Hospitality Delighted 13 by Hospitality Delighted

HOSPITALITY DELIGHTED “share the experience”

Eastern Europe

Transsiberia Express

page

WINTER 2012 8 Discovering Riga

The Stories of two Natives

10 Russian Vodka Production Process

28 Spa & Health

Best Spots to Relax, Recover & Rejuvenate

31 Sjoerd van der Galiën Head of School IHM

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Preface

HOSPITALITY

Eastern Europe

DELIGHTED

Significantly more people are going on holiday in countries where they have never been before, though France or Italy are not the most popular holiday destinations anymore. Eastern Europe is a part of the world which is insufficiently discovered yet, so what can Eastern Europe offer us?

“share the experience”

INDEX

Public Holidays in Bul- garia and Poland

Customs & Habits Poland and Russia

Riga

Russian Vodka

Career opportunity

Kind regards,

Croatia

The Editors in Chief of Edition 13:

The Trans- Siberian Express

This edition of Hospitality Delighted ilustrates background information about Eastern Europe, as well as tips conerning holidays and remarkable facts. Knowing Eastern Europe will provide you with an advantage in future - personnally as well as professionally- since this part of the world is becoming increasingly important. Join us on a pleasurable trip trough Eastern Europe and detect exciting facts about still unknown countries!

Franziska Rohé, Marcella Koronna,

Laura Wittenberg and Lieke van Oosterhout

Resmio

22 Horecava 23

Hotellotop

Expert Interview

Student Voice

Spa & Health

Column

Welcome

Dobrodošli добре дошъл добро пожаловать Laipni lūdzam Vítejte

Powitanie

Public Holidays and Celebrations in Bulgaria and Poland

Baba Marta Day Have you ever seen Bulgarians wearing red and white colored bracelets in March and wondered what was the reason behind that? Well, they certainly do not consider it to be jewellery or a beauty feature. Contrariwise, Bulgarians put on the wristband, which is called Martenitsa, on the first day of March to celebrate the beginning of spring. This Baba Marta Day (‘Grandma March Day’) is a public holiday, which is greatly important to the entire population of Bulgaria. Every time a person encounters a beloved person, it is common to give a Martenitsa as a present in order to wish good luck and health for the coming year. Not only amulets but also Pizho’s and Penda’s, which are two small wool dolls, are typical traditional Martenitsas. Pizho is the male doll and mainly white colored, whereas Penda is female, wearing a skirt and predominantly colored in red. In Bulgaria, the color white represents wisdom while red symbolizes health. The duration of wearing these Martenitsas depends on two essential events. As soon as either a stork or a bloomed tree is seen, the Martenitsa needs to be hung up on a flourishing tree. If this is not done it will lead to bad luck for this person throughout the coming year. Moreover, Bulgarians believe that when you do bad things, Baba Marta becomes angry and the weather will be bad. On the other hand, if persons are good in nature, Baba Marta will please them with beautiful weather. Baba Marta Day is one of the oldest traditions in Christian Europe

“starting a cheerful and promising year” and taken very seriously by Bulgarians, meaning that they continue practicing this custom even though they might not be in their home country at that particular moment in time. Spring, fertility, luck, health and a new beginning are all aspects associated with this tradition, which are vital for starting a cheerful and promising year in Bulgaria.

Saint George’s Day Did you know that people in Bulgaria have a Saint who protects them? Everyone who shares a name of a Saint does not celebrate their actual birthday but name day instead.

The most popular celebrated name day is the Saint George’s day, which is celebrated on May 6. St. George is the patron of shepherds and is being honoured each year. On this public holiday, Bulgarians slaughter a lamb, cook it and eat it festively. The entire family as well as friends gather together and celebrate. While being in a happy mood, people in Bulgaria like to enjoy drinking the national drink

Rakia, which is a strong alcoholic beverage. It is typically produced homemade by distillation of fermented fruit and contains 50% to 60 % alcohol. Traditionally, a candle is being lit for the Saint in order to frighten off ghosts and to show gratefulness to the Saint that takes care of you.

Eastern The most significant holiday in Bulgaria and Poland is Eastern, which includes several national traditions. The first egg that is being painted in Bulgaria has to be colored in red since this color signifies health, life and passion. Another unique Eastern tradition in Bulgaria is called ‘good luck crack’. It is a competition in which people knock their colored eggs against the eggs of others. The person who has the strongest egg, which does remain unbroken until the end, wins this battle and will have a year of luck, success, healthiness and happiness. There are several other competitions during that time as well which are comprised of awarding the most beautifully painted egg and the best baked sweet bread (‘Kozunak’).

When Bulgarians go to church on Eastern, . they walk around it three times holding a candle. If the flame remains flaring it means that the people are good. Afterwards the candle is put under the pillow before going to bed and a wish is going to be made. The ‘tlusty czwartek’ (‘Fat Thursday’) in Poland is a traditional day before the lent starts. The entire family gets together to eat lots of sweets, especially homemade ‘paczki’ (doughnuts) and chrust (delicious, crispy, fried pastry stripes). After five days, the Polish celebrate ‘sledziki’ and typically eat fish, which symbolizes the beginning of the fasting period, which starts the next morning and lasts for approxi-

mately 40 days in total. On Easter day, Polish go to church carrying their Easter basket, which is filled with all kinds of sweets or small alcoholic drinks for adults. People in Poland are greatly religious; therefore they do not only get their Easter basket blessed but also take various other kinds of items to church, which they show to the priest to get a blessing for, such as cars and animals. Typical delicious food, Polish enjoy eating during Eastern time include ‘Żurek Wielkanocny’(Easter Soup),‘Cwikla’(beetroots with horseradish), ‘Babka’(a sweet yeast cake)as well as ‘Pascha’ & ‘Mazurek’(typical Polish Easter cakes).

Customs & Habits in Poland and Russia Do you know anything about Polish and Russian customs and habits? Before you visit these countries you should be familiar with the cultural differences. Thus, this artile aims at providing you with some tips on how to adapt to their cultures.

Poland Poland is located between Russia and Germany. In history, it was the country where the wars between those countries was going trough and sometimes Poland was luckily to be protected by Lithuania, Ukraine and Sweden, while these countries were absorbing Poland sometimes. However, Poland is unique and different from all those countries. The Polish character, which is formal yet warm, defensive and suspicious, is the result of living between those two big countries fighting with each other.

Relationships

Family and friends are the most important aspect in life of Polish people. When you visit a home of polish people for the first time they will receive you warmly, especially when you are from Western Europe. However, it will take some time to get familiar and build a close relationship. With regard to the working atmosphere, polish people appreciate a hierarchical structure in which each role is clearly defined.

Communication

Polish people speak softly, slowly and calmly. Voices are never raised because it is seen as disrespectful. Women who are raising their voice or acting aggressively will encounter problems since they risk losing authority.

When you want to point at someone, you should keep in mind to use your thumb instead of the index finger. Your index finger or forefinger should only be used to make a gesture to a waiter by outstretching it slightly.

Food & Beverage

From about 7 to 8 a.m., the day of polish people starts with breakfast, which is called ‘sniadanie’. They like to eat rolls, butter and jam while drinking coffee and tea with it. At work they only will eat a small snack, whereas at 3 to 4 p.m., when the workday is over, the lunch, ‘obiad’, will be eaten. It consists of several courses, starting with soup, followed by a meat course with bread and salad, ending with a dessert. Since lunch is eaten rather late, dinner,

which is called ‘kolacja’, is served around 9 p.m., entailing just a light meal with sandwiches. Vodka is often consumed since this is the Polish national beverage. When you are drinking vodka, the hosts will refill the glass when it is empty so better leave half of your glass full when you want to stop drinking. When toasting, the most common toast is ‘na zdrowie’, which means ‘to your health’. Another popular toast is ‘stolat’, meaning ‘one hundred years’. By saying out loud this second toast, you wish everyone to live at least up to an age of one hundred years. This custom reflects that family and friends are the most important aspects in life of Polish people and that they wish them all the best.

Russian Federation Russia is the largest nation in the world, which covers over one eighth of the Earth’s inhabited land area. Nowadays, we all know Russia because of the famous Matryoshka doll, but there is more to discover about this interesting country.

Relationships

When going to Russia and encountering its people, it is polite to wait with introducing yourself, since Russians are very comfortable with introducing third parties. Besides, Russians have a very warm and friendly attitude towards people and greet each other with a handshake or kissing. Being in a familiar relationship will involve three kisses. In a very close friendship, two men or women will kiss on the lips to express their sincerity. Please be aware that you should not do this by yourself at first because it is meant for the closest friendship only.

Communication

While it is rude to speak up in Poland, in Russia it is accepted especially if the voice fits to the content of the conversation. Next to that, you should not be surprised if a Russian person stands very close to you because it usually is a hand’s length closer than in Western Europe. Keeping that in mind will prevent you from feeling intimidated by them even though they have entered your comfort zone.

Food & Beverage

The Russians start their day with breakfast at the same time as Polish people do, namely from about 7 to 8 a.m. and is called

‘zahvtrahk’. The breakfast con sists out of breads, butter, jams, hot cereal and eggs. The lunch, ‘ahbyed’ is the main meal of the day and is served around noon. It consists of small appetizers such as pickled vegetables, fish and soup, followed by a main course including noodles, potatoes and meat. From 6 to 8 p.m. the dinner, ‘oozhin’, will be served and as in Poland, this would only be light meal, such as a sandwich. Vodka is the most favored beverage consumed at the beginning of meals, during the meals and at social events. When having a hangover the Russians recommend drinking Kefir or buttermilk to overcome their hangovers.

Riga; The Pearl of the North Only 1300 km away from The Netherlands is Latvia, one of the three Baltic States. It is one third bigger than the Netherlands, but has almost 8 times less inhabitants. The capital Riga is one of the biggest cities in this part of the world and visited by millions of tourists every year. It has a lot to offer – beautiful architecture, great shopping, exciting nightlife and many culture and arts events. The historical center of Riga is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a great example of Jugendstil/ Art Nouveau and has many beautiful churches and cathedrals. You can enjoy a sightseeing bus tour around the city or just walk through the Old Riga yourself, that will give you the chance to go up to the tower of St. Peters Church and see an amazing pano“Staro Riga” (Beaming Riga) ramic view of Riga. You can even takes place for 4 days. Hundred see the Baltic Sea on a clear day! buildings, churches, bridges and objects are used to show unique Another must-see is the Latvian light art in different styles and National Opera, where you can techniques, using lasers, adding enjoy performances by worldmusic and letting everyone see class artists in a gold covered Riga in a very different way. hall. If arts are not for you, Riga is famous for its nightlife too. From the first Advent on, there Most of the clubs and bars are is a Christmas market in the hislocated in Old Riga, so you can torical center of Riga, where you walk from one place to another can enjoy live performances with a cup of hot Riga Black Balsam in your hands. While it is still cold, see the ice sculpture festival at the Bastion Hill. Or maybe go skiing to one of the slopes a short drive away from Riga. The best time to visit Riga might be in the summer, because days are longer and there are so many exciting things to do outdoors! For example, go to Dome Square and and car traffic is very limited. enjoy live music, great Latvian Many boutiques, as well as big food and drinks on the outside hotels are right there. Enjoy terrace overlooking Dome catheyour stay at a smaller hotel lodral, built in 1211. cated in a magnificent 19th century building, or book a stay at Enjoy a visit to the Riga Zoo, one of the many big modern howhich will be 100 years old in tels around Riga. 2012. It gives home to more than 3000 animals and is located in If you are visiting Riga in autumn, Mežaparks, the first garden city make sure you come around the in the world. There is an amuseIndependence Day on 18th of ment park too and many water November when Light Festival sports activities are available.

Moreover, the beach is just minutes away, Latvia is known for the beautiful white sand and 500km of beach! A beautiful event you will not see anywhere else in the world is Latvian Song and Dance Festival that takes place every 4 years, just like the Olympics. More than 30000 singers and dancers perform all on one stage – a football stadium! They perform Latvian Folkdances and sing traditional songs dressed in national outfits. If you are lucky enough to get tickets before they are sold out it will leave you overwhelmed; it did that with me! If you visit Riga for business, do not miss one of the several International Exhibition centers that host Trade Fairs for visitors from all over the world. Riga welcomes you 365 days a year; each season has its special treats, so you just have to choose which one to start with! Check out the website of Riga Tourism www.liveriga.com for more information on tours, hotels, transportation, restaurants and much more!

Written by Ilze Folkmane

Riga; 5 Reasons for Visiting Architecture

visit Old Riga – the “downtown” heart of Latvia’s capital city for some inspiring architectural experiences. Meet the silent witnesses of historical events happening over the centuries, such as the Dom Cathedral, statue of Roland (as an evidence of Riga being a part of the Hanza trade union in the 13th century) and the amazing Monument of Freedom situated just in front of the main entrance of the Old Riga that was built to honor the soldiers who died during the Freedom Fights and now represents the unity, independence and freedom. The ultimate blend of gothic, baroque and high tech architecture will surprise even the toughest architectural skeptics.

Spa & Health

Overwhelmed with stress of everyday life? Dive into the amazing world of unlimited SPA opportunities throughout the small towns across the whole country. Jūrmala –a city on the wave offers a wide variety of SPA hotels including plenty of pleasant procedures for awaking your senses. By the way, Jūrmala is also known for the beautiful beaches washed by the waves of Baltic Sea and surrounded by pine tree links that does not only have the magic calming effects, but is also very good for the overall health and breathing system.

Going

out

Fond of happy hours? They just seem to never stop here! No matter, if you enjoy sipping a Strawberry Daiquiri in a glamorous lounge of Albert Hotel overseeing the whole city of Riga, dancing your feet off to the loud beats of club Essential or hit the bar plot of Coyote Fly, nightlife of Latvia seems to have it all. Fan of alternative music? Meet your friends in bar ILoveYou and have a great time drinking the local beer and dancing the night away to your favorite songs of Arcade Fire or Bloc Party. Not enough? Go for Fontaine Palace in Liepāja and rock to a live performance of well-known Latvian and foreign bands.

Nature & Culture

Come closer to the nature and book a weekend at a traditional Latvian house to spend some time in the countryside and enjoy the peace of being away from the city noises. There are small and cozy cottages situated throughout the country, where you can rest, go to the traditional Latvian steam bath and enjoy the local dining opportunities of little restaurants and cafes. This is the place where you can experience the unforgettable taste of Latvian steak (karbonāde) or a dish of grey peas that you can eat together with kefirs – a delicious and traditional yoghurt drink.

Shopping

Shop till you drop! Riga offers the most shopping in the whole country. Whether you like shopping in international retail stores, such as ZARA or Mango or visit the small boutiques of Escada or Vertu, you are most welcome everywhere. Furthermore, big shopping malls are really favored by Latvians and also other visitors of the country, so join the shopping spree as soon as you hop off the airplane!

Written by Emilija Laivina 9

Russian Vodka “Vodka comes from the Russian word for water, ‘Voda’.“

“Russians think you can see into someone’s soul when toasting”

Vodka is the drink of a lot of Eastern European countries. Besides, being popular in those countries, vodka is also chosen in the rest of the world for making cocktails, mixtures and shots. Different companies use different ingredients but the main concept is the same. The history and production process are explained and some good suggestions for cocktails are given, so try this at home and enjoy a nice drink with real Russian vodka.

History

Vodka

Vodka is an old drink and already in 1448, Russian distillers discovered that normal grains, which were used for bread, could be used to produce alcohol. In 1505, the Russians wanted other countries to taste their wonderful drink and the first country to which they were exporting vodka was Sweden. In 1540, the ‘bread wine’ or ‘hot wine’ as they were calling it in the early days, was named vodka when it was recognized as a medicine. In 1751, the taxes on Vodka were the basis for 40% of the state revenue of Russia. This means Vodka was sold a lot with a high percentage of tax on it. In 1894, the first rules regarding vodka were made. Dmitri Mendeleev was renowned as the founder of vodka because he said that vodka should have an alcohol volume of 40% for the upcoming centuries. Nowadays, vodka is widely known around the world and consumed by people in different compositions.

The

process of making

Vodka

The production process of vodka entails several steps. It is important to have all ingredients together and materials that need to be used for all the different phases. The main ingredients of vodka are grain, water, malt, and yeast.

“Vodka was made as a medicine, Russians still believe in the medical power”

“Vodka should be chilled between 5 and 7 degrees”

• • • • • •

First of all, the grain or vegetables are put into a tub. This tub needs to be rotating because the grains need to be broken down in this first step. The mash that comes from this rotating needs to be mixed with malt. This step is required since the starch needs to be converted into sugar. After developing sugar, the sterilization process will start. This means the mash is heated until boiling and the lactic acid bacteria will be mixed into the mash. The next process is the fermentation. Therefore, the mash should go into a stainless steel tank. Yeast will be added and the tanks need to be sealed. In the following four days, the sugars will be turned into ethyl alcohol. The distillation process comes after the fermentation. This means the ethyl alcohol goes into a column or sometimes a pot still. In the column still, the ethyl alcohol will be heated up with steam and cycled up and down. The alcohol will rise to the top chambers and accumulate there. When there is around 95% alcohol, water will be added to dilute the alcohol to 40%. The final stage is bottling the vodka. For vodka, glass instead of plastic should be used because that is the only material not interacting with the beverage, which might cause chemical reactions otherwise.

Fountain

Youth

The pomegranate was always seen as the fruit of the future and by drinking this cocktail you might feel better for the rest of the day. It was researched that the pomegranate can decrease the heart disease risk factors. 50 ml Russian vodka 60 ml pomegranate juice (if available, fresh squeezed) 20 g thinly sliced ginger

Black Russian

To have the delicious taste of pure vodka combined with coffee flavour you should add Tia Maria and a bit of coke. This cocktail will help you to stay awake but remember; there is alcohol in it so better do not drink it before class. 200 ml Russian vodka 100 ml Tia Maria Top off with coke

Vodka

tonic

If you want to have a fresh drink at the end of the day taste the vodka tonic. It gives extra power for the rest of the evening because it has a refreshing effect with a bitter aftertaste. With a slice of lemon the cocktail is ready to drink - what a pleasure! 200 ml vodka Top of with Tonic water

Sex

on the beach

If you like sweetness and fruity flavours, this drink should be the one for you. The drink is a combination of pure vodka with grapefruit, peach and oranges. 30 ml vodka 30 ml peach tree Grapefruit juice Orange juice A bit of cranberry juice

Career Opportunity Interview with Robbert Manussen 1. Can you give us a small introduction about yourself? I am Robbert Manussen, 31 years old, Dutch and alumni International Hospitality Management (2005). Currently I am working for Hilton Worldwide in a European corporate role for Food & Beverage, based in Vienna.

2. What did you do after graduating at Stenden? My career experience can be divided into four categories: At internship level: I was fortunate to have an internship opportunity as assistant to the Director of Operations at the Hilton Amsterdam. Although my initial target was to improve my language skills, this internship offered a too wide range of learning opportunities to ignore. At regional level 1: My internship ended with the request to apply for a regional position within Hilton as F&B Coordinator Europe & Africa. The regional F&B team is setting out the overall F&B strategy for the region, which reflects in standards, products and optimising synergies. In addition, it acts as an internal support for hotels and openings with projects, human resources, training, optimising the F&B operation and quality control. It was a great development curve for my professional competencies. At operations management (OM) level: To enlarge my management skills I decided to take a move back to hotel operations. Over a period of four years I worked in OM in two large conference hotels as respectively Back of House Manager, Assistant F&B Operations Manager and F&B Operations Manager. This was a valuable period that not only developed the various aspects of management skills but also enabled me to create my personal vision on how an operation can be run. At regional level 2: A restructuring of the European area team of F&B offered me the opportunity to re-join in the evolved role of F&B Coordinator Europe. With a larger team and more overall focus on F&B as significant part of our business, our mission is to establish the department as a profit centre, brand enhancer

and image creator, run by knowledge, creative and above all passionate professionals. The gained operational management experience enables me to take on larger and more complex projects, as well as to be a direct support to senior company management and hotel management alike.

3. Did you always know you wanted to work outside the Netherlands? I believe every student that starts the study International Hospitality Management has basically two characteristics in common. To start they have the interest for the industry and enjoyment of providing guest service. Secondly, they have a certain interest in exploring. I have not met any student that started this education with the aim of working in his hometown around the corner for a local business. My positive experience of an international learning environment in Leeuwarden and afterwards Amsterdam motivated me to do another step and extend my horizon. I have spent the first 25 years of my life in the Netherlands and I might return at some stage, but for now there is so much to explore in the world that I will take my time.

4. Â Can you give your opinion about differences/similarities between Eastern Europe and Western Europe? A comparison from Eastern and Western Europe will most likely provide as much similarities and differences as one from Northern and Southern Europe. Apart from the fact that the languages divert from a different language group, cultural differences are the most obvious differentiators. For a long period of time these countries have been ruled by communistic regimes, which certainly has had a significant influence on the way of life and mindset of their inhabitants.

Although the younger generation is focussing more on the “Western” way of life, it is noticeable that their cultural past is still bounded to their daily way of acting. Examples of this type of behaviour that I encountered as being different from “Western” European habits were: a conservative approach fuelled by a general acceptance and retention of the system, a less capitalistic approach to business matters and a lower drive of individuals to stand out of the mass. In terms of economy and business the Eastern European countries are getting fully up to speed and excel in growth. They rapidly close the economical gap by expanding their industries and gaining market share in various fields. Although labour costs are less expensive, depending where you are the prices for products and services get closer and closer to Western European price levels. Countries like Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia are examples of this.

The picture displays me in my current role, taken during a visit of the Hilton Prague Old Town, Czech Republic.

5. Do you have additional information about living and/or working in Eastern Europe, which you would like to share with us? Exploring is to travel somewhere in search of discovery. When starting your professional career exploring is on the base of your journey. It is the moment where you decide which personal and professional developments you wish to encounter. Eastern European is one of those areas that offer tremendous opportunities for young professionals to start their careers. Especially the hotel industry is coming up strong with a large pipeline of new hotel openings from all major hotel brands. Working in this region will offer you lots of exposure to working methods, philosophies and new cultures that will enrich your personal and professional competencies.

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Dubrovnik

Zlatni Rat - Golden Horn

Plitvice Lakes National Park

Croatia The beautiful country of Croatia is becoming a popular vacation destination. The reason for it is that the country offers a combination of a perfect beach holiday, activity holiday and city trip. The bland climate, gastronomic specialties & wines and national parks are inspiring and many tourists come back to discover more about Croatia and its culture. Moreover, holidays in Croatia are not expensive and the Croatians are very hospitable, friendly and cordial.

The most exciting way to spend time in this beautiful country is to visit different areas and cities because Croatia offers many highlights and attractions. The first days are perfect to start with city trips. The Croatian Adriatic Sea is surrounded by well worth seen cities such as Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and the capital Zagreb with over a million inhabitants. The historic center of Dubrovnik belongs to the World heritage Site and represents a lot of cultural history including the Fort Lovrijenac from the year 1050 and the romantic port Cruz.

“relax and discover croatia’s rocky bays and shingle beaches” Split on the other hand is the biggest city in Dalmatia, which is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, as well as the metropolis of economy & trade, administration & accumulation as well as art & culture. After all unforgettable impressions it is time to relax and to discover Croatia’s rocky bays and shingle beaches. Nice beaches

can be found in the same area around the Adriatic Sea but if you are looking for a calm beach section or kilometers of beach then its best to visit the numerous islands. On the island Brac the most popular beach can be found which is called Zlatni Rat also known as the golden horn because of its unique shape stretched into the sea. Krk is the biggest island in Croatia with many towns and villages and a selection of beaches, which makes it possible to visit another coast every day. Furthermore, the island Dugi Otok is famous for its crystal clear water and has a very relaxing atmosphere while the island Hvar has a fascinating nature with several lavender fields and olive trees. Recreation is important during holidays but you also like some adventure? Then prepare yourself for the best national parks in Croatia! In total there are 8 National parks and 10 Nature parks with unique landscapes including forests, seas, lakes, waterfalls and perfect conditions for hiking, rafting, biking, climbing, diving and boating. Paklenica is the

oldest national park and is very attractive for free-climbing fans. National park Krka on the other hand is famous for its seven waterfalls and the first operating hydroelectric plant in Europe.

“hiking, rafting, biking, climbing, diving and boating” The park has a covered surface area of 109 km2 and you can find 850 different kinds of plants and more than 200 bird species as well as other animals. The Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage and is famous for its 16 lakes while bears, birds and deer inhabit the 300 km2. Notable is that the Winnetou movie was filmed in this area and a magnificent nature experience can be perceived in which you will be surrounded by turquoise-colored water! It is worth mentioning that Croatia belongs to the top 20 most popular destinations in the world as all the above-mentioned attractions illustrate.

The Trans-Siberian Express

“Always wanted to know what

if feels like being in a “Speed Machine”?

This is your chance to explore all the opportunities the TransSiberian Express offers. The Trans-Siberian Express, also called train number 2 Rossiva, runs all the way from Moscow straight through Siberia and finishes at Vladivostok. This is known as the classic route between the East and West of Moscow. After a trip of 7 days and nights, travelers will have passed through 8 different time zones and traveled for more than 9200 kilometers in one and the same country! To expand this amazing journey you will need at least 3 weeks to travel. These weeks make sure you get plenty of time to enjoy, experience and behold all the extraordinary landscapes you will be faced with. Traveling with the Trans-Siberian Express is called to be the best way to experience the neatness of Russia and to face several areas, which are not visited so

often. The train journey shows the greatness of Russia when crossing all four regions, for example Siberia and Ural. Several stops are available when passing by 9 different cities. Within these cities beautiful sights can be visited when overnight stays are booked. A real life-traveling schedule based on information of Tiara Tours will provide you with the ins and outs of what the TransSiberian Express can offer you.

Journey

MoscowMoscow is the city where it all starts. After arriving here at day 1, several sights can be visited. Think about the beautiful Red Square, which is located in the middle of Moscow next to the famous Kremlin walls and GUM, the countries largest department store. Besides, the Tretyakov Gallery in Lavrushinsky Lane shows the art works of Russia greatest masters. And of course last but not least, St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was build by Ivan the Terrible in the 1550’s. This intriguing cathedral bordering the Red Square consists of nine separate chapels each capped with its own individually shaped colored dome. At day 2, the real train journey with the Trans-Siberian Express will begin. After showing your tickets and passport the TransSiberian Express is ready to go. To make you as comfortable as possible the provodnitsa, sort of a stewardess, will bring you clean sheets and a small bag with the most necessary

things like a toothbrush, soap and a comb. Next to this, the provodnitsa will bring you your dinner and offers hot water for coffee or tea. This is available all day at the samovar, a hot water boiler located at the provodnitsa. No alcoholic drinks are sold on the train and therefore at every stop Babushkas offer their services. Bread, beer, sodas, vodka, noodles and several souvenirs are offered then. Based on the class you have reserved, several fellow passengers will be joining you in your compartment. Especially when Russian travelers are nearby you can be sure a lot of vodka will be consumed. After the first 26 hours, day 3

as statues, bridges, monuments and buildings. After staying in Yekaterinburg for two days you will continue with your journey in the TransSiberian Express to the next main stop Omsk, located 2712 kilometers from Moscow. When visiting Omsk there is as well more than enough to see, like the Drama Theater, which is the oldest theatre in the city established in 1874. Nowadays it is also known as being a historical and architectural monument. On day 7 you will enter the Trans-Siberian Express again to travel to Novosibirsk. When you travel from city to city with stops in between make sure you buy several tickets instead of one full ticket straight from

city or to sleep at one of the home stays. This means that you will stay at a house of one the inhabitants of Novosibirsk. They will provide a room for you, cook meals upon request and give you information about the city. Due the fact that Novosibirsk is the fourth largest city of Russia with more than 1.4 million inhabitants, it is guaranteed to see and experience a lot. For example, you could visit the world highly regarded Novosibirsk Zoo. This Zoo gives shelter to more than 11000 exotic animals and creatures with over 4000 different species. In addition, Novosibirsk is quite famous due to its unusual temperature fluctuations. In winter the temperature can drop below -40° Celsius,

has started and the first main stop will be held at Yekaterinburg, 1814 kilometers from Moscow. To discover Yekaterinburg the best thing is to get acquainted with the city. Doing this you can visit the government of Sverdlovskaya Oblast, which presents a wonderful view of the city, the opera theatre, cinema and concert hall Cosmos. This all can be undertaken by yourself or together with one of the guides that are available in the city. The guides will certainly provide you with sufficient and highly interesting information. During these sightseeing tours you will notice that everything in Russia is big, such

Moscow to Vladivostok - this saves you a lot of problems. On your way from Omsk to Novosibirsk you will notice that the nature changes from nice mountains of Ural to the rough plains of Siberia. Again between the main stops there will be several small stations where the Trans-Siberian Express will stop for several minutes. Many Babushkas are available with their services. These little breaks are always a good chance to buy your daily needs and vodka of course! Once you have arrived in Novosibirsk, which lies straight along the Ob River, it is possible to stay in one of the hotels in this

whereas in summer it can get as hot as +40° Celsius! After staying at Novosibirsk for one night it is time to continue your journey with the Trans-Siberian Express. Krasnoyarsk will be your next main stop with 3 smaller stops in between. When entering train stations keep in mind that you are not allowed to take pictures at all since it is tried to uphold the safety of those areas as high as possible. On day 10 you will arrive at Krasnoyarsk. Here again it is really easy to stay at one of the home stays, which is provided.

This is a great way to explore the real Russian culture and its people. In Krasnoyarsk, it is enjoyable to travel through the city with one of the many busses offered in and around the city. You can enter the bus without buying a ticket since you will pay 10 Russian Ruble for the entire bus ride at the end of your journey no matter how long you stayed on the bus. When you have arrived at the city you should not miss to see the Krasnoyarsk Regional Studies Museum. This museum displays one of the largest museum collections in Siberia and Russia with over 448 exhibits. There are three floors of wonderful expositions featuring animals of the region, magnificent religious icons, 18th century, 19th century exhibits, a fabulous early Siberian ship and items from the Royal family era. If you are rather interested in the nature of Krasnoyarsk, then the Stolby National Park is an area you ought to get a glimpse of.

After spending 2 days at the beautiful surroundings of Krasnoyarsk it is time to enter the Trans-Siberian Express again. The next stop will be Irkutsk, which is 5185 kilometers away from Moscow. Once you have arrived Irkutsk and you are not tired of traveling with a train all the time it is great to do a special excursion from Irkutsk to Listvyanka. This excursion starts around 7 AM from Irkutsk and will have its first stop in Slyudyanka, where the actual tour will begin. Moving slowly along the less than 100-kilometer rail, the train will stop several times. The tourists can get off while the guide will explain the harsh conditions of building this rail. The construction began already in the late 1800â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and was part of the Trans-Siberian route. The train ends its journey in Port Baikal where a ferry is waiting to take you across the Angara River to Listvjanka. Listvjanka has the beautiful Lake Baikal to offer. It is believed that if you swim in the Baikal you will lengthen your life by 25 years. But be aware, it can be cold, very cold! An overnight stay is possible; otherwise the waiting buss will bring you back to Irkutsk where you will arrive around 9 PM.

After spending 2 days in Irkutsk and its beautiful surroundings it is time to enter the TransSiberian Express for the last time. The last 4102 kilometers will be traveled in approximately 72 hours. During this long journey you will have an adequate amount of stops to buy your personal supplies again. Especially Omul (fish) will be offered frequently. The Babushkas will start yelling all louder to offer their best services. Moreover, the scenes that you will observe during this wonderful trip are stunning and nowhere else to be spotted. After 9288 kilometers the travel with the Trans-Siberian Express will come to an end at Vladivostok. Most people who were part of this journey will describe it as one of the greatest experiences they have ever encountered! Vladivostok, is the last city you will visit before you are going back to Moscow. You will be very pleased to take a shower after traveling 72 hours with the train. Vladivostok is exciting to discover and a great last stop to say goodbye to Russia after a train journey of 21 days with the remarkable and fascinating Trans-Siberian Express!

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How resmio wants to change the way restaurants think about pricing Restaurants, just as other service businesses, are facing daily as well as weekly times of low demand. These exist not only due to eating habits of their customers but are also influenced by the seasons, the weather, local events and other variables. The problem with low demand times in restaurants is their existing cost structure. It is dominated by high fixed costs deriving from rent, service staff and more monthly recurring expenses. In this case, one needs to think of hourly losses per empty chair. For years restaurants have been using simple pricing strategies to fill their tables during low demand times. Discounts on meals during lunchtime or „Happy hours“ have been successful strategies. Other industries with similar cost structures, like the hospitality- or the airline industry, have instead established data-driven pricing mechanisms. Continuously measuring demand influencing variables and adapting prices helps significantly to increase revenues for hotels and airlines. By using dynamic pricing, a hotel can target different customer groups and their specific willingness to pay during different times of the year. For restaurants, dynamic pricing has been difficult to implement due to their determined „à la Carte“ prices that are hard to adapt to changing demand. But nevertheless, restaurants are a perfect fit for more sophisticated revenue management. Their high fixed costs make it necessary to attract customers also during off peak seasons in order to optimize revenues for the long term. Resmio wants to enable restaurants to use dynamic pricing by offering an online reservation system that adapts prices to expected demand. By using the resmio digital reservation book, restaurants can automatically measure demand during different times of the day and adapt prices for online reservations in the form of flexible percentage discounts. Restaurants implement the Resmio reservation module on their websites to take direct online reservations. Customers who make table reservations online through the reservation module can choose to book a table during off peak times and save money or make a reservation during peak times and pay the standard „à la carte“ price. This way, restaurants can incentivize flexible customers with a lower willingness to book a table during off peak times and thus increase demand. Resmio intends to help restaurants to manage and optimize their capacity usage as well as increase revenues in the long term by enabling them to offer the right price to the right customer at the right time. Resmio was founded by three students at the Leuphana University Lüneburg. Michael Marder, Niels Busch and Yasha Tarani started the company with the intention to enhance the online reservation experience for consumers as well as to drive customers to restaurants specifically during low demand times using data driven dynamic pricing strategies. The startup is supported by the German EXIST program of the German ministry of economics and technology. For more information on the resmio reservation system contact yasha@resmio.com or visit the resmio website at http://resmio.com.

EASTERN EUROPE

MEETS IO VIVAT Sociëteit ‘t Heertje Herenwaltje 5 8911 HN Leeuwarden

IO VIVAT

When looking to the relationship between the moral of this magazine, Eastern Europe, and student association Io Vivat, at first you will not see a connection. Nevertheless, a wonderful story will be explained in which Io Vivat had a major role in Eastern Europe, Ukraine. A few years ago, specific in 2006, Io Vivat guaranteed in a project where both poor children and orphans received clothes and other usable things to get a better life. For many years there has been served ‘Brand’ beer in the pub of Io Vivat. Because of the good cooperation with ‘Brand’ beer, the members of Io Vivat were able to send many ‘Brand’ t-‐shirts to Ukraine. Lots of photos were taken with the happy children who wore the t-‐shirts! Every year Io Vivat supports charities where the members put a lot of effort in. It is good to be there for the people around you…

Info@iovivat.nl www.iovivat.nl

Discover the world while you study. Prepare for your future car eer while gaining international experience. Do part of your studies at a Stenden cam pus site in the Netherlands, South Africa, Qatar, Bali or Thailand. The Grand Tour offers many study options for minors, indust rial placements and regular semesters. The edu cational systems of the foreign campus site s are seamlessly attuned to the system in your homeland.

Expand your horizons: Do the Grand Tour!

Europe • Africa • Middle East • Asia www.stenden.com

HORECAVA In 1953, Gerrit Staalman was thinking about a hospitality fair and he was writing about the idea in ‘Misset Horeca’ where he worked at that moment. His dream finally came true in 1957, when ‘de Nederlandse vakbeurs organisatie’ was arranging the first fair. Two years later, it was decided to transfer the fair to a bigger building and therefore the Horecava is held in the Amsterdam RAI since 1959. The Horecava 2012 was taking place from the 9th of January till the 12th of January and on Wednesday the 11th, the HotelloTOP Year Event was held. Besides the HotelloTOP Year Event, some smaller events were organized. The beer and gastronomy award was handed out, just as the golden hospitality award. One of the most important awards during this week was the SHEEC EMCup in which Stenden University was participating with a team existing of Theresa Vitera, Rebeka Keresztes, Sophie Els and Tim Heinen. On Wednesday the 11th of January, this team as well as other hotel schools from Europe had to present the theme Sheconomy. In addition, on Thursday the 12th of January, all teams needed to do a pitch entailing their innovative idea conerning businesswomen in year 2012. The team of Stenden University had a highly interesting idea and eye-catching presentation. However, the winner of the SHEEC EMCup 2012 was Dortmund. On the Horecava itself, guests could visit six different sections. The first spot was called ‘ INNOVATE’, where trend watchers, innovators, pioneers and followers met each other. Of course, unforgettable within this section was a program about the future. Visitors had the possibility to learn how to make the right decisions and experts debated about different statements. The next section was called ‘HOTEL’ containing of a big hotel lounge. Students had the possibility to join a speed dating with HR Mangers of different hotels and hotel chains on Thursday. The initiative for this speed dating came from HotelloTOP and provided young people with a geat opportunity to start a career in the hotel indstry. Next to the hotel section, there was the ‘MARKET’ area. This division was celebrating its 5th anniversary at the fair. Due to this occasion several fun activities were offered, such as food pairing and wine tasting. The fourth section at the Horecava was called ‘OUTSIDE’. It was giving inspiration for the summer 2012 and showed possibilities for creating a terrace. After eating in the ‘outside’ area, visitors were able to go to the ‘NIGHT LIFE’ section. In there, it was all about café’s, cocktails and bartending. The top 100 cafés of Misset Horeca were announced on Wednesday, whereas on Thursday there was the opportunity to see the real Dutch championship ‘flair bartending’ of ‘Bols’. The last section of the Horecava was the ‘FASTSERVICE’. Here, all fast service branches, from lunchroom to snack bar and fuel pump were presenting themselves and explaining their work.

HOTELLOTOP As already mentioned, the HotelloTOP Year Event took place on Wednesday. Alumni of all hotel schools in the Netherlands came to participate. The theme of 2012 was ‘Sheconomy’, which included the diversification of men and women. Several interesting presentations were given throughout the day: Esther Raats-Coster, the manager of ‘Talent naar de Top’, was the first person holding a speech about what she did after graduating in Leeuwarden and her opinion about women in top positions. The second presenter was Wouter de Vries jr., a lecturer

of service marketing. His story entailed the dissimilar behavior of men and women in certain situations. He outlined that men could only think of one thing at a time, whereas woman tend to make a disatrous dilemma out of a ‘simple’ situation. The last speaker was Gonnie

Been of Microsoft. She was explaining that the workforce of Microsoft contained 16% women only. However, they are aware of the valuable contribution, which women can make towards a company and thus, would like to increase ther female number of employees in future.

Saskia Paulissen and Hans Steenbergen were the moderators of the entire event. In order to maintain a lively and interesting show they, for example, were provding information on the functioning of human brains. The overall conclusion of the day was that men are not able to concentrate on more than one subject at a time, otherwise they cannot focus anymore. Besides, it was stressed that women can make a big deal out of little things. Additionall, it was recognized that the complication in communication between men and women could cause problems in a relationship. Thus, Saskia Paulissen gave a tip for both sexes: Women: ‘If a man says there is no problem, you can ask one more time but than accept it and do something different’. Men: ‘If a women is solving a problem by talking, do not give your own solutions but just listen and she will be thankful for that’. Afterwards there was the opportunity to connect with other people at an informal reception. All people were really enthusiastic about the entire event which could be recognized by people mentioning ‘what an amazing event’ and ‘so great to have all this people together’.

We would like to strongly recommend all of you to visit the Horecava and HotelloTOP Year Event next year. It is highly interesting and exciting to connect to various people from the industry, which might be very valuable for your future career in the hospitality business.

Expert Interview: Pieter van de Graaf Let us introduce Pieter van de Graaf, founder of the wine company Het Wijnkabinet. He imported Eastern European wines to the Netherlands and explains why those wines are improving in terms of quality and acknowledgement. Eastern European wines will get more attention in the future which helps to distinguish oneself as a wine seller, to gain more knowledge as a wine expert or just to find another favourite wine as a wine connoisseur!

Could you tell us some personal and professional facts about you?

At the end of 2011 I sold Het Wijnkabinet to another entrepreneur.

My name is Pieter van de Graaf and I am 36 years old. I finished the Hotel Management School Leeuwarden in 1999. Two years ago I founded a wine company named Het Wijnkabinet, which can be found under the following website: www.hetwijnkabinet.nl. The concept of Het Wijnkabinet is unique; it is a cooperation of around 10 relative small wine importers. This cooperation combines these importers and their marketing and sales force. They all import their wines from a certain area with which they are familiar. If Het Wijnkabinet buys wines from the importers it receives a bonus since the company can be seen as an additional sales-channel for them. For example, last year Het Wijnkabinet participated in ‘Taste of Amsterdam’, a culinary festival. The company promoted wines from various importers who benefited from Het Wijnkabinets’ involvement, as they did not have sufficient time and money to participate in this event their selves. Without each other’s input the cooperation would not be successful and therefore, a win-win situation for everyone involved is created.

What inspired you to deliver Eastern European wines to the Netherlands?

Eastern European wines are not very well known in Holland. The overall quality is quite good, although this may vary per wine. In the 70’s a lot of bad wines have been imported. However, since the fall of ‘The Wall’ and the entrance of Romania into the EU, the quality of the wines has become continuously better. Nowadays, selling these wines can provide an opportunity to distinguish oneself from other wine sellers because the variety in inventory can be an important determinant to run a successful business.

Which Eastern European wines did you choose and why? I started with Romanian wines and extended these with Georgian wines. Geodev, specialist in Romanian and Georgian wines, is the importer who participated in Het Wijnkabinet and delivered these wines.

Could you tell us what is special about Eastern European wines?

Which Eastern European wines would you recommend? And why?

For the international varieties there are no great differences: they use the same wine techniques, have an appellation system and are required to comply with the EU wine regulations.

Hungary is receiving high appreciation for their white wines, whereas Romania is strongly recognized for their red wines, which are now known for their constant and increasing quality. Georgia is a country where wine making started 8000 years ago with their unique grape varieties. Among experienced wine drinkers, who like to discover new wines with a high quality and a distinctive character, the interest in Georgia as a wine producing country raises significantly. For wines, which are consumed on a daily basis, I would recommend the easy to drink Romanian wines, whereas for special occasions, I would advice to drink Georgian wines, which have slightly higher prices than the Romanian wines.

There is a difference in style for most wines: the reds tend to be full-bodied wines with a little more oak taste than Australian wines. For the local market they mostly offer semi dry wines. In contrast, the white wines are more aromatic. In addition, people prefer older wines in general, but for the export fruitier wines are produced as well. The real difference can be derived from the native grapes, which find a growing interest in the western countries. Native grapes from Romania the feteasca regala [white wine] and the feteasca neagra [red wine] or the saperavi [red wine] and the Mtsvane [white wine] from Georgia are especially liked.

Is there a big difference between Eastern European wines and the one from France, Italy, Spain, Germany…? In all countries there are really good wines. The difference is that the unique varieties of Eastern European countries give us the possibility to learn and experience new tastes.

Student Voice : Wine Tasting While studying IHM, students gain knowledge about wine tasting and learn to recognize different grape variaties. In order to reveal whether students are able to detect Eastern European wines we conducted a wine tasting with eight participants (IHM students) in the Student Lounge. The first wine the students were tasting was a Pinot Gris from Italy, whereas the second wine was a Pinot Grigio from Hungary. The following section illustrates whether students were ale to correctly indicate the winesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; origion and outlines the studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinion conerning the taste and their personal preference. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? Venezuela From which grape is this wine made? Riesling Do you like the wine? Yes, it is smooth, fruity, soft in taste and not high in acidity. Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From Which grape is this wine made? Pinot Grigio Jan-Jaap Altenburg, 19 Do you like the wine? No Jan-Jaap described the difference of the two wines to be based on the climate, acidity, and fruitiness of the wine. Even though he would neither recommend the first nor the second wine because they are not his preferred taste, Jan-Jaap indicated what he perceived during the taste experiment. According to him, both wines are fruity in the nose and low in acidity. Besides, the complexity andmouthfeel are quite low. Lastly, he outlines that the wines are both easy to drink and soft in taste. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? From which grape is this wine made? Do you like the wine?

France Chardonnay Yes

Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Chile From Which grape is this wine made? Sauvignon Blanc Milou Mijnster, 17 Do you like the wine? Yes, but I like the first wine better Milou described that the first wine is stronger in taste than the second one. In addition, she perceived it to be fruitier and lighter, which she personally prefers and thus, would recommend this wine to other people. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? From which grape is this wine made? Do you like the wine?

Chile Sweet white grape Yes, soft wine

Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From which grape is this wine made? Portuguese grapes Do you like the wine? Very specific, fruity Lieke Boerena, 17 In compliance with the two before mentioned participants, Lieke likes the first wine better. In her opinion the second wine is very fruity and has a sharper and more specific taste. However, the first one is very soft and sweet, which she personally prefers.

Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? From which grape is this wine made? Do you like the wine?

France ??? Yes

Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From Which grape is this wine made? ??? Do you like the wine? Yes Merel would also recommend the first wine due to its freshness. The second wine is not her favorite since it is rather sweet. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? New Zeeland From Which grape is this wine made? Sauvignon Blanc Do you like the wine? Yes, I do

Merel van Vliet, 20

Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From Which grape is this wine made? Pinot Grigio Do you like the wine? Yes, I do Jim Korteweg, 20 Jim liked tasting both wines. However, if he had to decide on one of them he would se, 20lect the Hungarian wine because it has more taste and is fruitier. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? Argentina From which grape is this wine made? Pinot Blanc Do you like the wine? Yes Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From Which grape is this wine made? Pinot Blanc Do you like the wine? Yes, it is very fresh MichĂŠle van Boekel, 21 The second wine has a more fresh taste and a fruitier flavor according to Michele. She really would like to enjoy both wines on a sunny afternoon!! Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? Chile From which grape is this wine made? Sauvignon Blanc Do you like the wine? Yes Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Germany From Which grape is this wine made? Chardonnay Do you like the wine? Yes When describing the differences between the two wines, Jop Jop Stins, 20 mentioned that the first wine has more dimensions in taste, which can be perceived longer than the taste after testing the other item. In contrast, the second wine has a more flat taste according to the participant. Besides, he mentioned that he would recommend the first wine to his family and friends since it had a full-bodied taste. Wine number 1 Where is this wine from? Venezuela From which grape is this wine made? Pinot Blanc Do you like the wine? Yes, I like it Wine number 2 Where is this wine from? Italy From which grape is this wine made? Pinot Grigio Do you like the wine? Yes Wopje van Andel, 20 It was the first time for Wopje tasting a Hungarian wine and she liked it. She would actually recommend both wines to his family and friends. In her opinion, the second wine is lighter and fruitier in taste than the first one.

Spa & Health in Eastern Europe Do you feel stressed, overworked, achy and tired? Would you like to go on a Spa & Health trip that is affordable? If your answer is yes, then continue reading this article, which will present several enticing reasons why Eastern Europe is a considerable alternative to Asia when it comes to a recreational getaway that will boost your body, mind & soul. Many spas in Eastern Europe provide significant value for money including luxurious services at a reasonable price.

History

Already during Ancient Times, Bulgaria’s approximately 800 thermal springs were popular. In the 5th century BC, inhabitants preferred to settle around lakes and hot springs. The Greeks and Romans were the first to build healing temples in these locations where mystical and healing waters were applied. Next to this, health-giving effects of the mountain and sea climate could be perceived in those areas. Some historic spa destinations are located in Marianské Lázně (Marienbad), Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad) and Františkovy Lázně, which are the most popular among 37 health travel destinations within the Czech Republic. For a long time Piešťany has been a recognized wellness getaway in Slovakia - a real paradise

for body and soul. Now, Piešťany has become world famous for its modern methods of treating rheumatism and other disorders of motion. Health tourism in Poland took its roots in the 13th century already. In total, there are 43 health resorts attracting people who would like to enhance their well-being. These resorts provide thermal waters, salt caves, medical muds and oxygen bars. Additionally, beauty, cosmetic, and wellness treatments pamper the guests greatly when visiting Poland. Many other countries on the Balkan Peninsula (e.g. Slovenia, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Macedonia) are acknowledged for its natural healing resources. Curative climates

or caves, thermal water springs and low price levels make these countries admirable for a restorative vacation.

Today

The trend nowadays shifts from traditional wellness trips to medical tourism meaning that people seek aesthetic surgery to change their outward appearance. Governments in Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slovenia invest tremendously sums of money in the development and advancement of traditional medical resorts. Sochi will be the host of the Winter Olympics in 2014, thus Russia is investing in the transformation and improvement of medical tourism facilities especially in this area.

Danubius Thermal Hotel

Have you heard of Danubius Thermal Hotel, which was the first luxury spa hotel build in Budapest, the capital of Hungary? The hotel belongs to the Danubius Hotel Group, a chain that is located primarily in medical tourism-oriented destinations in Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania. The four to five star Danubius Health Spas are comprised of six elements including Natural Resources, Medical Expertise Therapeutic Treatments, Well-being & Relaxation, Fitness & Beauty and Spa Cuisine. Danubius Thermal Hotel Budapest is located in the middle of a romantic park on Margaret Island. The city centre is reachable in just 10 minutes and nevertheless you are able to perceive complete tranquillity. Next to an outstanding cuisine, high-class conference facilities, this hotel

Halo Therapy

offers pools, which contain natural, mineral rich and healing waters. Choosing this place for your next vacation will provide you with the opportunity to experience therapeutic thermal baths, a Jacuzzi, steam room and aroma cabin. Additionally, you can enjoy a fitness centre, sun terrace, solarium and an infra-sauna. Have you ever been to a Therapy and Wellness Centre, to a Kneipp therapy centre or to a healing salt cave? Well, at Danubius Thermal Hotel you can escape the outside world, relax and get pampered. The therapy and wellness centres aim at energizing you through hydro massages, Thai massages, Tibetan honey massages, Royal massages, relaxing head and face massages, foot massages, anti-cellulite massages, lymph massages, traditional dry brush massages,

Another suggestion we can make is to experience a Halo therapy, which is a salt-based treatment. This therapy is practiced in specially designed rooms where the walls and floor are covered by significant amounts of salt. Mostly, they are naturally occurring in a salt cave or mine, or are artificially created. The beneficial effects of this treatment include improvements of the medical condition of patients. The Russian Ministry of Public Health has been sanctioning the Halo therapy method since 1990. This contributed to Russiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success of becoming one of the world leaders in testing the effectiveness of this treatment for chronic bronchitis, asthma, and the upper and lower respiratory tract diseases. The Salt Spa in Wieliczka near Krakow (Poland)

hot towel back massages, sport massage, and comforting baths including a Cleopatra bath or relaxing and revitalizing aroma baths. Next to this, you do not have to look any further if you are searching for a pedicure & manicure, a hair & beauty salon, or even a laser eye or dental clinic where you can get medical treatments. Hungary owns one of the largest thermal and medical water reserves and the largest thermal bathing lake in the world. Its well-established wellness culture as well as the health enhancing and modern facilities at Danubius Thermal Hotel ensure that you will spend delightful and recreational vacation there. So, do not think any longer, but experience an unforgettable spa & health experience, which will transform your tiresomeness into new spirit.

was founded in 1839 to treat diseases such as acute bronchitis. Since the polish mining physician Feliks Bochkowsky identified that workers in salt mines were not likely to become ill with lung diseases, these mines are used for therapeutic purposes in many countries, especially in Eastern Europe, such as Ukraine, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Azerbaijn, and Kirgizia. The oldest salt mine, the Bochnia Salt Mine, can be found in Poland. It comprises a 2.5 km tourist route running at a depth of 290 m. Guests are able to stay at the private Health Care Centre which is part of the Bochnia Salt Mine Spa Complex Ltd. The spa centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special climate and signature treatments such as pearl and salt-water baths with hydromassages attract many tourists.

The long tradition of Spa & Health in Eastern Europe combined with affordable prices and unique concepts, which cannot be found somewhere else, are motivating reasons to select an Easter Europe country as a recreation place. Hence, go ahead and choose one of the before mentioned destinations to experience an unforgettable vacation which will boost your energy as well as rejuvenate your body, mind and soul.

Interesting

facts of

Spa & Health Did

you know...

• In Romania, 3,000 thermal springs and 70 medical destinations can be found. • Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia host healing natural sources including thermal water and healing climate. In total, Slovenia has 87 thermal springs, which do not only attract medical but well ness tourists as well. • Hungary would like to become the most important health tour ism destination in Europe as sated in its National Tourism De velopment Strategy. Next to thermal waters, a medical cave, mofettas (CO2 baths) and historic spas, the country owns a unique natural cave bath in Miskolc-tapolca. A core signature treatment applied in Hungarian spas includes mud, which is de rived from a natural thermal lake in Hévíz. This mud consists of aquatic plants, sulphur and a high mineral content. • In Russia over 5,000 medical des tinations, natural healing re sources and traditions can be found. One tradition includes ‘banya’ which is an exotic Rus sian sauna. ‘Banya’ is a com position of dry sauna, steam bath, massage and plunges into ice-cold water. This exotic tradi tion is part of Russian culture and is a popular way of enter tainment. Whereas steam saunas are wet and heavy, the Russian ‘banya’ is dry and light. The stones used in these saunas cause this dissimilarity since its temperature is about 800-Celsius degrees. 200 years ago the ‘banya’ was the only way to practice hygiene in Russian vil lages.

Column: Sjoerd

van der

Galiën

Sjoerd van der Galiën Head of School of IHM

One year ago, Stenden welcomed a new Head of School for the International Hospitality Management program. Mr. van der Galiën is 44 years old and was born in Harlingen. He enjoys several hobbies including horse riding and the training of racehorses. Frequently, he travels to Germany where one of his horses is highly triumphant, besides he got awarded for being the second best trainer in the Netherlands. Additionally, Mr. van der Galiën spends his spare time doing windsurfing, sailing and iceskating.

Despite his lively and thriving personal life, Mr. van der Galiën’s professional career has been remarkably successful so far. Already with the age of 16, this young man started up his own business and soon was owner of a total of five companies, which among others were comprised of an accountancy office, a horse riding school, and women clothing shops. Next to this, Mr. van der Galiën managed to study law and economics at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen for 2 ½ years. Before his career path leaded to Stenden University, he became a dean of the educational programs of ‘Commercial Economics’, ‘Business Economics’, ‘Logistic Economics’ as well as ‘International Business and Languages’ in Emmen. However, Mr. van der Galiën decided to move back close to his Frisian roots and took over the position as a Director Management and Economics at Stenden University in Leeuwarden. After approximately two years, he got selected to become the Head of School of International Hospitality Management. Appealing aspects, which captivated him to work for Stenden University, consist of a friendly environment within the school, the well-developed cooperation among employees and especially the concept of Problem Based Learning. Concerning the International Hospitality Management program, Mr. van der Galiën and his newly appointed management team are currently working on improving this education. Points of attention include striving to become one of the top three hotelschools within the Netherlands. This goal will be achieved by improving the satisfactory level of students while listening to their suggestions, understanding their feedback and implementing their ideas.

Moreover, it is aimed at enhancing the entrepreneurial skills of students in order to prepare them to operate their own business after graduation. Communication is another important competence, which will be focused on in future to inform students more comprehensively about accomplished changes and expected improvements. Even though Mr. van der Galiën has a very tight schedule he puts emphasize on taking considerable time for his students.

We would like to thank Mr. van der Galiën for conducting an interview with us and wish him a successful and inspiring time as Head of School of International Hospitality Management at Stenden University.

Colofon

HOSPITALITY DELIGHTED “share the experience”

Chief Editor: Niels van Felius Editorial team: Marcella Koronna, Franziska Rohé, Laura Wittenberg, Lieke van Oosterhout Co-operators: HotelloTOP, Robbert Manussen, Ilze Folkmane, Emilija Laivina, Yasha Tarani, Pieter van de Graaf, Sjoerd van der Galiën. Design & Layout: Editorial team Copies: 2.000

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Founders: Daniël Spijker, Mark Struik Printing Office: Dekker Drukwerken Leeuwarden Advertisers: lo Vivat, West crew, Grand Café de Brass, Stenden Univerity Hotel, Stenden Grand Tour In co-operation with: IHM Stenden University, Leeuwarden Contact & Website: info@hospitalitydelighted.nl www.hospitalitydelighted.nl

Hospitality Delighted Herenwaltje 3 8911 HN Leeuwarden Tel: 058-2138782 info@hospitalitydelighted.nl www.hospitalitydelighted.nl