After the excellent reception the first edition by Synergias de Prensa, S.L.

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MICE in SPAIN

C O N V E N T I O N A N D T R A D E S H O W S PA I N ®

ISSUE #2 FIRST QUARTER ‘08

COVER

WHY IN

PALAU DE LA

MÚSICA

A hundred years of history support this emblematic Barcelonian space, which anniversary means an excellent opportunity to celebrate any type of event. INCENTIVES

CITIES

INCOMING

ALMERIA, desert, sea, typical way of life and the most wild nature go hand in hand in this Spanish province to enjoy the most authentic incentive.

TOLEDO, this city surrounded by the river Tajo, surprises for its historical and cultural imprints and for its increasing and consolidated tourist and meeting supply.

From its duties and assignments, Turespaña watches what the image of Spain is abroad and helps to promote its tourist products.

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EDITOR’S LETTER After the excellent reception the first edition of MICE IN SPAIN has had on the part of our readers and advertisers, professionals and business people of the meeting tourist sector, we can consider having laid the foundation stone of the communicative construction which we are going to continue building quarterly and at the sector’s disposal. As we proclaimed in the first number, our fundamental goal is to open a new communication and promotional field which did not exist up to now, dedicated to announce to the rest of the world the rich and varied supply for MICE activities in Spain. In this second appearance before the market of those who make the decisions about where to organise ceremonies and activities of tourist meetings, the most exceptional space is filled by one of the most emblematic symbols amongst the places for meetings: Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona. Palau de la Música is an art déco style building which is now celebrating its first hundredth anniversary which building and content have been a busy tourist sight in themselves for many years. A hundred years old it is. A century which represents having received no less than four or five generations of people who year after year, have been filling the different spaces that were originally used to attend musical concerts. However, the historical Palau in Barcelona is also, in the XXIst century, one of the most outstanding spaces in Spain for the MICE sector activities after having been positioned for this purpose after the work done to extend, renovate and modernise its facilities as the extensive literary and graphic report shows dedicated to it being the cover issue to this edition. JUAN ROBLES

Honorific Editor: Juan Robles • Assessor of Edition: Pau Morata • Director: José Alarcón • Adversiting: Antonio Melchor, José A. Fernández Martorell, Teresa Serra • Art Director: Sofía Alonso • General Coordination: Vanessa Jordá • Administration: Synergias de Prensa, S.L. C/ F. Pérez i Cabrero, 11-B, entlo. 8ª. E-08021 Barcelona. Tel.: +34 93 241 73 12. revista@miceinspain.es • Editorial Production: Publications & Meetings Industry, S.L. • President: James Oppenheimer • Vice-president: David Bean • Exterior design: Esteve Neff • Coordination: Gene Bailey-McQuivey • Administrator: Alberto Gómez Ponce • Editorial Council: José Alarcón, Sofía Alonso, Francisco de A. Carrió, Pere Camprobí, Estrella Díaz, Alberto Díez, Juan M. Hernández Puértolas, Fernando Martorell, Joan Molas, Pau Morata, Fermín Pérez, Joaquim Sagués, Ramzi Shuaibi, Santiago Soteras, André Vietor, Antonio Wangüemert. • Writers: Pau Morata, Victor Puig Vilarrubís. English Translations: Josefina Inclán. MICEinSPAIN® issue #2. Barcelona. Spain. 2008 • Depósito Legal: B-47.057-2007

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SUMMARY News

Cover Palau de la Música Catalana-Petit Palau, Meetings in the Heart of Barcelona

A destination proposal Galicia, as eternal as the Atlantic

Destinations Minorca, the desired outstandings island

Convention centers Palexco reinforces its entrance in the european market with the ‘Q’ of tourist quality

Rey Juan Carlos I Business & City Resort Hotel, a multidimensional space

Incentives Almería, a film multi adventure

Cities Toledo, a privileged destination

Hotels Hotel Carlos I Spa, an exclusive place for meetings

Special Venues Barceló La Bobadilla, relax and enjoy in the center of Andalusia

Incoming Turespaña, promoting Spain from abroad

Events in Spain Formula 1 warms up engines in Valencia

Useful guide

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News

CCIB HOLDS 125 EVENTS IN 2007

ATLANTIS UNICONGRESS WILL BE THE ORGANISER OF THE XIIIth EDITION ‘THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EVENING’

arcelona International Convention Centre was the headquarters for 125 events in 2007, which invoiced more than 34 million euros, 44% more than the previous year, as the people in charge revealed at the press conference. In 2007 more than 160.000 delegates came along the CCIB, many of them belonging to multinational companies as the case of Microsoft which for the second consecutive year reunited 9,000 meeting attendees, or companies like Nissan or Cisco which also chose the CCIB facilities for their conventions. At the same time, Barcelona International Convention Centre has held institutional events as the Heads of State and Government Summit and the ceremony of the European Film Awards, or the celebration of music festivals like the Primavera Sound. Out of the totality of events celebrated at the CCIB, 44% are within the corporative field, 31% within the association field and 20% within the institutional field, and compared to other centres of similar characteristics, almost the totality of the events held at CCIB are of a professional character. Lastly, according to Jesús Alvarez, general manager of the centre, the number of events signed for the coming years will allow this space to consolidate the growth of the invoice with a view to 2008 and 2009.

elecommunications at the service of sustainability’ will be the leitmotiv of the 2008 edition of the greatest and most prestigious meeting of Telecommunication engineers, companies and institutions within the field. Within the division of ‘responsible events’, Atlanta has suggested the client the issue of sustainability as a linking concept around which the meeting will develop; and under this premise, the Association Centre and the Catalan Association of Engineers in Telecommunication as the summoning institutions, express the involvement of the community in the application of new technologies to sustainable development. The XIIIth edition of ‘The Evening’, is presenting a renovated format, location and focus. Networking will be promoted within the framework of an extended cocktail which will repla-

ce the dinner of previous years and the attendees will enjoy an exclusive closing show. One of the outstanding moments of the evening will be the Salva and Campillo Awards to the European Telemom, Spain Telecom, and The Engineer of the year and the Honour Award. The event is on the 4th of March 2008 at the Auditori in Barcelona, an ideal place to reunite the more than 1,000 attendees who each year attend this event.

E BADAJOZ WILL HOLD THE XTH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF HOSPITAL CATERING TRADE NEXT OCTOBER

SPAIN AMONGST THE COUNTRIES WITH A BEST IMAGE AS A TRAVEL DESTINATION

xtremadura Convention Bureau has attained Badajoz as the headquarters for the celebration of the Xth National Congress of Hospital Catering Trade to be celebrated from the 1st to the 3rd October 2008. The presentation of its application was held at the Boston Hotel in Zaragoza. Jose Luis Iniesta, the president of the entity, was present and the General Director Román Sánchez and also part of the ECB’ s staff. After the presentation of a promotional video about the city of Badajoz and the speeches of the president and the general manager of the ECB, the proposal for headquarters was unanimously accepted by the 450 delegates, proceeding Mr. Jose Luis Ibáñez Galán, president of the Spanish Association of Hospital Catering Trade, to proclaim the city of Badajoz the headquarters for 2008. This event wants to congregate more than 600 delegates in Badajoz, given the overseas dimension the next edition will have. Extremadura convention Bureau is proud of the effort that the tourist business sector of CC&I and the tourist public institutions are making to promote Extremadura, framework for the capturing of this event, which will generate an income of more than half a million euros to the city of Badajoz.

pain has been positioned in the top 10 world countries with a best image as a travel destination according to the Country Brand Index for the second consecutive year. It is on the seventh place as a favourite destination for its night life, art, culture and gastronomy. The Country Brand Index is an exhaustive work made with more than 2,600 international travellers by Future Brand to know which the countries with a best brand image are. In the last edition of this list, which has come to the third edition and is yearly published, Australia has triumphed in first position as the country with the best brand, The United States got the second position and United Kingdom the third one. Other countries in the top ten were Japan, France and Greece, and the three raising destinations, this is, the countries which very probably will become great tourist destinations are China, Croatia and the Arabic Emirates.

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LA BOELLA CONVENTION RESORT ORGANISES EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

A CONVENTION CENTRE WILL OPEN AT PORTAVENTURA

n such an exceptional setting as the XIIth century country house of ample gardens La Boella Convention Resort is located, in La Canonja area in Tarragona. It organises exclusive events with the best gastronomy and enology of the area. La Boella offers diverse spaces which are perfectly conditioned to hold any type of meeting. The pavilion has a capacity for 900 people in the middle of the ample gardens and with diverse halls. One of the characteristics that are outstanding at La Boella Convention Resort is the well cared for Mediterranean gastronomy of signature cuisine elaborated with seasonal products. At the same time, the resort offers the participants in the events luxury accommodation at the Magnolia Hotel or the Blau Mar hotel, both located in Salou 5 minutes from La Boella Convention Resort.

n October 2009 the funfair of PortAventura will extend its offer with a convention centre with capacity for 4,000 people. The fairground with a surface of 6,000 square metres will hold any type of event, from fairs, congresses and conventions, to dinner parties. Moreover, it is a multifunctional centre which will allow the realisation of different events at the same time due to the versatility of its facilities. The centre will include an amphitheatre with capacity for 150 people and all the halls will have high technology equipment for projections, audio and videoconference and the latest innovations in light creating multiple atmospheres. The convention centre is directly connected to the PortAventura hotel with an easy access to one of the most emblematic golf courts of the fairground designed by the golf player Grez Norman, it has 18 holes. One of the fairground keys will be its distinguished situation being part of PortAventura which will permit the enjoyment of the theme park facilities, its Beach Club, the three golf courts, and its different hotels.

EXPEDIA & HOTELS.COM MEET WITH HOTELIERS FROM THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN AND AFRICA

PALACIO MIRAFLORES HOTEL BECOMES PART OF VENOTEL

enotel has incorporated Palacio Miraflores Hotel to the list of represented hotels. Situated in the Guadarrama mountain range, the hotel has fifteen spacious rooms and three halls for events with maximum capacity for 240 people and which are able to hold any type of event or celebration. The hotel reopened its doors in 2005 after a neat restoration which maintained the original structure and was able to enhance the most beautiful aspects of the construction joining past and future in perfect harmony. Venotel is a company which represents and commercialises fifteen four and five star hotels which are independent or belong to small chains or exceptional places in Spain and Europe.

outh Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey or Israel were some of the cities where Expedia & Hotels celebrated the meetings with the hoteliers who are present in their programmes to evaluate the 2007 results and study the objectives for 2008. These yearly meetings were celebrated in the last months of 2007 and were supported by companies like Turkish Airlines of the South Africa Tourist Board.

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News

SIGNATURE CUISINE AT THE NEW RESTAURANT IN THE FAIRGROUND GRAN VIA DE BARCELONA

t the hall called Europa in the fairground Gran Via de Fira de Barcelona a new restaurant has just opened, the Nuclo, with signature cuisine with Jordi Navarro as the chef , who at 30 years of age has already collaborated with chefs like Ferran Adriá. Jean Luis Neichel or Santi santamaria. Navarro directs a staff of 12 young professional who have ample experience. The restaurant’s menu is based on dishes which are elaborated with the most precious

seasonal products. One of the characteristics of the restaurant is its daily menu of two different types: the executive menu based on a light selection of dishes for those who do not have much time. And the gastronomic menu with a varied selection of dishes which permit tasting all the flavours of the season. Another characteristic of Nuclo is its well cared for decoration which mixes aesthetics with functionality with an avant garde architecture, balance and harmony.

PALAU DE LA MUSICA CATALANA GETS THE EUROPEAN ULI AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE

he Petit Palau in the Palau de la Música Catalana was one of the winning projects of the European Uli Awards for Excellence 2007 which is yearly awarded by the Urban Land Institute. The project to apply for these prestigious awards has to be of a constructive high level and of efficient management as well as economically viable meeting the social needs of the environment. Opened in 2004, the Petit Palau is a set of spaces thought out by Oscar Tusquets and built in the Palau de la Música Catalana which includes the Palau Square, an attached building to the main façade, which is dedicated to services for the people in the audience, and an auditorium with capacity for 538 people and with natural daylight. Amongst the five projects awarded with the Uli Awards for Excellence was another Spanish project: the Terminal 4 of Barajas airport done by the architecture studio Antonio Lamela and Richard Rogers.

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News

FITUR CONGRESOS’08 MORE INTERNATIONAL

Fitur Congresses '08 continues in a clear way the internalization towards the markets which were not present up to now in the event. So, in this new edition, Korea, Ireland, Romania, and Bulgaria are four countries which are participating for the first time in this fair of tourist meetings in Madrid.

he ninth edition of the Meeting and Incentive Travelling Exhibition will take place between the 28th and the 29th January 2008 and it will help professionals of the sector close agreements in an efficient way in a pleasant working atmosphere. This year 200 international purchasers will be present and the amplest representation of the Spanish supply in the sector with more than 150 sellers. In the past edition 4,600 appointments were achieved with meetings that took place within the two days Fitur Congresses lasted. As it is usual, this professional fair will offer the pretours, the familiarization journeys addressed to the international purchasers invited on this occasion. This is a complementary programme which is ideal for the trading activity and the customized interviews as it allows you to know the congress and incentive travelling supply of the different autonomous regions, as well as enjoying the historical, cultural and tourist he-

ritage of the destination in question. This is an initiative in which Turespaña and Spain Convention Bureau directly participate to offer a more ample view of the reality of our country. New pavilions Another innovation of Fitur Congresses this year is that it will take place in one of the new modern pavilions of recent construction of IFEMA, concretely the pavilion number 14 on the first floor. At the end of Fitur Congresses, the International Tourist Fair will start occupying twelve pavilions of Madrid Fair from the 30th January to the 3rd February. This year, the exhibition surface has been extended to 100,000 square meters and the planned number of participants is of 13,190 companies of 170 countries/regions from all over the world, whereas for the planned number of visitors will be about 200,000 out of which 150,000 will be professionals.

By J.P.P. Photos JAG

In the past edition 4,600 appointments were achieved with meetings that took place within the two days Fitur Congresses lasted

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SOLFESA CELEBRATES ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A PARTY AT BATLLÓ HOUSE IN BARCELONA In the exceptional spot of Gaudí’s Batlló House, Solfesa celebrated its 25th anniversary with a party where all its clients and friends met on Monday 19th November. More than five hundred people attended the celebration where they were able to see, there and then, how one of the best event companies in Spain organised their own event.

t the celebration, travel and tourist agencies, public relations, marketing, communication representatives and also bodies like Barcelona Convention Bureau were present. The party was liven up at all moment with all types of shows which took place in the same Batlló House, contemporaneous dancing, flamenco dancing happened during the celebration marvelling everybody there. Something else present at the party was the abundant and varied catering served by Vilaplana, Hotel Arts, Gourmet Paradís and Esther Conde which surprised for the variety and exquisiteness of what was served. At the party, presented by the televisión reporter, Xavier Andreu, artists like the singers Monica Green or Sheila Weaver, of the Supremes, and the strip-artist Chiqui Martí were also there.

At the end of the event, the founders and managers of Solfesa, the brothers Francisco and Jordi Soldevilla, celebrated with the traditional birthday cake for the 25th anniversary of the company and they received the affection of the attendees with a commemorative plaque which Solfesa workers gave them. From the main stage, the Soldevilla brothers, thanked clients, guests, friends and workers for attending, especially Mrs. Rosa Aymí who has been in the company since the beginning. The Soldevilla brothers belong to a family of great artistic tradition as they have been developing this activity for more than 40 years. Solfesa specifically started in 1982 when they were only three people and today, 25 years later, 33 people work as staff in the central headquarters of 1,500 m2 in Sabadell.

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Cover

PALAU DE LA MÚSICA CATALANA PETIT PALAU: MEETINGS IN THE HEART OF BARCELONA Report by J. ALARCÓN photos courtesy of PALAU DE LA MÚSICA

Brilliantly integrated by the architect Oscar Tusquets in the emblematic Catalan Music Palau, the Petit Palau is born to absorb the demand of conventions and meetings. Not in vain, this exceptional space, which this year celebrates its centenary, has become one of the most requested by companies, entities and institutions to hold any type of cultural, social or business event. Thought out to continue the popular spirit of the Music Palau, the place is situated under the Palau Square and presents an avant garde and modern appearance ratified by the very complete cutting-edge equipment.

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PETIT PALAU

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Cover

mongst the equipment, the video system stands out. It has the possibility for projections, videoconferences or television signal distribution. Also, the audio has sound equipment, a mixer control deck, and wireless microphones amongst other things. There is also a service of simultaneous translation with a centralised control. All this makes the Petit Palau perfectly adapted to the latest necessary technologies for the celebration of any event. The space has been designed to adapt to the needs of each event and has more to it. Apart from the main hall, the Petit Palau borrows from The Palau other spaces which are adequate for receptions or welcome cocktails. So the different spaces and halls of The Palau support one way or the other the activity of the Petit Palau. In this way the The art nouveau architectonic set can easily be adapted to hold presentations, press conferences, small conferences, receptions or welcome concerts. An example of this is the Lluís Millet hall, known as the light box of the building with capacity for a hundred people standing up. The hall has large windows decorated with flower motives, typical of the Catalan art nouveau, which look onto the main façade. To this, we can add the impressive concert hall, which is an authentic art nouveau jewel, designed by the architect Lluís Doménech I Montaner and rehabilitated by Oscar Tusquets. Important musical events are celebrated here, but it has usually been conditioned for dinner parties for up to 350

people under the attentive watch of the four Wagner’s Valkyries or the immense organ which crowns the hall. For lovers of plein-air the people responsible at the Petit Palau have the Palau Square available for their clients. It is ideal for outdoor events in the summer time and has a capacity for 400 standing people. Also the Foyer, the chamber music hall and the upper floors offer the possibility of being an adequate space for future events. In all of these spaces it is possible to organise a catering, a reception or even an informal presentation.

The people’s Palau The extention of the facilities of the original Palau were done by the well known architect Oscar Tusquets, who at every moment has tried to preserve the popular spirit of the building which in 1908 elevated the original building. An example of this is the latest initiative taken by the people responsible of this monument, which was stated world heritage by UNESCO. Until the year 2008, which is its hundredth anniversary, citizens, and private entities of Barcelona can participate in the seat restoration with donations. Each seat will have a plaque with the name of the person who donated the money. This project is called The People’s Palau.

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The concerts and activity programmes for its 100th anniversary is another reason to choose this magnificent building for your next meeting

Barcelona’s hundred years throb deserves a celebration On 9th October 1908, soon 100 years ago, the Catalan Music Palau opened. Since then it has been devoted to the objectives for which it was created. A project requested by the Catalan Choral Society expresses the cultural interest, the forefront ideas and the collective enthusiasm of the people who fostered it, as well as the Catalan society whose convictions have been maintained for a century and have survived all types of political and social changes. It is without any doubt an occasion to be celebrated. For this reason during 2008 a complete programme of cultural and festive celebrations has been prepared: concerts, shows, exhibitions, meetings, popular acts, etc, which have been conceived to transmit to all who would like to participate, the interest and sentiment that made this exceptional monument which has the ability to generate emotions. Amongst these celebrations and activities the Anniversary Concerts including classical music of different styles and periods, singersong writers, jazz and flamenco, world music or concerts for families. Amongst the concerts and orchestras which will be on this beautiful stage that the Palau offers during the year, the AustrianHungarian Hayden Philharmonic Orchestra, Bacelona Symphonic Orchestra and Catalonia National Orchestra, Madrid Commmunity Choir and the Galicia Royal Philharmonic stand out. Also the special concert by Carmina Burana on the 9th of June which is the 25th anniversary of Carl Orff’s death. It has to be taken into account the shows by the singersongwriter Joan Manuel Serrat who will join the programme full of choices for music lovers. Finally, it needs to be mentioned, the exceptional programme of the Palau 100 Cycle for the season 2008-2009 presenting a great number of exhibitions which are possible together with the well known cultural institutions on the occasion of this celebration. More Information: Palau de la Música. C/Palau de la Música, 4-6. 08003 Barcelona www.palaumusica.org

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More than music PAU MORATA

Its facilities, with cutting-edge technology and its services join together in this incomparable setting to raise any business event to the ultimate.

The centenary building of the Palau in Barcelona is one of those spaces which have an impact on the visitor, even for those like me who have been going there more than forty years to listen to some of the performances which are played according to the programmes which are apt for all kinds of musical tastes. There, I have enjoyed the best orchestras, conductors and solists in the world while my eyes moved from the musicians to the decorative motives of its art nouveau insides. Such is its complexity that being there they become very familiar… but you would never be able to draw them and obtain any resemblance of this complex reality. Nevertheless, in the last years I have been attracted to the Palau not only for music events. If I check my mental and digital agenda, it occurs that professional events related to the meeting industry have taken me there. Not by a strictly musical motivation but by the meeting industry. A hundred years old, but with a renovated and modernised style, the Palau, our music Palau has a special charm. It makes many companies and Catalan institutions to celebrate their events there because of its unique atmosphere. And so do many organizations from the rest of the world.

The Catalan Music Palau, a perfect setting David Parcerisas, Chairman Fundation EADA

This emblematic building in the historic centre of Barcelona is something more than a spectacular concert hall. The “Palau”, as it’s called by the local people, is one of the most representative buildings of the Catalan art nouveau movement. Build by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, is today a symbol of the Catalan culture and it represents what the emerging business society at the beginning of the XXth century was able to do. After a period of decline, following the Spanish Civil War, today the Palau has gone trough a new rejuvenation that sets the building in full splendour. The business community, who helped to build the Palau one century ago, is again represented by the sponsors and benefactors. Many companies and institutions are using these exceptional facilities not only for concerts but also for all sorts of corporate meetings and social events. For many years EADA Business School, has used the Palau as a unique setting for its graduation ceremony. With a traditional event the first week of October, EADA gathers more than fifteen hundred graduates with families and friends representing more than fifty different nationalities. The Palau is the perfect setting for such a special day in the lives of our graduates.

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A Destination Proposal

Galicia

AS ETERNAL AS THE ATLANTIC Text by EDURNE BAINES photos courtesy of TURGALICIA

At the end of all roadways in Europe, in the Northwest of Spain, the Atlantic has carved out the portrait of Galicia, the land of a thousand rivers, verdant forests and towering cliffs, esteemed for its natural environment as well as its historical patrimony, where one can find Santiago de Compostela, the sanctuary for Western pilgrims. Deep prehistoric, roman and medieval imprints of the past and the constant influence of the sea winds have forged its character.

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he surroundings are favourable for holding congresses and conventions, and going on holidays. Whether in modern, spacious exhibition halls or in its splendid historico-artistic patrimony, it is reoriented towards touristic use: For example, the broad network of Tourist Hostels, the stately ancestral homes designated to celebrate special events or the ancient monasteries converted into magnificent hotels. Not to mention its evocative spas and thalassotherapy centres that offer an alternative way to enjoy your destination through therapeutic waters. It is a favourable atmosphere in which the work environment and the opportunity for leisure time reunites Galicia’s own essence, a colourful palette: Of varying hues such as the O Courel forests or the skies of Rías Baixas; subdued or with a satiny shine from the rain or the cornerstones used to create its monuments, its hórreos (raised granaries on stone pillars), its stone crosses and the old quarters of its cities. The sea invites you to discover its prized shellfish by catamaran among the floating farms where mussels are cultivated in A Toxa and to feel the exhilarating emotion of a regatta aboard a sailing boat in

Rías Baixas. The gardens that evoke literary scenes while strolling among exotic and hundred-year–old trees, and legendary, delicate camellias – Galicia’s flower par excellence – beautiful and abundant in winter in stately country houses and ancestral homes from A Coruña to Vigo. Within the interior of its borders, the monastic tranquillity of A Ribeira Sacra is only comparable to the thermal centres and the many old-fashioned traditions that populate Galicia. The wine culture has its domain in the historical centre of Cambados, capital of the renowned albariño wine in the Pazo de Fefiñáns winery. Galician cuisine is centred on Atlantic fare. It is a clever combination of meat, fish, seafood and garden produce, in which such well-known names as Marcelo Tejedor or Toñi Vicente stands out. Noble reception halls, rich with history, can be transformed into the perfect scenario to celebrate evening meals and banquets with live classical music concerts that fill the atmosphere with magic. Over and above, are the cathedral spires of Santiago de Compostela and in an inexplicable and poignant promenade, one discovers, at a glance, the nobility of the city where the roadways of Europe converge.

The sea invites you to discover its prized shellfish by catamaran

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Destinations

Minorca THE DESIRED OUTSTANDING ISLAND

Text by PAU MORATA photos courtesy of CITY COUNCILS OF CIUTADELLA AND MAÓ, FUNDACIÓ LITHICA, FORTALESA SA MOLA. JAIME M. PONS AND MIGUEL GIL

The most northern island of the Balearic islands has a history marked by its old past, medieval and recent in which the British rule and a brief French rule period stand out in particular. It is the least exploited as a mass tourist destination of the whole archipelago, which makes it outstandingly interesting for the incentive tourist sector, corporate events and meetings in general. And with the will and the interest of developing its potential in these market segments, since April 2006 it has its Convention Bureau as part of Spain Convention Bureau.

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Destinations Minorca

Two hotels of the maximum category (5 stars) constitute the first line of facilities

ith its scarce 716 square kilometres of surface, it is a flat island which maximum altitude is 358 m above sea level and which for its geology and history is very different from the rest of the sister Balearic islands. And although its infrastructures are limited in terms of lodging and for meetings, not very crowded select ceremonies can take place there, which make it ideal specially for those whose number of participants is a maximum of 500 people.

A young convention bureau To favour the development of the meeting tourism, Minorca Convention Bureau, linked to the Minorca Destí Foundation, supported by Minorca Insular Board, it has lodging and transport companies, restaurant and catering, travel agencies and PCO, meeting spaces, car rental and other services as communication and leisure. Two hotels of the maximum category (5 stars) constitute the first line of facilities, together with seven 4 star hotels and four 3 star hotels, as well as some apartahotels and apartments. In terms of spaces and halls, there are seven which are associated members of the MCB. Amongst them the exceptional auditorium of the Principal Theatre, which is the oldest opera theatre in Spain and the old military fortress La Mola stand out. This fortress constructed by request of the queen Isabel II, was built between the years 1848 and 1875, and its strategic value kept changing according to the military weapons in the second half of the XIXth century and the first half of the XXth century. It is now available as a space for ceremonies and used by tourist and events company groups- S’Algar Hotels, S’Algar Catering, Viatges Nagon, Comital Hotels and Cordial Hotels-, it has

diverse indoor and outdoor areas which make it exceptionally adequate for many ceremonies and activities, given the multiple uses and capacities, with a maximum of 1,500 people. The panoramic view is very attractive.

All types of incentives With piers prepared to offer the main services and activities related to the sea, Minorca is a ready destination for many companies. Sport activities can be combined with all types of archaeological-cultural and monumental visits, walking in the countryside, bird watching and many others. For not very crowded groups, attending the Sant Joan festivities of Ciutadella (23th and 24th of June) will mean an unforgettable experience, sharing it with the island’s inhabitants and the tourists that yearly go to see the horse riders’ exhibitions and their horses, which has a feudal origin that has survived despite the years. Horses are the representative figure of the different estates and social, economic, political and religious powers in its history.

Two capital cities, two different styles Minorca has today’s capital which used to be the capital under British rule, and an older one which is Ciutadella, in the opposite extreme of the island and not very far from Mallorca, although the sea journey some days of the year between both islands can be rougher than what seems. Maó or Mahon, which first settlements date back to the IInd century BC, is named after the Carthaginian general Magón, Anibal’s brother.

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Its capital status since 1722 was given by the British governor Richard Kane, who was conscious of the high strategic value of the natural port of about five kilometres long, which is navigable, where a considerable fleet could have its headquarters and refuge. At the entrance to the bottom of the port, various islands are scattered. In one of them the Lazareto is set, which name evokes its old function as the entrance hall of health and hygienic prevention. In another one, called El Rei, the military hospital for British, French and Spanish was set. La Mola, Es Castell and the historical centre of the city of Maó stand out at both ends of the sea. Maó has a certain colonial air. Apart from the remains of the old medieval walls, the neoclassical façade of the Town Hall and the large organ from 1810 of Santa María church, a building of late gothic style are worth seeing. Ciutadella, on the other hand, was the first political capital of the island before British rule. Its medieval urban nucleus was built next to a small natural port of something more than a kilometre long, where the waters play with the tied boats as soon as the so called ‘risagas’ phenomenon occurs. Its historical centre reflects its feudal past and monuments of historical and artistic value stand out. The building of the Town Hall was the headquarters of the Real Alcázar in the past. The Catholic cathedral was erected over the old Muslim mosque. The church of El Roser, with a baroque style façade, the church and old convent of El Socorro – today the Diocesan Museumand Market’s square, from the mid XIXth century, are other spots worth visiting. Moreover, the Municipal Ditrict of Ciutadella has excellent creeks and beaches, of crystal clear waters and interesting seabed for diving activities.

Each village a distinctive fact Part of its multiple and diverse exceptionality Minorca is the result of the own singularity of the different villages and Municipal Districts. Each has different birth and history with characteristic elements which give each of them a different personality. Alaior. It was founded in 1304. In its Municipal District we find many of the main megalithic monuments of the island- Torre d’en Gaumès, Torralba d’en Salort- and archaeological sites as the paleochristian basilica of Son Bou, of the Bizantine period ( VIth and VIIth centuries AC). Its historical center is valuable; the churches of Santa Eulalia and San Diego are outstanding. Its prosperity is due to having been an industrial and craftsmanship centre of the island’s economy. Ferreries. Its historical centre developed around the church which was built by request of the king Jaume III, not far from the Arabic castle in the hill of Santa Agueda. It stood out for its agricultural and industrial activity, and today for the tourist industry. In Cala Galdana, one of the most representative beaches in this municipality, there is a supply of incentive activities. Es Mercadal y Fornells. In the centre of the island, next to Toro hill, the origins of Es Mercadal date back to the XVIIIth century. In its Municipal District we find Cavalleria cape and the natural port of Fornells, linked to fishing. The stewed lobster served in the restaurants is an exceptional dish. Es Castell. It is the most eastern village in Spain, born in the shelter of the now disappeared San Felipe castle, a XVIth century fortress built for the defence against Turkish attacks, was demolished under Spanish rule in 1802. The old barracks stand out around the municipal building and the Marlborough fortress in San Esteve creek. This for-

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Destinations Minorca

tress, was built by the British between 1720 and 1726, it was named after the general Sir John Churchil, Duke of Malborough. In 1782 the Spanish destroyed it and in 1798 it was reconstructed by the British. Together with the tower known as ‘D’en Penjat’, they were erected for their strategic value at the entrance of the natural port of Maó. Es Migjorn. With white houses, it appeared during the second British rule of the island. San Luis was founded by the French in the years of their brief rule in the XVIIIth century. Its whitewashed houses and windmills give the place its architectonic value. The mill called Dalt shelters the ethnic museum. It is no wonder Minorca has such diversity in the different villages.

Multicultural history Although it was not until 1231 that the island was integrated, more in form than in reality, to the reign of Mallorca, after the king Jaume I, the Conqueror, conquered it, the true incorporation to one of the peninsula kingdoms of what was going to be Spain, was effective in 1287, when the king Alfons III, the Franc, conquered it. Between 1231 and 1287, the Muslim ruling class of Minorca had to pay vassalage and yearly taxes to the king of the Aragon’s Crown. However, in 1282 when Pere el Gran (Pedro the Great) was king the Muslim leader of Minorca, Abu Omar Hacam Ben Çaid, told his brothers in religion and the different ethnias in the North of Africa that the king in Aragón intended an invasion with a fleet of 150 sailing boats which had concentrated in the port of Maó. Alfons III king of Aragón and son of Pere el Gran, invaded and conquered the island and sold the majority of the inhabitants of Minorca as slaves, excepting a small group who were members of the Arab leader’s family who were permitted to exile in the North of Africa. He shared out the land with the noblemen who had accompanied him in the

conquest and he favoured the colonization of the island with settlers from Catalonia and Aragón. For two centuries they built many watch towers for the defence of the coast. But before the Catalans and Aragoneses, Minorca had been dominated by the Phoenician –who called it Nura–, the Greek –for them it was Melusa–, and the Carthaginian until it fell in the hands of the Romans (123 BC) –which gave the base of today’s name calling it Minorca–, the Vandals (454-484 AC) who preceded the Muslim. These made the island their own in the year 903 adding it to the caliphate of Córdoba after many tries and numerous failed raids. That the island was desired by many is confirmed by other facts: 1535, the fierce Redbeard was the protagonist of the plundering of Maó, of which there are historical documents which confirm its brutality. In 1558 the Turks assaulted Ciutadella. And in 1708 the first of the three British dominations occurred, through The Utrech Treaty in 1712. British rule lasted seventy years between this date and 1802 when through the Peace Treaty of Amiens, it became part of Spain. There were two parenthesis within British rule: the first one, the French occupation by the Duke of Richilieu between 1756 and 1763, and the second was the Spanish occupation between 1792 and 1798 after the Duke of Crillón’s conquest. Of this British presence – a monument to the governor Kane gives an idea of the inhabitant’s esteem- not only the big military architecture and the cemetery remain, but also what can still be noticed today, windows, doors, latches and some English words which have been made Catalan which is the language the inhabitants speak.

Biosphere reserve Awarded Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993, the island of Minorca saw the acknowledgement of its splendorous nature where humans settled during centuries. The impact on the landscape was low as the

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San Luis was founded by the French in the years of their brief rule in the XVIIIth century

Shopping: The most typical GIN, THE BRITISH HERITAGE Amongst the different imprints that still last from British rule in Minorca, one of the funniest is the local drink called ‘Gin’. It is a transparent alcoholic drink extracted from the distillation of wine grape and aromatized with juniper berries. The local custom is to drink it with lemon juice, this is called ‘pomada’ or with soda water and lemon peel, in which case it is called ‘pallofa’.

CHEESE Long before British rule, although in this period its commercialisation was heavily fostered, Minorca cheese is one of the typical and outstanding products that the visitor finds in Minorca. Remains of tools made of pottery were found in archaeological excavations indicating that at least two thousand years before Christ this dairy product was already being made. It is clearly documented in the Vth century AC and in Arabic documents of the XIth century. Made with cow milk of the numerous cattle farms in the island, its natural crust made with oil, lemon and paprika. There are three different varieties: mature, semi-mature and soft. There is a Protected Denomination of Origin which more than a dozen manufacturers show in their respective trademarks.

‘AVARQUES’ AND FOOTWEAR IN GENERAL. A lot of people from Minorca – and in many other parts of Spain and the rest of Europe, amongst whom are very famous people- wear ‘avarques’ in the summer. They are singular rustic sandals, made in cow leather tanned with chrome and with rubber soles which are normally recycled tyres. They are a symbol of the island and an example of its intense shoe trade activity. Although it developed from craftsmanship to manufactured, in the market you can find both manufactured and handmade ones which follow the old craft canons. As a singular detail, in the XVIIIth century shoes for the British soldiers were made here, which were famous for the dark leather and the silver buckles.

COSTUME JEWELLRY Costume jewellery is another typical product of the island. With modern materials and designs the jewellery industry in Minorca is the continuation of the traditional craftsmanship and of silver work of the XIXth century and the beginning of the XXth century which maximum exponent were the silver purses.

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Destinations Minorca

number of settlers was scarce. The Natural Park of S’ Albufera d’Es Grau is a humid marsh area, where migratory birds take refuge and some endemic flora and fauna species which have nearly twenty settings which are considered natural areas of special interest. In the area of Cavallería cape there is an Ecomuseun, which name indicates how the Minorca society worry about the environment and the ecological balance. The visitor will be amazed at how the trees are not straight but inclined in great part of the territory of the island. It is a natural phenomenon due to the wind which makes the young trees evolve in this funny way and which they keep all through their lives.

Omnipresent stone Stone past and present are joined when a human being contemplates Minorca. Its megalithic and talayothic monuments of the Bronze Era are famous, with over two hundred ‘talaiots’ and about thirty ‘taules’- which shape seems to remind the Greek letter ‘tau’- and some ‘navetes’.

Also, well-known are the stone fences which draw a border on the agricultural and cattle farming states of the different owners. And the latest human creation in stone is becoming famous in this first decade of the XXIst century: the open air museums and gardens in which the old fossilized sandstone quarries (marés) from which the stones to built temples, monuments, houses and fortresses were extracted. Líthica is the result of a youthful dream which protagonist was a French architecture student who visited the island in the 80’s. She became passionate with the quarries and devoted her Phd. to these. In 1994, with the support of her friends, she decided to start Lithica with the objective of rehabilitating the abandoned quarries and the results are wonderful. Today, Ses Pedreres in S’ Hostal constitute a compulsory visit for those who want to contemplate the majestic human labour over fossilized nature. The mares walls contain the space left by the stones that were extracted from them showing the drawings that the different tools left with harmonious lines that overlap and crossover constantly. On ground level vegetable gardens have been created.

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Singular facts THE OLDEST OPERA THEATRE Good musicians were born here, amongst them the baritone Joan Pons stands out. Minorca has the oldest opera theatre in Spain. The Principal Theatre fills the people from Minorca with pride and there classical music has been worshipped for almost two hundred years. Today this space can also be used for holding events.

Líthica is the result of a youthful dream which protagonist was a French architecture student who visited the island in the 80’s

PORT OF CALL FOR FLYING BOATS Minorca lost its strategic military value but its privileged position in the centre of the western part of the Mediterranean Sea make it the protagonist of one exceptionality in the first years of passenger air trade transport. Within the period 1937-1939, the port of Fornells, in the north part of the island, was a port of call for Air France flying boats travelling from Marseilles to Algeria. They landed there for petrol and goods after the port had been cleared of the fishing boats.

NAVAL CRAFTSMANSHIP As it is easy to understand, being an island there has been a naval, sea and boat making tradition. As a result of the century’s knowledge and mastery of the sea craftsmanship, Minorca shipyards have developed throughout the years and produce leisure craft of all sizes, with international prestige and which are commercialized not only in the island but also in European Boat Shows.

CONTACTS AND USEFUL DATA: MENORCA CONVENTION BUREAU

MENORCA HOTEL ASSOCIATION

28 Camí des Castell 07702 MAÓ Tel.- 34 971 355 840 Fax.- 34 971 368 387 conventionbureau@menorca.es www.menorcaconventionbureau.org

10 Artrutx ST., 2-2ª 07714 POIMA Mahón Tel.- 34 902 110 111 Fax.- 34 971 362 857 info@visitmenorca.com Official Booking Website for Hotels, Apartments and Villas in Menorca www.visitmenorca.com

CONSELL INSULAR DE MENORCA Official Website www.e-menorca.org

FORTALEZA LA MOLA Maó-Menorca CORDIAL HOTELES S.L. Event Department Tel.- 34 971 364 040 – 34 686 659 400 recepcio@fortalesalamola.com info@fortalesalamola.com www.fortalesalamola.com

LITHICA Camí Vell Km 1 07760 Ciutadella de Menorca Tel.- 34 - 971 481 578 Fax.- 34 - 971 484 207 shostal@lithica.es www.lithica.es

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Convention Centers

PALEXCO REINFORCES ITS ENTRANCE IN THE EUROPEAN MARKET WITH THE Q OF TOURIST QUALITY The city of A Coruña celebrates its 800th anniversary this year immersed in a spectacular process of modernisation to which its new congress centre, PALEXCO, is not unconnected from. In only three years of intense activity since its opening, it has consolidated its national position having been awarded with different prizes and quality labels and has initiated its entrance in the international market helped by the enormous appeal that the Spanish northwest area has for the meeting tourism. By G. C. photos by PALEXCO

n the beginning of this year, the city of A Coruña looks back to remember the 800th anniversary of its foundation by the king Alfonso IX from León and promotes its candidacy of its emblematic lighthouse, the Torre de Hércules, as World Heritage. This is being done at the same time as a modernisation process goes on at top speed and it is decisively configured as one of the most modern and dynamic cities of the Spanish northwest area, focused on the service sector with a growing appeal for business tourism. As part of this infrastructure and services modernisation we find PA-

LEXCO, the congress centre in A Coruña which joins an experienced management team – more than eighteen years managing the main cultural events and business meetings celebrated in the city- with the avant garde of its facilities which have held about four hundred business, scientific, cultural and leisure events since it began scarcely three years ago. In the ten thousand square metres of surface distributed in diverse multipurpose spaces from congresses of more than four thousand people, to fairs, exhibitions, product presentations fairs, exhibitions, product presentations, shows and all types of business meetings have been held here.

A building between the sky and the sea PALEXCO building was designed by the well known architects César Portela and Ricardo Bofill and is part of a complex that integrates a shopping and leisure centre of another ten thousand square meters, The fairground raises over the transatlantic pier of the port in A Coruña, next to the marina. The glazed facades make it a privileged viewpoint over the bay, while the building’s cover defines the essence of the project; an ample undulated structure which imitates the sea movement. PALEXCO is situated in the city centre of A Coruña five minutes from the best shops and hotels and the numerous cultural buildings which have an intense programme of shows, exhibitions and recreational activities all year long, Its location in the area of the port puts PALEXCO in the strategic heart of an ambitious urban development plan in the city, based on the construction of an exterior port which will permit moving the annoying traffic further away from the city centre and at the same time give A Coruña a renovated seafront opened to the enjoyment of the citizens and appropriate to a service city with great tourist and leisure industry potential. To this privileged situation of PALEXCO there is the outstanding improvement of the ground and air communication which Galicia has gone through in the last years. In the specific case of A Coruña, its airport has numerous daily flights to Madrid and Barcelona, and also

PALEXCO is situated in the city centre of A Coruña five minutes from the best shops and hotels

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rence of this last entity mentioned, and for some days A Coruña will be the centre of debate and business of the international MICE industry, with the presence of the main actors and world experts in the sector. The election of PALEXCO was made public at the Yearly Conference of the AIPC celebrated last year in Graz (Austria). The next meeting will be in Singapore in July and while this is happening a delegation of PALEXCO will present the official headquarters for 2009 in A Coruña.

diverse international connecting flights. On the other hand, there is the international airport of Lavacolla in Santiago de Compostela only half an hour’s drive, which reinforces the transport supply.

First centre in the Spanish northwest with a Q quality label PALEXCO faces the new year at the final point of obtaining official acknowledgement for its quality management, after the almost finished process of adhesion to the Q tourist quality label which the Industry, tourist and Commerce Ministry of the Spanish government awards, and the ISO 9001 Certificate, the well known European standard which assures the suitability of the processes and services of the companies that it endorses. In this way, the congress centre in a Coruña will be the first in Galicia and in the northwest of Spain that achieves the Q label of the tourist sector, given the rigour and excellence on the services and incorporating to the reduce group of congress facilities in Spain that hold the Q and which the centres in Bilbao, Valencia, Madrid, Granada and Murcia also have. This certificate and the corresponding European norm UNE-EN-ISO 9001:200 mean the design, development and implementation of a quality management system aimed at improving the client’s satisfaction. As a result PALEXCO reinforces its skills to control and improve its processes and services, so the professional team will be able to continue consolidating the centre in the national MICE market and follow the path initiated with the capturing of international events, in agreement with the strategic business growth and volume plans. The new management skills incorporate permanent revision systems, so that PALEXCO assures the improvement and adaptation of its services to the demand and the market innovations. Within the three years of existence, PALEXCO management has received diverse national and international acknowledgements – OPC award to the best congress centre in Spain 2005 and finalist for the APEX award to the best congress centre in the world 2006 which APIC endorses- two quality labels have to be added to this, which establishes PALEXCO as a leading infrastructure and totally prepared to attend any type of MICE event.

Internacional importance The result of its international vocation, PALEXCO is member of the main tourist and meeting entities which work at a world’s level like the ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) and the AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres). In the summer 2009 precisely, the fairground in A Coruña will hold the 51st Yearly Confe-

La apertura de PALEXCO al mercado internacional viene precedida por experiencias positivas de los últimos dos años, en los que han sido varios los eventos de esta proyección que han elegido PALEXCO como sede, pertenecientes a sectores como la medicina, la cartografía o la tecnología. Asimismo, ya están programadas otras reuniones internacionales para el año que arranca y el 2009, entre ellos, la Conferencia sobre Prevención de Riesgos Laborales ORP 2008 (Occupational Risks Prevention Conference) y el Congreso Mundial de Semiótica, a la que asistirán afamados expertos como Umberto Eco. The opening of PALEXCO to the international market is preceded by positive experiences in the last two years, where various events of this projection have happened for which PALEXCO has been chosen as the headquarters, belonging to fields like medicine, cartography or technology. Also, other international meetings for next year have already been scheduled for this year and 2009, amongst which there is the Occupational Risk Prevention Conference ORP 2008 (Occupational Risk Prevention Conference) and the World Congress of Semiotics, where famous experts like Umbero Ecco will attend. More information: Palexco. Telf: +34 981 228 888 fax: +34 981 229 950 www.palexco.com comunicacion@palexco.com

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Convention Centers

REY JUAN CARLOS I BUSINESS & CITY RESORT HOTEL A MULTIDIMENSION AL SPACE Since its opening, Rey Juan Carlos I Hotel, a few days before the Olympic games in Barcelona 1992, its majestic facilities have been extended with the objective of achieving a unique great luxury complex called ‘Rey Juan Carlos IBusiness & City Resort Hotel’, the greatest urban resort in Europe thanks to the modern Congress Palau de Catalunya, the wellness and spa club ‘The Royal Fitness’, and the restaurants and swimming pools located in the spectacular 25,000m2 gardens.

t is the standard bearer of the chain Husa. Situated in Barcelona’s main avenue, the Diagonal, it has 432 rooms in the 16 storeys, including an Executive Floor, located on the 12th floor, The Congress Palau de Catalunya, based on a building next to the hotel, is one of the most modern congress centres in Barcelona, Designed by the architects Ferrater and Cartañá, it was awarded in 2001 with the ‘ Premio Nacional de Arquitectura 2001’. This congress centre has more than 35 halls, in three different levels, which offer many possibilities for all types of clients and events. Amongst these, the Auditorium with a capacity for 2,027 people and the Exhibition Hall with 2,050 m2 are outstanding. It also has the ceremony organisa-

tional staff who have great experience lending their quality and professionalism to satisfy the needs of the most demanding clients. The Palau held more than 195 events in 2007 which invoice surpassed the barrier of 12 million euros in this period, 10% more than in the previous year. Finally, attached to the building, we find ‘The Royal Fitness&Spa’ which has been referred to as one of the best spas in the world for the third consecutive year. This centre includes a fitness room, controlled activities room, two HVAC indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a full spa area. The hotel and the congress centre, although they are under the same

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Located at 15 minutes from the airport and the city centre, the Rey Juan Carlos I - Business & City Resort offers an easy access internationally management, they can work separately, but together they make a unique combination. With catering service for 10 to 2,500 guests, lunch and dinner can be organised at any area in the complex; and not only in the hotel grounds as the catering Prats Fatj贸 also offers spectacular places from the typical traditional Catalan houses, olympic pavilions, and buildings by Gaud铆 with a capacity for more than 2,000 people. Located at 15 minutes from the airport and the city centre, the Rey Juan Carlos I - Business & City Resort offers an easy access internationally. A spectacular urban resort that has the secret formula for visits and business, all of it in one of the most important cities worldwide.

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Incentives Almería

ALMERÍA

A FILM MULTI ADVENTURE

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Spain still has such wild spaces and areas it seems time has not gone by. Being there is like going a few centuries back, when everything was different and nature was the dominant agent. Almería and its coastline, the most southeastern province in the Iberian Peninsula, is one of these areas where not only a few of these spots exist but many kilometres of beaches and ample inland areas where it is still possible to feel and live a genuinely ancestral atmosphere practising any kind of sport or adventure activity. Without any doubt, it is the perfect scenario for a different kind of incentive travelling. by JOSÉ ALARCÓN photos courtesy of ALMERÍA TOURIST BOARD

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Incentives Almería

istening to absolute silence. Only disturbed by the constant sound of waves and the persistent song of the water birds, having a conversation with the few fishermen that work in the area while they unload the fish from their boats at night, are some of the comforting sensations which can be experimented in this setting in the south of Spain which thanks to its deprived economic condition and forgotten for years, preserves that pleasant pace of life which can only be seen in some films or television documentaries. It is a place where we can go in search of the lost peace. For it is not only in the desert are-

as which usually remind of the Far West, but also a lot of villages in Almería where life passes by as in the old times, without hurry, without looking at the watch, a lot of villagers are still ruled by the sunlight. In this sense, we have to say it is the Spanish province with more hours of daylight and the rain is only present a few days a year, enough for the biological cycle to take place.

Film settings And of all the province there is a setting which we strongly recommend, as it is the best to carry out the most exciting adventure, through

the practice of scuba diving, water ski, hiking, climbing, espeleology, horse riding and dromedary riding or mountain bike. I am referring to that vast area of this province which part of is integrated in the natural reserve of Cabo de Gata-Níjar, the experiences and sensations which can be extended to other areas and villages and that are not included in this protected area. It is precisely there where the appeal to this place is. It is also possible to enjoy a more sophisticated incentive in accordance with the perspective we have. This province is also outstanding for the variety of resources and atmosphere, as it has the most authentic hostels to the most luxurious hotels

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And of all the province there is a setting which we strongly recommend, as it is the best to carry out the most exciting adventure

that we can imagine, or from the most natural scenery for the adventure sport to the neatest golf courts. From the capital city, Almería, to the east and beyond Carboneras, a village inside the natural reserve, and, to the north, beyond the Alhamilla mountain range or Tabernas desert, it makes that great area in which we will be immersed through time a few decades back. More than three thousand hours of sun in a year make the Sierra de Gata an exceptional place full of contrasts which invites the visitor to a trance, in these spots the mountains melt into the sea giving place to an indescribable landscape, where everything is pleasant. A landscape where despite the aridity there is an

unusual beauty to it. The vegetation here shows an unusual roughness which is the product of the adaptation to the natural environment. Palm trees, pita fibre and cactuses are mute witnesses that tell us about the proximity of Tabernas desert. A dry and dusty setting main scenario of the sixties cinema current called spaghetti western. Here it is still possible to visit the film sets like ‘The good, the Bad and the ugly’ or ‘For a Few Dollars More’ by the film director Sergio Leone starring the then very young and promising Clint Eastwood. This is what we find inland, on the coast, cliffs of volcanic origin shelter small semi virgin beaches to which there is only access on foot or by boat. However there are other bea-

It is also possible to enjoy a more sophisticated incentive in accordance with the perspective we have

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Incentives Almería

ches which are better known due to their accessibility without losing any of their beauty. Amongst these there is Mosul, famous for its great rock. Steven Spielberg filmed some secondary scenes for ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’. Not less known beaches in the area are Isleta del Moro or Escullos.

Any time of the year There are no preferential periods of the year to visit the area as each season has a special appeal, including summer, although it is preferable to avoid these months if what we really want is to feel the most absolute calm and peace. From Almerimar, in El Egido- a spectacular housing development with leisure harbourRoquetas de mar or Aguadulce, good places to choose for lodging, as there are some ho-

tels of great category as Almerimar, Hesperia Sabinal or Portomagno, on the coastline, where the quality of life is enviable. Even if we want to stop in town, Almería is a small town with a rational configuration that is inviting to walk. Easy and comfortable, with no traffic jams, it has multiple appeals but the most inviting is a walk into the city centre or its port. Especially at night, when the people prefer to freely show their idiosyncrasy and intensely live in bars and tapear while talking, which is simply having small portions of the gastronomic excellencies with a glass of wine of the area or a beer. But if we continue along the coast after the city parenthesis of Almería, a few kilometres to the east Cabo de Gata awaits, a natural paradise. If we decide to go inland, passing along Salinas and a small village called Almadraba de Monteleva are a must; four houses

and a church which were built a long time ago to shelter the marshes’ workers. Today, about twenty neighbours live in this minute but pleasant village, which main activity now is fishing From here to Faro, which is the most eastern point of the area and gives the name to this cape, El Cabo de Gata. You have to stop for a few minutes in this place and listen to the breaking waves on the cutting rocks. I assure you it is stimulating to the senses, where relaxing will not be difficult. The same natural silence, only disturbed by the croaking of birds and water birds will apply the best of therapies against stress. Other places that need special mention which are worth visiting are the Escullos, an ample beach where the biggest petrified dunes in Spain are found. Also the village of Rodalquilar and visiting the roman gold mines, means encountering the flavour of the typical villages

Steven Spielberg filmed some secondary scenes for ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’, for example

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of the Spanish south. But the area does not stop surprising the visitor if you go to settings of small villages like Las Negras, San José or the Ingleses beach. The end of the road in Las Negras will make us leave the coast and go inside to arrive in Carboneras. This is a harsh desert land which belongs to the area of Níjar and which quickly reaches altitude. For example the village of Fernán Pérez the road winds along the thousand meters above sea level. The village of Níjar is also worth a visit. It is a village located in the slopes of the Alhamilla mountain range, where the discovery of

underground aquifers have allowed the introduction of greenhouses the same as in El Ejido which is the most western part of Almería and which cultivation is part of the landscape showing like a plastic sea in this land. A stay in this land is definitely like going back in time when everything showed a better balance and where living and working was ruled by pause and hurry seemed a tall story. Going to Almería and the surrounding areas is taking a break with old time flavour and tasting the wildest side of today’s Spain with a dose of films.

The same natural silence, only disturbed by the croaking of birds and water birds will apply the best of therapies against stress

USEFUL INFORMATION HOTELS HOTEL BARCELÓ LA ENVIA GOLF – 5STARS Tel. 00 34 950 18 11 00 Fax. 00 34 950 18 11 01 Travesia de la Encia s/n, Vicar www.barceloenviagolf.com

VIAJES SOLAR

NATURE ROUTES

Tel. 00 34 950 24 30 77 Fax 00 34 950 28 00 33 c/ Doctor Gomez Ulla 6 Almería www.viajessolar.com

Centro de Información del Parque Natural Tel. 00 34 950 380 299 Fax. 00 34 950 611 055 c/ Correos s/n San José, Níjar e-mail: rutas@cabodegata-nijar.com http://www.cabodegata-nijar.com/

GOLF GOLF ALMERIMAR

CITYMAR GRAN HOTEL ALMERIA – 4 STARS Tel. 00 34 950 23 80 11 Fax. 00 34 950 27 06 91 Avda Reina Regente 8 Almeria www.citymar.com

HOTEL ALMERIMAR – 4 STARS Tel. 00 34 950 49 70 00 Fax. 00 34 950 49 71 46 Avdas Julián Laguna 1 Almerimar, El Ejido www.hotelalmerimar.com

HOTEL HESPERIA SABINAL – 4 STARS Tel. 00 34 950 33 36 00 Fax. 00 34 950 33 35 33 Avda. de las Gaviotas s/n Roquetas de Mar www.hesperia-sabinal.com

TRAVEL AGENCIES VIAJES AGORA Tel. 00 345 950 26 34 66 Fax. 00 34 950 26 79 71 www.viajesagora.com

VIAJES ALYSOL Tel. 00 34 950 23 76 22 Fax. 00 34 950 26 55 91 Paseo de Almería 32 Almería www.viajesalysol.com

Urbanización Almerimar El Ejido, Almería Tel. 00 34 950 497 545 e-mail: almerimar@golf-andalucia.net

COUNTRY CLUB LA ENVÍA LA ENVÍA GOLF Vícar, Almería Tel. 00 34 950 559 656 e-mail: envia@golf-andalucia.net www.laenviagolf.com

HOTELS IN THE AREA OF CABO DE GATA HOTEL CORTIJO EL SOTILLO - 4 STARS Tel. 00 34 950 611 100 Fax: 00 34 950 611 105 Ctra. De San José s/n Níjar, Almeria e-mail: hotel@cortijodelsotillo.com www.hotelsotillo.com

HOTEL DON IGNACIO - 4 STARS VALLE DEL ESTE GOLF RESORT Urbanización Valle del Este Resort Vera, Almería Tel. 00 34 950 398 743 e-mail: clubdegof@valledeleste.com

MULTI ADVENTURE COMPANIES IN CABO DE GATA SCUBA DIVING CENTRE ALPHA Tel. 00 34 950 380 321 Puerto Deportivo San José Níjar, Almería e-mail: base@alphabuceo.com http://www.alphabuceo.com/

SCUBA DIVING CENTRE ISUB SAN JOSÉ Tel. 00 34 950 380 004 Fax. 00 45 950 380 102 C/ Babor 8 San José, Níjar e-mail: info@isubsanjose.com http://www.isubsanjose.com/

Tel. 00 34 950 611 080 Fax: 00 34 950 610 084 Paseo Marítimo s/n Níjar, Almeria e-mail: comercial@servimar.net http://www.servimar.net/marDIgnacio.htm

HOTEL DOÑA PAKITA – 4 STARS Tel. 00 34 950 611 175 Fax: 00 34 950 611 062 Corrreos s/n Níjar, Almeria e-mail: dpakyta@torresygonzalez.com http://www.hotelpakyta.com/

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Cities Toledo

Toledo A PRIVILEGED DESTINATION

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Few Spanish cities nowadays offer such a real portrait of the Spanish medieval time as the capital of this region of La Mancha. Walking about the streets in Toledo takes us to many historical passages. From the Romans who conquered it in the year 192 BC and named it Toletum, to the Visigoths, who made it their capital, up to the golden Arabic period or mozarabe; this city is meandered by the river Tajo. The number of imprints of the past are surprising and captivating for anyone who decides to visit it, as well as its more and more consolidated meeting tourist supply. por JOSÉ ALARCÓN

fotos JAG and courtesy of TOLEDO TOURIST BOARD

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Cities Toledo

ull of architectonic treasures of different periods and with an irresistible medieval atmosphere in its lively streets, this is how this Castilian city is presented before our eyes, and which most universal symbol is the steel work, craft that many of its inhabitants did in the roman period and which is today considered one of the most representative handcraft. In this way the visitor can look at the shop window of many establishments and see the world most famous steel swords or the best intricate damask in daggers and knives which can be bought as valuable souvenirs. But there is much more to see and visit in Toledo than this and other craftworks.

Toledo is one of the most important centres of medieval history and one of the most relevant MICE destinations in the last two years

Perched on a craggy rock which surrounds almost isolating the flow of the river Tajo, one of the most important Spanish rivers. Toledo is one of the most important centres of medieval history and one of the most relevant MICE destinations in the last two years. It is said that walking about Toledo is like travelling in a time machine. Its value is not only placed in the monuments of different periods but in the city’s own monumentality. It has not in vain been declared National Monument. It is recommended to walk it chronologically for the itinerary will show the visitor the best of lessons in Spanish History.

A Rising Meeting destination According to a recent study presented in Barcelona by the city’s council, Toledo is consolidating year after year as a meeting destination. Amongst the characteristics that contribute to this, are the great accessibility, its facilities, improved and completed more and more, and also the competitivity of service costs. Moreover, its historic and artistic singularity is an extra compared to other destinations, as it has an unusual variety of buildings as old convents, monasteries, chur-

ches, Arabic and renaissance castles for holding events which make Toledo a privileged destination. In respect to the accessibility, there is to add that during the past year the connection with Madrid and Barajas airport was notably improved. There are now 22 daily fast trains AVE running between Madrid-Atocha and Toledo taking only 25 minutes in each journey. Also terrestrial communications have to be taken into account as the motorway Toledo (Ocaña)Albacete (AP-36) makes the run down to an hour from Valencia. Connections with Andalusia have been eased by the new dual carriageway of Los Viñedos which connects Toledo from the South to the Dual carriageway A4 (Madrid-Cádiz) In reference to the infrastructure for the meeting industry, Toledo has increased its hotel supply in the last years. Today, it has more than 3,000 occupancies shared amongst 5,4, and 3 star establishments that belong to the most important Spanish hotel chains like AC, Hesperia, Silken, Eurostars, Fontecruz, Beatriz, or Paradores, to give but a few examples. To this conclusive supply there is to add the well known boutique hotels placed in palaces, cigarrales and other historic buildings which make unique stays. But if this was not

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Hilton Buenavista is the third five star hotel in Toledo with 125 rooms and convention and meeting spaces with a capacity up to 700 people

enough, last spring 2007 the Buenavista Hilton Palace opened its doors. It is the third five star hotel in Toledo with 125 rooms and convention and meeting spaces with a capacity up to 700 people.

from a cultural and historical point of view, as through its buildings, churches and museums interesting historical passages can be lived.

More than 1000 events a year

After the Romans and in the VIth century, Toledo was the capital of the Visigoths and scenario of councils, assemblies with ecclesiastical, political and legislative functions. From this period there are some material remains, collected in the San Román church, which has become the Visigoth Culture and Council Museum. As far as the Muslim imprint is concerned, it is very noticeable in the city’s design as an intricate labyrinth of narrow and steep streets, sometimes blind alleys which make the area that the Arabs named after Tolaitola and which was the most important city in the North of Spain in the period. Amongst the most striking remains are El Cristo de la Luz Mosque of the Xth century which is still intact and is set on four Visigoth columns and on which, at the same time, are nine cupules of the most diverse structures, are all inspired in the Mosque of Cordoba. Another proof of the Arabic power is the old gateway of La Bisagra, built in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries and

The progressive organization of events held in Toledo is growing as official statistics of Turespaña and Spain Convention Bureau reflect, with more than a thousand events a year. Also market research shows a growing tendency for the next years. All this is animating the tourist sector of the city. And, to correctly answer these projections and establish a greater balance between celebration of conventions, seminars and congresses, the authorities have incorporated the project of the new Miradero Convention Centre which opening is planned for the end of 2008. It is a spectacular project by the architect Rafael Moneo with all the necessary facilities in the main space which will have a capacity of up to 1,200 people. We cannot forget that Toledo is an excellent destination for any kind of incentive journey as it counts with multiple proposals, especially

The incentive of live history

which is the only one that remains from the old Arabic wall. On the other hand, the Christians who lived in Muslin territory, the so called mozárabes, had their churches opened. From this period are the San Sebastian and the Santa Eulalia churches, and despite their afterwards reconstruction, the remains of that period can be noticed. After its incorporation to the Castilian kingdom, Alfonso VI makes it the capital city. When he takes possession of the city he makes a commitment to respect the Muslin people and their material possessions, beginning a new golden period and enrichment for the city which reached its peak at the end of the XVth century and beginning of the XVIth century. The Jewish, who had establish in the city in the Visigoth period, formed a prosperous community thanks to the politics of tolerance that in general the Arabs practiced. Related to the Jewish community, there are the Sinagogue of El Tránsito which is now the Sefardi Museum and Santa Maria la Blanca, which is part of the Samuel ha-Levi palace who was the king’s Pedro I treasurer; also the house of El Greco and the Mikwad or ritual baths near Santa Maria la Blanca. Finally, the Christians who had participated

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Cities Toledo

Toledo is so called the city of the three cultures where Christians, Muslims and Jewish lived together

in the conquest came to form part of this social mix. They, together with some religious orders, received as a reward from the king houses and vegetable gardens in the city which are perfectly visible in an itinerary through the city. Toledo is so called the city of the three cultures where Christians, Muslims and Jewish lived together. Here, interesting and fruitful cultural exchanges happened, like the so called Toledo Translators School in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries, which was determinant for the transmission of the Greek -Latin and Arabic

culture and the architectonic style known as mudejar. A lot of religious buildings belong to this style in the city. The highest examples are: Santiago del Arrabal, the churches of San Andrés and San Vicente and the tower of Santo Tomé church. Amongst the civil buildings of mudejar style, the Palace of Fuensalida, El Moro Workshop, La Casa de Mesa, Galiana Palace and El Sol Gateway stand out. All use brick and plaster, and are covered with beautiful wooden coffered ceilings decorate with plasterwork and tiles. In the XVIth century under Carlos I reign, To-

ledo reaches its highest demographic growth and becomes the capital city of the Spanish empire. A great period in which the city adopted the Renaissance style with works of first importance realised by imperial patronage to which the arbishops joined as great promoters and patrons of constructions. All of this was possible thanks to the existence of magnificent architects as Alonso de Covarrubias, sculptors, artists and craftsmen, followers of the local traditions. The most important renaissance buildings are the Santa Cruz and Tavera hospitals, the Alcázar palace, Nueva de Bisagra and Cambrón gateways, the Arbishop Palace and San Clemente convent. This period of grandeur did not last long as Felipe II decides to move the capital to the city of Madrid. From this moment on a period of progressive decadence starts. However, it is then when one of the most outstanding artists develops his work: El Greco whose paintings are kept in churches and convents as the cathedral, Santo Tomé and Santo Domingo el Real, and in museums as the House- Museum of El Greco and the Santa Cruz Museum. This situation goes on until the XIXth century when the arrival of the train makes the city expand out of its city walls spreading to the most favourable areas, from a topographic point of view, giving place to large new neighbourhoods where most of the people live now.

Other appeals In Toledo there is more than cultural visits and contemplation of buildings and monuments, the capital of Castilla- La Mancha province has a large catalogue of appeals, apart from its rich historical legate. As an example, one of the chapters that a gourmet could become passionate about is its marvellous gastronomy essentially based on natural products and game from the areas. Without any doubt cooking is an activity which is perfectly compatible with culture. It is worth stopping along any of the multiple itineraries that can be undertaken in the city to try its gastronomic delights in any of the restaurants that are scattered throughout the city. Eating in Toledo

The local colour of the Cigarrales (country houses) Toledo has a supply of special places to hold events with the local colour of the Cigarrales, which are traditional vilas and country houses with gardens and fantastic panoramic views to the historical city. There are more and more each time adding to the supply for events in the city and becoming hotels or restaurants or special headquarters. Amongst these exclusive spaces are Viñedos Cigarral Santa Maria with lounges with a capacity for up to 450 people, the Cigarral of El Santo Angel Custodio, a country house of 10 hectares located next to the Tajo with a lounge for 300 people; there are also the places that offer their services as hotels, the Silken Cigarral, the five star El Bosque, the four star Parador, also the four star the Cigarral Hotel Domenico, the four stars AC Ciudad de Toledo or the three star the Cigarral de Caravantes.

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In Toledo there is more than cultural visits and contemplation of buildings and monuments, the capital has a large catalogue of appeals

Special settings and headquarters The city has a series of special places that shape the unsurpassable supply to have meetings demanding a special atmosphere and scenario. The functional Caja Rural with its 600 seats auditorium or the Caja Castilla La Mancha with 400 seats; to these we can add the exceptional monumentality of places for congresses and events like the monastery of San Pedro Mártir and Madre de Dios, the reinassance palaces of Tavera and Alcázar, or the neoclassical like the Lorenzana or the medival like Pedro I in Torrijos. Other examples of these special buildings are the Royal Arm Factory or the prestigious wine cellars of Osborne, Martúe and Loranque country house as well as the traditional country houses of la Mancha like Los Valdespinos, El teramar and Eventos Monte del Águila or even the castle o Consuegra. For more information: Toledo Convention Bureau Tel: (34) 925 21 31 12 Fax: (34) 925 21 33 65 congresos@toledo-congresos.org • www.camaratoledo.es/tcb

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Cities Toledo

Toledo and its province has one of the most complete scenarios to take any type of complementary activity that the organisation of a MICE event demands

inspires a journey in time, as taking a walk through its streets, trying medieval cuisine and tasting the delights which seem to have come directly out of a Velazquez still-life. The cuisine in Toledo is based on its hunting and sheppard’s traditional cooking with a number of dishes that combine Moorish and Christian influence which will delight the most sybaritic palate. Amongst its specialities are the roast lamb or stew, the cuchifrito elaborated with egg, saffron, tomato and white wine or partridge with white beans (delicious beans of the area) or stewed partridge cooked slowly and served with steamed potatoes or the well known magra omelette. Nevertheless, two products that have given international name are the manchego cheese, strong cheese of sheep and cow milk, and the marzipan, a sweet which the bakers make with great craftsmen imagination, giving it the most complicated shapes. Finally, in respect to wines, the entire province offers a great range of quality wines with the guarantee of origin of “la Mancha” or “Méntrida”. On the other hand, once again in the capital of Toledo, it is convenient to take one of the numerous routes around the province which part from Toledo. La Mancha, where villages like Illescas, Esquivias, Ocaña, Consuegra or Orgaz, will show the visitor or congressperson, all the splendour of an area that inspired the world famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha. The castles route which villages have the

castle´s name. Amongst these are Guadamur, Barciense, Maqueda or Escalona. And if you are interested in the oldest of craftsmanships, you can take an itinerary that goes to villages like Talavera de la Reina, Oropesa or Lagartera where women make handmade lace and embroidery that have always been important.

Land of a thousand proposals Apart from the tourist chapters seen before, Toledo and its province has one of the most complete scenarios to take any type of complementary activity that the organisation of a MICE event demands.

If there is a need of active tourist, its natural setting and spots and also specialised companies facilitate hiking, cycling in the green route of la Jara, canooing which is possible in some parts of the river Tajo and the reservoir of Cazalegas, even parachuting or gliding become true in Ocaña and Lillo areas. You can also fly over the Tajo Valley on micro light aircrafts which Los Valdespinos country house facilitates very near Toledo. Also trips on 4x4 or quads and the trips on airship can be taken in the surroundings of the city with companies and professionals who offer this type of services. Finally, ecotourism, golf or team building for companies are possible in Toledo.

Toledo at hand and… in the United States For centuries this nearby city to Madrid has been an outstanding tourist destination within the market segment of cultural tourist in general and artistic and monumental in particular. This has constituted a travelling motivation for those who come to visit it. There are a lot of people who, after being in Toledo, take it in their hearts for ever. For example, John Harvey Treat, a student from Harvard College, class of 1862 who donated his College library the book “Toledo en la mano”, of more than 1,500 pages long in two volumes, written and edited five years before by Sisto Ramón Parro Simón. Parro, an erudite from Toledo, had been the major, deputy, and deacon of the School of Lawyers, university professor and booster of the city’s development. In the mid XIXth century, his book arrived to an unsuspected far end of the world which was already globalised for an illustrated and travelled minority. Parro himself wrote and edited a compilation “Compendio del Toledo en la mano” a year after, which is 224 pages long as a summary of his great work. This short book is one of the first pocket guides of Toledo which is specifically edited for travellers from outside the city. Its influence is as the subtitle indicates: “an abbreviated description of the Cathedral church and other monuments and notable things which are worth some attention to curious people in this famous city”. Of both works, highly valued amongst the bibliophiles and collectors, there are two facsimile editions. Sisto Ramón Parro has a street with his name in Toledo, the house where he lived is remembered with a commemorative plaque, and his person evocated by a Law School and an arquitecture prize. Not long ago, last September, the city of Toledo that is also now oriented to the MICE industry, held a singular event: Toledo City Archives, represented by its major, Emiliano García-Page, received a donation that filled a missing space in its library. It was the second volume of the original edition. The donation was made by the eighty-five year old Fernando Sánchez-Contador Feliu, who is the author’s great-great-grandchild and who was escorted by 43 members of his family. The old book that had left Toledo, arrived back from the United States, where was purposely bought in an antiquarian bookshop of Cleveland (Ohio) with this generous and altruistic purpose.

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Hotels

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Selección de establecimientos que suponen garantía de éxito para cualquier reunión

HOTEL CARLOS I SPA AN EXCLUSIVE PLACE FOR MEETINGS

Located in a natural environment of great beauty, in the heart of the Rias Baixas and in front of the beach and the Salvora and Cies Islands, this establishment offers an incomparable framework for any type of business meeting or stay to disconnect from daily routine. The Hotel Carlos I Spa has a four star category and is relatively new as it opened in 1999 what make us think it has modern facilities, It has 130 rooms out of which there are three suites equipped with all types of details to have a pleasant stay. It also offers different conditioned halls for meetings with capacity for a maximum of 1,700 people. So from a simple business meeting to an international convention can be held here.

Vigo s/n 36969 Sanxenxo ( Pontevedra ) Tel. 986 727 036 Fax: 986 721 108 E-mail: HYPERLINK "mailto: hotelcarlosprimero@carlosprimero.com" hotelcarlosprimero@carlosprimero.com Web: HYPERLINK "http://www.carlosprimero.com"

• 1500 square metres for meetings and events • 5 halls with capacity for 1700 people • 130 rooms • Spa and relax area

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Relaxing at the Spa It is not only placed in a setting of great natural beauty, but it is also a spa centre equipped with the greatest advances in comfort and health which will permit the visitor discover the appeals of a space that has been created for complete relaxation and rest. Furthermore, its ample gardens surrounding the Carlos I hotel Spa help us feel the contact with nature and breathe the clean and renovating air of the RĂas Baixas. The equipment of each of the rooms is proud to have the latest technologies. On the other hand its gastronomic offer is an exceptional part as it has ample specialities which are served daily in its restaurant Sobreira and which main characteristic is that the recipes are always made with seasonal products. Sobreira has a succulent offer, especially outstanding is the fish which comes from the Athlantic and is cooked in a thousand of ways. It also has a wine list from Rias Baixas and one of the main Protected Denomination of Origin in Spain.

Different capacities At the Hotel Carlos I any kind of event can be held because the five meeting halls of different capacities equipped with all the necessary as projectors, translator service, computers, photographer and all types of facilities. They have experience in having held an important number of events. Out of the five halls for meetings, the largest is the Silgar hall with a surface of 581 square metres. It is ideal for having a cocktail party for 750 people, a dinner party for 300 or a meeting for 200 people. All the halls are multipurpose, and depending on the type of ceremony they can be used in one way or another. The second hall according to size is the Palacios with 461 square meters and capacity for 460 people at a cocktail party.

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Special Venues

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Selección de establecimientos que suponen garantía de éxito para cualquier reunión

BARCELÓ LA BOBADILLA A PLACE TO RELAX AND ENJOY IN THE CENTER OF ANDALUSIA An elegant and superior hotel, situated in the centre of Andalusia, between the cities of Malaga, Granada, Cordoba and Seville. Barceló La Bobadillas' 70 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, each individually designed are lavishly decorated with opulent bedrooms and spacious bathrooms and further complimented by the stunning setting formed by 1000 acres of rich unspoiled countryside, an even richer gastronomy, a first class service and fabulous new Spa. The architecture is based on an Andalusian palace with small gardens, flowers, paths, patios, and fountains.

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he wide range of facilities include, a variety of outdoor and indoor restaurants, newly built meeting rooms for up to 120 people and our unique chapel meeting room which accommodates a maximum 80. In addition, our special events team are available to tailor packages to your individual requirements and with our extensive selection of activities from quad biking and clay pigeon shooting to cookery classes and wine tasting amongst a multitude of choices all within the hotel grounds, Barcelo La Bobadilla provides the ultimate in luxury venues.

Barceló La Bobadilla is ideal for board meetings, product launches, birthday parties or wedding ceremonies

Situated in a great location for both our national and international clients, with easy access by air from both Malaga and Granada and by high speed train (AVE Madrid-Antequera), Barceló La Bobadilla is ideal for board meetings, product launches, birthday parties, wedding ceremonies, all types of incentive schemes and team building and is also available for exclusive hire.

Barceló La Bobadilla: Finca La Bobadilla Carretera Salinas – Vva. de Tapia, Km 65,5 (A333) 18300Loja- GRANADA – (ANDALUSIA) SPAIN Tel: (34) 958 321 861 Fax: (34) 958 321 810

Hotel information •

70 rooms including 10 suites

Open all year round 40 minutes from Málaga Int´l Airport • 35 minutes from Granada Airport • 15 minutes from Santa Ana (Antequera) train station • •

Features Banquets Conference rooms • Corporate facilities • Children’s Program • Countryside • Indoor Pool • On-site Fitness Centre • Outdoor Pool • Spa • Wedding Chapel • Adventure activities • Golf • High Speed Internet Access • •

Cards Accepted American Express Diners Club • Euro Card • Jcb • Master Card • Visa • •

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Incoming

TURESPAÑA PROMOTING SPAIN FROM ABROAD Promoting Spain abroad as a tourist destination, helping to release the tourist product into the market and fixing the strategies and the performance of Tourist Paradores are the main tasks of the Spanish Tourist Institute, Turespaña, which depends on the General State Administration. For this, the body has 31 offices all over the world which depend on the embassies and consulates. By VICTOR PUIG VILARRUBÍS

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ne of the key objectives of Turespaña is to internationally promote Spain not only as a sun and beach destination but also as a destination offering other possibilities. Amongst the new options, Spain is more and more positioning itself as a country with an ample network in great quality rural breaks. Also in the world of sports, especially golf, Spain is becoming a compulsory destination for lovers of this sport. In terms of congresses and incentive travelling, this country has climbed to the first world positions as the perfect place to hold any type of congress meeting. All of this allows Spain to be seen more and more from other points of view and not only as the country with magnificent beaches.

World heritage cities Another characteristic of the Spanish Tourist Institute is the campaigns carried out together with the autonomous regions to promote concrete destinations as the Pyrenees, Green Spain, the Route to Santiago de Compostela or the World Heritage Cities. These destinations allow the visitor to go inside a more diverse reality of our

country as protagonists for example in the spectacular route of Santiago de Compostela which permits first hand information, the inland and historic Spain or the multiple possibilities that the World Heritage Cities offer, all different but absolutely essential: Alcalá de Henares, Avila, Cáceres, Córdoba, Cuenca, Ibiza, Mérida, Salamanca, San Cristobal de la Laguna, Santiago de Compostela, Segovia, Tarragona and Toledo. The marketing campaigns of Turespaña are addressed to the general public with promotion actions in the great international media, but they are also addressed at a professional public who is present in the main fairs of the tourist sector and in the promotion of business meetings with companies that are interested in first-hand information about the ample tourist supply of the sector. With this duality, Turespaña can push the international reality in relation to our country and see how the sector considers tourism in Spain. To be able to carry out these actions, Turespaña has 485 people working on the promotion of Spain, 211 in the central services, 212 in the Tourist Boards abroad and

One of the key objectives of Turespaña is to internationally promote Spain not only as a sun and beach destination but also as a destination offering other possibilities

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Incoming

SPEAKING TO…

Félix Larrosa Piqué, Turespaña general director

In January 2007 Félix Larrosa was named general director of the Spanish tourist Institute by the Trade and Industry Minister Joan Clos. Before then, Larrosa had been the managing director of Lleida Tourist Board. Since he started, Larrosa is newly promoting this body and situating our country as one of the references abroad and promoting the decentralization of tourism and approximating the great public to the ample tourist supply in Spain. Mice in Spain.- Which are the main functions of Turespaña? Félix Larrosa.-Turespaña is the State Administration body which is in charge of the promotion of Spain as a tourist destination in the international market, the support to realise the Spanish tourist products into the market abroad and the collaboration with other public administrations and the private sector with international promotion and marketing programmes of its products. Turespaña also has responsibilities concerning the Paradores network. Especially in terms of the building of new ones. Concerning the meeting tourist promotion, we develop an important range of actions; all of them tend to let people know about the Spanish supply abroad: marketing and presentations to professionals, editing promotional material on the web, participating in specialised international fairs and in particular in the only fair held in Spain, EIBTM. Finally, we also work on the organisation of FITUR Congresses which is a very powerful tool in this field. In the last fair as in the rest of them, Turespaña works in collaboration with other entities and agents, and in this particular sector, with Spain Convention Bureau and the cities involved in the promotion of their respective destinations. M.i.S.- Spain is one of the big world tourist destinations and is more and more playing an important role in the Meeting Industry sector. How do you evaluate the rise of this type of congress and meeting tourism? F.L.- La importancia del sector reuniones es creciente porque en él confluyen varios elementos pero hay dos que puedo destacarle especialmente: The importance of the meeting sector is growing because various elements converge in it, but there are two elements which I can specially point out: One is that it is contributing as no other to the tourist decentralization. The most intensive months for meetings go from September to November and from March to May and February and June are less intense. On the other hand, the average expense for a participant a day in the meetings was of 165,08 € in 2006, which greatly surpasses the average expense of a tourist in Spain- 94 €- which is reflected in the EGATUR survey. M.i.S.-Which are the expectations about the growth in the coming years of the MICE sector? F.L.- We believe they are solid. On one hand we have all the power of the Spanish tourist supply in general, and on the other hand, in this sector, we are aware of the specially rich and competitive supply in terms of special headquarters for meetings and congress centres as in the professional and human field. The MICE sector in Spain is an active and qualified sector. M.i.S.- Is there a clear tendency in MICE tourism today that you may be detecting, and if this is so, is there any specific product that Spain is offering? F.L.- Turespaña is carrying out with collaboration of the Spain Convention Bureau, two studies directed at knowing the reality of the Meeting Tourism bettering 2007. On the one hand the report METURE has been developing for a few years now and its objective is to measure and quantify this tourist sector or segment. It is even trying to evaluate its economic impact. On the other hand, and for the first time, we are carrying out a study in depth of the international supply and demand concentrated on four markets: United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, and the United States. Out of the preliminaries of this study, the growing weight of incentive travelling in all types of meetings could be pointed out. Congresses as much as conferences and seminars come together with the demand of special leisure activities, customized for these groups and which essentially aim at the participants living a unique and unforgettable experience in our destinations. The Spanish supply is now able to improve each time. M.i.S.-Is there any Spanish city or region that is specially growing as a top destination? F.L.- We do not like to point out any city because some are functioning really well in this segment and in any case obtaining very satisfying results according to their possibilities. In terms of the international impact in meeting tourism, as many of us know, Barcelona and Madrid are in first position, but also Valencia and Seville and others are in outstanding positions. M.i.S.- Which are the most important markets for Spain? F.L.- According to one of the studies I referred to, the main markets for Spain in terms of this product are in this order: Germany, United Kingdom, France, Portugal, the United States and Italy.

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The promotion of concrete destinations as the Pyrenees, ‘España Verde’, the ‘Camino de Santiago’ and the world heritage cities are valued more and more quence, the Spanish Tourist Institute promotes and helps concrete tourist products like cultural and city tourism, sport and nature or congress and incentive travelling to find a place in the market and arrive to the final consumer who is really looking for this type of offer.

The new technologies serve the promotion of Spain

62 people in the Exhibitions and Congress Centre in Madrid. Out of all 177 are civil servants and 308 are contract labour.

Spain a quality label Turespaña does an important job to reinforce the positioning of Spain as a tourist label abroad. On the one hand it maintains and reinforces the marketing campaigns with the label Spain to extend its recognition and position in the international tourist market, and on the other hand, it develops around the label as a marketing strategy to outstand its essential and distinguishing elements that will permit its recognition in front of other destinations. Which distinguishing elements does Spain

have? Turespaña has analysed them as opposed to other places in the world and it is clear that these elements include the Spanish lifestyle, its European environment, the quality and the cultural proximity, the customization of the supply, and the richness in diversity make Spain unique. All this is done to make the image that Spain has developed abroad surpassing the almost exclusive association to sun and beach and adding new motivations too visit our country. However, Turespaña not only searches the improvement of the image of our country, it also supports and facilitates the promotion of the Spanish tourist products in terms of the needs and opportunities that are present in the international market. As a conse-

Turespaña through the Spanish Society of Tourist Information Management (SEGITUR) has incorporated online marketing for the tourist promotion of the country. The promotion actions in the web are addressed to the professional sector to make them able to achieve business agreements. But these actions are also addressed at the general public to attract them travelling here. One of the most successful actions has been the webpage Spain.info where you can find any type of information. The user can find the appeals that Spain has and is able to organise a journey from this page. Spain.info has been translated to six languages: English, French, Italian, German, Japanese and Chinese which directly helps to show the reality of the country to the future tourists. The marketing campaigns on the internet are also realised in other aspects as the improvement of the positioning on web searchers to find anything related to Spain, and the strategic alliances with portals, the advertising sections online and the creation of e-mail marketing campaigns.

Turespaña responds in front of any image crisis about the country Another important point which Turespaña keeps an eye on is the power to immediately and adequately answer any external extraordinary event which could clearly affect the international tourist demand of Spain. Turespaña has the capacity to coordinate the external communication strategy to other tourist administrations in case of serious events. With a methodology that has been used more than once, Turespaña can respond in a few hours to any contingency.

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FORMULA 1 WARMS UP ENGINES IN

VALENCIA

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The Formula 1 Grand Prix will be one of the most important events in Spain this year. The maximum category car circus arrives to this capital city with all the equipment and motor- racing teams ready to offer a memorable show the weekend of the 23rd and 24th August. by VICTOR PUIG VILARRUBÍS photos courtesy of GENERALITAT VALENCIANA AND V.P.

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ext year, 2008 Zaragoza will be the water world capital. For three months, from the 14th of June untill the 14th of September, Expo Zaragoza 2008 will be celebrated with the slogan “Water and Sustainable Development”. The rise of the F1 in the last years has shown how this country can hold a second Grand Prix a few months after Montmeló in Barcelona. Valencia with its proposal of an inner city circuit, as the Montecarlo circuit, will be an incentive for the competition. The race track will take place in the inner dock of the port and along the streets of the neighbourhood which will be built between the railway, the port and the old bed of the river Turia. Although it is an inner city circuit, its characteristics in terms of features and safety are the same as the ones of a permanent circuit. It will be 5 and a half kilometres long and the track will be fourteen meters wide, including two identical one meter spaces on both sides of the tracks. Another characteristic of the circuit in Valencia is that the asphalt used will be the same as the one used in the rest of the circuits of the championship, this is to say, it will be made of layers of blacking modified for the greatest resistance to horizontal efforts, which is the peculiarity in all the usual competition circuits.

Although it is an inner city circuit, which will go through the city of Valencia, the speed will be astounding as the cars will reach 320km/h with many bends which will assure a great show. The circuit will not mean great changes in the city apart from some improvements like the turning mobile bridge over the new sailing channel that enters the leisure port, which will connect both sides of the marine and will also be the emergency exit of the commercial harbour.

First line hotels and infrastructures in Valencia Valencia is well connected to the rest of Spain and the world thanks to the wide road network, stations with direct fast connection to Madrid and Barcelona, and the airport which connects it with the main European capitals. In the city, the underground connects in only in a few minutes the airport to the city centre and facilitates moving inside it. This city has a number of five star hotels which offer any kind of service to the visitor. Amongst them, Valencia Hilton Hotel has recently been built, situated opposite the congress centre presents a high quality avant garde design. With its 300 rooms and 16

The capital of Valencia has experience in being the headquarters for national and international meetings and congresses meeting halls it is apt to any type of congress or meeting. Another five star hotel is Meliá Valencia Palace which is right opposite the Music Palau and very near the Art and Science city with 230 rooms and 12 meeting halls with a capacity for 800 people. And for those who want to enjoy the comfort of a spa and play golf in Valencia there is La Calderona Spa &Golf Hotel 10 kilometres away from the city centre with 42 rooms situated on a garden ground of 25,000 square metres where golf and tennis can be played, or you can relax in the 800m2 spa. The capital of Valencia has experience in being the headquarters for national and international meetings and congresses. As an example there is the Congress Centre which has been functioning now for nine years,

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Events in Spain

“Our project is different to Montecarlo in some aspects. The speed and the safety will be greater in Valencia”

Interview to

JORGE MARTÍNEZ ASPAR ex motorcycle pilot and partner of Valmor Sport company

What parts of the city will the circuit go through? Jorge M. Aspar.- The circuit will go through a new area of the expanding city and will connect the city centre to the marina district and the port. A good part of the circuit is situated on the dock Juan Carlos I where the America’s Cup took place, and the rest in the port’s surroundings, an area of new urbanisation. A lot of us think of the inner city circuit of Montecarlo which is really spectacular. Are we supposed to imagine a similar circuit? J.M.A.- In terms of the spectacularity there are a lot of similitudes. However, our project is different to Montecarlo in some aspects. The speed and the safety will be greater in Valencia. We are preparing a circuit with all the safety that a permanent circuit has, like the width and the escape areas which will contribute to its safety. In this way the pilots’ confidence is greater and the spectacle multiplied. It is a circuit which is closely related to the sea, something which no other circuit in the world has. I am sure this will be a great surprise for everyone. What will the capacity be? J.M.A.- There is no fixed number yet. We are working so that there are stands for more than100,000 people. The rise of the Formula 1 and the phenomenon of Fernando Alonso are a sure bet in this Grand Prix? J.M.A.- I am sure they are. Fernando Alonso has been a key element to make car racing bigger in general and Formula 1 in particular in Spain. But our bet goes beyond. The agreement to celebrate the European F1 Grand Prix is until 2014 and we think the celebration of the F1 in such spectacular terms is going to attract Spanish and foreign enthusiast who will fill the stands and the city each year. If we add the success in Cheste circuit in terms of the sport itself, the organisation, and the audience, is it true that Valencia can already have credit related to the organisation of first line motor-racing events? J.M.A.- The work on the circuit in all these years is a guarantee for success. Since it started in 1999 we have only been congratulated for it. We believe the same is going to happen when the company gets the job done. The fact that Spain holds two Grand Prix reinforces it as a favourite destination for motor lovers? J.M.A.- Of course it does. A few years ago Spain did not carry any weight in terms of Formula 1 and it is now the highest audience television rating with two grand Prix and and a twice world champion who will soon make us happy again.

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“Moreover, the F1 Grand Prix will be an opportunity to show the world our qualities, beginning by the organization of the event”

Interview to the Culture and Sport councillor

TRINIDAD MIRÓ What will the Formula 1 Grand Prix mean for the city of Valencia? Trinidad Miró.- The celebration of the European Formula 1 Grand Prix next 24th August will mean a new confirmation that we are an avant garde city and a Autonomous Region, the leader in culture, tourism, sports, leisure activities and where the most important international events happen. Moreover, the F1 Grand Prix will be an opportunity to show the world our qualities, beginning by the organization of the event. The Grand Prix is, in any case, a challenge which, I am sure, the Autonomous Region of Valencia will come out with a reinforced prestige as an organiser of first level world events. How many visitors do you anticipate will arrive in the city to see the Grand Prix? T.M.-The figures are not concrete yet. But it is said that about 100,000 visitors will be watching the event. Although, we are sure, that many more will take advantage of this and will come to visit the city. Apart from this, the media power impact should be taken into account, which, without any doubt, will be extraordinary. Will the grand Prix mean an important town planning change for Valencia? T.M.- It is the end of an ample set of interventions that are bringing Valencia near the sea in a comfortable way for the citizens, in a nice way for those who enjoy the city and it is full of appeals for those who visit us In terms of hotel supply, is there any new opening or improvement in the already existing supply planned? T.M.- The hotel supply in the Autonomous Region of Valencia is very ample and some of the best hotel chains in the world are here thanks to the construction of the Art and Science City and specially with the celebration of the 32nd America’s Cup. The arrival of the Formula 1 is surely going to improve more the magnificent hotel supply that we already have. In the World Formula 1 there are a lot of big companies involved and some could be interested in the supply for congresses and fairs in the city. In this respect, is the congress supply being reinforced with any innovation? T.M.- There are diverse projects within the congress and fair activity. We will be able to define these later on. After the America’s Cup success, Valencia is showing it is a city ready for great events. The Prix will make a lot of people discover the city, what innovations will the city offer the visitors? T.M.- Valencia can already be proud of a first level cultural heritage, gastronomy, leisure, tourist and relax supply. We are a city and a Autonomous Region that has a lot of attractions and from the local government, Generalitat Valenciana, we continue working each day to become one of the most popular tourist destinations.

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Valencia has also an impressive and innovative music house where meetings and events can be celebrated has been the headquarters for 1,500 national and international congresses, with its two auditoriums and the multiple meeting halls prepared to hold any type of congress or event of any size. Valencia has also an impressive and innovative Music Palau where meetings and events can be celebrated. The building has the main concert hall with 1,800 seats and a spectacular stage where any presentation or conference can be organised. It also has three more halls of different sizes which can hold any type of congress. Another emblematic fairground in Valencia is the Art and Science City complex which has the Science Museum, The Oceanographic, The Hemispheric and The Umbracle. It offers 24,000m2 to organise the most demanding event. The Science Museum has two halls dedicated to events; one is the Arquerias hall, a modular space of 1,00m2 which can be divided in three spaces of 340m2 each; the other one is the auditorium with capacity for 500 people. Also The Oceanographic is apt for the organisation of events, surrounded by sharks and the rest of the water world that can be seen here. It specifically has an auditorium for 470 people and two other adjacent halls. And in the same fairground of the Art and Science City, The Hemispheric is an outdoor space with gardens and open air spaces to organise the celebration of any dinner party.

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Another emblematic fairground in Valencia is the Art and Science City complex which has the Science Museum, The Oceanographic, The Hemispheric and The Umbracle

Valmort Sport, responsable for the F1 Grand Prix marketing The company Valmor Sport will be responsible for the management of the rights of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in terms of marketing and sport, and will also assemble and dismantle the inner city circuit. The company signed an agreement with Formula One Management to organise the Grand prix from 2008 until 2015. Valmor Sport is a three equalled part society: Fernando Roig, the president of the football team Villareal and of companies like Pamesa Cerámica or Reomar; Bancaja which is the third Savings Bank and the sixth financial Spanish group; and Jorge Martínez Aspar, ex motorcyclist of 125cc motorbike and who is the director of the team of the world motorcycle championship.

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Useful guide

USEFUL GUIDE CONVENTION BUREAU Barcelona Barcelona Convention Bureau 34 93 368 97 00 bcb@barcelonaturisme.com

Bilbao

Murcia

Valencia

Oficina de Congresos de Murcia

Turismo Valencia Convention Bureau

34 968 34 18 18 congresos.murcia@congremur.com

34 96 360 63 53 turisvalencia@turiosvalencia.es

Palma de Mallorca

Zaragoza

Mallorca Convention Bureau

Zaragoza Convention Bureau

34 971 73 92 02 info@mallorcacb.com

34 976 72 13 33 zcb@zaragoza.es

Bilbao Convention Bureau 34 94 479 57 70 bicb@bilbaoturismo.bilbao.net

S.C. Tenerife Tenerife Convention Bureau

Gerona

34 922 23 78 89 info@tenerifecb.com

Gerona Convention Bureau 34 972 41 85 00 gicobu@cambrescat.es

La Coruña Consorcio de Turismo y Congresos de La Coruña 34 981 18 43 44 info@turismocoruña.com

Las Palmas Gran Canaria Convention Bureau 34 928 26 15 70 convention@laspalmasgccb.com

Madrid Spain Convention Bureau 34 91 364 37 00 femp@femp.es

Madrid Convention Bureau 34 91 588 29 00 congresos@munimadrid.es

Málaga Málaga Convention Bureau 34 95 206 18 30 convention.bureau@ayto-malaga.es

CONVENTION CENTERS Barcelona

Santander Santander Convention Bureau 34 942 20 30 02 congresos@ayto-santander.es

Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona 34 93 230 10 00 ccib@ccib.es

Palau de Congressos de Catalunya

San Sebastián

34 93 364 44 00 marta.rodriguez@pcongresos.com

San Sebastián Convention Bureau

World Trade Center Barcelona

34 943 48 14 66 bureau@donostia.org

34 93 508 80 00 congresos@wtcbarcelona.es

Santiago de Compostela

Bilbao

Santiago de Compostela Convention Bureau

Palacio de Congresos y de la Música de Bilbao ‘Euskalduna’

34 981 55 51 29 turismo@santiagoturismo.com

34 94 403 50 00 info@palacioeuskalduna.net

Sevilla

Burgos

Turismo de Sevilla

Palacio de Congresos Y. Atapuerca

34 95 459 29 15 turismo@sevilla.org

Toledo

34 947 00 11 22 info@palaciocongresosatapuerca.com

Toledo Convention Bureau

Cádiz

34 925 21 31 12 congresos@toledo-congresos.org

Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones 34 956 29 10 17 cadiz2000@palaciocongresos-cadiz-com

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Córdoba

Madrid

San Sebastián

Palacio de Congresos

Centro de Congresos Príncipe Felipe Hotel Auditoriu Madrid

Palacio de Congresos Auditorio Kursaal

34 957 48 31 12 palacio@cordobacongress.com

Granada Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos

34 91 400 44 00 info@hotelauditorium.com

Centro de Convenciones Feria de Madrid 34 91 722 50 74 convenciones@ifema.es

34 943 00 30 00 kursaal@kursaal.org

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Centro de Convenciones Mapfre Vida

Centro Internacional de Ferias y Congresos de Tenerife

Jerez

34 91 581 16 27 cc@mapfre.com

34 922 22 29 52 iftsa.iftsa@cabtfe.es

Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones

Palacio de Congresos de Madrid

34 956 18 07 32 ifeca@dipucadiz.es

34 91 337 81 00 castellana.palacio@tourspain.es

34 958 24 67 00 palacio@pcgr.org

Santander Palacio de Exposiciones 34 942 29 00 40

La Coruña

Málaga

Palacio de CongresosAuditorio

Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga

34 981 14 04 04 director@palacongres.com

34 952 04 55 00 pfyc@promalaga.es

La Línea de la Concepción

Mérida

Palacio La Línea

Palacio de Congresos de Mérida

34 956 769 950 info@palaciolalinea.com

34 924 007 308 palacios@palaciosdecongresosdeextremadura.com

Las Palmas de Gran Canarias

Murcia

Palacio de Congresos de Canarias 34 928 49 17 70 info@pcongresos-canarias.com

Logroño Riojaforum Palacio de Congresos y Auditorio de La Rioja 34 941 276 200 riojaforum@riojaforum.com

Auditorio y Centro de Congresos Víctor Villegas 34 968 34 10 60 congresos@ auditoriomurcia.org

Palma de Mallorca

Sevilla Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos de Sevilla 34 95 447 87 00 general@fibes.es

Sitges Centro de Congresos Melia Sitges 34 93 811 08 11 melia.sitges@solmelia.com

Tarragona Palacio Ferial y de Congresos de Tarragona 34 977 24 55 77 info@palaucongrestgna

Congress Palace Palma

Torremolinos

34 971 73 70 70 info@congress-palace-palma.com

Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones

Salamanca

34 95 237 92 03 direccion@palacio-congresos.com

Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones 34 923 26 51 51 congresos@palaciocongresossalamanca.com

Valencia Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias 34 96 197 45 00 rree@cac.es

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Useful guide

Palacio de Congresos 34 96 317 94 00 palcongres-vlc@palcongres-vlc.com

Centro de Eventos de Feria Valencia 34 902 74 73 32 eventos@feriavalencia.com

Valladolid Centro de Congresos Valladolid 34 983 42 93 00 feriavalladolid@feriavalladolid.com

Zaragoza Auditorio Palacio de Congresos de Zaragoza 34 976 72 13 00 informacion@auditoriozaragoza.com

Burgos

San Sebastián

Hotel Landa Palace

Hotel Maria Cristina

34 947 25 77 77 landapal@teleline.es

34 943 43 76 00 hmc@westin.com

Logroño

Santander

AC Gran Hotel La Rioja

Hotel Real

34 941 27 23 50 aclogroño@ac-hotels.com

34 942 27 25 50 realsantander@husa.es

Madrid Hotel Hesperia Madrid

Santiago de Compostela

34 91 210 88 00 hotel@hesperia-madrid.com

Hotel AC Palacio del Carmen

Hotel HUSA Princesa

34 981 55 24 44 pcarmen@achotels.com

34 91 542 21 00 husaprincesa@husa.es

Hotel Melia Castilla 34 91 567 50 00 melia.castilla@solmelia.es

HOTELS Barcelona Hotel Arts 34 93 221 10 00 info@harts.es

Hotel Barcelona Hilton 34 93 495 77 77 barcelona@hilton.com

G.H. La Florida 34 93 259 30 00 info@hotellaflorida.com

Hotel Grand Marina 34 93 603 90 00 info@grandmarinahotel.com

Hotel Miguel Angel 34 91 442 00 22 hma@occidental-hoteles.es

Hotel Ritz 34 91 701 67 67 comercial@ritz.es

Marbella 34 95 283 11 40 resa@hotel-doncarlos.com

Palma de Mallorca

Hotel Majestic 34 93 488 17 17 recepcion@hotelmajestic.es

34 971 78 71 00 golfhotelsonvida@arabellasheraton.es

Hotel Princesa Sofia

Salamanca

Hotel Rey Juan Carlos I

Salamanca Forum Resort

34 93 364 40 40 reservas@hrjuancarlos.com

34 923 33 70 20 convenciones.hoteldb@grupomrs.com

34 94 423 55 00 lh@hotellopezharo.com

34 95 450 55 99 melia.colon@solmelia.com

Toledo Hotel Hilton Buenavista Toledo 34 925 28 98 20 info.buenavistatoledo@hilton.com

Valencia Hotel Melia Valencia Palace 34 96 337 50 37 melia.valencia.palace@solmelia.es

Zaragoza Hotel Palafox

34 93 508 10 00 psofia@expogrupo.com

Hotel Lopez de Haro

Hotel Melia Colon

Hotel Don Carlos

Arabella Sheraton Golf Hotel Son Vida

Bilbao

Sevilla

Hotel Alameda Palace Salamanca 34 923 28 26 26 angela@hotelalamedapalace.com

34 976 23 77 00 hotelpalafox@palafoxhoteles.com

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