Introducing Zurich’s The Circle

The City Within A City

Zurich has a few sights and sounds that makes it one of the perfect destinations for your next meeting. Not to mention the FIFA World Football Museum. But, wait there’s more. Switzerland recently announced The Circle, a City Within a City, due to open in 2020. Within walking distance to the Zurich Airport and a 12-minute train ride to the city, The Circle is designed as a lifestyle and business center, with a mission to transform the Zurich’s tourism industry.

For a meeting planner, finding the perfect destination for a new client can be a long and daunting process. The Circle aims to address those needs by offering 190,000 sq. ft. of floor space the CIRCLE incorporates a convention center, hotels, restaurants, high-end retail, a health care facility, education, art places, co-working areas, offices and boasts a distinctive characterful setting: inviting plazas, lanes and a park, creating a perfect place to relax, shop and simply enjoy life.

We look forward to this exciting inclusion and as stated by The Circle’s Commercial Director, Ms. Doris Armellini, “Due to the large capacity, the conference facilities are expected to bring new meetings and conferences to Zurich.” (Source: New Cultural and Business Hub Will Reshape Zurich’s Tourism Image)

To learn more, please click here.

Breathe Easy In Medellin, Colombia!

In tune with being the “City of Eternal Spring,” Medellin, Colombia has implemented the concept of “Buildings that Breathe” as they continue to expand sustainable infrastructures throughout the city.

According to EcoMobility, Medellin is poised to add of 1.7 million square feet of new park space with 25 parks and 11 urban promenades as part of the Urban Integral Project. It comes to no surprise that the second tallest living wall in the world is located in Medellin! The residential building Green Medellin wall (pictured), created by Groncol and Paisajismo Urbano is a 300 ft. tall vertical garden.

 

As tourism continues to grow in Colombia, the government has designated 59 nationally protected areas. Another worthy mention is the Botanical Garden of Medellin, home to over 1,000 living species and 4,500 flowers. It has an important collection of orchids preserved in an architectural space called the “Orquideorama.” This non-traditional venue can also be used for your next international meeting.

An additional focus on providing green meeting capabilities and LEED certified spaces are evident in sustainable hotels such as the NH Collection Hotel in Medellin. Centrally located in the main business hub and a short drive from the Jose Maria International airport, the affordable luxury gives access to one of the most innovative cities in the world (Wall Street Journal).

Medellin welcomes you to take part in its growth and discover why it’s known as South America’s Most Innovative Meeting and Event Destination.

 

A Valve of Opportunity for Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Malaysia has been selected to host the 2020 World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) Congress at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (The Centre). With an expected attendance of more than 4000 delegates, The Centre is more than equipped to accommodate this high profile event being held in Malaysia for the first time.

Situated in Kuala Lumpur’s Central Business District, the congress stands to benefit from a “technologically–advanced, purpose-built facility” and committed to quality service. At the same time, Malaysia will welcome global healthcare experts from 125 countries, treatment centers onsite for delegates (as 10% of delegates are made up of patients), and the community in general.

 

Read full story here.

Vienna Earns Top Rankings!

The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has ranked the city of Vienna as the 2nd most popular destination for international congresses worldwide in 2017 (Successful Meetings: ICCA Ranking). Additionally, the Union of International Associations (UIA) awarded Vienna with the 4th spot! The continuous impact of the meeting industry in Vienna has reached over the 1 billion euro mark and it is accounted for 89% of meetings held in Austria.

To see full article, click here.

The Academic Impact of International Research Conferences

The Danish Council for Research and Innovation commissioned a very insightful study about the benefits and barriers of hosting international research conferences. This was executed by Aalborg University and Wonderful Copenhagen.

Through an extensive analysis of previously held conferences, interviews, and research, the Council was able to determine the most common advantages and hurdles that universities and researchers faced when planning these types of international meetings.

The study concluded that individual researchers benefit most in terms of networking opportunities and increased visibility. The host institution and research environment also experienced an increase in visibility, as well as better access to recruitment.

Although the study highlights several barriers to hosting international conferences, the research supports that the most prominent barriers are both lack of time and resources.

We don’t want to spoil it all for you, so be sure to check out the complete study here.

Destination MEDELLIN

Dubbed as the “City of Eternal Spring”, Medellin surely has more than its perfect year-round weather to boast about. Previously known as one of the world’s most notorious cities, it has undergone a night-and-day transformation in just under a decade. Medellin is one of the most innovative (according to the Wall Street Journal, Citi Group, and the Urban Lab Institute) and livable cities in Latin America. It has been awarded by the World Travel Awards as the best destination to host events in South America for two consecutive years.

An up and coming destination, the Medellin Convention & Visitors Bureau has hosted major world-class events such as The IDB Assembly of Governors (2009), The World Urban Forum (2014), the Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (2015), the World Economic Forum (2016), and, this year, the Sixth Plenary of IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services).

The city has space for all types of meetings. The Plaza Mayor has capacity for 22,000 delegates amongst the 5 main spaces, and the Centro de Eventos El Tesoro (CET) can have up to 1,200 delegates for smaller programs. Alternatively, there is the Intercontinental Hotel, which has multiple meeting rooms that can hold up to 1,200 attendees.

Medellin as a pioneer city in meetings and events tourism in Colombia, looks forward to welcoming both business delegates and tourists in the coming years.

Photo: The El Castillo Museum in Medellin, Colombia

Destination COPENHAGEN

Situated off the eastern coast of the Island of Zealand, Copenhagen is the capital and most populous city of Denmark. This vibrant city is the cultural, economic and governmental center of Denmark and made up of famous landmarks such as The Little Mermaid statue and Tivoli Gardens. Denmark is ranked 3rd overall as one of the Happiest Places on Earth and 11th overall in the Best Countries Ranking (The World’s 10 Happiest Countries).

Wonderful Copenhagen, which includes the official Convention Bureau of Copenhagen, has formulated a new forward thinking strategy on tourism. This new strategy focusing on Localhood rather than simply tourism, encourages locals to act as hosts and to think of tourists as temporary residents. Localhood is a new age vision that supports and encourages co-creation in Copenhagen (The End of Tourism As We Know It).

Many congresses and corporate meetings held in Copenhagen incorporate different types of activities and social tours that introduce delegates to the many different faces of Copenhagen such as its sights and attractions, culture and cuisine, and architecture and design. These activities may involve a canal tour where the delegates get to experience Copenhagen from the water or it could be a Green Energy Tour by electric cart or bike (e.g. Green Bike Tours https://www.greenbiketours.dk/). Some of the congresses involve the general public such as the European Emergency Medical Services Congress, which organized a public event that provided more than 5,000 locals with CPR training.

So fresh so clean!:
Copenhagen’s harbor is so clean that you can swim in it, which is something that many Copenhageners enjoy. The city has a number of public harbor baths where locals as well as tourists can go for a swim. (There is also the option of going for a spa cruise or combine your swim with a panoramic sauna experience.) If you prefer to stay dry, but still like to be near the water, the city offers a wide array of canal tour options. In fact, CNN recently discovered this as they listed Copenhagen as the best city in the world for swimming (https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/worlds-best-swimming-cities/index.html). So if you like to go local during a break from a busy conference schedule, swimming is the way to go!

Discover Science Tourism at Geneva’s CERN

Tourists travel for a variety of reasons –for business, leisure, or for nature excursions. Then, there’s science tourism! Ranked 4th on a very short list of top 8 science tourism destinations, the CERN Research Center in Geneva, Switzerland is home to the Large Hadron Collider, the biggest, fastest particle accelerator in the world! (8 Great Science Tourism Destinations)

As the European Organization for Nuclear Research and one of the world’s most famous science facility, its mission is “to advance human knowledge, to continue an endless quest to learn where we come from and why the Universe is as we see it today.” For the science tourist and science associations, the CERN is one of the reasons why many visit Geneva!

If you have plans to visit Geneva, be sure to check out the free tours, although spots run out quickly. Meeting planners, guess what? You can hold your next event there!

Read on a science tourist’s experience at CERN here.

Explore Berlin Without Breaking the Bank!

Contrary to popular belief, you could still travel while adhering to a strict budget. Frugal Traveler columnist, Lucas Peterson, shares his secrets on how he was able to tweak a Berlin itinerary from $1,000 to a very modest $100 per day. Amazingly enough, his itinerary still grants him the freedom to explore this wondrous city at his leisure.

Don’t be fooled, however, into believing that this city is lacking more luxurious options. This eccentric challenge simply proves that there are places to go and things to do, regardless of what your budget may entail.

Are you ready for the real kicker?!  Lucas is in no way deprived of doing all of the things that most tourists like to do for both pleasure and convenience purposes. He is still able to explore popular tourist sites, utilize public transportation, dine out regularly and even drink beer despite his unassuming budget.

To get a little more specific, Lucas still takes the train, visits museums, and enjoys local street food and restaurants, alike. He evens treats himself to goodies that he can bring back home! What is even more fascinating is that Lucas is able to visit various museums in a day, cut lines, and partake in unlimited travel via public transportation for three whole days!

Find out how Lucas mastered this challenge by checking out the original article here.