IMF celebrated its 20th edition in the Basque Country
2 de julio de 2018
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The co-founder and MD of Iberian MICE Forums was appointed Director of Membership within the Board of the local chapter of MPI during the annual retreat and general assembly that took place in Madrid in the first week of July
Bilbao puts itself to the test in 2018 as the host of large international events
The year in which The Academy of Urbanism has chosen it as the Best European City, Bilbao and the Province of Biscay are putting to the test their capacity as hosts to a succession of large-scale internationally recognised events.
The first challenge took place in recent weeks: hosting the finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup and European Rugby Challenge Cup, which for the first time in the history of this sport were contested outside the Six Nations circuit. The result couldn’t have been more positive: 32,543 fans made Bilbao the second most popular host city in this competition, while vital aspects such as safety and security, cleanliness, hotel capacity and coordination of all implicated agents have received the organiser’s highest praise.
The venue for this sporting encounter was the San Mamés stadium, built according to the most stringent UEFA standards, and which in recent years has been the recipient of accolades including “Stadium of the year 2015”, awarded by the “World Stadium Congress” and second place in the “Stadium of the year awards” of the prestigious Stadium DB magazine.
The Euskalduna Conference Centre, a large multi-purpose complex of 58,200 m² located in the centre of the city, will undergo its own litmus test on 19 June. This is the date the already prestigious Basque cuisine receives a visit from some of the most recognised chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers and opinion leaders in the field of world gastronomy. The reason behind this is the awarding of prizes for The World´s 50 Best Restaurants, the list created each year by Restaurant magazine with the 50 best culinary establishments in the world.
Towards the end of the year, 4 November sees the turn of the Bilbao Exhibition Center (BEC), another of the flagships for the holding of large-scale events in the city. Its 150,000 square metres, distributed across 6 pavilions that host 160 annual events with one million attendees, are the chosen setting for the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs), an event that recognises the musical successes of the year at an international level, and which will surely have a surprise or two in store for us on its 25th anniversary.
Besides all this, our city’s diary for 2018 also includes a good number of sporting events –Bilbao Triathlon 2018, Red Bull Cliff Diving, The Vuelta Cycling Tour of Spain– and cultural ones –BBK Live 2018, BBK Music Legends Festival 2018, BIME Bizkaia International Music Experience, Bilbao Friends of the Opera Association (ABAO) opera season–. But above all, the field of entrepreneurs and professionals, where Bilbao-Bizkaia boasts a consolidated position that allows it to host important national and international events each year.
Air connections
Another of the big dates this year was Routes Europe, an event on air connectivity in Europe, which without doubt will improve the positioning of an airport that is now northern Spain’s main air communication node. With 20 airlines operating regularly and a connection, via 55 predominantly daily flights, with Europe’s main airports, Bilbao connects directly, and on average in 1 to 3 hours, with the main hubs and capitals on the European continent and with the majority of Spain’s cities, with a frequency of over 100 weekly flights to both Madrid and Barcelona. New additions this season are direct connections with Sweden, Austria and Malta, and a sixth German destination, Hamburg, which can be added to Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf and Stuttgart.
New hotels
The city and its metropolitan area boast around 4,000 hotel beds, all well located, frequently found in historical buildings and cutting-edge constructions. A number of projects are forecast to be added to these over the next twelve months, providing 400 beds in four and five-star establishments.
Other venues:
As well as the aforementioned Euskalduna Conference Centre, Bibao Exhibition Centre and San Mames Stadium, the city claims a good number of spaces in which to organise unique events, such as the emblematic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, the Iberdrola Tower with its privileged views, the Sociedad Bilbaina, a place where you can find the tradition and history of the city, the innovative and multi-purpose space offered by YIMBY, and centres of culture and knowledge that are also open for holding private meetings, such as the Arraiga Theatre, the recent prize-winning Azkuna Zentroa, Bizkaia Aretoa, Ría de Bilbao Maritime Museum, Sala BBK and the Campos Elíseos Theatre. And if the city gets a bit overwhelming, you can always drive to the Urdaibai biosphere reserve to enjoy a glass of txakoli in the beautiful Berroja Winery. Or you can visit the Encartaciones region and enjoy Europe’s only collection of Rolls Royces, on display in the Torre Loizaga fortress complex.
The Bilbao Convention Bureau is a municipal department, at the service of the organisation of MICE events. It boasts a professional team and the infrastructure necessary to attract and promote all types of meetings and events in the city. Further information can be found on its website: http://www.bilbaoturismo.net/
Gallery Hoteles Group started 2018 with the complete refurbishment of its hotel in Malaga, the MOLINA LARIO, with a 3.5-million-euro investment. This renovation project has included 103 rooms and bathrooms, communal areas and patios. Also has launched a new brand of restaurant, MATIZ, in another demonstration of the company’s commitment to quality cuisine in its establishments.
In May 2018 GALLERY HOTELES has opened its third hotel in Mallorca. The
new hotel has been christened HOTEL HONUCAI 4*S (from the Hawaiian word
HONU-KAI: sea turtle), which owes to the mix of Mediterranean and exotic styles
distilled in the hotel’s individual décor, as well as paying tribute to the protected
native species of sea turtle that inhabits the island. At the same time, the sound of “HONUCAI”
evokes the ethnic influences brought together in this renovation project, with which we have
sought to design unique spaces that have their own soul and character, using natural and sea
materials to create a vibrant and light-filled environment.
The new HOTEL HONUCAI is located in the south of the island, at the heart of the
seafront promenade in Colonia de Sant Jordi, the busiest part of this ancient fishing village,
and just metres from the spectacular Es Carbó and Es Trenc beaches.
With this new seasonal hotel, the group is moving into this accommodation type within
the holiday sector. Hotel Honucai maintains its own unique personality whilst also displaying
all the hallmarks of the Gallery Hoteles brand: 4* superior category, an unbeatable central
location, a “boutique hotel” concept (78 rooms), exceptional customer service and a clear commitment to its own quality cuisine.
The building suffered a complete makeover, including the renovation
of the façade, rooms and bathrooms, restaurant, patio, hall and reception, with the
total investment reaching 3 million euros. The hotel also have two meeting and events
rooms, spa and fitness equipment for guests and the area’s first brand new rooftop space,
“The TOP”, with panoramic views, pool, restaurant and cocktail bar. This new space builds on the patio concept created in Barcelona
four years ago with the now iconic “The TOP” at Gallery Hotel, demonstrating once again the
company’s commitment to becoming a point of reference in the places where it is established,
offering spaces for leisure and cuisine aimed at the local public as well as tourists by opening
its doors to customers beyond the hotel’s guests.
Gallery Hoteles Group is also started 2018 with the complete refurbishment of its hotel in
Malaga, the Molina Lario, with a 3.5-million-euro investment. This renovation project
included the 103 rooms and bathrooms, communal areas and patios, and launch of a new brand of restaurant, MATIZ that is another demonstration of the company’s commitment to quality cuisine in its establishments.
Marta Golobardes, General Director of Gallery Hoteles, states that “following the renovation of our flagship hotel, the Gallery Hotel in Barcelona, we are starting 2018 with a new challenge, in order to continue to grow in quality and service, positioning ourselves as specialists in the 4*
superior category. This is all possible through our strategy, based on two key pillars: expanding our range to include one of the most popular destinations on the European market with the new hotel in Mallorca, and complete renovation of the Malaga hotel’s facilities to maintain our position as a leader among the city’s tourism businesses. With these new milestones, we want to offer our guests a better range of tourist destinations with the mark of quality and distinctive personality that define the Gallery Hoteles service.”
At the four star Alimara Barcelona Hotel, innovation and experience are perfectly combined in a contemporary urban space ideal for leisure and business.
For events planning, the Alimara provides some of the most outstanding meeting rooms in the city, as their setting around the garden, makes them unique.
As a novelty this year, the hotel offers the possibility to add value to the meetings or work sessions with exclusive tailored events for the companies team.
The team building activities, Executive Training & Gastronomy, are a source of learning applicable to their daily working environment, building up your team skills and competencies within a culinary environment, holding them as a parallel session to the meeting or making everything revolve around the culinary event
An unexpected experience that will surprise them.
http://alimaraevents.com/en/etg/
The Mercure Monte Igueldo San Sebastian Hotel is a «different» hotel especially because of its highly privileged view over the La Concha Bay while being located only 5 minutes from downtown San Sebastian.
The hotel’s history started back in 1912, during the Belle Époque, and it offers stunning panoramic views from its spacious lounge as well as from its terrace or pool.
The hotel has a free outdoor parking and WiFi, restaurant and conference facilities with unique possibilities for hosting all kinds of events.
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