Linz on the Danube goes green

Blossom time
The Danube city Linz offers a tapestry of culture, industry and natural attractions. Upper Austria's provincial capital is devoting its cultural calendar entirely to nature in 2011. A wide variety of nature-inspired events, above all the Provincial Garden Show in Ansfelden, with its musical theme of "Symphony in Green", are bringing a riot of colour to the events calendar. Or just relax in the Botanical Gardens and countless beautiful parks and meadows along the Danube and Traun rivers. Installations in museums and public places add to the green theme of a cultural programme, which features a total of 34 exhibitions in 12 different venues.

Accommodation deluxe
The corresponding accommodation package is provided by the business hotel ARCOTEL Nike Linz. Suitable to the recreation in the fresh air the team of the city hotel directly at the Danube cares for the culinary indulgence of their guests. Additionally the stay in one of the comfortable executive rooms the offer includes a sensual WINE & DINE five course menu on Friday evening at dasRESTAURANT, the classic among the restaurants in Linz, including accompanying wines and coffee and cake at KÉ café & bar.

High-altitude euphoria
One may also marvel at the "nature" of Linz from its rooftops. The most successful project of the European Capital of Culture in 2009, the "Höhenrausch.2" exhibition, continues with impressive art installations and water features high above the city of Linz. Visitors can expect a heady mix of surprises, information and fascination. If you want to go even higher and really see Linz from above, the design hotel ARCOTEL Nike Linz offers yet another appropriate package : "Helicopter-Sightseeing Flight-Weekend in Linz". Treat yourself to a weekend "on high"!


Picture credit: 1. Tourism association Linz | 2. ARCOTEL Hotels | 3. www.nachrichten.at | Publication free of charge

Shows and Cocktails in Berlin

Experience Germany’s vibrant capital city and combine your stay with a musical of your choice.

The ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin is the ideal starting point for a musical trip, thanks to its central location in the middle of the artistic and cultural scenes of Berlin. With our musical special you can select one out of these thrilling musicals:

Blue Man Group: Discover the wild side of Berlin: The best choice for non-German speakers to have fun: The Blue Men communicate via gestures, looks and music. The production from New York City offers a unique form of entertainment and unites music, comedy, art and science without dialogs.

We will rock you: A fantastic story, passionate performances, and 25 of the immortal hits of the band QUEEN create a different musical dimension. The songs are in English and the show is in Berlin only until October 21st.

Hinterm Horizon: The legendary love story of “Girl from East Berlin” with popular Udo Lindenberg songs – Only in German.

Enjoy next to your selected musical a suitable cocktail, freshly prepared by our bar team at the VELVET LOUNGE.

Ideal for those who strive for the unconventional

Welcome to a traditional Viennese Restaurant!

There's no place like home
At the classic Viennese restaurant WIMBERGERs wia z'Haus in the city hotel ARCOTEL Wimberger Vienna guests just feel like at home. And why should they not, when enjoying typical Viennese dishes and wines in a cosy atmosphere? Not only will they spoilt with culinary delights, but also with the famous Viennese snide humour, charm and joie de vivre!





Modern classic
With reference to the interior of the tradition-rich restaurant, which dates back to 1871, it is already obvious that there is a big emphasis on tradition. As long as this does not mean the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire. After all a Viennese "Schnitzel" or prime boiled beef are supposed to be a great culinary experience over and over again!





With style, please!
Correspondingly aside from fresh and regional products, genuine Viennese dishes and originality are the special ingredients that matter most for Executive Chef Peter Lerner. The traditional cuisine served at WIMBERGERs wia z'Haus according to the motto of the hotel ARCOTEL Wimberger Vienna – colourful as life – always comes with a generous pinch of style.




Insiders' tip
For example, how about a bowl of fresh berries, thereupon a thin layer of biscuit and the whole thing covered with fluffy cream. The precise composition of this homemade specialty called "Wimberger Gatsch" is only known by our Executive Chef. Nevertheless, this promising dessert has what it takes to be a true Viennese classic.





WIMBERGERs wia z'Haus
at ARCOTEL Wimberger Vienna
Neubaugürtel 34-36
1070 Vienna
T +43 1 521 65-830
E wimberger@arcotelhotels.com
www.wimbergerswiazhaus.at
www.arcotelhotels.com/wimberger





Picture credit: ARCOTEL Hotels – publication free of charge

Where to go - Hamburg's breakfast and brunch hotspots

Although certain aspects, such as composition, time, and duration, may vary across different countries, the concept of taking a meal in the morning is firmly rooted in a wide range of cultures. Scientists have even found out that a delicious breakfast does not only brighten up the day but also boosts health, concentration and mental performance. To provide you with a head start into your Hamburg experience, we have therefore compiled a short list of the city's prime locations to while away the morning.

Situated directly on Jungfernstieg and thus in the heart of the city, the Alex invites its guests to mouth-watering breakfast delights in the Alsterpavillon building– a location which forms the ideal starting point for extensive shopping sprees. If you rather prefer the classical English tearoom atmosphere, you have to add Lühmanns Teestube to your must-visit list. Situated in the picturesque suburb of Blankenese along the River Elbe, Lühmanns Teestube offers a lavish buffet breakfast including traditional English specialities, such as scones and pies. Since the owners place utmost importance on both the ecological production and the organic origin of the ingredients served, the dishes on offer do not contain any flavour enhancers or other artificial additives. Located in a side street close to the Hamburg city hall, the Café Paris offers a wide range of exquisite breakfast treats to all those who prefer the French alternative. At this location, food is served directly to your table.

Exuding South Sea atmosphere, the Südseelounge of the Hamburg Beach Center constitutes a popular haunt for parents and kids who frequent the lounge's Aloha Family Brunches on Sundays. Children may play in the sand, while adults can relax over a sumptuous buffet and mouth-watering exotic fruits. If you are more of late rise person, the Café Absurd is absolutely the right place for you since breakfast including an amazing selection of teas is served until 6.00 pm. What is more, guests may use the café's WLAN internet access free of charge.

Tradition meets modernity at another culinary hotspot called "Café unter den Linden", which opened its doors in Hamburg in 1982. The café exclusively offers homemade cakes and dishes of reliable top quality while placing utmost importance on the organic origin of the ingredients served. As a result, its organic eggs, egg dishes and wholegrain bread are a real treat.

The location of the next restaurant is both unusual and historic as it is situated in the gym of a girls' school built in the Hamburg district of St. Georg in 1889. Called Turnhalle (which is German for "gym), the restaurant invites its guests to exquisite creations including mouth-watering breakfast delights served à la carte from 9.30 am. Equally situated in the entertainment district of St. Georg, the ARCOTEL Rubin's WIENER KAFFEE features the typically cosy ambience of a traditional Austrian café. With regard to the breakfast served there, guests can choose between a sweet and a savoury option for a price of EUR 9.00 each.

Art & Culture

Indulgence in best company
General Manager Fritz Nagl and the team of ARCOTEL Nike Linz hosted on Thursday, 7th of July, the last "Art & Culture" event before the summer break at KÉ café & bar. Enthusiasts of the fine arts were delighted by the current exhibition of the Italian painter Nevio Bedeschi in the 4-star-hotel at the Danube and all gourmets enjoyed the culinary part of the evening with the vintager of the month and the homemade treats – corresponding to the wines – out of the kitchen of dasRESTAURANT, the classic amonsgt the restaurants in Linz at the Danube.

Vintager of the month
Selected wines of the vineyard Franz-Josef Gritsch from Spitz in Lower Austria, together with small delicacies from the hotel's on-site restaurant, were served in the course of a commented wine tasting. The wines were an impressive testimonial for not only the traditional craftsmanship, but also the unique philosophy of the family Gritsch. Varietal typicity complemented by vineyard character and forward fruit, these are the three key features of the noble drops from Mauritiushof.

Musical Entertainment
Under the motto "Four hands, one piano" the pianists Wolfgang Schnaitl and Helmut Feitzlmayr provided from 8.00 to 10.00 p.m. the musical entertaiment for an amusing evening. Both their repertoire of cheerful songs from Boogie Woogie to Blues and their performance were the perfect setting for the finale of the event in the hotel bar in Linz. The guests enjoyed excellent wine, delicious nibbles and vigorous live music – all in all a beautiful and unforgettable night!

The photo album of the event is available at the gallery of the KÉ café & bar website www.ke-cafe-bar.at.

The upcoming "Art & Culture" event takes place at the 1st of September.


Photo credits: cityfoto.at | Photographer: David Katouly

ART & CULTURE AT ARCOTEL CAMINO

On 5th July we welcomed lots of guests to the 3rd art & culture event at ARCOTEL Camino Stuttgart. With summer temperatures, sparkling wines and Mediterranean snacks, the summer was in the air. Together with our Art Manager Mag. Agneta Kreischer and our Assistant General Manager Peter Leidig, the Italian artist Giampaolo Territo opened his exhibition in the BAR SCALA personally. Giampaolo Territo was born in 1955 as a child of Italian parents in Tunisia. The influence of Arab culture, in whose circle he spent his early years, is especially evident in his art. Reduced forms and a few colors are typical for its minimalist painting.

But we presented not only interesting art to our guests on this atmospheric evening. We also served selected wines from the Swabian viniculturalist Christel Currle from Stuttgart and from the vineyard Matthias Hager from Mollands-Kamptal in Austria. Our Execute Chef Carsten Lopp and its team served tasteful delicacies for culinary delights. The band Lounge Experience from Stuttgart cared for the right beat.

We want to invite you to visit our BAR SCALA to discover the exciting art of Giampaolo Territo until the 4th October 2011. We look forward to welcoming you at the ARCOTEL Camino Stuttgart.

ARCOTEL John F goes segway!

This summer you can find daily the ARCOTEL John F on one of the most modern urban means of transportation: the segway.

In cooperation with the firma Segtour-Berlin, our branded segway is to be seen all over Berlin Mitte. During the Berlin Gourmet tour, you can enjoy a coffee break at our stylish restaurant FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

This three-hour tour offers a mixture of lively storytelling, amusing anecdotes and culinary classics and secret tips. Thanks to its central location and its refined gastronomic offer, the ARCOTEL John F is one of the favorite tour stops!

But how does one feel on a segway?
It can actually be driven without much effort. You can accelerate or slow down intuitively, just by shifting your own weight forward and backwards.
After a couple of basic lessons, anyone can enjoy the exciting feeling of driving a segway. The only requirement is a motorbike licence.

Enviromentally friendly: the segway is one of the best alternatives to driving a car – not only due to its speed, but it is also equipped to carry luggage. Only 1.3 kWh of electricity with an ion battery are required for driving up to 40 km. At a speed of 20 km per hour, one can drive up to 200 km for only EUR 1!

The Prater - green oasis and world of entertainment

The former imperial hunting grounds have been a popular recreational area in the heart of Vienna ever since Emperor Joseph II opened them to the public.

The extensive woods and meadows are just as popular with sports freaks and exercise fanatics as with lovers of traditional cooking. The main avenue through the Prater and countless winding but flat paths are a paradise for runners, cyclists, inline skaters, horse riders as well as those who just want to go for a walk. The seemingly endless fields are also ideal for ball sports. The Schweizerhaus is definitely the most well-known restaurant in the Prater and its legendary pork knuckles and freshly tapped beer draw thousands of tourists and locals every year.

The Prater fairground, lovingly known as the "Wurschtlprater", boasts one attraction after another. Only a few yards away from the world-famous symbol of the City of Vienna, the Giant Ferris Wheel, Madame Tussauds Vienna recently opened its doors to show visitors a magical world of wax. This interactive exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to have their photographs taken with Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Arnold Schwarzenegger, famous personalities like Barack Obama or at a jam session on the drums or keyboards with Falco or Freddy Mercury. There is also a Driving Range – the Pratergolf training centre – is located on the edge of the "Grünen Prater”, in the heart of the historical trotting course Krieau.

The Prater is only a few minutes away from the ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser and can be easily reached by metro without changing trains.

Are you a fan of Robert Pattinson, Heidi Klum, Johnny Depp or Angelina Jolie? Then you should befriend ARCOTEL Kaiserwasser Vienna on Facebook as we will soon be giving away tickets to Madame Tussauds Vienna. Keep yourself up to date with all the latest news and don’t miss this chance to win a ticket.