4-star seminar for a reduced rate

The economic crisis has obliged business to sharply reduce their travel and conference budgets. Travel managers are now forced to juggle rates, going so far as to replace business class comfort with cramped, low-cost seats. However, personnel meetings, management conferences, brainstorming sessions and end-of-the-year parties sometimes call for a unique, exotic or attractive setting. And so, for European entrepreneurs, London, Paris and Frankfurt remain the hottest business destinations, as a recent study by the firm Cushman & Wakefield indicates. In this study, the heads of 500 large businesses hailing from nine different EU countries highlight the
attractiveness of easy access to EU financial centres and of recruiting qualified personnel in such cities. Other criteria are also taken into account, such as translation equipment, atmosphere and air quality.
In these rankings, Barcelona has climbed to number four in Europe. Following a decade of intensive hotel construction, the Catalonian capital has quickly become one of the favoured destinations for business conference organisers. There are multiple draws: many hotels are design-savvy, often located on the water or near the lively Ramblas, in the historic heart of the city. In Barcelona, business activities go hand in hand with vacation lifestyle – although prices are not always ideal.
The other hot city of the moment is Berlin, where the range of prices covers an array
of possibilities and styles. Riding a “post-new age” wave combining tradition and “bobo” culture, the Austrian capital of Vienna offers a variety of hotels starting at 80 euros a night, with incomparable charm and politeness to warm your heart.
Oftentimes, the newest establishments offer the most attractive prices for business seminars, both to fill their rooms, and to help promote their reputation. With the crisis, rooms prices have dropped nearly everywhere in Europe. London, Paris and Switzerland remain the most expensive destinations.
There is also now growing interest in the cities of Eastern Europe, which offer rich cultural life, historical capitals and a linguistic change of scenery. Warsaw is a good idea for summer meetings (in Winter, the sun sets around 4pm). With prices at around 80 euros a night, brand new 4-star establishments offer stays fit for kings and queens. In Bohemia, Prague is slightly more expensive and sophisticated, but also trendier: you can find a wealth of design-savvy hotels (Andel’s), and other, more unusual establishments (The Augustine). However, the most sought-after city of the moment is without a doubt Istanbul, in the historical shadow of the Byzantine Empire and Constantinople. It may not be just next door, and the prices are not particularly low, but the appeal of the Bosphorus capital lies in its incredible cultural wealth, change of pace, nightlife, and unexpected delights. An example? It can take from 1 to 5 hours to get from the airport to the centre – which will surely give you time to update your “meeting” computer file.