaments by the beach with sand esplanade greens.

Golf in small spaces

Practice your swing in venues with limited spaces is now possible with the Golf Radar by the company Trackter. It can be installed in 20 minutes and includes a radar that shows the speed of the ball. For example, it was used in a golf incentive. Given that the skill of each participant may vary, different activities were prepared with the support of a group of staff. A three-hole rural golf course was designed together with a putting green. A few inflatable ranges were installed and the skill of the golfer was measured in how he placed the ball into the desired hole.

Technology Golf

As with other disciplines, technology has also come to golf. Indoor golf is now possible which is ideal during bad weather and to give new experiences… Videogames, golf stimulators such as the GPS Stimulator from Ever Golf: a 3D golf stimulator which permits playing golf with real golf balls and clubs in a virtual course selected by the player. The player, facing a 12m2 screen and on an artificial green space, drive the ball to reach the hole visualised on the screen.

Beginner golf

Clinics, intensive golf classes of half or full day by professional players, beginners or perfection courses are all available to cater to the needs of different groups. TUI España offers Easy Golf, courses directed to non-golfers which consist of a two-hour class with a professional in the golf course. There is a theory part to learn the rules and terminology and a practical part with material included to start with the shots and styles.

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Selection of golf hotels in Spain:

• La cala Resort, Marbella: it has three golf courses with 60 holes, a golf academy, two professional football fields and a 5-star hotel. It organises golf events for companies and has three meeting rooms. • La Manga Club, Murcia: with three golf courses, it has been nominated the “Best Golf Hotel in Europe” and “Best Conference Hotel in Europe” in the World Travel Awards. It has various meeting rooms for events and themed parties. • Torremirona Golf & Spa Resort, Girona: wide selection of complementary activities to golf, with seven meeting rooms and a 18-hole “Championship Course”. • Dénia Marriott La Sella Golf Resort & Spa, Alicante: it has a golf academy with professionals as teachers, a 18-hole course and more than 1,200m2 of meeting rooms. • Hotel Valencia Golf, Valencia: surrounded by exuberant gardens that enclose its rustic patio, the hotel also organises incentive activities. • Hotel Golf Peralada, Girona: part of the complex comprises of the Castillo de Peralada, a casino and wine museum. Conference room for 350 pax and a 18-hole course over 6,000m. • Vincci Costa Golf, Cádiz: it is bordering on Hole 14 of the “Novo Sancti Petri” golf course designed by Severiano Ballesteros. Includes a conference centre. • Lidner Golf & Wellness Resort, Mallorca: amidst the golf club of Bendinat, includes a wellness area and conference rooms. • Golf Hotel Guadalpin Byblos, Marbella: next to the congress hall, it has two 18-hole golf courses, with meeting rooms and gardens for events. Spa, swimming pools, tennis court, discotheque… • Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort & Spa, Gran Canaria: located in a 27-hole golf course, there are another three within its proximity. Six meeting rooms and an open air hall. • Abama Gran Hotel Golf Resort & SPA, Tenerife: complex inspired as an Arab citadel, includes a golf course surrounded by 22 lakes and more than 90,000 palm trees, 10 sea-facing meeting rooms with 1,500m2 of versatile space and ten restaurants. • Hotel Convento de la Magdalena • Hotel Antequera Golf: Situated in Antequera city (Málaga), in the centre of Andalucía. Is in the middle of a natural place, and have 18-hole golf courses, 12 events rooms from 20 to 1.000 pax, and football courses.

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WINE DESTINATIONS WITH ALL THE SENSES

Spain is a land of wines, with no less than 47 areas with denomination of origin (D.O.). In the last few years, this wine offering has turned to the MICE sector with offers that include meeting rooms, routes and activities for groups. Let’s take a stroll through Spain wine-producing culture. Wine routes

The wine routes of Spain include 19 routes throughout the whole country, an initiative promoted by the Spanish Wine Cities Association. Visitors will discover wineries, stroll through vineyards, participate in tastings, and participate in agricultural activities such as pruning or harvesting, and at the same time, enjoying its cultural heritage and gastronomy. The Roja Alvesa wine route, proposes tours through Bronze age settlements, activities in nature and walks through walled towns, vineyards and dolmens. Enotecas, wineries dated from the middle ages and those built using the most advanced architectural techniques complement the offer. You can also tour vast fields of red and ocre coloured vineyards in the Duero region, visit a subterranean winery which has been converted into a museum, taste wines in a sixteenth century underground wine cellar, visit historic and modern wineries, and the Aranda de Duero Wine Interpretation Centre (marketed by Destino Duero). Almagro, declared an historic-artistic site known for its festival and for the inimitable venue that hosts, el Corral de Comedias, a type of theatre from the Golden Age. Travel north to the Parque Nacional de las Tablas de Daimiel and visit Valdepeñas and its National Wine Musuem. This is one of the trips organised by Divinum Vitae for Castilla La Mancha.

Activities:

• Via games based on tasting, colours and wine aromas, the activity “Casino de Vino” (wine casino), from Vinelis, makes the participants live the oenology. At the end of the game, the participants make a last bid: the crazy auction, where the chips won are used to obtain prizes. • In the Vinelis Wine Academy, the teams manufacture, market and sell their own wine. A oenologist checks the “survival chances” of the wine, analyse the economic and commercial strategies of each team’s winery. A blind test of the wines decides the best and worst wine created. • Magicomedia, from Enoviajes is an interactive show that combines wine and magic in the underground cellars of a classic winery. More proposals: mix the world of wine with that of textiles and a floral art workshop fusion with elements of the wine world. • The secrets of wine tasting from Sensorial Espai, offers a sensory wine tasting session where the participants, with their eyes blindfolded and nose covered, learn to apply the five senses in wine tasting. • With “Vinos de altos vuelos” (High Flying Wines), from Vinomadas, the group makes a trip to the Montserrat Monastery by plane, to see the abbey from the air and fly over the Penedés vineyards, in addition to a visit and wine tasting. • Wine culture sphere, from Bail Out&Wine, is a 180 degree dome projection screen, where participants lean against the screen and form part of the show, and learn the varieties of the grapes according to geographical region, the relationship between culture and wine, or between astrology and wine...

Go beyond the traditional wine-tasting session: role plays and themed events enable your group to live a different wine experience

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• In a chill out environment in a golf course, the company Evento de Vino offers “Nocturnal wine festival”, a wine tasting with special lighting effects in bunkers, streets, balls, clubs and flags.

Wineries with venues for groups

• The Marqués de Riscal winery and hotel in La Rioja Alavesa includes meeting rooms, wine cellars, hotel designed by Frank Ghery, with vinotherapy spa and restaurant. • El fabulista (Rioja Alvesa), from the year 1300, make their products by hand and have three 7 metres deep underground cellars at your disposition, one of which is for wine tasting. • Las Bodegas Juan Alcorta in La Rioja, includes a meeting room that contains 70,000 oak barrels and dining rooms with views to fifty hectares of vineyard and La Sierra de Cantabria. • Las Bodegas Ysios (La Rioja) have various facilities for events. Its exterior achitecture, work of Santiago Calatrava, has appeared on numerous television commercials. • Las Bodegas Vallformosa (Catalunya), have a Winery Convention Centre where you can hold your meeting in front of 2,500 barrels. They offer cooking workshops on typical dishes from the area. • Las Bodegas Torres (Catalunya) offer a multimedia experience with aromas included in the Tunnel of Seasons. They have various spaces for events, amongst them a Catalan masía from the fourteenth century. • Can Bonastre Wine Resort (Catalunya), is a masía from the sixteenth century with views to Montserrat and the vineyards. One can relax whilst taking a wine bath, after having participated in the harvesting, selection and treading of grapes.

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Barcelona

This events and meetings industry blockbuster just keeps reinventing itself. Barcelona has been enormously popular in recent years, consistently ranking in the top five cities for international meetings, according to ICCA and UIA figures. It hosts large trade shows and congresses such as the Mobile World Congress, leading corporate events for the likes of Microsoft and HP and, last but not least, EIBTM. The city combines an impressive event-friendly infrastructure with a buzzing street life and excellent climate, mild all year. And the city’s connections are only getting better thanks to the new airport terminal and the fast-train connection to France, scheduled for completion in two years. Also, some luxury hotels have been inaugurated this year. But most of all, Barcelona is an inspiring city, combining Gaudí’s unique architecture, a creative and design-oriented culture, a cosmopolitan life, a strong gastronomy and the sea. The city has come a long way since its revamp for the 1992 Olympics!

Barcelona used large events to build infrastructures for meetings: the ’92 Olympics and the ’04 Forum of Cultures gave birth to leading congress centres and hotels 16 |

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Surprising nooks

Surprising nooks • The Mercat de la Boqueria: for many, the emblematic market is the city’s best, thanks to its rich colours, smells, and human activity. • La Pedrera (Casa Milà): the terrace of one of Gaudí’s masterpieces impresses visitors for its uniqueness and magnificent views. In summer, enjoy a drink on the top (included in the price of admission) while listening to live music. • Plaça Catalunya and the surrounding area: the centre of the city. Banks, designers’ fashion, department stores, old cafes and avant-garde shops are found here. Luxury brands stores are many on Passeig de Gràcia. • El Liceu: this beautiful opera house, renovated after a fire, offers several rooms for private events. • Casa Almirall: a modernist bar in the middle of the Raval neighbourhood. Unique in the city, it has kept its original furniture and sculptures since 1860, when it was frequented by artists seeking inspiration. • Santa Maria del Mar. Externally, it is the only complete Catalan Gothic church, and the interior is absolutely beautiful. • Traditional cafes: Barcelona is full of them. El Cafè de l’Òpera, Els quatre Gats and the Escribà cake store are emblematic places with a historical and bohemian feel. All are part of the strong local cafe tradition.

Successful Events in Spain

Destination Management: • • • • •

Incentive Trips Meetings Conferences Product Launches Corporate Events

www .dcom

pany.

com

d-company – Via Augusta 136, 1º-1ª – E-08006 Barcelona – Spain | E V E N T O S M A G A Z I N E | 17 S P +34 A I N F93 O R 457 EVEN T S 00 2 0– 1 0dcompany@dcompany.com tel 31

BARCELONA

Fun facts • Barcelona is in the top 20 National Geographic recommended cities, the most visited city in Spain, and the second gay destination in the world. • The Football Club Barcelona Museum is the second most-visited museum in Catalonia. • Is Gaudí the most famous architect in the world? Yes, at least, according to architectureweek.com, he is the most searched architect online. • The most famous of Gaudi’s buildings, Casa Batlló, has a fairy-tale façade in which he explains the legend of Saint George: the roof represents the dragon, death, with the mortal spear stuck in his back. • Will the Sagrada Família ever be completed? Builders broke ground in 1882 and expect to finish around 2020. Solely financed by private donations due to separation of Church and state, progress has been irregular. • The current chief architect of the Sagrada Família is so in love with the building that he left his native Japan for Spain and converted to Catholicism. That’s passion!

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D company takes La Rambla to your event

During a conference for 850 guests from a technological firm, D company decided to move the most famous street of Barcelona, les Rambles, to the Congress Centre. Human statues, cartoonists, florists, magicians, jugglers and castellers (human towers) invaded the venue to join the group. For another group of 90 managers, the agency prepared an outdoor programme which included activities such as Tai Chi at Tibidabo and Jam sessions at Barceloneta, flamenco classes and ham and wine tasting.

Famous for…

The famous Boqueria market

Meetings machine: Barcelona consistently appears in the top 5 cities for international meetings according to ICCA and UIA

JARDINAGE GARDENER DÉCORATION FLORALE FLORAL DECORATION ACCORDS FLORAUX ARRANGEMENTS STANDS STANDS PLANTES DE LOCATION PLANTS FOR RENT SERVICE Á FOIRE SERVICES FOR EXPOS

• Gaudí, the architect who left an unmatched mark on Barcelona, designed the best-known buildings (and a park!) in the city. • Gastronomy, with Ferran Adrià (in nearby Roses) taking the lead as a creator and researcher. He has his workshop in the city where he experiments and creates new flavours and textures. • Shopping. Barcelona created the Barcelona Shopping Line, a dedicated bus route linking a wide variety of stores. Shopping is quoted as the preferred activity by tourists in Barcelona. • Les Rambles, one of the most famous streets in the world, charms visitors with its flower and animal stalls, human statues and vibrant street life. • Its more than 4km of beaches which, since the 1992 renovation, are integrated into the city. What better place to enjoy wine and paella under the sun or to carry out a teambuilding activity?

JARDINERIA GIARDINIERE DECORACION FLORAL DECORAZIONE FLOREALE ARREGLOS COMPOSIZIONE STANDS STANDS PLANTAS DE ALQUILER PIANTE IN AFFITTO SERVICIO A FERIA SERVIZIO PER FIERE

www.rosa-rosae.com

Roger de Llúria, 53. 08009 Barcelona comercial@rosa-rosae.com 34 26 59 E N T O+ S M A G A93 Z I N 309 E | 19 S P A I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | E VTel:

BARCELONA

Dinner at the famous Camp Nou stadium

Bikes, Segway, special convertibles, trixi tricycles… you can visit the city using a wide range of original vehicles Activities In Barcelona • View Barcelona at dusk from a catamaran while sipping cava from the region. A classic! You can also organise your own regatta. Companies such as BCNautic offer this service. • Live the Barcelona experience and discover the city centre through some fun activities such as Spy&Art Game, organised by Amfivia, a gymkhana based on art and mystery in which participants have to find a famous picture hidden in the city. Another proposal is RelacionArte, an activity based on the art of Picasso. • Shop at the world’s most famous food market - La Boqueria – then cook a suquet de peix (fish soup) under the guidance of a star awarded chef. Then, of course, eat it! • Organise a dinner in the FCBarcelona stadium; you can even rent the team’s bus to get there. You can also enjoy the presence of the one of the club’s players or play a game against your childhood heroes (a team made up of former club players) on this legendary field.

Shark immersion in the Aquarium

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• Go beyond the traditional tours and explore the city with a GoCar. This convertible car with GPS takes you on a relaxed city tour while you follow the audio directions. Or, if you prefer something environmental friendly, try the Trixi. Kuoni DMC organises fun treasure hunts with these fun vehicles. • Nothing like a shot of adrenaline after five hours of endless congress sessions. G3.BCN offers a challenging experience: an immersion shark course, in the city’s Aquarium. • Tour Barcelona by bicycle: companies like Un Cotxe Menys offer guided bike tours. Stop at the beach or in the Gothic quarter for tapas. Pleasant, fun and green! • Discover the secrets that Gaudí hid on the terrace of La Pedrera. The architect was also very religious and he left some symbols: through the holes in the sculptures, you can see the most important temples of the city. • Barcelona from above: helicopter tours can be coordinated. • Try traditional Catalan food in some restaurants over a hundred years old, such as Can Culleretes, the oldest in the city, or 7 Portes. In both of them you can taste escudella i carn d’olla, stewed mixed meat and vegetables with broth, served first, the most authentic of all Catalan dishes. • Catalan traditions, as offered by Kuoni DMC, include participative tours with a typical Barcelona breakfast, dance sardanes (a traditional Catalan dance where participants form a circle and dance holding hands), among others. • Meeting Expectations coordinate cultural visits where guests travel by Segway with a guide who explains the city. • You’re in Barcelona, so dance the night away! The city is known for its varied nightlife, from the most classical to alternative options.

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Amfivia RelationArte

Amfivia Spy&Art The terrace of La Pedrera

The AXA Convention Centre The AXA Convention Centre is part of the Illa Diagonal, an enormous complex located on the main artery of Barcelona that integrates a shopping centre, two Hotels and a large car park. City communications are excellent and access from Barcelona’s Airport and main train station “Sants” is very quick and easy. The avant-garde design and construction quality emerge from each and every detail of the building, turning the AXA Convention Centre into the perfect setting to develop various activities such as conventions, congresses, assemblies, presentations, debates and concerts. The total capacity is for 621 people with optimum view of the stage from all angles. The high quality of

its amenities, PA system, projectors and acoustics turns the AXA Auditorium into one of the most unique venues of its kind in the city. The large lobby is very useful for accommodating exhibitions and for offering catering services during pauses or closing ceremonies. There is also a restaurant area on the ground floor that can perfectly accommodate commercial exhibitions or restaurant services up to 270 guests. As a whole, it is more than an auditorium: it is an infrastructure designed to offer quality, flexibility and integral attention throughout its wide range of services.

Technical Index -

Entire Capacity: 621 seats. (Stalls – 326, Amphitheatre – 295) Projection Equipment: BARCO DLP R-12 (12.000 Ansi Lum) and BARCO iQg-500 (5.000 Ansi Lum). Simultaneous projection possibility. Projection Screen: 60 sqm. D&B Audiotechnik loudspeakers Five fixed microphones on presidential table and six wireless microphones (handheld, lapel, headmic) 4 fixed booths for simultaneous interpreting Infrared translation system 11 channels 2 motorized bars with 36 practicable shukos DMX512 signal in the bars, the stage and the control room Auditori AXA Diagonal, 547 pere.alvarez@axa.es

Planta Deu i Mata Deu i Mata, 111 (puerta giratoria) info.auditori@axa.es

T. 93 290 11 02 Fax 93 290 96 88 vwww.axa.es

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BARCELONA

Activities Outside Barcelona Reaching the sky! Your group, coached by professionals, can replicate the castellers

Sitges offers varied experiences next to Barcelona, from sailing to reforestation activities or even meditation in a Buddhist temple

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• Build your own human tower! Team Towers offers this very traditional Catalan activity for groups up to 500. • See the industrial side of Catalonia at the Colònia Güell, where the industrialist set up his own company town complete with a church, factory and school, in the 19th century. Gaudí was the main architect. • Test a Carver One on a circuit! E&TB organises activities in the Can Padró circuit, a Catalan masia (country house) from the XIIIth century. Driving these vehicles, halfway between a motorcycle and a car, can be a very fun option. After the performance, guests will have lunch at the masia before returning to Barcelona. • Discover local wine and cava culture with activities and visits organised by large wineries such as Codorniu, Bodegas Torres or Vallformosa (these places also usually include a convention centre). • Go green! The Sitges Convention Bureau proposes a reforestation activity in the Garraf Park, which burned in a 2006 forest fire. This open-air activity combines teamwork with recreational and environmental elements. • Enjoy charming Sitges and its microclimate of 300 sunny days a year. Why not try an elegant theatre-themed visit to the Palau Maricel, a pleasant Òpera a la fresca (an opera session in a lovely garden) or a visit to the Museu Romàntic? • Relax, meditate and connect with yourself in a Buddhist monastery in Garraf. • Live the traditions of Penedès (a wine region south of Barcelona): Amfivia offers activities such as trencadís (Gaudí style ceramic mosaics), sardana dances, el porró (where participants have to direct the flow of wine from this traditional thin bottle to their mouth, without losing a drop!), or a castellers (human towers) workshop.

We make your events become a reality

In Avenida Diagonal · 500 rooms and suites · 26 adaptable meeting rooms · Catalunya meeting room for 1200 people · Themed nights Restaurant Contraste...

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The Club 3 exclusive floors · 62 rooms · reception and private lounge · massage of 15 minutes 2 hours Wi-Fi

Contact with Emma Vendrell and quote “Spain for Events”:

www.princesasofia.com · Pl. Pius XII, 4 · 08028 Barcelona, Spain Phone: (+34) 93 508 10 00 · Fax (+34) 93 508 10 01 · psofiasales@expogrupo.com S PA I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | EVENTOS MAGAZINE |

BARCELONA

Modernism, sea route and a gastronomic festival incentive

Organised by ITB dmc Gaudí, rumba walks, catamaran along the coast and tapas. The 160 employees of a German insurance company did not stop for a second. The entertainment marathon began on Friday morning in La Boqueria market, where they tasted the famous tapas and savoured the atmosphere of this traditional market. It was the first stop of a real gastronomic festival that lasted four days and ranged from the most traditional dishes to truly original dinners. The group then visited La Pedrera accompanied by one of the most recognized experts in the work of Gaudí. In the evening, they had dinner at Can Travi Nou, with entertainment by a group of “rumberos” (typical Spanish music). The following day tested their physical form: starting from the esplanade of the Olympic Stadium, they went down Montjuïc by bike to discover the Catalan capital from an original perspective. After the effort, a double reward: a paella and a relaxing massage. For dinner, they were divided into seven groups, and each of them tasted specialties from a different restaurant. After dinner, a private open bar at the Opium Mar. The next day, they could choose between two “temples”: the Sagrada Familia... or a private tour in the Camp Nou, the FCB stadium. In the afternoon, rest in a private area of the Barceloneta beach, with hammocks and a “beach pack”. That night, they enjoyed a festival for the senses in the Esféric, where their sense of smell was tested. Dinner was enlivened by a flamenco-fusion show with dancers from the company of Sara Baras. The next day, catamaran excursions and a day on the beach, before transferring to the airport.

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Barcelonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart beats during the largest medical meeting

During one week, Barcelona was under the stethoscope of 32,000 cardiologists who participated in the largest congress of the European Society Congress of Cardiology. It is the largest medical meeting in the world. During the conference, 30 meeting rooms featured simultaneous sessions for 10 hours each day, with a total of 4000 presentations.

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BARCELONA

From artists to fashion designers, the Catalan city has a unique flair for design and creativity, which adds value to its events

CASA BATLLÓ. S.L. ©

Highlighted venues In Barcelona • Large restaurants that cater for groups include El Xalet, Can Travi and La Font del Lleó, to name a few. • Torre de Collserola: designed by Norman Foster, this telecom tower overlooking the city offers a 200sqm vista point you won’t want to miss. Ideal for cocktails and dinners. • The new beaches of the Olympic Port include trendy bars and clubs like Pachá, Catwalk, Carpe Diem and Shoko. • CCIB: the convention centre, created for the 2004 Culture Forum, offers 100,000sqm of exhibition and meeting space and a 3000 pax auditorium. • Palau de Congressos de Catalunya and the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I: 25,000sqm of meeting space, a 2000-pax auditorium, beautiful gardens for events, all in a 5-star GL hotel. • Palau de la Música Catalana: a true jewel of Catalan modernism which can be rented for events. • Historical venues: the Llotja de Mar (old stock exchange), the Drassanes (old shipyards and current maritime museum), Gaudí’s famous Casa Batlló, the impressive Castell de Montjuïc on the hill of the same name and several museums like the contemporary art venue MACBA or MNAC at Montjuïc… Almost any historical venue can be rented for events. • W Hotel Barcelona: this 5-star, recently open avant-garde icon created by the world-famous Ricardo Bofill, rises above the beachfront. On the rooftop you can find Eclipse, a bar with 360º views.

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• The last few years saw the launch of other trendy designer hotels including ME Barcelona, Hotel Prestige on Passeig de Gràcia or Hotel Omm. • The brand new Mandarin Oriental means a new luxurious option right on Passeig de Gràcia. Other luxurious central options include the renovated Palace Hotel (formerly Ritz), which has maintained the style of the golden decade of the 20´s. • Hesperia Tower Hotel: this 5-star hotel includes a large convention and exhibition centre, between the airport and the city. • Poble Espanyol: a re-creation of typical Spanish village, which includes many bars and restaurants in a closed fortress-like monument. Used for cocktails, dinners, concerts… • Fira de Barcelona: the trade show grounds are divided into two areas: one next to Plaça Espanya and the other closer to the airport. Together, they boast 365,000sqm of exhibition space and a convention centre. Next to it are modern hotels like the Congress or the brand new Porta Fira Barcelona. • Montjuïc: home of the 1992 Olympics, the small mountain offers a wide range of venues such as the sports arena Palau Sant Jordi or the Olympic stadium, some of them with views or green areas. All overlook the city. • Agbar Tower by Jean Nouvel: it is the city’s most striking new building, thanks in part to ever changing coloured panels. • Contemporary architecture venues include the Pavelló Mies van der Rohe and the Joan Miró Foundation, both in Montjuïc.

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Casa Batlló

Spanish-style feast at the pool of the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I

More than 900 guests gathered at the pool in the Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I in Barcelona for the “G Force Party” organized by the agency MTZ for software company Genesys. The idea: to offer an immersion into Spanish culture, including several components of Catalan culture. Following this concept, a tuna (local music band) welcomed the guests. As they arrived, some “living statues” brought from Las Ramblas welcomed them. In the middle of the night, grallers (musicians) called attention to Vilafranca Falcons who unveiled the popular Catalan culture through amazing human figures.

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BARCELONA MNAC

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Firstly it has one of the world’s best convention bureaus, which this year won the second prize for best convention bureau outside Britain by the prestigious magazine Meetings & Incentive Travel. With regards to the city, it is the contrast between modern and traditional that makes it unique. Gaudi’s architecture is unique. And besides, the size of the city is perfect, neither too large nor too small, it has a cosmopolitan, Mediterranean, welcoming atomosphere and with all the necessary infrastructures. Future plans for Barcelona in the meetings and events market… Continue fighting the hard competitors from Spain and abroad, to keep us among the six cities in the world for international conferences.

Highlighted venues Outside Barcelona • The outskirts of Barcelona offer countless beautiful country homes equipped for events. Mas Solers (a beautiful fourteenth century palace), Mont Sant Benet (see activities section), Sant Miquel del Fai (an old monastery), Masia d’en Cabanyes (country house built in 1798 with a large garden), Bell Reco, Masia Museu Serra, Mas Canovas all boast country charm and modern amenities. • Wineries: Bodegas Torres, the large wine producer, offers a fully-equipped convention centre and visits and activities related to wine culture. Vallformosa also offers its winery convention centre. • Badalona: next to Barcelona, the city has the BCIN convention centre with 1600sqm for meetings. • Dolce Sitges: modern hotel and conference centre with 263 rooms and 2175sqm for meetings. • La Mola: a new conference venue (opened in August 2008) near Barcelona in the middle of a 14,000 hectare Natural Park and next to one of Europe’s best golf courses also has 4000sqm of meeting space.

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Airy Garrigosa, Director of the Barcelona Convention Bureau Eclipse, atop the new, fashionable W Hotel CASA BATLLÓ. S.L. ©

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Madrid

Two attempts to get the Olympics did not bring the mega-event to the Spanish capital, but were still highly useful, positioning Madrid on the map of leading cities and improving its infrastructure. There are many reasons to choose this city, a concentrated version of Spain. Its doors open onto vanguard facilities, modern infrastructure and equipment under constant expansion. Especially noteworthy amongst them are the upcoming International Convention Centre, which will become one of Europe’s largest convention centres, and the Madrid-Barajas international airport which, thanks to its latest expansion, can handle 70 million passengers per year. And Madrid is one of the top cities worldwide in terms of cultural richness, with stunning museums, historic buildings, and the nearby historical cities of Alcalá de Henares, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, and Aranjuez. But most of all, it is bustling, full of life, and is vibrant 24 hours a day. It can make your event more intense.

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Surprising nooks In Madrid • Puerta de Alcalá: this square with a magnificent arch is one of the most emblematic ones of the city, built in 1778 by King Carlos III. • Fuente de la Cibeles: this is the place where Real Madrid fans celebrate when their football team wins. It is an iconic Madrid fountain, located between the Paseo de Recoletos and Paseo del Prado. • Monte del Pardo: a Mediterranean forest, the best preserved of Madrid, and is a true ecological paradise just 8km from the capital. • Retiro Park: with more than 100ha, this central park dates back to the 17th century and includes venues for events. • Monasterio y Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: another World Heritage Site, it is one of the main Renaissance monuments in Spain. • Mercado de San Miguel: this market has recently opened after 65 years closed. • Planetario de Madrid: In the Tierno Galván Park, the planetary has 150 projectors and special effects that simulate the solar system, stellar explosions, pulsars, black holes, etc. • Café de los Signos: a theatre hall which also offers magic shows. All waiters are deaf and communicate in sign language. A unique silent place. • Palacio Real de Madrid: The royal palace is home to great works of Spanish artists such as El Greco, Rubens, Caravaggio, Velázquez and Goya.

The economic powerhouse of Spain: the city hosts the

head offices of 90% of the major companies that operate in Spain and is the third European city in terms of the presence of multinationals, which makes it a large global showcase for product presentations. If we add to this almost 80,000 hotel beds, two conference centres (soon to be three), two trade fair venues, an airport that has recently doubled its capacity and an inexhaustible offer of culture and leisure, Madrid turns out to be a leading city for business travel and congresses.

The Paseo del Arte, which includes such wonderful museums as the Prado, Reina Sofia, Thyssen, epitomises the cultural richness of the capital

Outside Madrid • Paisaje Cultural Patrimonio de la Humanidad de Aranjuez: the World Heritage City and cultural area includes the Palacio Real, the Real Casa del Labrador and the Jardines del Príncipe as well as its old quarter. A must-see. • Monasterio y Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial: another World Heritage Site, it is one of the main Renaissance monuments in Spain. • Real Teatro Carlos III: colloquially called La Bombonera (the candy house), a 18th century building located in San Lorenzo de El Escorial. • Jardines de Aranjuez: gardens with fountains and statues that have inspired poets and musicians (remember the concert by Joaquín Rodrigo in Aranjuez). • Châteauform’ el Bosque: a venue dedicated to meetings, conferences and team-building. It has 44 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms with a capacity for 70 persons. • Finca Monte de los Ángeles: close to Madrid, this 100-year old country house has different glass venues with a maximum capacity of 500 pax and a terrace for 300 pax. • Finca la Muñoza: the same quarters that were home to Queen Cristina of Bourbon Two Sicilies are now the setting for multiple events with capacity for 586 pax. • Spain’s answer to Disneyworld: the Warner Brothers Movie World.

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MADRID

Fun facts

Famous for…

• Its nightlife, and especially the movida of the 80’s (a crazy cultural explosion which brought unbridled creativity to Madrid, especially in terms of artistic and nightlife). Nightlife starts later, with most people not heading to the bars before 22:00 or 23:00. Clubs generally open at about midnight. Adjust your (body) clocks! • Its traditional dishes like the calamar sandwich, the famous chocolate con churros (inevitable after a night-long party!) and the cocido madrileño, a solid stew based on chickpeas. • Hosting some of the greatest museums in the world like the Reina Sofía, the Prado or the Thyssen-Bornemisza. • The charm of its surrounding cities, many of which are World Heritage Cities (Alcalá de Henares, Avila, Segovia, Toledo).

The Madrid slaughterhouse is transformed into a futuristic space

Organised by Cincuenta y Cinco When the former Madrid slaughterhouse opened its doors for the Ferrovial group Christmas party, attendees entered into a modern space in which they were invited to walk through a door into the future. The agency wanted to recreate a futuristic and festive space. In a minimalist decor, the place managed to convert into a warm, avant-garde area, in which even old beds were recycled into comfortable sofas.

• Madrid gets its name from the Arabic “magerit” which means “place of many streams”. • Madrileños are often called gatos (cats) because of the historical legend that during the Arabic invasion, a soldier climbed the outer walls with the agility of a cat. • Madrid’s official symbol is a bear rearing up on its hind legs and feasting on berries from the madroño tree. This metaphor for Madrid’s growth represents the possession and importance of wood, which is essential to build a country. • The resistance of Madrid during the Spanish civil war was converted by propaganda into a reference in the Republican cause with the famous slogan “¡No pasarán!” (They will not pass!).

• The running of the bulls (an amazing, colourful tradition, which consists of a race in the street where bulls charge full steam while people run with them and, mostly, try to survive!) in San Sebastián de los Reyes is considered the second most-important in Spain after the San Fermines in Pamplona. • Madrid holds a very special title: it is the leading city worldwide in terms of lined trees. • Actress Penelope Cruz was born in Alcobendas, in the Madrid suburbs. • Ernest Hemingway lived in Madrid for several years.

The city’s third congress centre, in the new business area of Madrid, will offer a 15,000sqm exhibition area and an auditorium for 5,000

From the 4th to the 9th of October, Madrid will host the annual conference of the IBA (International Bar Association), the largest association of lawyers in the world, bringing together some 5,000 associated lawyers, from 195 countries. The 150 scheduled sessions will be held at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos in Madrid.

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Gruppo COMUNICA&COMUNICA

THE logy chno e t and vice r e s -art t f-the o e men e g Stat a man tive r e s ce as rien e and p x c i am nt e eme , dyn g g a n n ma You hing s i n asto s of r a e 50-y 10: 0 2 0 196 ity labil i a v ns a mea t e k mar obal l g The -list ur a o n is o ence i d u ra You

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AIM Group Spain SL C/Arturo Soria, 55 - Local 1 - 28027 Madrid (Spain) Tel: +34 91 2873400 - Fax: +34 91 2873401 info@aimspain.es

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MADRID

Activities In Madrid • Enjoy tasca or tapas hopping, which can be offered as a pure gastronomic fun activity or themed as a game or a teambuilding activity. • Live the Madrid experience with agency Sankara’s cultural gymkhana, where participants have to find an object hidden by the Madrid Architects Association, solving problems and quizzes with the help of the most influential characters from Madrid such as Velázquez (the group will have to paint his works) or the Madrid soccer fan (they will play with the ball and solve quizzes on soccer). • See the show of restaurant Ølsen, in which a bottle of Belvedere vodka is stuck inside a block of ice, and the guest has to “break the ice” with a special hammer. • Play the game of Philip II’s Talisman, a game by Kuoni Destination Management that combines discovery of Madrid with teamwork and entertainment. It is a type of gymkhana on foot, set in Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg Madrid). The teams have to solve various tests with historical characters from Spain’s ‘Golden Century’. • Make movies: teams must prepare a promotional video for Madrid. The video must include not only images of the most emblematic sites of the city, but also curiosities as well as interviews of the inhabitants. By Kuoni Destination Management. • Discover Madrid through visits animated with theatrical acts following themes such as Don Quijote or Alatriste, for instance. • Learn about Spanish food traditions at a typical Spanish restaurant. The group will learn how to cut Iberian ham and Manchego cheese, make sangria and try Spanish wines after an explanation by a sommelier. • A New Skyline: there are plenty of locations for watching the sun go down -Debod Temple, Las Vistillas- where many painters, from Velázquez to Antonio López, have found their muses. • A green visit by bike: the Casa de Campo Park and the Parque Lineal del Manzanares, in the Usera neighbourhood can be a good choice. • Flamenco Fusion: vibrate with the passion of flamenco, mixed with subtle tones of jazz and blues. Las Tablas and Cardamomo offers flamenco sessions.

Why not in a plaza de toros? Mr. Goldwind transformed Las Ventas, the most famous Spain bullfighting arena, into an outdoor market for Beefeater. The venue is widely used for impactful events.

La Caja Mágica aims to strengthen Madrid’s position in the meeting world

When it opened in May 2009, La Caja Mágica aimed not only to transform Madrid into the capital of tennis by hosting an important tennis tournament, but also to strengthen the city’s offer for large events. Now the same venue holds the MTV Europe Awards in November 2010, which will get the Spanish capital to shine as the capital of music.

The Retiro park, a 100-ha “lung of the city”, includes various venues for events in a unique setting

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Outside Madrid • Shoot your own western movie at the Club las Encinas de Boadilla. The guests will write the script, handle the casting, and decorate the place… Oscar’s gala night included! • Discover the Aranjuez gardens and its monuments through a canoe route on the Tagus River. In this “Pawnee gymkhana”, participants are members of an Indian tribe which competes with other tribes. Activities include making arms and traps as well as Indian war – style yelling. Organised by Sankara. • Driving Rally by the valley of the Lozoya where, due to its special climate, you can find plant species from the centre of Spain as well as from the north. The activity consists of a 4x4 ride with small tests. You can even have a famous rally driver with you. Organised by Kuoni Destination Management. • Experience Geoplaying in Aranjuez (with Sankara). This activity combines orientation in the gardens and historical parts of Aranjuez with GPS and a route on foot and by 4x4. Participants have to discover all the hidden treasures in the town with the help of local characters like the farmer or the hunter.

Get out of Madrid! Historic towns located within 100km, such as Aranjuez, Alcala de Henares, Toledo, Avila, are also stunning The key event for Madrid in 2010 is that its most famous road, the Gran Via, turns 100. To celebrate this milestone, the first “World Tapa Meeting” will be organised. From the 7th to the 9th of June, the Plaza Callao will host a 900sqm tent to receive more than 300 people participating in this food festival, which will also be broadcast outside. The year will include loads of other events, concerts and street performances.

The first world tapa meeting

Fernando Yanez, Roger Van der Weyden, Hieronymus Bosch, Jacobo Tintoretto, Paolo Veronese, Titian, El Greco, Caravaggio, Rubens, Ribera, Velázquez, Murillo and Francisco de Goya i Lucientes are part of the masterpieces shown in The Great Evolution of Painting, a private tour through the Prado museum organised by Guias de Turismo de Madrid.

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MADRID

Highlighted venues In Madrid • Palacio Municipal de Congresos: the city congress centre with its avant-garde design, offers 30,000sqm for meetings divided into exhibition areas, two auditoriums for 1,900 and 900 pax and 30 rooms. • Auditorium Juan Carlos I: with capacity for 9,500 pax seated or 13,000 standing. • Palacio de los Deportes: a sports arena in the city centre with retractable seats that can host events up to 16,000 pax. • Las Ventas: the largest bullfight arena in Spain, following a Neo-Mudéjar styles (the 19th century version of the medieval Spanish Musliminspired style), can host almost 25,000 pax. • Círculo de Bellas Artes: a reference in Madrid which offers 15,000sqm with two exhibition rooms, historical meeting rooms, a library, a billiard room, a theatre, a movie theatre, etc. • Real Fábrica de Tapices: an 18th century tapestry factory with two rooms for events. One of Madrid’s most classic venues. • Thyssen Museum: with an impressive collection, it offers a unique view to the history of European painting since the 13th century. It completes the other two great museums: the Prado (old paintings) and the Reina Sofía (20th century) in the famous Paseo del Arte. • Madrid Casino: a prestigious venue with a classical style and more than 170 years history. Ferrán Adria is the gastronomy adviser. • Palacio de Gaviria: 1300sqm of history in the centre of Madrid, with ceilings inspired from the Italian Renaissance. Offers a cabaret or DJs for modern events. • Teatro Real: the official Madrid Opera house and one of the most important in Spain, a true symbol of the city’s cultural life. For meetings in a 200 year-old venue.

• Palacio de Linares: famous for its legend of ghost appearances, it follows a 17th century French style and offers various styles of room decorations. • El Corral de la Morería: a famous tablao (flamenco bar) which appears in the book “1,000 places to see before you die”. A very lively place with 18th century furniture. • The Debod Temple: an old Egyptian temple more than 2200 years old, and one of the best places to enjoy the sunset. • Off Limits: a former bakery with an avant-garde look and minimalist decoration. Includes a 210sqm room. • Sol&Sombra: bullfighting-inspired venue with a very modern touch including LED-based lighting and decoration. • ME Madrid: this new, extremely trendy hotel includes a business centre, meeting rooms and two terraces with a 360º view of the city. Another trendy option is the stylish Urban Hotel. • Hotel Puerta América: with a facade designed by Jean Nouvel, each floor is decorated by a prestigious architect like Norman Foster or Ron Arad. 18 different floors competing to impress you. • Hotel Auditorium: massive hotel with more than 800 rooms and a full conference centre close to the airport. • Castillo de Viñuelas: fortified castle from the 17th century with a view to the Jarama River, with various meeting rooms. • Bangaloo: multi-room venue including restaurant, meeting rooms and a discotheque, right in the Castellana area. 1500sqm over three floors with the deluxe style of Tomás Alía. • La Capilla de La Bolsa: a mystical and renovated old church with a very unique style. • The Market: a 2100sqm exhibition space, part of a complex which includes a hotel and a restaurant for 200.

The Nobel Biocare World Tour stopped in Madrid

Organised by Talisman For the Nobel Biocare World Tour, Talisman conceived a two-day meeting, starting with a relaxing first dinner Madrid-style at the Palacio de Negralejo. The different rooms were decorated with specific lights and music made each space unique. Famous characters Don Quijote and Dulcinea del Toboso offered a special show during the dinner. The final show included a performance by the Orchestra Traffic.

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An authentic bull farm experience

Organised by E&TB Group The farm house “El Enebrillo”, located close to Toledo 100km outside Madrid, sits amidst pure nature. The visit starts with a tour in carriages over the farm territory, while learning about the typical work and handling of the fighting bulls. The farm is divided into two parts. The first one is located in the north, where for 60 years now, the bulls of Don Servero García have been browsing. After visiting it, the group enjoys a Spanish wine and aperitif before moving to the other part of the farm, located on the top of an edge, allowing privacy and impressive views. In the farm, guests can enjoy the viewpoint and relax in the ample veranda. The venue also includes a bullfighting arena, for the celebration of the typical fiesta camperas, where bullfighting is performed without killing the bull.

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• Milk Studio: a white 255sqm versatile space that can be adapted to host various types of events. • Hotel Santo Domingo: with a four-star category, the hotel has 205 rooms, and 450sqm of meeting rooms which will shortly be extended to 1200sqm. It has just undergone a complete renovation. • El Jardín de Miguel Ángel: 1000sqm of thick vegetation in the heart of Paseo de la Castellana, within the Hotel Occidental Miguel Ángel 5*. A multi-functional space that adapts to events of up to 500 pax. • Casa de Campo: 40,000sqm open-air and 33,000sqm covered space in spacious halls. It includes the former trade show area. • Teatro Quinto: with a capacity of 3500 pax, in the Art Deco District, this multi-spaces venue can be converted from a conference auditorium to a hall for events. • Mercado de San Miguel: a market located in old Madrid which can host events. • Casa María: this restaurant organises events related to wine and winemaking as well as corporate events. • Matadero: this 148,000sqm open space specialises in creative and artistic events. • The upcoming International Convention Centre, by architects Tuñón and Mansilla, will be a large rising sun to emerge among the four new skyscrapers of the new business area in the north of Madrid. It will have a 15,000sqm exhibition area and an auditorium for up to 5,000.

•Congress Hall or Convention Centre •Comfortable rooms and new Executive Floor with suites. •L’Albufera and La Brasserie Restaurants •La Cava bar... •...The most complet hotel of Madrid.

Calle Capitán Haya, 43 28020 Madrid Sales +34 91 567 50 77 ventas@hotelmeliacastilla.com www.meliacastilla.com S P A I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | E V E N T O S M A G A Z I N E | 37

MADRID

Highlighted venues Outside Madrid • La Moraleja Business Resort: set on top of an old convent, the renovated hotel has a modern style amidst 35,000sqm of gardens. • La Quinta del Jarama: 15,000sqm for events in the San Sebastián de los Reyes. Offers open space for 1,200 seating and 2,000 pax standing. • Madrid SnowZone: an indoor ski slope in the shopping and leisure centre Xanadú next to Madrid. • Kinépolis: in Pozuelo de Alarcón, a large movie complex for events in the purest Hollywood style. Interesting for its HD projection capacity. • Fuente Pizarro: a 7000sqm complex with multipurpose halls for events. They also organise outdoor events in Collado Villalba. • Club las Encinas de Boadilla: in Boadilla del Monte with more than 450,000sqm, it is the setting of several movies and advertisements. It includes an authentic fort from the Far West. • Hacienda Jacaranda: this old horse riding school remodelled for events in Miraflores de la Sierra offers meeting rooms whose layout follows the shape of an amphitheatre around a covered 900sqm central square. • The old Convent of Boadilla del Monte: renovated to be used as a hotel, it offers various meeting rooms for 750 pax banquet-style. • Palacio de Negralejo: a hotel complex built on an old countryside palace of the 18th century in San Fernando de Henares.

• Bodega del Real Cortijo, in Aranjuez: a national monument which includes El Lagar, consisting of 14 arcades and La cueva, an underground 2500sqm cave. It offers themed dinners and music shows. • Clericó Sports: in San Sebastián de los Reyes, it features a lounge seating 120, and a terrace seating 240. • Aldea Santillana: located in the northern mountain range, it features 600ha of space, meeting rooms for 400 pax, a private kitchen and 62 rooms. • La Casa de Mónico: herrerian style house built in 1946. It has a 30,000sqm English style garden and four meeting rooms. • Las Rejas Open Club: a leisure, sports and wellness centre north of Madrid, which includes a golf course, fitness facilities, a spa, tennis courts, padel courts and meeting rooms.

Cuatro Torres Business Area

A very Spanish welcome

Organised by Ultramar Events With gastronomy from south, north, east and west of the peninsula, the “Welcome to Spain” party organised by Ultramar Event Management for the Congreso de Abogacía (IBA) gala dinner, showed off the best of Madrid. Set in the Palacio de Negralejo, the event got 2,000 attendees to taste different Spanish flavours and enjoy a flamenco show with a gaiteros (bagpipers) music exhibition.

Experience the Palace of Linares Surprise your guests: hold your event in one of the most exquisite and emblematic buildings in the heart of Madrid

Tradition and technology come together in ten different and versatile spaces to suit your needs: from a high-level private meeting to a conference for 300 people or a cocktail in a unique garden

Please contact us for a visit at: www.casamerica.es

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The Palace of Linares is also the headquarters of Casa de América, E V E N T O S M A G A Z I N E | S P A I the N Fmain O R Latin E V EAmerican N T S 2 0cultural 10 center in Madrid

Plaza de Cibeles, 2. 28014 Madrid ☏ + 34 - 91 595 48 00 ✉ comercial1@casamerica.es

For a group, Olé Special Events organised various teambuilding activities such as a treasure hunt and a photo safari through the old town of Madrid. This was completed with a formal dinner on a roof terrace with spectacular views to the city. As madrileños would say, De Madrid al cielo, which means that only heaven could be nicer than Madrid…

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… In Madrid you can find everything, from modern facilities to friendly people and a blue sky. We have very good connections, including one of the best metro networks in Europe. It has one of the largest ranges of hotel quality in the world. The city has 55,700 are three, four or five stars hotel rooms, with excellent price-quality ratio (according to the European Union Statistical Office, 60% cheaper than in Moscow and 25% than in Paris or London). The Madrid Convention Bureau has made great efforts to expand the use of public spaces for private events. The city has a list of more than one hundred special venues. Future plans in the meetings and events market… Madrid wants to position itself as an open destination by hosting major events and in the meetings tourism segment the city’s objective is to position itself among the top ten for international conferences.

Madrid Convention Bureau

CONVENTION AND CONGRESS CENTRE. A SPACE FOR EVERY IDEA.

IFEMA offers you the Convention and Congress Centre you wish for. With rooms and auditoriums which are tailored to your every need. Where everyone, and everything, fits. Because our resources and service know no limits. That's why even the wildest idea is possible here. 1 2 H A L L S • 2 AU D I TO R I U M S • 9 7 R O O M S

CONVENCIONES Y CONGRESOS

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Valencia

As the rising star of the last few years, Valencia has managed to capitalise on hosting some large events, positioning itself as a key destination for meetings, corporate events and even some high profile international events such as the America’s Cup, several very large car presentations and a F1 Grand Prix, the MTV awards, among others. Valencia is a born-again city: highlighted by its modern buildings conceived by leading architects and futuristic venues perfectly blended with its historic old quarter.

Surprising nooks

Riding horses in Valencia

Organised by The Global Champions Tour The Global Champions Tour, one of the most prestigious international horse-riding circuits in the world, chose Valencia, specifically the City of Arts and Sciences, as the venue. This sporting event brings together the best riders in the world.

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• Parque Natural de la Albufera: the nature park in the South, is one of the most beautiful areas of Valencia. The lake includes dune-like formations called mallades. Three channels link the lake to the sea and each of them has created its own wildlife, making it extremely interesting. • Laguna de Anna: a small and interesting natural lagoon located next to the small city of Anna near the medieval city of Xàtiva (another must-see, a beautiful medieval city on top of a mountain). • At the crossroads of Cardo and Decumano is the oldest part of the city. Under the square of Almoina, you can see, imagine and enjoy the old roman city of Valencia. • Portal de la Valldigna: located right in the Barrio del Carmen area, it is a hideaway where the old history of Valencia combines a more creative and fun style. • Triangulo de oro: the ‘golden triangle’ is made up of the central market, the Lonja de Mercaderes and the church of Santos Juanes, and is one of the most beautiful areas of the city.

Famous for…

• Its “make it big” attitude and high energy over the last few years. • Paella: it is the home town of the most famous Spanish dish and other local productions such as oranges and the “orchata” drink, made from almonds, rice, barley or chufas (tigernuts). • The fallas, a traditional and highly colourful street celebration where the locals build enormous paper statues, display them in a street procession and then burn them in a big celebration. • The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, an impressive futuristic venue which epitomised the renewal of the city and its opening to the sea.

Back on track! In the first quarter of 2010, the city registered a 13% increase in bednights

Fun facts • The gardens, Jardín del Turia, are still commonly called “the river” by Valencians. In 1957, the city was flooded by the river. The river course was then changed and substituted by these gardens, a great green area going through the entire city. • The saying “estar en la luna de Valencia” (to be under the moon of Valencia) applies to someone who, because of his distraction, doesn’t get to do what he wants. It originated when Valencia was a fortress-city whose doors closed every night. Whoever didn’t make it on time had to stay out of the city during the night. • A chalice, considered as the Holy Grail is kept in the Cathedral of Valencia. • The name, Paella, is derived from the latin Word patella, the metal recipient where the rice is cooked for a paella and which Valencians use to mean “frying pan”.

An impactful awards ceremony

Organised by Araventum The awards ceremony of the Louis Vuitton Cup, organised by Araventum, brought together about 400 people at a dinner held in the Umbracle of the City of Arts and Sciences. It was attended by the New Zealand Team and the Luna Rosa Team (winner and finalist, respectively) and a group of journalists. The event included a welcome cocktail, trophy ceremony and dinner in the garden of Umbracle, which closed with fireworks and music show. Then they went to an adjoining area for “Drinking and dancing.”

Stylish aperitive at The Albufera

Organised by ITB Some 125 participants from a German company had the chance to enjoy this very special aperitive at The Albufera: aboard these boats, they could admire a beautiful sunset while sipping a drink and enjoying finger food. These trips are enlivened by an original concert which also takes place on the water, prior to the dinner that does take place back on land.

Making a Falla

Organised by Grupo Alade3 Las Fallas are undoubtedly the most important event in Valencia. Alade3 Group has designed a team building in which participants leave free flow to their imagination and creativity, to create their own ninots (colourful carton sculptures which are burned at the end of the celebration) the traditional Valencian style. This project combines teamwork, communication and trust, but is also a perfect activity to immerse in the Valencian culture. In a true fallero workshop, under the guidance of a local artist, the groups get to see their final creation, and also see it burn down.

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VALENCIA

Activities

• Atman Group organises an activity to foster collaboration between groups on the beach: teams go through up to six different tests which require real teamwork, as well as the traditional beach games which require balance, coordination, communication and guidance. • Traditional boat ride departing from the America’s cup port. The guests will learn everything about this port and the tournament. After sailing along the coasts (guests who like sailing can help in the navigation), the boat stops at the beach to allow the guests to go for a swim and snorkelling. The boat ride includes lunch, a glass of champagne, open bar, and a singer and guitarist playing soft Spanish music. Offered by Ultramar Events. • Show cooking. Learn to cook paella in the natural park of la Albufera, surrounded by rice fields, and take a ride in the park on a traditional fishing boat. You can even have lunch on the boat. • Bike ride through the city in the Jardín del Turia, which offers more than 7km of quiet, green environment, all the way from the Bioparc to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias • Fireworks workshop, where participants learn how to make and handle fireworks. Fireworks are a very typical activity in Valencia (often used in popular celebrations, weddings, burials, etc.). Organised by Viajes ITB. • The “reduced” Carmen Opera. Viajes ITB is preparing an event in the Valencia Bullfight arena, with a shorter version of the Opera “Carmen” with an additional band performance and fireworks, a private falla (the agency works with a few local associations to build the statues for burning). • Enjoy a pure Valencian night with Ultramar Events: after a sumptuous dinner in a traditional restaurant in the old quarter, the group can enjoy the bustling Valencia night street atmosphere on the lively terraces of bars and cafes. The walk ends with the famous “Agua de Valencia”, a refreshing alcoholic drink made with fresh orange juice, Cointreau and Cava. • Savour basic and traditional Valencian products, as suggested by Barceló Incoming: Guests sit around a spectacular table in the chapel of the Espacio Carmen. All the products are placed on the table: tomatoes, olive oil, salt, bread, cured meat, cheese and excellent wines. An expert explains the flavours while music flows. • Fresh and traditional food in the old market… a unique dinner experience for the group. • A spoonful of teamwork, a dash of local culture and a bit of entertainment are the three basic ingredients that make up the activity by Alade3 in which participants go through several stations where they learn to cook traditional Valencian dishes such as paella, fideuá, soufflé and “Valencia water” (cocktail with sparkling wine and oranges).

Highlighted venues

Turismo Valencia

• Veles e Vents: created for the America’s Cup, it is a new icon of the city. Located next to the new marina, it offers 10,000m2 over four different levels, giving the impression that the floors are hanging. Its green area connects the port to the beaches and holds restaurants and leisure areas. • Bioparc: a zoological park with more than 4,000 animals located next to the Turia River. • Palacio de Congresos: designed by Norman Foster, it can host 4000 pax, and 1480 in the hall. • Feria Valencia: this trade show venue has expanded drastically over the last few years, and now offers 231,000 m2 of space, making it the largest single trade show area in Spain. It has also added a convention centre for up to 5000 pax in 2007. • Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias: designed by the famous Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it is the flagship of the city’s renovation. Includes auditoriums, the Oceanogràfic and the arts-oriented Palau de les Arts. • The city also offers historic places, including churches like the Cartuja del Ara Christi and museums like the Museo de Bellas Artes. • In the new disco Wandú Palace, it is possible to organise events. • Surrounding Valencia city: don’t miss the country houses and castles. Among them, Campo Aníbal (named alter Hannibal, who stayed in this beautiful mansion on his way from Africa), the Huerto de Santa María or the Masía de Xamandreu. Markets such as the Mercado Central or the Mercado de Colón can also be rented for events. • The Ágora, by famous architect Calatrava, completes the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias with 1,810sqm for over 5.000 pax. It hosted the tennis tournament Open 500 in November 2009.

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… I would stress the strong capacity the city has to attract visitors, even during these tough times. While most destinations’ figures around the first quarter of 2010 fall within a timid one-digit increase, Valencia registered a 13% increase in bednights. Future plans in the meetings and events market… Many! Valencia wants to maintain is high international profile ranked by the UIA as the fifth European city and ninth worldwide non-capital city in attracting international meetings. The city is holding some European Union events in 2010, like The European RTD Framework Programmes: From Economic Recovery to Sustainability, the FEMIP Conference Valencia 2010 by the European Investments Bank, or The Mediterranean Solar Plan, both. Others will rival these: the European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition again, The European Cystic Fibrosis Conference, or the World Congress on Breast Diseases. The above are work meetings, but we also offer events to enjoy. There’s life after the 33rd America’s Cup, held again in Valencian waters. The show jumping top races, the Global Champions Tour in May, Formula 1 in June, the Moto GP race and the tennis tournament Valencia Open 500 in November, are some of our proposals. No wonder Valencia will be the European Sports City in 2011! José Salinas, CEO of the Valencia Tourism and Convention Bureau

Turismo Valencia Las Fallas, the highly colourful tradition of Valencia

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Molino Real, a new venue between Feria Valencia and the airport, opened in May 2009 and offers four independent buildings with halls and meeting rooms with a capacity for up to 1,100pax.

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Mallorca (Balearic Islands) Mallorca is a tourism blockbuster that welcomes millions of tourists every year. But don’t think that the island has been spoiled by the masses: the inland areas are quiet, beautiful and perfect for a bike visit through small villages; the natural landscapes are beautiful; and most of the coast is still intact, offering stunning cliffs and great creeks. It is definitely worth your time to escape from the more crowded patches of the island and see why it has been so successful in impressing visitors. In addition, congress and convention tourism has boomed in recent years, and will probably increase further with the opening of the Palacio de Congresos de Palma, scheduled for next year.

Surprising nooks • The Reserva Puig de Galatos natural park: Here you can participate in 4x4 gymkhanas, cross Tibetan and Amazonian hanging bridges, rock climb or rappel against a backdrop of rich wildlife. • Palma’s Arabic baths: The baths date back to the era of Muslim domination in the Balearic Islands. • The Coves del Drac in Manacor, a set of impressive caves. The site includes ponds such as the Martel lake and spectacular chambers with thousands of stalactites. There are other spectacular caves around the island. • Chapel of the Santísimo in the Palma cathedral: opened in 2007, its ceramic altarpiece by Miquel Barceló recreates the miracle of bread and fishes. The cathedral is a gothic building which took over 500 years to build. • Standing 1,445 metres above sea level, Puig Mayor is the highest point in Mallorca.

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Famous for…

• The Catedral de Palma, the Llotja and the Castell de Bellver, great pieces of gothic art. • Its local products which include footwear, hand-blown glass, Manacor pearls and herbal liquors prepared in the island’s monasteries since the Middle Age. • Its marvellous beaches with turquoise coloured crystal-clear waters and spectacular sea-beds. • Its typical pastry or ensaïmada and its famous raw cured sausage called sobrassada.

The congress centre will open in 2011, on the Palma bay, and will boost the meetings industry of Mallorca

Fun facts • Frederic Chopin and George Sand arrived to Mallorca in 1838 to continue their love affair. They stayed in the Cartuja de Valldemossa where Chopin composed various pieces while Sand wrote her famous novel Un hiver à Majorque (A winter in Mallorca). She wrote of Mallorca: “All that a painter or a poet can dream of, nature had created in this place”. • The Palau de Miravent in Palma is the summer residence of the Spanish royal family. • Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta Jones, Richard Branson, Claudia Schiffer and Boris Becker are among the most famous people with a house in Mallorca. • Robert Graves, who settled on the island, also described Mallorca as “paradise”.

Mercedes Benz trains 15,000 employees in an impressive back-toback

Organised by Ivents More than 15,000 Mercedes Benz employees –plus 1,000 other guests- visited Mallorca from January to April in this huge event. The objective was to train them on the new E-Class and E Class Coupé, with an impressive back-to-back. Two hotels, Blau Porto Petro and Robinson, were exclusively booked for the event during five months. Every day, 24 groups (12 per hotel) trained on specific stations for skill-building. At the driving tests, attendees learned all about the cars. In addition, a simulation tool replicated part of the car experience.

The Cova d’en Xoroi, a discotheque-cave in Cala’n that literally hangs from a cliff, in Menorca

S PA I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | EVENTOS MAGAZINE |

MALLORCA

Activities

• Mallorca has almost 700km of bicycle tracks. Sportier guests can ascend the winding track that brings them to the Sant Salvador Monastery in Felanitx. The regional Arenal trail, parallel to the coast, is a less strenuous option. • A great day out from Palma is to take the vintage train to Soller. This narrow gauge train has covered this route through the Serra de Tramuntana mountains since 1912. • Paragliding: jump from the Sierra Tramuntana towards the interior of the island or take a motorboat out to sea in places like Cala Millor, Cala Ratjada, Cala Mesquida and Cala Guya. • Rent a vehicle and discover Soller, Deia and Valldemossa as well as the lesser known villages inland. • Mallorca is also very attractive for equestrian tourism, a recommended experience for nature lovers. You can go for a horseback ride along routes into beautiful rural and coastal environments. • Sailing is a well established sport in Mallorca, but there is also windsurfing, kite surfing or wakeboarding, not to mention sea excursions in pedal boats. Canoeing and water skiing are other sea-related options. The island also has aquatic parks, a dolphin zoo and sailing schools. • Diving is also offered, especially from March to May and from September to November. • Ivents suggests a themed dinner in Cap Rocat, an old restored fortress perfect for medieval themed events, gala dinners, horse shows, falconry and sword fights. • See craftsmen work in the Passeig de l’Artesanía de Palma in Sa Gerreria, one of Mallorca’s oldest neighbourhoods. The traditional handicrafts were recovered from the Middle Ages and are now showcased in 15 workshops. You can buy handicrafts like ceramics, glass, jewellery, pearls, leather, etc. • A visit to the medieval patios of the capital, such as Can Caldés, Can Lladó, Can Dubai and Salas. Palma has 60 patios in noble houses, small architectural treasures that belong to well-known families in the city and which offer a different view of Palma. • Dine on traditional Mallorquin dishes at Celler Sa Premsa in Palma.

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Sea, mountains, wine and delicacies of Mallorca

Organised by G&B Mallorca Events G&B Mallorca Events organised an incentive trip for the best customers of a German pharma company. The programme combined activities at sea with others on the island’s mountains. The day began early in the morning with a breakfast by the sea in a chilled out atmosphere. The participants were divided into eight boats for a race led by skippers. Once the race was finished, the group held a beach party with various water activities. Then, they were taken to a farm in the Sierra de Tramuntana, in the heart of Mallorca, where wine is produced. They enjoyed a dinner amongst tanks and barrels and wine aroma, including a flamenco exhibition and prizes for the race winners.

More than sun and beach

Organised by Grupo Pacifico Going beyond the typical “sun and beach” assets of Mallorca and searching for other added values such as culture and history, this event for 350 international delegates from the Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation (ETFA) Pacific included a tour in the town of Valldemossa and a visit to the cell where Frederick Chopin stayed.

With a beautiful seashore, rich nature and a 1,400-metre high mountain, Mallorca offers plenty of outdoor activities

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Teambuilding Program with walking on fire and cava tasting

Organised by Pidelaluna This teambuilding for 40 employees of a hotel chain featured a cava (spanish sparkling wine) tasting session by a sommelier in Cala Estancia, as well as a gastronomic gymkhana on the streets of Soller, a town which combines tradition and trendiness. The group also visited the Bay of Palma for a trip with a catamaran with underwater viewing windows, where they performed sailing-related activities. But the attraction that impressed everyone was that of walking on fire, a session that aims to break mental barriers in a very impactful experience. No limits!

Highlighted venues

Other Balearic Islands: Menorca, Ibiza, Formentera Mallorca is the leading Balearic island, but its neighbouring islands aren’t giving up on the meetings and incentives market. Ibiza, Menorca and, on a minor level, Formentera are stand-alone options to consider. Plus they are perfect for short excursions from Mallorca. Menorca created its own convention bureau and offers some interesting venues for events, such as the 19th century Fortaleza de Isabel II and La Mola, both suitable for large events. Other options include Ses Pedreres de s’Hostal and Lítica, two old quarries converted into natural cultural spaces that include impressive stone landscapes, labyrinths and gardens. And don’t forget the Cova d’en Xoroi (a discotheque-cave in Cala’n that literally hangs from a cliff). In Menorca, you can practise all sorts of sports in the open air: from sailing, diving, kayaking and windsurfing to horseback riding and bike routes. Ibiza, famous for being an international party capital, is a blessed little island. Venues include the luxurious Ibiza Gran Hotel and the Palacio de Congresos en Santa Eulària des Rius, located on the northeast coast of the island. Two spaces house the multi-use rooms in their interior and a third one contains the double height assembly hall with a capacity of 437 seats. A nice place to visit is the Es Canar market (in Santa Eulària des Riu, Ibiza), which takes place every Wednesday and continues to be the essence of the Ibiza hippy lifestyle. Ibiza has plenty of nice beaches to do aquatic sports but one of the most amazing activities on the island is visiting Sa Cova des Cuieram in Sant Joan de Labritja, a Punic sanctuary located in a natural cave. Riding a horse along Ibiza’s lovely beaches is another possibility offered by the Hipòdrom d’Eivissa in Sant Rafel S’Hort Nou. And obviously, a visit to Ibiza is not complete without a chill-out aperitif on the beach, Cafédel-Mar style… Finally Formentera, the smallest and quietest of the four, is perfect for a day excursion including a cycling tour around the island.

• Pueblo Español Congress Palace Palma: the largest hall on the island, for up to 1,500 pax. • The Palma Auditorium, with a capacity of 1,600 pax, located on the city’s famous Passeig Marítim. • Can Domenge–Centre Tecnològic: the convention centre, with a capacity for 300 pax, has a strong focus on technological services. • Auditori de la Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró: originally the workshop where the Catalan artist developed his creative work, the site is presently a meeting point for writers, artists and musicians. It can host 100 pax. • Hotel Gran Melià Victoria’s convention centre: with 11 meeting rooms designed in traditional Balearic style all annexed to the hotel. Its Magna room has space for 500 pax. • The Real Cartuja de Valldemossa: a monumental complex dating back to King James II, who chose this 400-metre high location to build a palace for his son. It is currently a cultural centre. • The five-star Biomar Gran Hotel & Spa, with meeting rooms for up to 350 pax. • Riskal, a large entertainment centre with gardens, walkways, restaurants, cafes, music clubs, a discotheque, venues for events and open air multi-purpose areas. • The Palacio de Congresos de Palma will open in 2011 and will be located on the edge of the Palma bay. It will have an auditorium for more than 2,000 pax, a 1,120sqm hall and a 650sqm room.

Menorca

Ibiza Auditorium-conference centre – located among pine trees and just by the sea – adapts to its natural surroundings

From the Convention Bureau

My destination offers outstanding attractions, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Excellent communications, a temperate climate that make it possible to celebrate events any time of year and complement them with excursions, and finally, a hotel and service infrastructure that allows any request. Future plans in the meetings and events market… The most important thing is to complete the Palma congress centre, which will give the sector new opportunities for big events. As the Mallorca Convention Bureau, this year our promotional work is focused primarily on organising fam trips to show the possibilities that Mallorca offers. Marga Méndez, Director of the Mallorca Convention Bureau

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Murcia Region Apart from the mass tourism routes, with an average annual temperature of 20ºC that almost guarantees outdoor events in mid-winter, and highly competitive prices, Murcia is a corner of the Mediterranean which offers a lot for events: 250km of coastline divided between two seas, 19 natural reserves, famous hot springs and a delicious gastronomy. And Cartagena is one of most beautiful cities of the province, located on the coast with more than 2000 years history and a rich cultural heritage which gave the city modernist and roman masterpieces. The region also stands out for its wide range of golf courses.

Surprising nooks Murcia • One monument that stands out amongst others in Murcia is the cathedral, with its baroque façade and mainly gothic interior. • The Museum of Santa Clara was a palace for Muslim emirs in the 12th and 13th centuries, and a palace for Castilian monarchs and royal monastery from 1365 until today.

Cartagena • In the port of Cartagena, you can see the prototype of Isaac Peral’s submarine, the predecessor to the current ones. • The walls of Cartagena, a unique Punic defensive construction. • The city has beautiful modernist buildings like the Palace Hall (1907), the Casino, the Cervantes House and Llagostera House on Main Street, as well as the Grand Hotel in Air Street. • The panoramic lift in the Cartagena Port of Cultures. Go up and discover a unique view of the city. This elevator rises 45 metres up to Park Towers.

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Privileged region: Murcia has an average temperature of 20ºC, 250km of coast and 19 natural protected areas Activities

Fun facts • The region is known as “the market garden of Europe” for its long agricultural tradition and its huge exports of fruits, vegetables and flowers, to the rest of Europe • In the Murcia province, the town of Lorca snatched the Guinness Record for cooking the world’s largest roscón (Twelfth Night cake) from Houston, 368 metres and 1417 kilos. • Murcia is twinned with the city of Miami. • For Easter, life-size sculptures by Francisco Salzillo are drawn out of the museums and carried through the streets in processions. • After dessert in Cartagena, one should try an Asiático: coffee, condensed milk, brandy and cinnamon, served in a special cup.

Murcia also has spaces for very unique events. Agency Noved chose an old artillery bunker, converted into a bunker in order to create a futuristic atmosphere for a rebranding event.

• Enjoy an excursion to Calasparra to visit two caves, the Cueva del Puerto and the Cueva of the puppets, with rock paintings. When you leave, you can sign up for a fall kayak ride down the Segura River through the Canyon of Almadenes, where you’ll discover some native species of flora and fauna. • Organise a morning trip to discover some of the charms of the province. Start the day with a visit to the Museo de la Huerta Sewer, the Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Fuensanta, patron saint of the city, or the Jeronimos Monastery, known as El Escorial of Murcia. • Pamper your guests and get them to enjoy a relaxing bath in thermal pools Archena Spa. • Take a ride on Majal Blanco, a green jewel in the heart of the Regional Park of El Valle-Carrascoy. Your guests will network a bit while walking on the PR-1 route. • The Silk Road and the Tapas Route. Take your group to the Palace of Silk and combine this with a cool tapas lunch on the square. • Outdoor Business. Make your group experience the thrill of golf at any of the fields located close to Murcia or Cartagena. • Enjoy a green tourism day. Head for Yecla and visit wineries, most of which use the Monastrell grape. • If you are in Cartagena in September, go back in time to the 2nd Punic War, enjoying the Carthaginians and Romans Festival. • Plan a route on the 90 km of paths and roads along the Mediterranean coast and the Mar Menor in Cartagena.

Pfizer chose the Punic walls of Cartagena for one of their events The park Terra Natura hosted an event for 500 paediatricians invited by the company Hero to introduce a new line of children’s products. The event included tasting of Iberian products, shows, monologues and Workshops.

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MURCIA

Mild year-round temperatures make it possible to organise events in any season. Medtronic conducted a teambuilding in the waters of the Mar Menor as a complement to a sales meeting. Participants embarked on seven sailboats, 12m long.

Highlighted venues In Murcia • Auditorium and congress centre Víctor Villegas. Open in 1995, it was expanded in 2002. A garden, 17 meeting halls with space for more than 2700 pax. • Federation of the metal industry of Murcia: 12,000sqm of modern facilities in the city centre, with rooms for up to 275 people. • Auditorium and Congress Centre Victor Villegas: located right in the city of Murcia, offers ten meeting rooms. • Magal: auditorium and five conference rooms for up to 350 people. It also offers a business centre. • Almudí Palace has a room with a capacity for 150 people. • Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation of Murcia, has 35 function rooms with audiovisual equipment. • Caja de Ahorros de Murcia: two rooms with a capacity for 200 pax. • Santa Quiteria Fairgrounds, with exhibition area, VIP lounge, meeting rooms and cafeterias.

In Cartagena • Fuerte de Navidad is one of the historic sites in Cartagena which can add a cultural character to your event. It hosts evening concerts in summer for up to 200 people. • The old civil war shelters are a venue with history. They have been prepared for events for up to 200 people. • The new Teatro del Circo, with 900 seats, is the largest venue for events of Cartagena. • Other available venues are the Fundación Caja Murcia (200 pax), the CAM (200 pax) and the Hall of the Palacio Consistorial (60 pax).

A former shelter from the civil war in Cartagena, is prepared for events of up to 200 pax

Murcia offers almost 4,000 hotel rooms and meeting rooms for up to 1,200 pax From the Convention Bureau of Murcia

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Murcia has a climate that ensures 300 days of sunshine per year and 20ºC on average. The city offers over 4000 beds, mostly in hotels with meeting and conference rooms with capacities of up to 1200 people. We also have 250km of coast. Future plans for Murcia in the meetings and events market… The international airport is scheduled to open in the second half of 2011, and the high speed train should arrive in 2014. The upcoming Murcia Congress Centre will complement the current offering, while in the north land that will house a large showground has already been planned and chosen. Our hotel offering will grow with a new 5-star hotel in 2011. Ramón Palazón, Director of the Murcia CVB

Other venues

• IFEPA. Recinto Ferial de Torre Pacheco: near the San Javier airport and close to Alicante, offers 46,785sqm, four covered pavilions and outdoor areas. • Yecla fair ground: located one hour from the international airports or Manises Altet, it offers 15,000sqm divided between areas of 2000m2.

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From the Convention Bureau of Cartagena

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Cartagena is one of the most complete Mediterranean cities, with beaches within minutes of the city, rewarded as the best environmentally in Spain. It also has many peculiar venues, inherited from its rich history, such as the Roman Theatre, one of the best preserved in Spain, or the Punic Wall, which offer a very unique environment for your event. Future plans for Cartagena in the meetings and events market… The Auditorium and Convention Centre, which opens in less than a year, is next to the sea and to the Teatro Romano, and has capacity for 3,000 pax. We are also expecting the station where the highspeed train will arrive in 2014. In a few years, the Corvera International Airport will open, 20 minutes from the city centre. In addition, next year will open a sports arena, with special venues and an area of 30,000sqm. María del Rosario Montero, Director of the Cartagena CVB

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Costa del Sol

It has been a tourism powerhouse for decades, as well as one of the leading destinations within Spain for incentives and meetings. But the Costa del Sol, led by its main city Málaga, is not resting, on the contrary it displays an uncommon dynamism in our industry. The last few years have been hectic, with Málaga hosting several key industry gatherings (ICCA, SITE, MPI, besides the Spain PCO Association). The Costa del Sol is now launching a new project to turn itself into a sustainable destination, the project MálagaCon, which aims to better position Málaga as a destination for congresses. The Costa del Sol is known above all for the luxury and glamour that it has offered since cinema stars started frequenting the area in the seventies. Today, between 25 and 30% of Spain’s large luxury hotels are found in Marbella and the surrounding area. Furthermore, who could forget the areas first class golf courses? Here, luxury and an international character contrast with typical small Andalusian villages with their narrow streets and white-washed houses adorned with flowers. When we talk about Málaga, the regional capital, we talk about the artist Picasso, who was born in the city. But we also say there is no better place in Spain to eat the famous pescaditos or small fried fishes.

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Famous for…

• Its year-round mild temperature and hours of sun. • Puerto Banús, a luxurious sporting hub and entertainment centre for the jet set. • Being the summer residence of many celebrities. • Picasso, who was born in Málaga. • The wide selection of resorts, hotels and golf courses. a plate of small • Pescaitos, fried fish, a famous example of Málaga’s gastronomy.

Nickname

The Golf Coast because it has the largest number of golf courses in Spain

Fun facts

• One could say Costa del Sol’s modern history begins in Torremolinos with the arrival of George Langworthy, better known as “el Inglés” (the Englishman). He and his wife resided in the Castillo de Santa Clara. • The late King Fahd of Saudi Arabia spent his summer holidays in Marbella accompanied by an entourage of 3,000 people, 200 cars, helicopters, planes, and an army of bodyguards. • Málaga aspires to become a European cultural capital in 2016. All museums are undergoing renovation or improvements; new museums under construction include the Wine Museum, the Flamenco Museum and the Semana Santa (Holy Week) Museum.

Málaga is betting on our industry: between 2008 and 2010, it hosted the international ICCA, SITE and MPI conferences

Flamenco teambuilding During a trip with Great Hotels of the World, Exploramás -together with DMC Cititravel and the Costa del Sol Convention Bureau- Exploramas Experience planned an event for 80 people called Teambuilding Flamenco ©. To engage the group and go beyond the typical touristic visit, the activity made them participate (in a fun way) in Andalusian cultural activities such as percussions, Sevillanas, a gazpacho and sangria contest, a fun carnival, and a route through Picasso’s Málaga.

Abilio Lope

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COSTA DEL SOL

Moving forward: the new terminal at Málaga Airport will double its capacity

Activities

• Attend a polo game at the exclusive Sotogrande club followed by a visit of the facilities. You can also organise a polo clinic for your guests (by Ultramar Events). • Discover the beautiful city of Málaga by a fun and sustainable means of transport, the Segway: see the authentic corners of the Old Town, take the Picassian route (Picasso Museum, Picasso birthplace, Santiago Church, etc.). • Drive an Ascari, a racing sports car, on the circuit of the Ascari Race Resort in Ronda, with a luxurious resort and an academy. For very exclusive incentives. • Take a tapa tour on two wheels: Málaga Bike Tours offers excursions in which participants learn the history, culture and tales of the city. At each stop, they can try tapas and local wines while listening to the guide. • Explore hidden coves while admiring the rich natural seabed from the deck of the Fly Blue Catamaran. Organised by Ultramar Events, this excursion can be combined with a ski outing to the Sierra Nevada slopes in the afternoon. • Drive off-road cars to an isolated farm in the Málaga mountains and enjoy a unique experience sharing the daily life of a local family in their own cottage. Groups can go grape-harvesting in the vineyard, learn how to dry the grapes to make raisins and share an informal country lunch with the family. In a nearby village, they can make their own wine in the traditional way by stamping the grapes with their feet (by España Incoming & Incentives). • Restaurant Roca Tranquila offers participants the opportunity to spend a day in the open “show” kitchen of Roca Tranquila preparing a threecourse menu with their chef Kasper Nielsen. They will prepare Mediterranean dishes, and then enjoy the meal in a beautiful and private room. • The Reforest Team Action is a reforestation programme for companies wishing to transmit CSR values and promote team work, by Exploramas. The team will reforest the Sierra de Mijas, an area affected by forest fires, and live a meaningful day, full of sensations.

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Reforestation activity, by Exploramas

Surprising nooks

Surprising nooks Malaga city

Rest of the Costa del Sol

• Castillo de Gibralfaro: the city’s best watch tower. A tour around its decorated walls and its towers allows you to get a bird’s eye view of the entire city. • Hotel del Pintor: a small boutique hotel, owned by artist Pepe Bornoy, that mixes art with comfort. • La Casa del Guardia: opened in 1849, this is the city’s oldest winery. Drinking a glass of Muscat wine is a must.

• The historical town of Marbella: with white alleys and balconies decorated with flowers, the area houses the Plaza de los Naranjos and the remnants of the Arabian castle or Castillo Árabe. • Real Maestranza de Ronda: this neoclassical bullfighting arena opened in 1785 and has the largest ring in Europe, measuring 66 metres in diameter. • Cuevas de Nerja: The most important natural heritage site in the area. Water has eroded the marble surfaces creating unique cavities known for their great beauty and impressive dimensions. • Paraje Natural de El Torcal: in Antequera, more than 12,000sqm of limestone rocks that emerged from the seabed 150 million years ago. • Ocean Club: situated in Puerto Banús, a luxurious club with facilities which can be rented for events.

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COSTA DEL SOL Following the footsteps of Picasso In this event by Es-cultura, 54 employees of Right On Target discovered Málaga in a fun activity, through the eyes of the city’s beloved son Picasso. The participants had to find streets, squares and places that were part of the artist’s life. At strategic points, the participants encountered some characters from the artist’s life explaining about his life and his work, making the visit entertaining and lively.

The Costa del Sol offers luxury and glamour, capitalising on the presence of cinema stars since the 1970’s

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Our sun, which gives us energy, vitality and strength. Many people know the Costa del Sol is accessible and safe and that we have some of the best 4 and 5 star meetings-ready hotels and the highest concentration of luxury hotels in Spain. We have a varied and complete offer which allows our visitors to discover a different world of experiences and sensations through our culture, traditions and gastronomy. All these come together under a unique element: our sun.

Future plans in the meetings and events market… The Costa del Sol is intensifying its advocacy and marketing through operations in mature markets (Spain, UK, Germany, Belgium, Holland, USA, Canada) and in emerging markets (Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, India and Southeast Asia, where we have been present for six years). Another pillar in our 2010 action plan is the promotion of Malaga as a city of congresses through the campaign MálagaWith:, which just completed its second year with excellent results, capturing an increasing number of national meetings. This year, we launch a communication campaign at European level to capture international conferences. Thirdly, we launched an ambitious project of sustainability and CSR - a medium-term project which aims to involve all administrations and industry professionals, and will result in cost savings, better brand and an investment in the future. Belén Pérez-Gascón, Director of the Costa del Sol Convention Bureau & Tourism Board

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Highlighted venues

Future openings

• In 2010, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will open a resort in Benehavís. The 153-room hotel will have two meeting rooms for up to 250 people. • The new Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum will open in Malaga in 2010. It will be located at the Villalón Palace, and will display more than 358 Spanish and Andalusian paintings mainly from the 19th century. • In 2010 another museum is due to open in Málaga, which will house the world’s most important collection of precious stones.

Donkey Polo Spanish humour, and loads of fun: Exploramás Experience offers this surprising Donkey Polo © activity (here for Toyota, with DMC Incoming Spain)

• The Hotel Vincci Posada del Patio was the first five-star hotel opening in Málaga. It is located right in the historic city centre, with 109 rooms. • Málaga Picasso Museum: located in the magnificent Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista, it can be rented for events. • Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga: avant-garde architecture with 60,000sqm of space for up to 20,000 pax. • Jardín Botánico Histórico de La Concepción: spectacular venue, dating to 1850, which is available for events and themed dinners. • Castillo de Santa Catalina: this site of cultural interest is a palace built in 1624 and surrounded by gardens with splendid views of the sea. It hosts the opening of the Málaga film festival. • Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Marbella: includes a top floor with more than 3,000sqm and a plenary room with 1,600 seats. • Palacio de Congresos de Torremolinos: the main hall is divided into two floors of 3,000 and 2,500sqm. • Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Estepona: 21,000sqm of indoor space with a 15,000sqm garden, including a heliport, an allpurpose pavilion, etc. • Escuela de Arte Ecuestre: located in Estepona, it has rooms for events and themed dinners. • Palacio Duque Heredia: the 19th century palace has a 21,000sqm garden, which is part of the Botanical Garden of Málaga. • Palacio de Cropani: the 1,200sqm neoclassical building has five meeting rooms and can hold a cocktail party for 300 pax. • Bodega Ecológica Joaquín Fernández: this ecological winery offers a cellar for 80 guests and an outdoor hall for 300.

MálagaCon: an example of collaboration

This has been one of the finest examples of collaboration and smart marketing in recent years. MálagaCon: congresos contigo is the name of an ambitious promotional campaign to position Málaga as a destination for congresses. Why smart? First because it is a joint campaign by the city of Málaga, the region of the Costa del Sol and Andalucía (it is smarter to join forces…), which got together to promote the destination, but also to manage bids and bring together all forces of the destination. Also, the effort was not only directed outside of Málaga but also inside, with events and communication directed at people from the area (especially events for local Doctors) explaining the importance of getting congresses. The campaign was completed with a presentation in the main Spanish cities. And it is now becoming international. And it has paid off: 40 new applications were submitted thanks to this joint approach, of which 23 were won. A very high success rate: “we are still an emerging destination, so it is an advantage as many congresses look for novelty. And now our destination is clearly ready.”

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Seville

Seville is spoiled. When deciding to define its cultural offer for tourism and meetings, the city settled for three lines: flamenco, the first trip around the world, the world of opera, three extremely rich themes which come from the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading historic role. From the moorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence to the Catholic kings and more recent events like the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition, the architectural and cultural wealth of the city is astounding. And Seville is back! Based on these three lines, it is defining touristic products, an interesting initiative to offer visitors (and incentive planners) a cool range of options. It is giving new life to the river which crosses it, with renovation projects to be completed by 2011 which will enable cruise boats to enter the city by the river. It is building a new congress centre. In the last couple of years it has developed a more sustainable approach based on a tram, bikes for rent and renovated pedestrian areas to give visitors the possibility to walk throughout the city. Specifically, it is adapting most of the historical quarter into a pedestrian-only area, restricting traffic throughout the city centre. But despite this current renovation, one thing will never change: Seville loves good life, hospitality, fun. Enjoy it!

Sevilla Tourism

Flamenco, percussion, and traditional choirs... donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to include the vibrant local music in your events in Seville

Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

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Famous for…

• Its three fundamental monuments: the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Reales Alcázares, located in the centre and among the most beautiful in Spain. • The Torre del Oro, another symbol of the city, or the Plaza de España built for the 1929 Exhibition, with its spectacular regional architecture. • Its gripping and highly colourful Easter processions that fill the streets with mystery, mysticism and meditation. • Its patios in neighbourhoods like Triana, La Macarena and Santa Cruz, which are full of colourful flowers. • The Doñana Natural Park, a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site and Biosphere reserve, the ideal place for outdoor sports. • The generous “tapas” and wines that are served in its bars as well as its intense street atmosphere. • La Plaza de España, which appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (George Lucas, 2002).

Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions and the Feria de Abril: spring in Seville offers the most colourful celebrations in Spain Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

Surprising nooks • Las Atarazanas Reales, built in the 13th century for the construction of ships that would sail across the Guadalquivir River and the Mediterranean, it was converted into a museum in 2008. • La Plaza del Salvador, in addition to being one of the most beautiful squares in Seville, is a midday meeting place for the locals. On sunny days, it is a very pleasant place to have a beer and enjoy the atmosphere. • The pavilions inherited from the 1929 Ibero-American Exhibition include the Peruvian pavilion, with a mixture of Spanish and pre-Hispanic cultural influences, the neo-baroque Portuguese pavilion or the Colombian pavilion, based on Colombian religious architecture. The city is now defining a themed route based on this exhibition, with the visit to its main pavilions. • Baños Árabes – Aires de Sevilla. This Arab bath is located in a 16th century house just 50m from the cathedral. The house has different rooms which can be used for meetings including the Tetería (tea room) and its courtyard and terrace with views of the city.

Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

Fun facts • The city’s motto is «NO8DO» with the 8 forming a hank of wool. According to legend, it is a reference to King Alfonso X and his ongoing loyalty to the city in the war against his son Don Sancho in the 13th century. • Lord Byron wrote of Seville that it is “a pleasant city, famous for its knives and its women”. • Every year, Seville celebrates its Feria de la Tapa where you can taste a variety of traditional tapas in the market while learning about the different new tapa creations. • The Feria de Abril originated in the 14th century as a livestock fair and, throughout the passage of time, has remained an important date for the locals. foto: nuevo_fibes.jpg. Pie The new auditorium of the trade show ground Fibes will have eight multi-purpose rooms adapted to new technologies, and an auditorium to hold more than 3500 persons.

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SEVILLE

Activities

• España Incoming & Incentives proposes a fun variation of polo for teambuilding activities: “donkey polo”. You need a bullring, 10 donkeys, brooms, a ball and a referee. Less prestigious than the original, but a lot more fun... • Kuoni Destination Management organises a typical pilgrimage through villages in the south of Spain. Upon arrival, the group is greeted by drummers and flamenco girls. The participants walk up the streets and start the pilgrimage, during which they make stops to eat, drink and enjoy the landscape. The group is accompanied by a rociero or traditional choir as well as a rumba sevillana band. The activity ends with the group singing all together at the estate. • Seville has the honor of being featured in several key operas, such as Bizet’s Carmen and The Barber of Seville by Rossini. Furthermore, the lyrical works related to Don Juan are set in Seville. Based on this wealth, the city has defined numerous activities related to opera, such as free tours throughout the typical opera route and visits to different theatres, where on-going musical events take place. • Bandolero Tours offers you the opportunity to sample the lifestyle of a 14th century highwayman in the Sierra Morena. • Azahares Congresos e Incentivos organises a 4x4 rally through the Ruta del Agua where participants discover the heritage and nature of Seville and its white towns. The trip ends in a typical Andalusian country house.

Highlighted venues

• Palacio de Congresos de Sevilla or FIBES offers three 7,200sqm pavilions and nine rooms. In 2010, it will feature a new 3,500-seat auditorium, which will expand its capacity to 5,000. • Centro Sevilla Congresos, in Osuna, has a capacity for 7,000 pax and more than 20 meeting rooms. • Cartuja 93, Andalusia’s most important technology park, was made for EXPO’92 and measures 639,419sqm. • Casino de la Exposición, the old Exhibition Theatre’s foyer (today Teatro Lope de Vega) was built for the 1929 Ibero-American exhibition and stands next to the Maria Luisa Park. It has a 750 pax capacity. • Real Alcázar, declared a Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, has spectacular Moorish gardens modified with romantic Renaissance renovations. • El Coto las Canteras, in Osuna, is an old stone enclave that is 1000 years old. It has been restored and now the natural cave has a capacity of 1400 pax. • Naves del Barranco, from the 14th century and originally a fish market, is an example of iron architecture in Seville. It has a 300 pax capacity. • Museo del Baile Flamenco, an urban palace from the 18th century which can host intimate events, including flamenco shows, for up to 20 pax. • Casa de Pilatos, the most sumptuous noble residence in Seville from the 15th century has a capacity for 700 pax.

Organised by Es-Cultura The agency organised, with the help of a specialised team in rhythm and percussion, an event where 160 employees from Eventing Sports had the opportunity to work in teams, making music with typical culinary utensils from Seville, made of wood, ceramic and other typically used materials. Participants were divided into groups and given cooking utensils as musical instruments (such as spoons, frying pans, cups, pots…) in order to learn and practice a rhythm and a choreography. Afterwards, all the groups had to perform their musical creations and with the collaboration of the teachers, composed a piece of music using the mixture of all of the symphonies. This comes to show that with everybody’s collaboration, we can make unique things.

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• The new auditorium of FIBES, by prestigious architect Guillermo Vázquez Consuegra, will include a 3000sqm roofed footbridge joining the present building and the new one; an all-purpose building with a catering area of more than 2500sqm, a 3200sqm registration area and 18 rooms, and an auditorium for more than 3500 people..

Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

Gastronomic Drumming

Future openings

An ambitious tourism plan until 2011: urbanism actions and the definition of products based on Seville’s history

Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

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Carmen’s tour

Organised by Es-cultura with Orange Viajes Es-Cultura provided the resources needed to offer an unforgettable visit to Seville’s historical quarters, not only by the uniqueness of places and monuments to be visited, but by the appearance and interaction with characters from the famous legend of “Carmen la cigarrera”. Such characters from Carmen’s legend, artistic performances of the opera that bears her name and celebrities from the flamenco world, appear throughout the tour giving the visitors an idea of what Seville and its society was like in those days and making the visit more fun and interesting.

Consorcio Turismo de Sevilla

Seville in a sustainable way: the city centre is getting green, with pedestrian areas, bikes for rent, and a new tramway ENEL Mass-Market Convention

Organised by Eventisimo For the 2010 Mass-Market Convention of Enel, Eventissimo organised a tapas tour through the historical city centre of Seville, for 250 top Italian executives, where participants could enjoy and taste some of the most famous local recipes. This tour finalised with an exquisite cocktail offered by Kuns catering at the Royal Alcázares of Seville. But the activity that most impacted the attendees was the visit to a typical hacienda where they could learn about the bullfighting culture. Furthermore, they could participate in a capea, bullfighting a baby calf, where even the capotes had Enel’s logo. The Convention took place at the Meliá Colon Hotel, where the delegates had dinner with the incomparable background of the Torre del Oro.

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Canary Islands Located in the blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean, these seven volcanic islands (El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote), offer meeting planners the magic of a unique archipelago for its diversity and subtropical richness, a spring-like climate 365 days a year, and all this while staying in Europe. Yet despite being primarily known as a leisure and sport paradise, the islands also have an interesting cultural dimension with remains of the Guanche civilisation, from games and traditional sports to arts and crafts and gastronomy. And in recent years, they have implemented ambitious strategies to achieve sustainable development, respectful of the islands’ environment. And if you plan an event during February’s carnival, you will have quite an experience with parades living up to Brazilian standards and a non-stop party atmosphere. It turns out one can also catch the tropical fever in Spain...

Surprising nooks Tenerife • La Noria Street in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which offers an intense nightlife in traditional houses that have been converted into bars. • The Villa de Adeje, the former residence of the Great Tinerfe, the last of the Guanche kings of Tenerife, until the Spanish conquest. • La Orotava and La Laguna: historic and artistic sites, famous for their unique balconies and interior patios. • Acantilados de los Gigantes (the Cliffs of the Giants), an impressive landscape in the south of the island. Some of its vertical walls reach 600 metres. • The Teide National Park, similar to a lunar landscape due to its peculiar solidified lava formations. It is classified as a Cultural Heritage site.

Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria Auditorio Alfredo Kraus

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Despite being originally sun and beach destinations, Tenerife and Gran Canaria feature several impressive convention centres

Famous for…

• Its carnival, one of the most colourful and best-known in the world. • Whale-watching all year round in Tenerife. • The mix of indigenous heritage and colonial architectural style. • The salsa de mojo, a dipping sauce made with black pepper, sweet peppers, garlic, cumin and coriander. • The variety of landscapes: volcanic, white dunes, wild forests, black sand coves, lunar landscapes, coffee plantations, cliffs...

Gran Canaria • Pérez Galdós House-Museum: birthplace of writer Benito Pérez Galdós, is one of the most emblematic of the eighteenth century Gran Canaria architecture. • La Hacienda del Buen Suceso: 12km from Las Palmas city, it is built with quarry stone from Arucas (in the arches all along the building) and tea wood and tiles. • La Casa del Reloj: in the old part of Vegueta, close to Las Palmas’ Cathedral. It has extended lounges decorated with a refined classicism. It has three lounges for celebrations of up to 130 guests. • Columbus House: the house visited by Christopher Columbus during his journey to America in 1492. Its rooms feature content on the role of the Canary Islands in the Discovery. • Painted Cave of Gáldar: aboriginal art site with geometrical designs, based on squares, triangles and circles in red, ochre and white colours that, to this day, leave a large mark on contemporary art from Gran Canaria. • La Casa del Vino, or wine house, is a reformed historical building in Santa Brígida where you can taste and learn about a variety of wines from the Canary Islands.

Tenerife real

Organised by Teamfactory For the closing dinner of the Celgene German pharmaceutical company’s convention, the agency created an unusual gala related to Tenerife’s best product: the banana cultivation, production, care, cutting and cleaning, distribution and especially its taste. The dinner took place on a banana farm. A Canarian cocktail was held inside the bananas greenhouse where the assistants explained banana cultivation. Later on, they visited other places related to the banana industry. Participants could even have dinner where people worked and machines ran. This working scene lasted about 20 minutes, and then a dinner atmosphere was created.

Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria

Fun facts • The term “Canary” appeared in the first document with a direct reference to the Islands, derived from the Latin canis (dog). • The Teide, measuring 3,718 metres, is the highest peak in all of Spain. • Even if the islands are fully part of Spain, you must clear customs when travelling between the mainland and the Canary Islands. Be careful if you have to ship equipment: there could be some clearance time. • Almost 43% of the territory of Gran Canaria is protected, a ratio of approximately 1,000sqm for each of the island’s inhabitants. • The island La Palma is referred to as ‘la Isla Bonita’, owing to its immense natural beauty. Organised by Eventisimo in Tenerife, this event for Schweppes, themed as “Drink Team: thirst for victory”, aimed to present the new marketing plan in a complete football atmosphere. The participants had to buy their tickets at the box office and experienced their own sport carousel. A football stadium was recreated and the attendees were divided following the company’s brands. From Schweppes FM Radio, a sports journalist commented on the event and the achievements of every team.

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CANARY ISLANDS

Activities

Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria

Tenerife • Descend the Masca ravine with Teamfactory. With the help of instructors, the group arrives by boat and can then spot dolphins and whales in the only place where you can see these mammals throughout the year. • Discover the Islands with a Canary Islands gymkhana by Ultramar Express. In the typical Canary towns of Tenerife or Gran Canaria, the group can practice traditional crafts (roll a cigar), folklore (dance an isa guided by a local group or practise Canary Island wrestling) or gastronomy (cook a typical dish and taste a wine from Tenerife) not to mention enjoy Canary Islands’ outdoor culture. • Whale and dolphin watching: these excursions leave every day from various ports, with the aim of sighting the whale or dolphin colonies that live or pass through the area. • Follow a route on foot through the Teide National Park with agency Ilusiona: visit los Roques de García, a line of rocky formations, and the Roque Cinchado vista point overlooking the spectacular “Llano de Ucanca” plains. After taking a cable car to the Teide peak, the group can have dinner at the state-run hotel, then enjoy a presentation on Canary Island astronomy and observe the constellations and planets with the naked eye. • Teleférico Teide: this cable car takes your group to the top of Mount Teide. • El Cardón environmental education: offers a guided climb up Mount Teide, with visits to the volcanic tunnels or descents into the ravine. Other outdoor activities include climbing, mountain biking, archery, diving and kayaking. • Jeep Safari Tamarán: one way to discover the hidden side of Tenerife. A troupe of 4x4 vehicles, with specialised drivers, probe through remote trails, inaccessible corners, forests, typical villages, volcanoes… • Watching the stars: with The Observación de las Estrellas your group can observe the night sky with a wide-ranging telescope, in the place in Europe where one can see the greatest number of heavenly stars. • In collaboration with the Office of Environmental Participation and Volunteer Activity, Tenerife offers the possibility of working for the recovery of degraded spaces on the Island. Activities include clearing waste, working to recover pathways, guided tours to discover the natural sights of the area, among others.

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Hiking en Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria • Let Capital Incentive take you on a camel ride through the Maspalomas dunes, a natural seaside reserve with more than 400 hectares of golden sand. • Experience the carnivals with DMC Ultramar Express, where guests can enjoy an informal barbecue dinner. Musical groups, comical characters, Go-go dancers and carnival queens parade and interact with the participants to the rhythm of batucadas. • Discover the Island in a different way with The Fun Car Rally (by TenTravel agency). Teams travel across the Island in four-wheel drive cars, searching for treasure (emblematic photographs), playing pétanque along the way, all while answering questions in a quiz book about the spots they have visited. • Town to Town: this orientation trial by car throughout the island, is a way to discover several locations with cultural, tourist or craftsmanship interest. The participants, following a scenario, will have to find specific points and fill in a quiz about the island. • Sailing: the water temperature, the harbour infrastructure for yachting and the sea and wind conditions make this island a perfect place for sailing and other water sports all year round. • Robinson Games: participants have to find a set of survival elements like tools, water, food, etc. At the same time, they will have to help each other to build a shelter. All this on an island (or an isolated beach) with few resources. This activity can be enhanced with a bivouac stay. Note: The other Canary Islands (El Hierro, La Gomera, La Palma, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote), which we do not describe in detail here, are also very prepared to host events, with proper venues and original incentive activities.

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Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria

Palacio de Congresos Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria

Hiking en Gran Canaria

Tenerife Champions Cup 2009

Organised by Charlie Head The Tenerife Champions Cup Beach Volley 2009 is a professional sport event that combines different corporate activities, promotional tourism, networking and fiesta. It takes place in Siam Park in Costa Adeje, during October; taking advantage of the good weather during this time which is unlike in the rest of Europe. Besides the sport-show, for over a month, parallel events include institutional presentations, cocktails, parties, galas, TV shows in order to cover the broad interest areas of the partners who are sponsoring the event, whether they be public bodies, private companies or consumer brands.

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CANARY ISLANDS Lufthansa City Center lands in Tenerife for its annual meeting

Organised by LM Productions About 450 Lufthansa City Center agents held their annual meeting in Tenerife. A welcome night and a gala dinner, both with high doses of music and dance, were part of the event. The first one was held at the Hotel Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora, and the second one at the Magma Arte & Congresos. Following the reception, a carnival batucada led the attendees to the dinner buffet which began with a piece of Canarian folklore. A Cuban quartet also performed, accompanied by a large dance troupe. The gala then followed a volcanic theme. The venue for the dinner was filled with corporate projections, lighting effects and decorative fire elements. The attendees were surrounded by down-fires, fans, fire skirts, stilt walkers and jugglers. A second show was organised on both exterior walls by Circodedos, a vertical aerial dance company. It ended with another multimedia volcanic images show, with explosive eruptions, uplifting music, lighting effects and fireworks. Adding more symphonies to the event, a group of contemporary dancers led the attendees into the building where dinner started. The place was decorated with pictures of the island and the music of the comparsa Los Joroperos. Finally Funktastic Concert Band closed the event.

From the Convention Bureau of Tenerife

My island offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight one, really different… In short, a leading hosting capacity and quality in Spain, conference centres of the first order, a privileged environment, and a climate that allows the island to be used for large events throughout the year. If to all this we add an excellent network of service companies, reduced taxation, and the possibility of unique activities (whale watching, Teide National Park, stargazing ...), we have an excellent destination for all kinds of meetings and events.

will edit recommendations for sustainable events in Tenerife, which include procedures for recycling, minimizing the environmental footprint, paper reduction, reuse, etc. Diego Fernández, Tenerife Convention Bureau Coordinator

Future plans in the meetings and events market? We want to close ties with specialised agencies and PCOs. For this we are making a great effort, through the TCB Academy, and “Ultimate Tenerife Experience”, to inform people about the island’s possibilities. We are also working hard to provide CSR activities for groups, with interesting programmes on seabed recovery, reforestation, etc. In this sense, we

From the Convention Bureau of Gran Canaria ExcellenMy island offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight one, really different… The magnificent facilities for high standing events, the excellent air connections, the richness and variety of landscapes and a perfect climate 12 months a year, make Gran Canaria a unique destination for the congresses tourism sector. Future plans in the meetings and events market? Last year this segment has grown significantly in Gran Canaria; and we intend to consolidate this growth in order to become the congresses and events benchmark in the Canary Islands. Roberto Moreno, President of the Gran Canaria Tourism Board and Convention Bureau

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Highlighted venues Tenerife • Auditorio de Tenerife: auditorium in the Heart of Santa Cruz, an avant-garde building designed by Santiago Calatrava, with seating capacity for 1,600 pax. • Puerto de la Cruz Congress Centre: located in the middle of 110,000sqm of subtropical gardens with splendid views of the sea and a capacity for 1,000 pax. • Magma Arte & Congresos: architecturally striking, the main auditorium has seating capacity for 2,500 pax and a 300sqm stage. • Parque Etnográfico Pirámides de Güímar: historical monument of great ethnographic value which illustrates the origin of the great indigenous civilisations. Includes an auditorium for 164 pax. • Siam Park: huge water park in Costa Adeje featuring the largest artificial wave in Europe. It includes private islands, VIP cabins and a white sand beach, not to mention capacity for 3,000 pax. • Ábaco: in Puerto de la Cruz, Canary Island-styled eighteenth century mansion surrounded by gardens and adapted for events. Catalogued as a building of cultural interest (BIC). • Arona’s Pyramid Convention Centre has capacity to house 1,815 delegates and is part of the luxurious Mare Nostrum Resort situated in front of the sea on the El Camisón beach in the south of Tenerife.

Gran Canaria • Auditorio Alfredo Kraus: located in front of the capital city’s Las Canteras beach. It has striking architecture, in an area which provides a unique and relaxing coastal environment. • Gran Canaria Congress Centre: located in Las Palmas, it offers garden spaces and a diverse range of halls for events, totalling more than 7,500sqm. • Maspalomas Congress Centre: a modern building in the South of the Island, which offers 24 conference rooms with electronic screens and mobile stages. • Hotel de Montaña Las Tirajanas: 1,000m above sea level in the heart of the Island, it has views of the inner valleys and a room for small meetings. • Gabinete Literario: in the north of the Island, this fourteenth century convent has been renovated for events and features numerous rooms in a romantic and neoclassical style. • Hacienda de Anzo: old colonial mansion, suitable for small events. The Cave Room is an authentic cave adapted to accommodate 250 pax.

You relax and celebrate. We take care of the details.

Situated right on the seaside, on El Camisón beach (Tenerife South) · 3 hotels of 4 and 5 stars · 1037 rooms and suites · Auditorium with a capacity of 1815 delegates · 26 versatile meeting rooms · Pool areas with open-air terrace for organising gala dinners (up to 2000 delegates) · Beach Club · Flamenco Dance Show

www.marenostrumresort.com Contact with Isabel Martínez and quote “Spain for Events”: Phone (+34) 92 275 75 00 · Fax (+34) 92 275 32 26 · mnrgrupos@expogrupo.com Mare Nostrum Resort · Avda. de Las Américas s/n · 38660 Tenerife, Spain

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Galicia

The 2010 Xacobeo religious celebration in Santiago de Compostela has set many European eyes towards this mystical land, full of legends, tradition, and fervour. It is Galicia’s time to shine, a great opportunity to open its cities, La Coruña, Santiago de Compostela, Vigo and Lugo to tourism, including business tourism and incentives. Galicia offers a unique connection to the sea, and the markets from La Coruña offer a wide variety of fish and seafood, all of which are served fresh with local wines in the region’s popular tascas. On the other hand, Santiago de Compostela, the end of the famous pilgrimage route known as the Camino de Santiago, is famous for its rich historical charm. It’s cathedral and other historical buildings landed it on the list of World Heritage Cities. Both cities have been building on their respective assets to gain a bigger share of the meetings industry. Fine historical venues like the beautiful old pazos (Galician palaces) are complemented by two of the country’s most outstanding venues, Expocoruña and Palexco. Galicia also offers pleasant stays dedicated to hot springs, gastronomic routes and outdoor activities, including golf. And the emerging third man is Vigo, which has recently presented its new Convention Bureau and will open a new congress centre next year.

Santiago Tourism

Surprising nooks La Coruña • The sculpture park, with its Torre de Hércules which celebrates the city’s Celtic tradition. • The Plaza de Lugo market, which offers the widest range of fish and seafood. Recently renovated, it is a real show looking at the variety of fish available at its stands. Both the “Lonja” (the commodities exchange where the fish are auctioned) and the market can be visited. • In the popular seafood restaurants lining Franja, Estrella or Barrera streets, you can try the famous local style octopus or pulpo a feira. • Plaza María Pita: the best known square in La Coruña is dedicated to the local heroine that fought against the English privateer skippered by the pirate Francis Drake. La Coruña

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Famous for… La Coruña • Its seaside Paseo Marítimo, the longest one in Europe: close to 15km of seafront paths open to foot, tram and bicycle traffic. • Its fish and seafood from the rias, which arrive daily to the fish markets like el Mercado de la Plaza de Lugo. • Its pazos (stately homes of the bourgeoisie and nobility) which are used as unique gala dinner venues right near the city. • The oldest existing lighthouse in the world is considered to be in La Coruña, and dates from ca. 20BC. It is still working. • La Coruña gastronomy combines the best of the coast and inland. From the coast come excellent shellfish such as crabs, barnacles, spider crabs and crayfish.

La Coruña lives by and with the sea, and many of the activities it offers are related to its fishermen traditions Santiago Tourism

Santiago de Compostela • Being declared the “European Capital of Culture” in 2000. • Being the final destination of the Camino de Santiago since the ninth century. • It’s impressive Cathedral, which amounts to a small stone city. • It’s university, with more than 500 years of tradition and 30,000 students.

Santiago de Compostela • Parque de San Domingos de Bonaval: the contrasting architecture of the Centro Gallego de Arte Contemporáneo and the Museo do Pobo Galego, which used to be a medieval convent, makes this site special. It also offers surprising views of the city. • Mirador del Parque de la Alameda: This vista point offers a spectacular view of the Cathedral standing out amongst the city’s smaller historical buildings. It’s no wonder this is the image most portrayed on city postcards. • Mercado de Abastos: still operating after more than a century, this market, in the centre of the old town, has become a reference of city life and an important tourist attraction. After the cathedral, it is the second most visited monument in Santiago. • Escalera de San Domingos de Bonaval: in the old Bonaval convent, which now houses the Museo do Pobo Galego, discover a triple spiral staircase that is well worth the visit for its technical elegance and bold design.

The 2010 Xacobeo to discover Galicia

This could be the way to discover Galicia. Xacobeo years are those in which the 25th of July falls on a Sunday (St. James). The 2010 Xacobeo will be celebrated in Galicia with a wide range of different cultural activities such as a Cirque du Soleil special show.

Fun facts La Coruña • According to a legend, Hercules founded the city: a giant called Gerion was terrorising its inhabitants. Hercules defeated Gerion, cut off his head and ordered a tower built on top of the severed head. • The Casa de las Ciencias has an apple tree at its entrance whose plaque reads: “This apple tree, of the Flower of Kent variety, is a copy of the one at Isaac Newton’s house in England”. • Zara’s first store opened here. Amancio Ortega, the founder and Spain’s richest man, still lives here. • It is the place in the world with the highest number of bars per capita: one for each 96 inhabitants!

Santiago de Compostela • The Camino de Santiago is well known for being the First European Cultural Route. • The Parador de los Reyes Católicos is considered the oldest hotel in the world. • The original botafumeiro (incense burner) of Santiago’s Cathedral was taken by Napoleon in 1851. It is 1.5m high and weighs 50kg. It is always moving and seven men are needed to move it. • The city has begun to receive the flow of sinners in search of the great pardon granted by the Church during its Jacobean years (2010 is one). According to a tradition from nine centuries ago, Catholics can repent from their errors and receive a plenary indulgence.

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GALICIA

Santiago’s route makes it a captivating city always, but celebrations become even more lively on Xacobeo years

Santiago Tourism

Activities

• DMC Galicia proposes a pilgrimage to a stately noble home. With the help of pulpeiras and mejilloneiras (specialists in preparing octopus and mussels, respectively), the group observes the preparation of these typical dishes while tasting other traditional dishes. The pilgrimage is livened up by a group of bagpipe players and a local dance troupe. • Rent the tourist tram which follows a route along the Paseo Marítimo and then visit the Castillo de San Antón, the Torre de Hércules, the Aquarium Finisterrae, the Casa del Hombre, the beaches of Orzán and Riazor, and finally, the Mirador del Monte de San Pedro, which offers spectacular views of the city below. • Learn the art of fishing while being guided by a group of fishermen at a natural seafood farm. Then visit an auction at a fish market in a seaside village (by DMC Galicia). • Orzan Congres suggests a 30-minute plane ride over the city, enabling guests to take in the Burgo river, the city’s beaches and its traditional houses. Another possibility is a boat ride to observe the Galician coastline. • Take a gastronomic tour in Santiago along the Rúa do Vilar and the surrounding area. Stops include the Casa de lo Quesos, traditional businesses in the Rúas Orfas, the popular Mercado de Abastos and the food shops in Plaza de Cervantes. The visit ends with a tasting in a local wine and tapas bar (by Viajes Viloria). • Visit enchanted forests along a stretch of the Camino near Santiago. The participants dress up as pilgrims, donning a cape and hat and carrying a walking stick. The guides tell of legends, miracles and historical characters that have passed through the city. The walk is livened up by two actors, who appear out of nowhere, and are disguised as a witch, a goblin, or a monk who will marry two of the participants... • An excursion through the Rías Baixas with an exclusive ride across the Ría de Arousa on an antique steam boat (for 120 passengers). It can be combined with a visit to the Polígono de Bateas, where guests learn about the cultivation of mussels, oysters and scallops while sampling local food on board (by Viajes Viloria).

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• See the Santiago Cathedral’s enormous thurible (ecclesiastical incense dispenser) at work. Half a metre high and weighing 53kg, the Botafumeriro is operated by seven tiraboleiros. It is a true show watching it swing from the northern to southern transept. • A hydrotherapy moment to relax and enjoy the waters in the Thermal Club. • A walk to Europe’s richest cathedral site: the site, made up of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela and its four squares (Obradoiro, Quintana, Praterías and Inmaculada), is one of the most interesting and richest in Europe. • A must visit: the Mercado de Abastos (Food Market) is the city’s main market. It is “rural” but with all modern services, featuring the gastronomy and culinary customs of Galicia. • Picasso Route: not everyone knows that Picasso lived in La Coruña for four years. Let your group discover the house where he lived, the school where he learnt to paint and the place he held his first exhibition.

A day of pilgrimage

Organised by DMC Galicia It is the year of the celebration of the Camino de Santiago, one of the most famous itineraries in the world. Taking this into account and with the aim to disconnect the 45 cosmetic company professionals from their daily routine, DMC Galicia organised a walk along the Camino. It started in a traditional Galician stone house which has been converted into a hostel where a pulpeira (a lady who prepares octopus) showed them how to cook pulpo a feira. Afterwards the participants had to dress up as pilgrims, to really get into the Camino experience, wearing a cape, a walking stick and a hat. During a two hour walk, where some actors appeared in character as a monk, a fairy and goblin to surprise the guests, a guide explained the legends and culture of the Camino.

The Vigo Convention Bureau is born

The largest city in Galicia, Vigo, now has its own convention bureau, whose aim is to attract major events. Its director, Javier Arnau, highlights the importance and the influence that the new congress centre, to be open in 2011 will have on city tourism.

Bar-hopping for tapas

You can now reward your group by allowing them to try cuisine d’auteur in the new Galician gastronomy restaurants, which combine surprises for the palate with elegant interior design. Afterwards, take them to a concert in the Auditorio de Galicia or a play in the Teatro Principal, Centro Dramático or Sala Nasa.

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Organised by Santiago Tourism The custom of going for tapas has its own routes in Compostela, a city where “going out for a drink” is a long tradition. In order to offer the best tapas from this small-scale cuisine, Santiago Tourism organises the “Santiago Tapas” Competition every summer. The public can complete several routes featuring bars and restaurants, and vote for their favourite tapa. They can also use a special passport called Tapasporte to collect the necessary stamps certifying their culinary “pilgrimage”. Santiago Tourism

www.opcgalicia.org opc@opcgalicia.org The good meigas of Galicia

Organised by Abile Corporate Events For a convention in Galicia, Abile Corporate Events set up multiple activities to get them to try local offerings. A Taichi workshop in a garden at sunset and spa sessions relaxed the participants, while a gymkhana in Santiago de Compostela made them compete. To introduce their company’s new products to the attendees, a live product demo and test was organised. One of the most effusive moments of the trip was the Camino de Santiago walk which ended with an authentic Galician dinner in a pazo in which meigas or witches showed them an announcement about the success formula for the year.

Association of Professional Congres Organisers

Galicia awaits you

A gastronomy route of Galicia’s flavours

Organised by Compostur The purpose was to discovery some of Galicia’s most genuine tastes and places during a city excursion. The guided visit started in Rúa do Vilar, Casa de los Quesos (cheese house), including a walk through Rúas most traditional stores, Orfas and Caldeirería. Then the fish market, Mercado de Abastos, was the next stop. A wine-tasting session and gourmet menu with tapas was awaiting participants in Acibechería.

Star Wars heroes come to Santiago

On May 21, Santiago will be an important landmark in the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back movie, with a large parade of imperial troops through the old town. On the Praza do Obradoiro, Darth Vader will inspect his troops to the sound of the Imperial March performed by a group of bagpipe players. Participation in the parade is free and four workshops are underway in Santiago de Compostela, Vigo and La Coruña to prepare Star Wars costumes. Miembro de:

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GALICIA

After La Coruña and Santiago, Galicia has a new player in the meetings arena: Vigo gets its own convention bureau Highlighted venues La Coruña • Palacio de Congresos de La Coruña, Palexco: the main congress centre of the city offers room for 2,300 pax. • The trade fair area, Expocoruña: 26,000sqm and an auditorium for 450 pax. • The Torre de Hércules: sip cocktails while enjoying a view of the entire bay of La Coruña. • The Aquarium Finisterrae: with more than 600 species of marine life and a capacity for gala dinners for 300 pax. • The Castillo de San Antón: a 14th century fortress that now houses the Museo Arqueológico e Histórico, with a cocktail terrace for 200 pax. • Coliseum de La Coruña: 1900sqm with cutting edge design and a capacity for 11,000 pax. • The Casa del Hombre, known as La Domus: the first interactive museum in the world dedicated to human beings. It’s Imax room can be rented out for events and holds 120 pax. • Hotel Eurostars: its three meeting rooms, all with natural light, have a maximum capacity for 350 pax.

Santiago de Compostela • Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Galicia: includes a 2100 seat auditorium, the Santiago Room, which holds 1580 pax, and several other halls. • Auditorio de Galicia: its main room can host 1000 pax. • Parador de los Reyes Católicos: in the middle of the Plaza del Obradoiro, this hotel has 11 event rooms. Its restaurant, Enxebre, offers traditional food in a typical Galician tavern atmosphere. • San Francisco Hotel Monumento: in the old town, the 13th century wing of the San Francisco convent was declared a Cultural Heritage Site. It’s majestic Patio de Cristal can host cocktail parties and events. It is flanked by the Carlos V auditorium and the Monumental dining room. • Universidad de Santiago: offers a wide range of meeting rooms with historical charm. • The Ciudad de la Cultura de Galicia, a 142,000sqm complex consisting of museums, libraries and auditoriums which blend cultural conservation with research, creativity and cultural enjoyment. • The Convent of San Lourenzo de Trasouto was founded at the beginning of the 12th century and was eventually transformed into a palace. It is now a restaurant for special occasions. • Parador de Santiago de Compostela: it has four cloisters, rooms and meeting rooms. The maximum venue capacity is 280 pax. • Hesperia Peregrino 4*: with a capacity for 300 people, it also has a restaurant with views of the garden.

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La Coruña

From the Convention Bureau of Santiago de Compostela

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Santiago is a Heritage of Humanity city in which sensations and emotions can be experienced and associated to attributes such as authenticity, magic, charm, cuisine, lifestyle and a young, college atmosphere. But it also offers an extensive hotel infrastructure and services for any type of event. And thanks to its centrality, has all the Galicia delights. Future plans in the meetings and events market… Santiago aims to position itself as a state reference in the medium-sized events market and the incentive segment. To do this, in addition to the present resources, Santiago will develop new infrastructures: the City of Culture, the Peter Eisenmann work, which will become an architectural and cultural reference, the new international airport terminal and the fast-speed train connection. Furthermore, in the coming years we will hold anniversaries, such as the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral consecration in 2011 or the 1200th anniversary of the Apostle discovery remains in 2013, an international dimension celebration because the Santiago pilgrimage played a vital role in the birth and development of the European idea.

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Xosé Manuel Iglesias, Santiago de Compostela Convention Bureau President and Tourism Manager

From the Convention Bureau of La Coruña

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… La Coruña gathers all the positive values that great cities may have in a very small geographical space, with excellent facilities in an idyllic setting. Within a radius of just 2km, you can access, without using any transportation, the most interesting places in the city, such as the Old Town, the historic area, traditional commercial areas. The extraordinary cuisine and a nearly ubiquitous sea are perfect complements in choosing La Coruña to hold events. Future plans in the meetings and events market… La Coruña is now perfectly positioned to capture events of 1000 and 2000 attendees. To strengthen the Convention Bureau by providing it with the resources and the people to establish it as very powerful section within the Consortium of Tourism, is one of our challenges. With regard to infrastructure, we are improving Expocoruña, a multipurpose space of 17,000sqm for all types of events. Henrique Tello León, Deputy Mayor of La Coruña and Head of its Tourism Department

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Asturias

“Asturias, a natural paradise”? There is no doubt the slogan with which the region promotes itself is justified, as its nature is one of its greatest strengths. But not the only one. Its main cities, Oviedo, Gijón and Avilés are reinventing themselves to go beyond seasonal and rural tourism and become conference destinations. And each has its own assets to reach that goal: Oviedo completes its venue offer this year with the Exhibition and Congress Centre of Oviedo, designed by Santiago Calatrava; Gijón has recently renovated its venue La Laboral and is adding points of interest such as the Thalasso Poniente centre and finally the Isle of Innovation and the International Cultural Centre designed by Oscar Niemeyer will help transform Avilés into the next city in fashion. But you do not need to choose, as these three cities just twenty minutes apart, are perfectly complementary, Oviedo has a historic charm while Gijón and Avilés are more slanted towards modern culture. So, combine a presentation inside of a clock in Gijón with a fun-filled afternoon looking for gold nuggets in Navelgas and end the day with a cocktail and a seafood feast in the old fish market in Oviedo. If we talk about incentive travel including nature and outdoors, few destinations match Asturias. Craggy landscapes, tiny fishing villages, wide forests and plenty of beautiful countryside make Asturias ideal for groups seeking outdoor activities. More good news? Yes, gastronomy is varied and prices very competitive. Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura de Gijón

Famous for…

• Being one of the greenest regions in the country, including the Picos de Europa park, situated in the Cantabrian Mountains. • Unique, pre-roman Asturian art, some of which is listed as a World Heritage Site, as well as its prehistoric cave art. • Its gastronomy, including the fabada (a traditional dish of beans and meats) and more than forty types of hand-made cheeses. • Traditions linked to the culture of cider, including espichas, typical celebrations held in lagares or cider houses. • The Oviedo Jazz Festival, the International Film Festival and the Semana Negra de Gijón, a week dedicated to film noir and crime novels.

Surprising nooks

Surprisin In Oviedo

Experience the apple and cider route, where you will visit the cider museum, apple plantations and wineries 74 |

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• Sculptures: more than a hundred sculptures of varying styles can be found throughout the city. There is even one of Woody Allen. • Campo San Francisco: in the heart of the city, the 90,000sqm space has 127 species of plants. Oviedo has more than a million sqm of green areas. • Monte Naranco: a rounded hill, 636m high and with more than 30,000sqm of natural space, crowns the city.

Activities

• Descend the River Sella in a kayak and then enjoy a tasting of typical Asturian food and cider by the river. • Experience the apple and cider route and visit the cider museum, apple plantations and wineries, east of Gijón. The Fundación Comarca de la Sidra also offers activities to discover the production methods of local products. • Go gold panning and visit the Gold Museum. You may even find a gold nugget in the rivers next to the small village of Navelgas. Take the challenge and entertain your group with this activity that has become quite a sport; there is even a world championship held every summer!

Fun facts

• Cider, the traditional drink, has been produced in Asturias for more than 2000 years. It is usually enjoyed in lagares (local cider-houses). • The coastline between Gijon and Ribadesella has some of the most important Jurassic dinosaur fossils in the world. The fascinating Jurassic Museum in La Griega Beach is built in the shape of a dinosaur footprint. • The Museu de Anclas de Salinas, dedicated to anchors, features one from the mythical Titanic. • At the ice-cream parlour “Islandia”, next to the Plaza Mayor of Gijón, you can find ice cream flavoured with cider or fabada. • The terrifying movie The Orphanage was shot in Llanes. The town has been the scene of many other movies.

ng nooks In Gijón • Barrio de Cimadevilla: an old Roman settlement, declared an artistic site, houses some of the most emblematic buildings in Gijón, lots of popular bars as well as the sculpture Elogio del Horizonte, a symbol of the city. • Aquarium: it features a screening room, a panoramic restaurant, a workshop and a marine bird observatory. • Talasoponiente: a thalassotherapy centre which is part of the “La Ciudad del Agua”, next to the Aquarium.

Something to write home about: take your team gold panning!

• Take a ride in the train museum in Gijón (where steam engines are still in working condition) on an old train to visit a mine, where you will learn about the life of miners. • Visit the caves where cabrales, a delicious goat cheese, is produced, and learn about its production process. Then experience a cheese tasting with more than 40 types of cheese coupled with the best wines… all in the spectacular setting of the Picos de Europa Mountains. • Create the best menu: different teams have to get the ingredients and create an original dish in this activity designed by Neozink. The jury will be lead by a prestigious chef. • Experience an espicha (Asturian celebration). A folkloric group of gaitas (bagpipers) welcomes the guests, who will receive picones and madreñas (handmade Asturian wooden clogs) and discover the world of cider. Activities include a contest testing one’s skills at the traditional way of pouring cider as well as an introduction to the regional dance. • Create your F1 team, with Neozink: each group of participants must create their F1 team, build a car, buy drivers, manage their budget and even buy clothes. In the end, they will record a TV spot to promote the team.

100% adrenaline: Participants in the activity ‘Natural Paradise No limits’, by Neozink, didn’t rest much during that day. The challenge included paintball, quads, buggies, boats, horses, and a zip of over 100 metres over the river Sella. A plan with adrenaline, teamwork and competition, based on Asturia’s key asset: nature.

Orientation in llanes with Mlab: An orientation Raid in Llanes was the central activity organised by Mlab for 30 workers of the design firm Vaba. Dive into Asturian mythology. The trasgu, the xana, the Nuberu... Asturian mythology is very rich in characters and legends. In the tour of this magical world, a themed dinner by XTRM includes actors staging the most popular legends of the Principality. Have an aquatic dinner in Gijon. Surrounded by marine life in the Gijón Aquarium, you can offer your group a special dinner under the watchful eyes of all types of fish.

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ASTURIAS

Highlighted venues In Oviedo • The Convention and Exhibition Centre, designed by famous architect Santiago Calatrava, will open in late 2010 in the centre of Oviedo. With 15,530sqm, it will be one of the biggest in Spain. • Principe Felipe Convention Centre and Auditorium: this modern venue has been built with a neoclassical flair in the city’s antique water deposit. • Reconquista Hotel: this historic hotel right in the centre of Oviedo, includes an impressive hall which once was a hospice chapel dating back to the 17th century. • The Caldas Villa Termal: features an area for meetings and events, a spa centre and a fivestar hotel. • Villabona Palace: 15th century palace, declared an artistic-historical monument. Its interior halls are decorated with tapestries while the exterior includes 20 hectares of Asturian style gardens. • Bosque de la Zoreda Castle: five minutes from Oviedo, it offers a pavilion seating 1400pax with a view of an early 20th century castle surrounded by a luxurious forest. • San Cucao Castle: historic venue including the 14th century Valdés Tower as well as a modern building.

Asturias is a green world, ideal for groups looking for outdoor activities or a healthy environment far from traditional destinations

From the Convention Bureau

My destination offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… Indulge your senses while enjoying the special landscapes offered by nature. Much of its territory is protected and has five natural areas declared Biosphere Reserves, ranging from the renowned national park Picos de Europa to the singular forest Somiedo Muniellos, among others. The cuisine is another aspect that anyone who has travelled to Asturias won’t forget due to the quality of raw materials and the variety of dishes. You can find everything from traditional cuisine to haute cuisine and supported by six Michelin-starred restaurants.

In Gijón • Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones: 160,000sqm in the heart of the city’s trade show area. It has a hall for 800pax and two conference rooms for 200pax. • Laboral Ciudad del Arte y la Cultura: This event-friendly complex combines a historical building and a theatre seating 1500pax as well as various meeting rooms, including the original Clock Room, available for events. • Museo del Ferrocarril de Asturias: The train museum has locomotives that can be used for events. A meeting can even be held on the tracks! • Finca La Isla: built in 1870, it combines the beauty of plants and the symbol of water. It is located in the Botanico Atlántico gardens. • Palacio de Luces: five-star hotel, built on the foundations of a stately 16th century home, located on the coast. • Gallery Art and Food: an avant-garde venue that combines an art gallery, meeting rooms, a bar and a restaurant serving fine cuisine.

The F1 Team challenge

Violeta Matas González, Director of the Asturian Tourism Office in Madrid

In Avilés • International Cultural Centre Oscar Niemeyer. This striking venue will feature an exhibition area, a projection hall and an auditorium for 1300pax, in a striking wave-shaped glass building.

Príncipe Felipe Auditorium The Island of Innovation and the International Cultural Centre Oscar Niemeyer

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Future plans in the meetings and events market… Asturias’ three main cities -Avilés, Oviedo and Gijón- are breaking new ground in the events market. Gijón has recently rehabilitated a new space in La Laboral, with a 1400pax auditorium with adjacent rooms. Oviedo is about to open the avantgarde Congress Palace designed by Calatrava, which will feature a hall for 2100 people. And Avilés will feature the “Cultural Centre Niemeyer” this year, a multidisciplinary centre with space for a variety of artistic endeavours with a 4000sqm exhibition hall and a 1000pax auditorium.All this combined with the arrival of the high-speed train AVE in 2012, make our destination compelling.

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Bilbao

Few monuments have had so much impact on a city… The opening of Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum in 1997 kick-started the transformation of an industrial metropolis into a dynamic, stylish and pleasant city. The “new Bilbao” concept refers to the great change this city has undergone in such a short period of time, which has given it a place in the league of tourism destinations. And for meetings and incentives, it now combines artistic and architectural appeal with a wide range of meeting venues. The Exhibition centre (Bilbao Exhibition Centre) and other leading architects’ work, such as Santiago Calatrava who designed a bridge and Norman Foster, the metro, raised the city’s profile. And the city is still moving, with a Master Plan for Business Tourism launched in collaboration with the Convention Bureau to improve the city’s offer for congresses with leisure activities… Yet one thing has not changed: the intense Basque traditions, strong identity, and excellent Basque gastronomy.

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Surprising nooks • The luxurious residences of Bilbao’s aristocracy in the beautiful neighbourhood of Neguri were built right outside the old city during its 19th century expansion. • Iglesia de San Antón: the Gothic temple built in the 15th century, right off the Bilbao docks, is the most popular temple in the city and appears on the city’s coat of arms. • The animated woods or Oma’s woods, a work of art by the Basque painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola. Human, animal and geometric figures appear painted on tree stumps. Some figures are only visible from a certain angle and the combination of all the trees forms a complete image. • San Juan de Gaztelugatxe: one of the jewels of the coast, it is a small island linked to the sea by 231 stairs and crowned by a monastery dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. • The prehistoric caves of Cortézubi, within the complex of caves of the Bay of Biscay, where paintings dating back to the Upper Palaeolithic period were found. • Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia, based in Zamudio amidst 250 hectares of natural environment where technology companies are based, offers modern meeting facilities. • The Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao, facing the Guggenheim Museum, a five-star hotel with a contemporary flair. • The Bilbao Athletic Club Exhibition and Trophy Room, opened in May 2003, displays the long history of this football club.

For meetings and incentives, Bilbao now combines artistic and architectural appeal with a wide range of meeting venues

In the ría

DMC organises trips in canoes, kayaks and piraguas. In two hours, it is possible to canoe from the Gorliz Bay to the Butrón castle. A longer three hour option is a tour of the Butrón River.

Spelunking

The Dima Baltzola cave, part of the Bay of Biscay, offers an opportunity to explore another world. Key DM suggests offering your group a visit to this impressive setting. Other caves of interest, featuring Palaeolithic paintings, can be found in Cortézubi. • Holy Week Procession Floats Museum shows a collection that includes religious images, ornaments, cloaks, banners, and objects owned by Bilbao’s Brotherhoods. • The Centre is built around the concept of travel: a trip about the Basque Language through the ages. For this, the Interpretation Centre has been set out as a train station, with its platforms, a tunnel, two train compartments and decorative features in line with the projected surroundings. • With an almost 100 year old history, Doña Casilda Park is the main park in the town. Its infrastructure has been recently improved to include a classical merry-go-round, a stage for live performances, and the Fine Arts Museum café. • The Teatro Campos Elíseos, opened in 1902 and reopened in March. • The Alhóndiga Bilbao, an old wine store with a modernist character, reopened after being renovated by Philippe Stack. It offers various spaces for meetings.

LIGHTING

Vari Lite Avolites Martin CM Lodestar Milos

Famous for…

• Combining two of the most famous museums in the country: the Guggenheim and the Museo de Bellas Artes (fine arts museum). • The Ribera market, considered to be the first covered wholesale food market in Europe. • The medieval city with its “Seven Streets”: a combination of squares and small corners perfect for just wandering around. • The Biscay Suspension Ferry Bridge (called “El Transbordador de Vizcaya”), a UNESCO world heritage building. It is the oldest and best preserved structure of its type in the world. • The rowing races started in the 19th century, when groups of fishermen challenged each other to races. Today, the “Gran Premio del Nervión” and “Bandera de la Concha” races draw swarms of rowing fans. • The Museum of Fine Arts in Bilbao features one of the most complete collections of fine art in Spain.

Fun facts • The Puppy, mascot of the Guggenheim museum, was created by Jeff Koons, the controversial kitsch artist. This West Highland white terrier is built with a steel structure covered with a huge variety of flowers which are maintained by an internal watering system. The structure is an icon of the city centre. • In the Biscay province, surfers claim you can find the best left breaking wave in Europe on Mundaka beach. • The titanium-covered Guggenheim Art Museum building, which allegedly resembles a metallic flower, is the largest gallery in the world. • Bullfighting is often associated with the south of Spain, but Bilbao has hosted bullfights since the seventeenth century.

Technical design and production management in shows and events Rental and staging (sound, video, lighting, rigging)

SOUND

EAW D&B Audiotechnik Yamaha Digidesign Shure

VIDEO

Christie Pioneer Extron JVC

Avda. txorierri 46 Pab. 2 A - 48150 Sondika - Vizcaya Tlfno 944 711 579 - Fax 944 710 551 - audiomic@audiomic.com S PA I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0 | EVENTOS MAGAZINE |

www.audiomic.com

BILBAO

Activities

• Orue suggests a day of canoeing by the Gernika docks in the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai. This would be followed by lunch at Laiene restaurant and a horseback ride along the slopes of Durangaldea county’s mountains. • Key DM suggests a coastal excursion with lunch in Bermeo (a typical seaside village) or a visit to the Guggenheim Museum (groups of 20 people) followed by a visit to the old city to enjoy traditional pintxos in some of the city’s typical taverns. • The DMC Stop offers an architecturally themed visit of Bilbao where guests observe both old and new emblematic buildings. Recent creations to be visited include the Guggenheim, the Towers of Arata Isozaki, the metro by Norman Foster, and the Santiago Calatrava bridge. Immersion in the past includes a tour of the old city with a visit to the Iglesia de San Antón and the Plaza Nueva. • Bici & Art: “Bilbon Bizi” is an artistic route along which your group can enjoy the sight of sculptures and architectural works located near the “bidegorris” or bike lanes. • Golf lovers can practice their favourite sport at the three clubs available: Club de Campo Laukariz, in Mungia; Real Sociedad de Golf de Neguri, in Getxo; and Club de Golf Artxanda, in Bilbao. There are also four equestrian sports clubs.

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Highlighted venues

• Guggenheim Museum: a unique environment for prestigious meetings. It has three areas for events: the atrium, the auditorium and the hall. Booking the venue requires being a corporate member of the museum. • Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC): 18,000sqm and a usable surface of 5500sqm divided in three areas, for up to 2500 pax. • The Euskalduna Conference Centre and Concert Hall: an outstanding contemporary work, this 53,000sqm centre in the heart of the city is home to one of the Basque Country’s most renowned restaurants, a 450-seat dining room, and can host banquets of up to 1500 pax. • Palacio San Joseren: surrounded by centuryold trees, this mansion has a capacity for 500 guests. • Teatro Arriaga: located in the Old Quarter, the theatre’s auditorium has capacity for 1200 pax. • Orue XXI: located in the countryside, it has five meeting rooms and a 168-seat auditorium. • Sheraton Bilbao Hotel: inspired by the works of the sculptor Eduardo Chillida, this five-star hotel has seven function rooms, for up to 350 pax. • Cámara de Comercio de Bilbao: its business centre located in the city centre has six equipped meeting rooms with a capacity of 152 pax. • Silken Gran Hotel Domine Bilbao: facing the Guggenheim Museum and filled with iconic 20th century furniture. • Barceló Hotel Nervión: 348 bedrooms, 13 meeting rooms with capacity for 850 people. • Barceló Avenida: is the result of an avant-garde architectural project. Includes a convention centre for up to 631 pax. • Hotel Hesperia Bilbao 4*: opposite the Ría and the Guggenheim Museum, it has nine meeting rooms with a capacity for 283 pax. • Hotel Carlton, one of Bilbao’s emblematic buildings, has 12 function rooms. • Hotel Abando: located opposite the Palace of Justice and close to the main sights of interest such as the Guggenheim Museum, the Old Quarter, it offers a wide range of meeting rooms.

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Oma forest

In the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, an excursion to Oma forest is an original tour that combines art and nature. The painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola let his imagination run free and painted human and geometric figures on tree logs using intense colours. Some of these are visible only from certain positions and viewing the logs together reveals another, distinct image.

An incentive aboard the oldest train in Spain

An experience never to be forgotten in the oldest tourist train in Spain, from the early 1900’s: eight days and seven nights aboard a train? Created in the early 1900’s, it travels along the coast of Biscay, all the way to Galicia. One of the lounge carriages has a bar and dance floor, a “pub carriage” offers live entertainment, two lounges are for other types of entertainment, such as reading or enjoying a board game with your fellow passengers. It can be chartered for tailor-made journeys for groups of up to 52 people.

BEC improves its garbage collection process

The Bilbao trade show arena signed a deal with non-for-profit company Ecoembes to improve its selective garbage collection. According to the centre, 95% of garbage generation takes place during set-up and teardown and only 5% in the event itself. With this deal, the current system of paper and cardboard collection will be completed with another one for plastic and metal.

You can’t live Bilbao with out tasting the pintxos… A cooking workshop with professional chefs in Txokos will immerse your group into the culinary world of Bilbao. Organised by Romotur the experience was combined with a visit to a traditional txakoli.

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… We know Bilbao has some exemplary meeting facilities (especially the Bilbao Exhibition Centre and the Palacio Euskalduna), hotels, communications and services. However, we like to highlight the great value of experiencing our city. Bilbao is a metropolis with a strong character that makes it perfectly unique. It is very respectful with its origin, history and traditions but also thinking about the future, vanguard and innovation, and these feelings are easy to perceive for those who spend a few days with us on a convention, conference, or event. Future plans in the meetings and events market? The city is working on a project to unite its conference facilities and services offer to be more competitive and efficient. In this line, this year the city has opened two new facilities that will reinforce the tourism conference, the Teatro Campos Eliseos and the multipurpose space Alhndiga Bilbao, designed by Philippe Starck. Mercedes Rodrguez Larrauri, Director of the Bilbao Turismo & Convention Bureau

A wine setting for wine awards

Organised by Prismaglobal These “Best Of” awards, by the International Network of Great Wine Capitals, aimed to reward Bilbao-Rioja entities for their efforts spreading the wine culture. The Alava chamber of commerce was the organiser of this event, with the help of Prismaglobal, in a venue which was both suited to the theme and impactful: the Marqués de Riscal Winery’s hotel in Elciego (Álava). About 400 institutions and companies attended. The winery’s hotel, designed by Frank Gehry, and its location just in front of vineyards, was the focal point of the event. The guests enjoyed a glass of wine on the veranda of the winery, with the afternoon light reflecting on the vineyards and with a jazz quartet for background music. After the ceremony, attendees enjoyed an outdoor lunch outdoor by the winery lighted building.

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San Sebastián Well-known for its Film Festival which brings the glamour of cinema to the city, San Sebastián stands out for its intense cultural life which includes exhibitions, concerts and festivals. A candidate to become the European Capital of Culture in 2016, it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in Spain. Built around the beautiful Bahía de la Concha (Bay of the Shell), San Sebastián looks out onto the sea. Besides its natural value, the city offers great facilities for meetings and events, from a typical English cottage with views of La Concha bay (the Miramar Palace) to being surrounded by sculptures in the middle of nature (at the ChillidaLeku Museum) or the spectacular translucent cubes of the Kursaal Congress Centre along the beach. But maybe its greatest trademark is being a culinary paradise. Food in San Sebastián is a pleasure steeped in tradition, artistically elaborated and with a wide variety, ranging from typical dishes of traditional food to nouvelle cuisine, miniature cuisine, classic cider house meals and its most popular component, the San Sebastián pintxo. Gourmet San Sebastián has the most Michelin stars per square meter in the world...

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Famous for…

• The Concha beach, probably the most famous urban beach in Spain. • The San Sebastián film festival, one of the five leading European film festivals, held each September. The city also holds a Jazz festival every summer. • Peine del Viento, the sculpture by Eduardo Chillida that marks the Western border of the coast. • Its high-level chefs, starting with internationally acclaimed Martín Berasategui. • The beaches of Zarautz and La Zurriola where international surf competitions are held annually. • Cider production is one of the oldest traditions in the Basque Country. If you’re in San Sebastián between late January and early May, a visit to a local cider house is a must.

Surprising nooks

Fun facts • San Sebastián has more restaurants with Michelin stars per square metre than any other place in the world. • The word “Txotx!”, when yelled by the owner of a cider bar, means that he is going to open a barrel of cider and all the clients can gather to taste it. • San Sebastián is the Patron Saint of archers and open sea fishermen. • Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, Ava Gardner, Audrey Hepburn were same of the stars that made the red San Sebastian festival carpet walk. • The La Concha beach was the first beach to hire people to clean it in the 1930’s. An image of the World café, organised by Alava Incoming, the convention bureau of the third largest Basque country and the capital of the region, Alava.

San Sebastián offers facilities for meetings and events, from a English cottage with views of La Concha bay to being surrounded by sculptures in the middle of nature

• The Monte Urgull, one of the parks that mark the Bahía de la Concha, has spectacular views and the vestiges of the old fortress which now hosts the city’s History Museum. • Parque de Cristina Enea: recently renovated, is one of the city’s main parks. Rich in flora and fauna, it is famous for its peacocks. • Basílica de Santa María: this church, located in the heart of the old quarter, belongs to the baroque renaissance period and is famous for its impressive porch placed on the Monte Urgull. • Museo de San Telmo: located in a mid 16th century convent, its cloister and fortified tower were declared a National Monument in 1913. • Egosari: with a capacity for 80 people, this restaurant specialised in basque cuisine is located in a building that used to be a cider house. • Arzak: the house was built in 1897 as a wine inn and tavern, and has now been transformed into a stylish restaurant.

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SAN SEBASTIÁN

Activities

• Organise a Festival de Pelota Vasca, the internationally acclaimed Basque sport. Combine fun with culture while interacting with the group. This can be complemented with an exhibition on folk songs and dances, aperitif or dinner in the same venue. • Discover the marine life by diving in the Cantabrian Sea, with trips leaving from ports in Donostia, Orio, Getaria, Zumaia and Mutriku. You can also enjoy hydrospeed, where participants plunge against rushing waters, or “catch a wave” at the beaches in Zarautz and La Zurriola with the surfers. • Travel to the French Basque coast from San Sebastián (about half an hour away): in Bayona, visit the Cathedral, the Petit Bayonne area and the Musée Basque and Musée Bonnat. You can also stop in Biarritz to visit the Parroquia de Santa Eugenia, the beach and Rocher de la Vierge. Your last stop could be at San Juan de Luz, a colourful fishing village with typical Basque houses full of flowers. Stroll along its streets, full of shops and terraces, and visit the Jean Baptiste Church, Place de Louis XIV, Maison de l’Infante and the port. Tisa offers this program. • Cider tasting directly from the kupelas (wooden barrels) is an old ritual in the Basque Country. The cider cellars are equipped with large wooden tables and barrels that contain the year’s production. You can drink it served directly from the kupela and complement it with a cider-house menu. • Tour the pintxos bars guided by a specialist that explains each tavern’s speciality, accompanied by a traditional drink such as wine, cider or txakolí (sparkling white wine). The group can vote for the best pintxo. Pintxo tasting can also be organised in a private venue. • Plan exciting activities on ice in the fully-equipped facilities of San Sebastián Ice Ring. • Discover what lies underneath the waves while diving in the Cantabrian Sea. The departure points are the ports of Donostia (San Sebastián), Orio, Getaria, Zumaia and Mutriku. • Led by a specialised guide, take a boat trip up the River Urola observe and interpret spectacular birds from the area. • Traditional wineries, and alongside them modern wineries and designer wineries, are being opened up to the wine-loving public – and to specialist oenologists, who wish to perfect this very much in-vogue art, at historic monuments, museums and interpretation centres.

Highlighted venues

• Palacio de Congresos - Auditorio Kursaal: this spectacular building, designed by Rafael Moneo and formed by two translucent glass cubes, is set right on the Cantabrian sea. The venue has an auditorium for 1800 pax. • Ficoba, the trade show area which also includes an auditorium for 390 pax and various meeting rooms. • Kutxaespacio de la Ciencia: with attractions such as the Observatorio Astronómico and the Planetario Digital Multimedia, it has meeting rooms for up to 250 pax. • Parque Tecnológico de San Sebastián: officially opened in 1997, it has an auditorium for 250 pax. • Palacio de Miramar: this complex comprises a palace with a park, various buildings and gardens, with a total of 34,000sqm. It has meeting rooms for up to 950 pax. • Teatro Victoria Eugenia: one of the most emblematic buildings in San Sebastián, opened in 1912 and transformed in 2007 into a scenic venue with modern equipment. It can hold 910 pax and has rooms for events for up to 195 pax. • Abba Hotel de Londres e Inglaterra: located downtown in front of the beach, it has spectacular views over the bay of La Concha. It has a 500sqm salon with a capacity for 550 pax. • Hotel Maria Cristina. Four rooms for up to 350 guests. • Hotel Barceló Costa Vasca: located in Ondarreta, five meeting rooms for up to 200 pax. • Colegio Mayor Olarain: located on the campus of the País Vasco University, various halls for meetings. • The aquarium: built in 1928 it offers a 164 pax capacity venue surrounded by the marine world. • The Hotel Husa Europa, in a “Belle Epoque” building, near the Conference Centre Kursaal. It has 68 rooms and a meeting room for 70. • The Hotel San Sebastian is a modern hotel which was fully refurbished in 2003. It has four function rooms for up to 100 pax.

Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas on the Kursaal red carpet set for the San Sebastián festival. LD Eventos was in charge of the coordination of the inaugural and closing act, the Donosti awards, the parallel meetings at the sales office and the special events at the Velódromo. This year the Festival will be celebrating its 57th edition.

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Playing the Basque Pelota

It is the best-known Basque sport internationally. The San Sebastián Convention Bureau suggests this activity which combines fun with culture and group interaction. It takes place at indoor facilities with the help of a specialist guide who introduces participants to the world and culture of the Basque Pelota. Two teams compete using a cesta -a long, curved woven basket strapped to one arm- to throw and catch the ball. A festival follows, introducing the group to folk dancing accompanied by choral singing, an appetizer, and a dinner on the same premises.

San Sebastián Convention Bureau

Make your group get wet with this San Sebastián Convention Bureau proposal: they can take to the water like the great surfers who compete on the beaches of Zarautz and La Zurriola where international competitors converge each year at these two resorts.

From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… San Sebastián is a city where tradition and innovation combine to perfection. A truly unique city with meeting venues like the Kursaal Convention Center on the beach. A city where food is art with more Michelin stars per sqm than any other city in the world. And a city whose local people will make you feel welcome. Future plans in the meetings and events market… In order to package experiences and take advantage of the city’s unique features, San Sebastián Convention Bureau has created a portfolio of new products that exploit the following attributes: food, tradition, culture and coastline. These packages include the following possibilities: cooking school with the great chefs from San Sebastián; culinary workshops; experiencing Chillida with the son of the sculptor Eduardo Chillida; taking the Flysch Route along the coast of Guipuzcoa and finally the Jai-Alai tradition. Marijo Beltrán de Guevara, Director of the San Sebastián Convention Bureau

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Zaragoza

Daniel Marcos & FĂŠlix Bernad

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Fun facts • Zaragoza was once the capital of Aragon and is known for its famous cathedrals. La Seo and El Pilar are two of the most well-known. • The famous painter Goya was born in this city. Daniel Marcos & Félix Bernad

The Expo 2008 fireworks opened a new chapter for the Aragonese capital, with new modern and avant-garde venues and improved communication thanks to the highspeed train connecting it to Barcelona and Madrid, as well as an expanded airport. The city is now starting to make the most of those 160,000m2 of venues, in a perfectly connected place within 300km of Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Toulouse. Undoubtedly Zaragoza has a wide range of meetings infrastructure. In parallel, this destination has recently expanded its hotel capacity, with 10,480 beds and 10 new hotels. For large events, the congress centre features versatile facility rooms for up 2,000pax. The modern trade show area offers 360,000m2 distributed throughout nine halls. And the World Trade Centre Zaragoza, offers 3,000m2 and 21 rooms for 700pax. Zaragoza also offers a wide range of spas, such as the PH Rey Fernando II de Aragón Spa, Body Factory Yerba Almozara or Spa, for more relaxing moments during events.

A cocktail on the terrace of the Hotel Hiberus, with the Expo buildings in the background.

Inside the Torre de Agua, one of the Expo icons

Getting into the world of Zaragoza

Orienta Viajes & Eventos aimed to offer the participants on this corporate trip, various activities to capture the soul of Zaragoza. The event included a cooking activity in which participants, coached by a chef, made and then enjoyed local delicacies. A walk in an ornithological reserve together with a photo rally was the green moment of the meeting. The event ended with a DJ party in the Acuario Fluvial of Zaragoza.

An Aragonese style anniversary

Proyecto Zahorí organised the 25th anniversary celebration of Frutos Secos del Rincón for 550 guests. The main event was held in the auditorium of the World Trade Centre in Zaragoza. The a capella band B-Vocal and the Gospel Enarmonia choir put the music to the gala. A showing by projection recollected the company’s evolution, and a funny video was made with the participation of employees, guest actors and singers. The event closed with the audience singing “Oh Happy Days”. After a cocktail dinner, the guests had a final drink on the 17th floor, enjoying its unique views.

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ZARAGOZA

Daniel Morcos

Soaking-up the inside of Goya city One way to see the city is to immerse the group in the life of one of its most famous characters, Goya. The themed tour called Goya’s dreams gets the group to discover where the painter lived and studied, but also discover a city from two centuries ago: a village of dreams and witches, war and inquisition, and even some of the ghosts raised by Goya dreams. A lantern man is always accompanying the group.

Thermomix organises an event to reward their best salespeople More than 1,100 Thermomix salespeople attend-

ed this gala dinner, organised by the agency Talisman, in which the brand endeavoured to reward and motivate their team. The celebration took place in the bullfighting arena of la Muela (20 km from Zaragoza), one of the few covered bullrings in Spain. It included performances by a folk group of jotas (typical Spanish dance) and Spanish comedian Paz Padilla.

Activities

Events in Zaragoza can combine “on the same day, rafting and gala dinner on a farm, without leaving the city”, explains Ana María Torrents from the agency Zahorí Project. Indeed the destination completes its facilities for large events with a wide range of activities for groups. Here are a few examples: • Immerse the group in the microclimate of the Zaragoza Aquarium, the largest with freshwater in Europe. Part of the Expo 2008 venue, it has around 5,000 specimens from 300 species. • The Parque del Agua (Water Park) offers adventure sports: rafting, golf, train, bike and waterlaser games. • Enjoy the 5,000m2 relax area on a beach by the Ebro river, with silica sand, a swimming pool in the river and a 1,000m2 terrace for cocktails. • Rafting on the only artificial water canal in the city centre... on the Canal de Aguas Bravas. It also offers hydrospeed, navigation and kayaking. • Greens for business... You can find various 9- and 19-hole fields in addition to the one located in the Parque del Agua. • A walk in the clouds: travel by cable car with a unique view over the Ebro river and the Expo. A Kodak moment… • A route by the river? The city has four different river courses and offers several boats for groups. • Learn how to make wines, travelling to the small cities with a great wine culture and enjoying traditional cuisine at Casa Domino, a classic restaurant, or Casa Juanico with a traditional menu.

Feeling the adrenaline rush of water A walk into the Parque Metropolitano de Zaragoza, Parque Luis Buñuel, the only resort with water sports activities located within an urban area, where you can complete your incentive ... You can organise a rafting trip, where the crew must overcome the rocks circuit, rowing out of the eddies without falling into the water. Hydrospeed and kayaking are other options. You can also organise a dinner in the Ebro area, managed by the traditional restaurant Zaragoza El Cachirulo, located in the centre of the park.

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After the Expo

The Exposition, which focused on “water and sustainable development”, was the event of 2008… but what happened the day after? Roque Gistau, who led this event, explained that it will be adapted for future use by “remodelling everything built”. Besides the Expo areas, a service area has been built as well as a metropolitan park with ponds and water gardens. The legacy of the Expo: • The Pabellón Puente (Pavilion Bridge) links the whole Expo area with the Almozara. It will be used for exhibitions. • The Spanish Pavilion, with a structure that looks like a forest, is sustainable and will be the future home of the national centre for climate change. • The Aragon Pavilion resembles a wicker basket. This building created over three structural cores is now a ministry of the local government. • The Expo Palace of Congresses has been naturally transformed into the Congress Hall of the city. • The Torre del Agua (Water Tower), 76m high, channels the water of the Expo site, creating a circuit in which various activities can be performed. It is going to be used as a museum. • The River Aquarium is the largest river aquarium in Europe. • The volunteerism gateway connects the two banks of the Ebro. • The Puente del Tercer Milenio (Third Millennium Bridge) connects the right bank of the Ebro with the Expo. • The Amphitheatre. • The cable cars connect the Zaragoza train station to the metropolitan park and the Expo.

From the Convention Bureau

Hotels with meetings space

• Hotel Palafox: has a business centre for up to 800 people, plus a conference room with 375 seats. • Hotel Hiberus: five rooms with a capacity of more than 3,000 people. • Boston Hotel: 11 rooms with a capacity of up to 600pax. • Hotel Queen Petronilla: has a conference centre with room for up to 600 people. • Hotel Meliá Zaragoza: offers a congress centre with 16 rooms for up to 350 people.

Outstanding venues

• Fine Wines and Vineyards: winery museum with place for 80 people. • Plaza de Toros: one of the oldest in Spain. It has an adjacent building to the arena of about 475m2. • Finca El Greyhound: 400pax capable, its halls are lost in a vast green garden and lake. • Torre del Pino: its main gazebo, brick floor and boulders, is ideal to get back to roots.

My destination offers outstanding attractions, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… I would have to speak about the Parque del Agua (Water Park), the new incentive offer from the city. In the heart of Zaragoza, it provides a novel and unique offer in terms of adventure sports and leisure activities, such as rafting on the only artificial water canal in Spain. You can also find a river beach where water is treated and recycled naturally. You can programme a visit by train, boat or bike. Future plans in the meetings and events market… It is nice to note that despite the global crisis, Zaragoza continues to invest in new infrastructure, to host major events and conferences and this means that Zaragoza is still working and making a commitment as a destination. On the other hand, we know that we are not only strongly bound on a national level, but our city, thanks to the promotion we are working on, is poised to gain a stronger position in the international market. Zaragoza has always experienced sustained growth, so our future plans are based on maintaining and improving the position of Zaragoza as a destination. Elena Allué, Zaragoza Development and Tourism Delegate Councillor

Daniel Morcos

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Girona

The Girona province is manageable in size, but is clearly a land of contrasts, and offers meeting planners a surprising variety. Over 30% of it is a special protected natural area, which includes the well-known coastal area of the Costa Brava, that offers both sandy beaches and secluded rocky coves, as well as flat plains ideal for rural tourism, cycling and walking routes. The Pyrenees are close by and offer you skiing options. But above all, Girona is an historic land, which has one of the most emblematic old towns in Spain and one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe. It is a place where events can follow routes through buildings of great charm, beautiful countryside, a nice coastline, all this with a peaceful feel all year round.

Surprising nooks

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• The Cathedral Church of St. Felix and the Arab Baths. • The movie museum, where you can journey through the origins of the cinema. On show are the techniques and the visual spectacles from the beginnings of the 7th art until the arrival of television. • Besalú, a stunning historic village with a Jewish past and a majestic bridge. • Natural Park of Cap de Creus, located at the north end of the Costa Brava, is the first marineterrestrial nature park in Catalonia, with small islands, headlands, cliffs and coves with a unique natural beauty. • Visits to small bays on the Costa Brava, such as those at Begur (Sa Riera, Aiguafreda and Sa Tuna) or at Palafrugell (Tamariu, Llafranc and Calella) are a must to be able to understand the essence of the Girona coast. • Marimurtra, on the Costa Brava, is one of the oldest and most highly-prized botanical gardens in Europe. It was first developed in the early 20th century by German botany enthusiast Karl Faust and has since become a unique place of singular characteristics.

Fun facts • The iron bridge in Girona city (or Eiffel Bridge) was built by the architect’s firm in the late 19th century. • The old quarter of Girona became the French town of Grasse in the 18th century for the filming of Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. • The presence of the Tramuntana, the northern, cold and turbulent wind, is particularly intense in the Empordà, and there are many literary and artistic references to the wind.

The old quarter of Girona, one of the most emblematic in Spain and one of the best preserved Jewish quarters in Europe

Famous for…

• The picturesque hanging houses built along the river Onyar, whose walls are painted along the colour palette created by the painter Narcís Comadira Girona. • The genius of surrealism, Salvador Dalí, who was born in Figueres. • Its old walled city, of great historical and cultural interest. • Girona Flower Time, an event held in May, in which floral designers fill the city with classic or experimental floral samples. Also, owners of private gardens and patios of the Old Town, open their doors to visitors. • Its 13 golf courses and for hosting the PGA European Tour. • Its cuisine of contrasts, resulting in original dishes such as sea and mountain dishes, in which fish is mixed with meat –for instance chicken with lobster or meatballs with cuttlefish. • Ferran Adrià, often acknowledged as the best chef in the world, has his restaurant El Bulli in this province (careful: over a one year waiting time, and in addition, Adrià has just decided to close it for two years to “reinvent it”). • Nearby Empordà region, one of the most beautiful landscapes in Spain: old farmhouses, rustic villages and an abundance of nature make this region a perfect place for outdoor activities.

Get inspired with Dalí, from the unique Dalí museum in Figueres to teambuilding activities based on his unique world Visit the Dalí triangle, a path through the life and work of the artist

Picturesque hanging houses built along the river Onyar

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GIRONA

Activities

• Visit the Dalí triangle, a path through the life and work of the artist: Dalí Theatre Museum in Figueres, Gala Dalí Castle House Museum in Púbol and Salvador Dali in Portlligat (Cadaqués) • Enjoy the Sant Narcís Fairs, if you visit Girona on the last week of October. During one week, the city fills with festive events for all tastes: sardanes, theatre, concerts, the drawing fair, the antiques and food fair which is held on All Saints’ Day. • Take part in a sailing regatta and cruise the waters of the Mediterranean, with specialized companies such as Medaqua Estartit or the Yacht Club. • Take a balloon ride through the volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa and after enjoy an authentic Catalan breakfast organised by Girona Globus. • Carry out the activities set in rural areas by Tornasol Aventura, in which participants become real farmers: get them to milk a cow or look for mushrooms, for a real countryside experience. • Go for a treasure hunt in the Castell de Sant Ferran, a military fort in Figueres, in an activity by Fangaventura. Participants are faced with the Grand Challenge: escape from the fortress through trenches, tunnels and passageways. • Participate in a goose liver tasting organised by Mas Parés, and be surprised by Seasons of Foie Gras or Four emotions on the palate. You can also enjoy a cooking class intertwining tradition and innovation. • Solve the “Dalí Code” (organised by Experienceside) in Figueres: a series of tests of teamwork and clues hidden around the city of Dalí, while you discover the world around the artist.

Highlighted venues

• Auditorio Palacio de Congresos de Girona, with a capacity of 1500 people, lies at the heart of the city and is linked by a walkway to the Exhibition Palace. • Palacio de Congresos de Roses, winner of a FAD2003 design award, includes multi-purpose space for meetings and a 1,300sqm square. • Hotel Meliá Golf Vichy Catalán, houses a convention centre and is adjacent to PGA Golf de Catalunya. • La Fontana d’Or, in the old town, an 11th century building that combines Romanesque and Gothic architecture, and has various function rooms. • Peralada Castle, the medieval landmark building, with impressive rooms and gardens. • Convent de Blanes, a 16th century building preserved as cultural heritage. Located in the Santa Anna promontory overlooking the Mediterranean coast of Blanes, with a large garden for outdoor events. • Châteauform’ - El Mas Sant Joan, a traditional Catalan farmhouse in the heart of the Empordà, dedicated exclusively to business travel and meetings. • Santa Clotilde Gardens in Lloret de Mar, a 19th century home with a natural amphitheatre, perfect for an outdoor cocktail overlooking the sea. • Casino Auditori Palau de Congresos en Lloret de Mar is due to open in June with a capacity of 1,000 pax.

From the volcanic surroundings of Girona to the Costa Brava

Organised by Amfivia This group of VIPs from a Dutch financial firm enjoyed a four-day incentive trip around Girona. Upon arrival, they were transferred to Sant Jaume de Llierca, near the natural park of the Garrotxa volcanic zone and enjoyed horse-riding activities in Can Jou, an 11th century farmhouse restored as a rural hotel, hidden in the mountains with stunning views of the Catalan Pyrenees. At night, there was also time for stargazing with telescopes in the garden. The second day, they took a bike tour in the heart of the Garrotxa volcanic area park and visited La Fageda, a solidarity cooperative that has also become a successful business. After lunch and a meeting, they were transferred to Santa Pau, an historical medieval site, where they had a wine tasting session, relaxed a bit and had supper at Hotel Cal Sastre. The next day started with a tai-chi session including Chinese meditation. And after relaxing… adrenaline! A flight in a hot air balloon over La Garrotxa was on the agenda. After visiting more country villages and enjoying a gastronomic tasting session with show cooking, the next stop was the Hotel Mas Salvi in Pals, on the Costa Brava, where they enjoyed a supper mixing traditional and innovative Catalan dishes. On the last day, they relaxed on a sailing cruise.

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From the Convention Bureau

My city offers outstanding attractions for events, but if I had to highlight a really unique factor… We have good and affordable air connections thanks to the presence of low-cost airlines at the airport of Girona Costa Brava. Girona also offers a relaxed atmosphere near the sea and the mountains and has new and modern conference venues such as the Auditori Palau de Congressos de Girona and the upcoming Casino Palace of Congresses of Lloret de Mar. You can also live a unique dining experience in the Costa Brava, with some of the best internationally renowned chefs, like Ferran Adrià at El Bulli and the Roca brothers in El Celler de Can Roca. Future plans for Girona in the meetings and events market… The arrival of the AVE in the city of Girona in 2011 will be very positive for the sector. Renfe and the Girona CVB already offer special rates for event delegates. We also expect the opening of the Casino Convention Centre Lloret de Mar in June, and of another two 4-star hotels in Girona city for 2011 and 2012: NH Hotels, the Bank of Spain hotel, which will help expand hotel capacity in the city. Cristina Bubé, director of the Girona CVB

Auditorio Palacio de Congresos de Girona with a capacity of up to 1,500 people

Take a balloon ride through the volcanic landscape of La Garrotxa

FANG AVENTURA own a private estate of more than 850.000 m2 of natural landscapes with views out over the Pyrinees.

FANG AVENTURA work for national and international companies.

FANG AVENTURA deal with company incentives in activities of team building and we adapt them according to the needs of our costumers.

60 min. From Barcelona airport 30 min. From Girona airport

www.fangaventura.com

FANG AVENTURA was the winner of the Best company award for insentive activities 2007 (Girona Convention Bureau awards)

FANG AVENTURA has been offering their services since 1989 .

FANG AVENTURA Ctra. de Falgons, s/n San Miquel de Campmajor (Banyoles - Girona) S PA I N Costa Brava - Spain

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Transport entities RENFE (Railway company) www.renfe.es +34 902 243 402 AENA (Spanish airports authorities) www.aena.es +34 902 404 704 Meeting and event- related associations in Spain Spanish DMC Association www.aedmc.es info@aedmc.es Spanish PCO association www.opcspain.org info@opcspain.org +34 915 527 745 MPI Spain www.mpi-spain.org info@mpi-spain.org +34 934 459 729 SITE Spain www.sitespain.org olga.navarro@sitespain.org +34 609 062 124 ICCA Iberian chapter www.ibericca.com B+ (Barcelona network of DMC’s, now part of the Spain DMC Association) www.b-plus.es info@b-plus.es SIMA (Spain Incentives and Meetings Association) www.sima.es sima@sima.es Convention bureaus and tourism offices Spain Tourism Board (Turespaña) www.spain.info +34 913 433 500 Spain Convention Bureau www.scb.es info@scb.es +34 913 643 700 Andalusia Almería Oficina de Congresos www.turismodealmeria.org turismoalmeria@aytoalmeria.es +34 950 281 449 Cádiz Convention Bureau www.cadizcongresos.com info@cadizcongresos.com +34 956 290 313 Córdoba Convention Bureau www.cordobaconvention.com ccb@cordobaconvention.com +34 957 760 071 Costa del Sol Convention Bureau www.visitacostadelsol.com info@costadelsol.travel Susana Porras: susana.porras@ visitacostadelsol.com +34 952 12 62 72 Granada Turismo www.granadatur.com saragonzalez@granada.org +34 902 405 045 Huelva Convention Bureau www.turismohuelva.org turismo@diphuelva.es +34 959 257 467 Jerez Convention Bureau www.jerezconventionbureau.com comercial@jerezconventionbureau. com +34 956 184 120 Málaga Convention Bureau www.malagaturismo.com convention.bureau@ayto-malaga.es +34 952 061 830 Sevilla Convention Bureau www.turismo.sevilla.org turismo@sevilla.org +34 954 592 915 Torremolinos Convention Bureau www.ayto-torremolinos.org turismo@ayto-torremolinos.org +34 95 2 37 9 5 12 Aragón Zaragoza Convention Bureau www.zaragozaturismo.es zcb@zaragoza.es +34 976 721 333 Asturias Turismo de Avilés www.avilescomarca.info jarribas@ayto-aviles.es +34 985 544 325

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EVENTOS MAGAZINE | S PA I N F O R E V E N T S 2 0 1 0

Gijón Convention Bureau www.gijon.info congresos@gijon.info +34 985 180 153 Oviedo Convention Bureau www.palaciocongresos-oviedo.com congresos@ayto-oviedo.es +34 985 272 307 Cantabria Santander Convention Bureau www.santanderconventionbureau. com congresos@ayto-santander.es +34 942 203 002 Castilla La Mancha Oficina de Congresos de Cuenca www.turismocuenca.com congresos@turismocuenca.com +34 969 241 050 Toledo Convention Bureau www.camaratoledo.es/tcb congresos@toledo-congresos.org +34 925 213 112 Castilla León Avila Convention Bureau www.avila.es congresos@ayuntavila.com +34 920 225 969 León Convention Bureau www.aytoleon.com turismo.ebl@aytoleon.com +34 987 895 453 Salamanca Convention Bureau www.salamancaconventionbureau. com congresos@turismodesalamanca. com +34 923 272 408 Valladolid Oficina de Congresos www.valladolidcongresos.com congresos@valladolidturismo.com +34 983 219 438 Catalonia Barcelona Convention Bureau www.barcelonaturisme.com/bcb bcb@barcelonaturisme.com +34 933 689 700 Barcelona Meeting Total Convention Bureau (Barcelona Region) www.meetingtotal.org meetingtotal@diba.cat +34 93 402 29 66 Girona Convention Bureau www.gironacb.com infoturisme@cambragirona.org +34 972 41 85 00 Catalunya Convention Bureau www.catalunyaturisme.com +34 93 484 99 00 Costa Daurada Convention Bureau http://cdcb.costadaurada.org cdcb@turisme.altanet.org +34 977 230 312 Lleida Convention Bureau 80www.turisme.paeria.es infoturisme@paeria.es +34 973 700 402 Lloret Convention Bureau www.lloretcb.org/conventionbureau/index.jsp lloretcb@lloret.org +34 972 36 57 88 Sitges Convention Bureau www.sitgescb.cat info@sitgescb.cat +34 938 944 251 Tarragona Convention Bureau www.tarragonacb.org tarragonacb@tinet.org +34 977 240 350 Galicia Turismo de La Coruña www.turismocoruna.com infoturismo@aytolacoruna.es +34 981 184 344 Santiago de Compostela Convention Bureau www.santiagoturismo.com sccb@santiagoturismo.com +34 981 555 129 Vigo Convention Bureau www.vigoconventionbureau.com info@vigoconventionbureau.com Balearic Islands Menorca Convention Bureau www.menorcaconventionbureau.org conventionbureau@menorca.es +34 971 368 678

Mallorca Convention Bureau www.mallorcacb.com info@mallorcacb.com +34 971 739 202 Canary Islands Lanzarote Convention Bureau www.turismolanzarote.com conventionbureau@lanzarotecb.com +34 928 811 762 Gran Canaria Convention Bureau www.grancanariacb.com info@grancanariacb.com +34 928 261 570 Tenerife Convention Bureau www.tenerifecb.com info@tenerifecb.com +34 922 237 889 La Rioja Logroño Convention Bureau www.lrcb.es lcb@logro-o.org +34 941 273 713 Madrid Madrid Convention Bureau (city) www.esmadrid.com info.mcb@esmadrid.com + 34 917 585 528 Madrid (Region) www.turismomadrid.es turismo@madrid.org +34 912 767 200 Murcia Murcia Convention Bureau www.murciacongresos.com murcia.congresos@murciacongresos. com +34 968 341 818 Oficina de Congresos de Cartagena www.oficinadecongresoscartagena.es oficinadecongresos@puertoculturas. com +34 968 341 818 Navarra Pamplona Convention Bureau www.pamplonaconvention.com pcb@pamplonaconvention.com +34 948 228 919 Basque Country Bilbao Convention Bureau www.bilbao.net/bilbaoturismo bicb@bilbaoturismo.bilbao.net +34 944 795 770 San Sebastián Convention Bureau www.ssconvention.com bureau@donostia.org +34 943 481 466 Turismo de Vitória www.vitoria-gasteiz.org congrestur@vitoria-gasteiz.org +34 945 161 261 Valencia Alicante Convention Bureau www.alicantecongresos.com congresos@alicanteturismo.com +34 965 147 052 Benidorm Convention Bureau www.benidorm.org turismo@benidorm.org +34 966 815 463 Elche www.turismedelx.com turisme@turismedelx.com +34 966 658 140 Valencia Convention Bureau www.turisvalencia.es turisvalencia@turisvalencia.es + 34 963 606 353 Touristic brands and programmes Silver Route (Ruta de la Plata) www.rutadelaplata.com info@rutadelaplata.com +34 985 185 189 Quixote Route (Ruta Don Quijote) www.donquijotedelamancha2005. com donquijote2005@jccm.es +34 925 283 496 Santiago Route (Camino de Santiago - Galicia) www.xacobeo.es informacion.xacobeo@xunta.es +34 902 332 010 Wine Tour Spain www.vintagespain.com info@vintagespain.com +34 947 310 126 The Rioja Alavesa Wine Tour www.rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com +34 945 297 004