Wednesday, August 24, 2011

ARCOTEL Allegra Catering Service



ARCOTEL Allegra Zagreb - the ideal location for organizing banquets and receptions for a maximum capacity of 350 people. But if you want to organize your party in the comfort of your home or some other location, our catering service is the ideal choice.
By applying an individual approach to every client, our team of Banquet Coordinators with a wealth of experience will do everything to exceed your expectations!
Whether it’s a corporate party, birthday party, wedding or family gathering, by combining your vision with our experience we believe that nothing stands in the way of a successful event!

Monday, August 22, 2011

The culinary summer at ARCOTEL Nike Linz

Oasis of relaxation
During the summer months the Danube terrace of the four star hotel in Linz offers pure relaxation directly on the green river banks, with a splendid view over the Danube, of the ships gently passing by and also the "Pöstlingberg", the landmark of Linz. Whether it be breakfast, business lunch or coffee with homemade pastries, the ambitious kitchen and service team provides best service around the clock.

Wine and dine
In the evening there is not only the marvelous sunset to enjoy, but also the culinary indulgence. Responsible for the treats of some fine food is Executive Chef Markus Kainberger, who arranges the corresponding summery light dishes. At choice are a variety of classic, newly interpreted Austrian and international specialties in all their seasonal variations.

Open-air seminars
For everybody, who is looking for a quiet and relaxed surrounding for a seminar or workshop, the terraces of the conference hotel in Linz at the Danube are the perfect choice too. In the five seminar rooms and on the 400 sqm. terrace space on the mezzanine the participants enjoy the unique ambience during group works or breaks in the open air, directly in the centre of Linz and yet in a green and quiet environment.

Information and contact
T +43 732 7626-0
E nike@arcotelhotels.com
www.arcotelhotels.com/nike


Picture credit: ARCOTEL Hotels | Publication free of charge

Sporting opportunities on and around the Alster

The Binnenalster (Inner Alster) and the Aussenalster (Outer Alster) are situated at the heart of the city of Hamburg. Covering an area of 164 sqm, the Aussenalster is surrounded by the recreational grounds of the Alster Park. Thanks to its ideal conditions, the Alster always attracts lots of people engaging in their favourite sports both on land as well as on the water. The recreational grounds, for example, feature numerous appealing cycling and walking trails as well as a running track with a total length of 7.4 km that has been specially equipped with half-kilometre markers for the joggers.

What is more, the area constitutes a paradise for all water sports fans with the abundance of opportunities involving all kinds of different water vessels, such as the all-time popular pedal boats, rowing boats, sailing boats, canoes or kayaks. Thanks to the almost unlimited possibilities, visitors to the area will certainly find something to their liking. The Alster, furthermore, holds some special challenges for sailors due to its constantly changing wind conditions that are caused by construction and development schemes along the waters.


Being announced by dull drumbeats, impressive Chinese dragon boats add a heavily exotic flair to the area. Using rhythmic beats, the drummer leads the paddlers whose strokes gracefully move the beautifully painted boats with their dragon heads across the water. What is more, the area is a great tip for romantics who are recommended to carry along a picnic hamper and get on one of the rowing boats to navigate kilometres of picturesque canals, the park's lake or the Alster thus indulging in the green and romantic side of the city.

Friday, August 19, 2011

WIMBERGERs event culture

Wondrous nights
It is said that democracy was invented at the hotel Wimberger in Vienna, at least with regard to entertainment: "The democracy of entertainment started precisely at nine o’clock by an opening polonaise and at midnight had already reached the point that each count had found his washer girl or flower girl. The coachmen danced with the ballet stars of the imperial opera house, who had shown up incognito. And under a flashy domino could be hidden a landlord Casanova as well as a guard officer of high nobility, who had a pass for this night. Not even real "imperial and royal" actors of the Court Theatre could resist the carnival magic of those nights at Wimberger. Hamlet danced with the little milliner from the suburbs, who had been transformed by a costume rental shop, into a columbine of freshly ironed pink muslin. Here, generations of butcher’s daughters fell in love and got engaged. And for gratitude they came back again at a time, when they had already gained 55 kilos of weight and instead of the flummery dress of their first night at Wimberger, they used to wear now the whalebone armoured silk waist, the balloon sleeves and the Cul de Paris of the owners of four-storied houses.
Link
On the road to success
That might have been the same situation in the other entertainment places but on the contrary to them; the social mixture at the event hotel Wimberger was not a more or less tolerated offence but a program that resulted inevitably from the structure of hotel business. The magnificent ballroom had to be used in fact, night and day and day and night, at carnival time as well as before and afterwards. This resulted in the fact that during the day political assemblies "aiming at the saving of the man in the street under considerable consumption of beer" just parted in order to reunite themselves immediately at night to participate in masked balls. The entertainment program of the hotel Wimberger was expanded step by step. The masked balls at carnival time (each Monday and Friday) were replaced by regular "military concerts" (each Sunday and Holiday), until in 1901 Karl Wimberger enlarged his enterprise once again by inventing the show "Munich in Vienna", which became the first permanent event of the city. The remedy for success was: "Bavarian beer, waitresses from Munich, daily concert."

Colourful as life
No chronicle ever described the juxtaposition of political and other assemblies, masked balls, military concerts and the permanent Munich beer festival under the roof of one single hotel, but it is certain that the openness for the new as well as the compatibility of differences is a tradition in hotel Wimberger. Or do you know another house in Vienna in which it might happen that hungry attendants of an Anna Netrebko concert meet the participants of the Tattoo Convention Vienna in the restaurant WIMBERGERs wia z'Haus - and after dinner are dancing together to rock music into the early hours of the next day.

www.arcotelhotels.com/en/wimberger


Picture credit: ARCOTEL Hotels – publication free of charge

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Tanz im August 2011 - International Dance Festival Berlin

It is time once again: from next weekend Berlin transforms into an immense dance floor.For the 23rd time, TANZ IM AUGUST – INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL BERLIN will be presenting over 220 productions from 132 countries between August 12th and 28th.

As in past years, the program includes – in addition to newcomers and frequent guests – big names such as Lucinda Childs and Édouard Lock. This time, a focus is placed on contemporary dance from African countries, as well as formal crossovers between classical ballet, urban and contemporary dance.

The famous “New Work by Édouard Lock” is one of these crossovers. With breathtaking pas-de-deux and turns so fast that you won’t believe your eyes, Lock celebrates, exaggerates and deconstructs the art of classical ballet. Hiroaki Umeda also connects contemporary elements with ballet and hip hop: abstract and technologically influenced solos with impressive soundscapes and video animation generate great tension between real physicality and media-based disembodiment.

The Brazilian choreographer Guilherme Botelho creates an entire universe of formal variations: 14 dancers weave a web over the stage, move among it with an increasingly hermetic feeling for their body and time and in the end are naked – literally and metaphorically. Botelho sees this hypnotic action as a fascinating– allegory for the human condition as such: the flow of life.

In addition to the supporting program with talks, workshops, lectures and discussions, a special highlight for this year is the “1. Berliner LangeTanzFilmNacht”, which will show a wide range of contemporary dance films. Finally, the sommer.bar will once again offer free performances by festival artists, films and concerts.

Photo credit 1: Margarida Dias
Photo credit 2: Christian Rausch
Photo credit 3: Philippe Gramard



Wednesday, August 3, 2011

German-American fair in Berlin


What started off as a small festivity for family and friends of the stationed American allies has developed into a major summerly attraction. In its 51st year, the fair shows modern and historical aspects of American life – a lively symbol of the friendship between Berliners and Americans.

This year, the event takes place at the Heidestrasse of Berlin-Mitte, ideally located for hotel guests of the ARCOTEL John F. Heart and soul of the fair is the American village, which is represented through panoramic sceneries.


From July 28th until August 14th 2011, you can travel throughout the 50 US states in an amazing fairground presenting over 100 performers and attractions – elaborate architecture, a wonderful mix of cultures, live music, shops with a myriad of local specialities and much more.


The ARCOTEL John F is the ideal starting point to immerse yourself in the American world. The speech of John F. Kennedy at the Schönenberg’s townhall is one of the most representative symbols of Berlin’s living history and the beginning of the German-American transatlantic friendship.

The 35th US president is honored at the ARCOTEL John F not only through the naming of the house, but also through its style and design. Both lobby and rooms feature specially for the hotel handcrafted rocking chairs – according to legend, John F. Kennedy had back problems and thus enjoyed relaxing his back in them.

The unique hotel lamps are designed after a famous dress of the first lady Jackie Kennedy recreating her elegance and grace. Finally, guests can feel like John F. Kennedy at the “White House” in the “Kennedy Room”, which features curtains imitating the ones in the Oval Office, original American bathroom fittings and a design similar to the First Lady’s bedroom.