ARCOTEL Allegra and Christmas magic

The last week of the 11th month is reserved for the most beautiful and the most interesting part of the work in our hotel. The ARCOTEL Allegra team decorated the interior of the restaurant, bar and hotel lobby today in the spirit of the upcoming Christmas holidays. The decorating did not last long thanks to the songs in our Joe's bar. Christmas decorations and red color will be dominating our hotel space and making every one of our guests happy from today until New Year's Eve 2014.

Mrs. Jelisaveta Seka Sablić, a very well known and famous actress who is especially dear to every member of our staff, came into our hotel just as we finished with decorating the space and she was very thrilled and amazed by the warm welcome. ARCOTEL Allegra is a hotel that has been a host to a lot of big domestic and world stars who visit Zagreb for business or private matters. So why do a lot of them choose our hotel? Mostly because of all the segments that are necessary for making our guests feel comfortable and safe, content and the ones that make them enjoy absolute comfort.

Considering that we have already decorated our hotel and that we are now completely ready for organizing Your Christmas banquets in our restaurant Radicchio or in our Joe’s bar, we are inviting you once again to reserve your date, because we have a little number of free dates left. Leave the whole organization of the Christmas banquet to our professional banquet team and enjoy the feeling of a nicely ended business year. A lot of fun, a very good time and the satisfaction of your guests will be guaranteed. You can see more information about our Christmas offer on:

www.arcotelhotels.com

T +385 1 4696-000

F +385 1 4696-096

E allegra@arcotelhotels.com

Advent in Linz

There is no bad weather, there are only different forms of good weather - said John Ruskin

True to the citation we have a few leisure time tips for the winter season in Linz for you! So that you can make your stay unforgettable although the cold time of the year.

Advent in Linz

From 22nd of November until 24th of December 2013 Linz converts into a sparkling Advent-city. The highlight of the "Christkindlmarkt" at "Hauptplatz" is the over 20 meters high Christmas tree, which is donated every year from a different community. The "Volksgarten" fascinates true to the motto "fairy-tale Christmas" young and old with a magical setting. The "Botanische Garten" also lures with winter highlights like the exhibition "incense, cinnamon and vanilla fragrance" 

(c) Linz Tourismus-Röbl

Experience

Above the roofs of linz
With the "Pöstlingbergbahn"a historic mountain tram you can discover the landmark of Linz the "Pöstlingberg". Halfway there is the Linzer zoo with more than 130 different animal species. On the highest point of the "Pöstlingberg" is the basilica "Sieben Schmerzen Mariä" and the observation platform, with a wonderful view over Linz.

City tour
Explore Linz during a trip with the Linz City Express! The yellow train drives you across Linz and informs you about the interesting history of the city. During Christmastime Advent stories and Christmas music deludes you. 

(c) Linz Tourismus-Röbl

Museums

Ars Electronica Center
The Ars Electronica Center is the architectural expression of what Ars Electronica is all about: a place of inquiry and discovery, experimentation and exploration, a place that has taken the world of tomorrow as its stage, and that assembles and presents influences from many different ways of thinking and of seeing things. Visitors can encounter the Center on their own or seek guidance from the expert Infotrainers stationed throughout the exhibits.

(c) Stadt Linz

Lentos Kunstmuseum
The LENTOS Kunstmuseum Linz, which opened in 2003, is considered one of the most important museums of modern and contemporary art in Austria.
Starting from the collection holdings, which focus on masterpieces of European painting from the first half of the 20th century and a rich collection of graphic art and high quality photography, LENTOS draws an arch from the classical historical art of the early 20th century to the most current art positions of today.

Theatre and concerts

Also in the wintertime Linz offers a variety of theatre- and music performances – for everyone the right thing. Enjoy an opera or musical in the "Landes-" or music theatre or visit one of the many music performances in the Linzer churches, like the "Musica Scara".

We wish you a wonderful pre-Christmas season!

Your ARCOTEL Nike Linz Team!

Cafébar Moser Verdino | Restaurant | Lounge

The Cafébar Moser Verdino opens at 6.30 a.m. to pamper its guests all day long.
In addition to a buffet breakfast it offers the full range of a coffee house. At noontime we offer a light lunch and in the evening the café becomes a bar. Enjoy wine and more in an atmosphere of soft lighting and trendy lounge music.

Opening hours
Breakfast:

Monday – Friday from 06.30 a.m. until 10.30 a.m.
Saturday – Sunday from 06.30 a.m. until 11.30 a.m.

Café, Bar:
Daily from 6.30 a.m. until midnight

Restaurant | Steakhouse:
Monday – Saturday from 06.00 p.m. until 10.00 p.m.

Snacks:
Daily from 06.30 a.m. until midnight

You're searching something really special???

<< DRY AGED BEEF at Cafébar Moser Verdino >>

The Cafébar Moser Verdino - café, bar, restaurant and trendy lounge – always indulge their guests. Beside the daily breakfast buffet until 10.30 a.m. it offers a wide range of coffee specialities. At noon a lunch menu is served and also in the daytime the Cafébar Moser Verdino is a popular meeting point for a break in between.

In the evening the Cafébar Moser Verdino converts into a steakhouse and make the hearts of all meat lovers leap for joy. It offers the best steaks of the world – the dry aged beef! In Austria the dry aged beef is mainly used in the top restaurants. Joe Radinger, chef de cuisine at the Cafébar Moser Verdino presents as one of the first restaurant proprietors in Klagenfurt his dry-aged beef dishes and invites to dine and enjoy his exquisite creations. Don't miss out to reserve a table at Cafébar Moser Verdino for your special, culinary experience! The meat comes exclusively from the "Nockgebirge" and ripens in a specially purchased climate cabinet up to 40 days, whereby it gets its unique intensive and tender flavour.

The Cafébar Moser Verdino is also the perfect location for a glass of wine or a cocktail in the later evening.

We look forward to your visit!

Your ARCOTEL Moser Verdino Team

New Year’s Eve in the Capital

Berlin is not just the capital of Germany, but also the capital of music and a great place to party with a fantastic atmosphere. In a nutshell: Berlin is the perfect place to celebrate New Year’s Eve! Hardly any other city offers such a wide range of spectacular events and highlights in celebration of the New Year. So the city has much more to offer than just the world’s biggest New Year Eve’s Open Air Party! Our team from the ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin has put together three tips for you, with something for every taste:

Rock and Roll and Twirling Petticoats!
Music fans should get ready for the liveliest party in town in Berlin’s biggest disco ball. See in the New Year with rock and roll and twirling petticoats in Berlin’s TV Tower! As well as a sensational view of all the fireworks going up over the city, guests can look forward to super gala buffet! Tickets can be obtained here.

Ship Ahoy!
Enjoy the essence of Berlin at the “New Year’s Eve Party on the Spree” on the former cargo ship MS Kurier! The upper deck offers a perfect view of many of the sights in Berlin such as the historic East Side Gallery and the Molecule Man. An all-inclusive open bar, generous New Year’s Eve buffet and, of course, some great music ensure a lively party. Click here to come on board!

Raise the Curtain!
You can also celebrate New Year’s Eve in style just around the corner from the ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin! The Galli Theatre offers a rousing show in the style of a colourful variety performance that features drama, dance and song. As a further highlight, the New Year’s Eve Party after the Champagne and Fireworks reception is interspersed with short performances. Tickets are available from: http://galli-berlin.de/

Set in an ideal location in the heart of the arts and culture scene, the ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin is the perfect place to see in the New Year. Get in the mood for the evening ahead with a delicious drink in our Bar VELVET LOUNGE before plunging into the New Year’s Eve nightlife. One of the hotel’s finest features is the roof terrace which offers a fantastic view over the Berlin skyline – the perfect place to marvel at the many firework displays!
 
Enjoy New Year’s Eve in the heart of Berlin – at the ARCOTEL Velvet Berlin – for as little as EUR 219,00 per night! 

We look forward to receiving your booking enquiry at:
T +49 30 288 86 578 96
E reservation.velvet@arcotelhotels.com

What Hamburg is not..

... or Six Misconceptions about Hamburg

A (tongue-in-check) expertise. Even though Iam not from Hamburg, and in fact wasn’t even born in Germany, I have been living in this Hanseatic city for several years now. And I love it. All towns, countries and even city districts sometimes have a hard time living down prejudices that people have about them. Hamburg is no exception. But enough of that! Let’s get straight down to Part Iof six Misconceptions about Hamburg.

1. People from Hamburg are Cold and Reserved
I’ve only ever encountered cold Hamburgers in fast food restaurants. Hamburg is a large city with more than 1.8 million inhabitants. As the sobriquet "Gateway to the World" implies, Hamburg is and always has been more than a place from where people leave to make their way in the big, wide world, it’s also a place of arrival. And this of course raises the question of “who” is actually a typical Hamburger? As in every other large city, the population is now made up of people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds; there are even rumours that some Bavarians have settled here. As in every city, there are some people who are friendly, others who are less friendly, some who are reserved, others who are open and welcoming (and this list can be expanded indefinitely!). In the end of course the old saying is true: “you reap what you sow.” I have always found Hamburgers to be very friendly, helpful and pleasant, but perhaps that was also down to my way of “sowing".

2. There’s always a wind in Hamburg and it rains all the time
Definitely not. Sometimes it rains when there is no wind and sometimes there’s a wind but no rain. In fact, the amount of rainfall in Hamburg is no greater than the German average. If the statistics can be believed, it actually rains more on an annual average in Bavaria (sorry Bavarians, I’m using you again as an example) and in North Rhine Westphalia. My personal feeling is that this could be true, but in Hamburg the amount of rainfall is distributed over several days. So, for example,100 litres of rain might fall in 5 hours in Baden-Württemberg, but in Hamburg the 100 litres falls over 3 days. And so it’s called greater air humidity – but you get wet all the same. Seriously though, we have some lovely weather in Hamburg; this year we had a fantastic summer for example. But it can’t be helped: the image of the Hanseatic sea dog, in his oilskin battered by rain and storm has become firmly entrenched in the popular imagination. That’s just how it is in the far north, in the port city on the coast. This brings me to the next misconception!

3. Hamburg is on the Coast
When I’m travelling and am asked where I come from, I’m often astonished at people’s reaction when I say "Hamburg". Usually, they then say oh yes, Hamburg, the Reeperbahn (we’ll get to that later), the harbour and the sea (or perhaps the North Sea and sometimes the Baltic). The sea? Yes, of course there’s water, and plenty of it, and there are bridges, more than in Venice and of course the port. Although the Port of Hamburg is the second-largest in Europe, (Rotterdam is a neck ahead at the moment), you can’t chug out on a boat for a few minutes and find yourself rocking on the waves of the North Sea. You have to chug along for about a 100 kilometres to get to the mouth of the Elbe in the North Sea. So forget any idea you might have about seeing the sea in Hamburg. But then when I find myself down at the harbour, hear the cry of the seagulls, the dull sound of the ships horns vibrate in my stomach and watch the water ballet performed by the giant ships and small fishing boats, then I find myself thinking that Hamburg is perhaps on the coast after all.
All I can say is: I love you, you pearl of the north.

And anyone who doesn’t believe what I’ve written should quickly book a holiday in Hamburg and see for themselves.

to be continued!

VIENNA - CITY OF MUSIC

 

Without music life would be a mistake

Friedrich Nietzsche
From: Arrows and Maxims

The sound of the classics meets the sound of progressive music, international pop and jazz stars fill the concert halls, jazz lovers enjoy the steadily growing jazz scene, one festival follows another, opera fans are overwhelmed by the vocal power of international stars, the sound of pulsating electronicmusic pierces the air, while lovers dance the traditional Blue Danube waltz – all that is Vienna! Welcome to the world capital of music!

Music really is in the air in Vienna, for the city was not only the home of well-known composers, but is also one of the world’s top addresses for opera. The Vienna State Opera offers a wide-ranging programme of operas and ballets on some 300 evenings a year. The highlight of the year: The Vienna Opera Ball – the meeting point par excellence for artists, politicians and businesspeople from all over the world. The ball is opened by more than one hundred debutant couples in gorgeous evening gowns and tailcoats.

Did you know that 10,000 music lovers experience classical music live every evening? Vienna’s classical concert life is mainly dominated by two renowned concert houses: the Musikverein and the Konzerthaus, where the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra – one of the best in the world – also performs.

But Vienna has much more than waltzes, opera and classics to offer. Why not go and see the smash musical Elisabeth at the Raimund Theater or dance the night away to a pulsating electronicbeat in one of Vienna’s hottest nightspots?

We hope you have a great time discovering Vienna – the city of music.

Further information can be found at:
http://www.wien.info/

ZAGREB IN THE WINTER

There is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. - John Ruskin

In accordance with this quotation we have prepared several propositions on how to use your spare time during winter in Zagreb to make your stay in ARCOTEL Allegra a memorable one despite the cold days.

ADVENT IN ZAGREB

Advent at main city square

Visit main city square in Zagreb between 01 and 23 December 2013. There you can find a rich pre-Christmas music program every day between 17:00 and 21:00, at weekends between 10:00 and 14:00 too.

            Advent on Zrinjevac Square

In famous Zagreb park Zrinjevac through maple alley you can arrive to music pavilion and between 30 November 2013 and 01 January 2014 enjoy Christmas Fair full of magic with great offer of different souvenirs made by renown artists and delicious Zagreb specialties. Christmas music rhythms guarantee excellent fun on week days between 18:00 and 22:00h, on weekends between 11:00 and 13:00h, and again between 20:00 and 22:00h.

Christmas Fair

Christmas stands have been placed on many squares and streets near the main Ban Jelačić Square. Excellent offer of Christmas presents, cakes, boiled wine and Croatian souvenirs can be found exactly on decorated streets and squares of the city of Zagreb.

Live Nativity

Between 21 December 2013 and 06 January 2014 you can visit live Nativity in front of Zagreb cathedral. You can experience the atmosphere of Christ’s birth in totally different and unusual way.

MUSIC PROGRAM IN ZAGREB

Classical and jazz music on Cvjetni Square

One of the most beautiful squares in the city heart invites you to enjoy the music rhythms of classical and jazz music between 06 and 28 December 2013.

WINTER SPORTS

Sljeme

Ski center Sljeme is only about 20 minutes away from Zagreb center by car. The center expects its active athletes with excellent trails on which Janica and Ivica Kostelić left their traces. All ski lovers are looking forward to spectacular slalom race "Snow Queen Trophy" in January.

Audi FIS Ski World Cup "Snow Queen Trophy 2014"

            "Ladies' World Cup Show" takes place on 04 January 2014, and "Men's World Cup Show" takes place 
            on 06 January 2014 on Sljeme mountain. The viewers can expect lots of fun and a spectacular slalom  
            race. 

Christmas comes but once a year - The festive Season in Berlin

When temperatures fal and the days grow shorter, Berlin is bathed in a festive glow: Christmas markets open their doors and entice visitors with the seductive fragrance of roast almonds and mulled wine. in the evening streets and trees are all lit up, windows and balconies are richly decorated - Christmas is in the air!

Berlin is home to a host of Christmas markets, which are as diverse as the city itself. One of the loveliest is the Weihnachtszauber Gendarmenmarkt (25 November to 31 December 2013), which is just an easy five minutes walk away from ARCOTEL John F Berlin. In a historic setting, this market has a strong focus on arts and crafts while jugglers, acrobats and fire artists ensure a versatile side programme of events. And once you´re here, you shouldn´t miss the opportunity to stroll down Berlin´s grandest boulevard Unter den Linden, which in the evening has a magic all of its own.

The Wintertraum am Alexa (25 November to 29 December 2013) between Jannowitzbrücke and Alexanderplatz is the biggest and probably the most exciting Christmas market in the city, because as well as the Christmas stalls you`ll also find breath-taking fairground rides. With its Las Vegas style illuminations, this colourful market is an attraction that can be seen from miles away.

Things are slightly less hectic at the Christmas Market outside the Red Town Hall (25 November to 29 December 2013). The big attraction here is the giant Ferris wheel that stands more than 50 metres high. Why not take a ride in one of its closed panorama cabins and watch the hustle and bustle of the market and the ice-rink which circles the famous Neptune Fountain from on high.

Charlottenburg Palace (25 November to 26 December 2013) is also an impressive setting for a Christmas market. The ravishing illuminations on the building and in the park, the historic rides, exquisite handicrafts themed tents and carefully chose programme of events for all the family are particular highlights.

The Christmas Market on Potsdammer Platz (25 November to 26 Decezmber 2013) has a strong
sporting character with activities ranging from tobogganing, curling or ice-skating. The culinary specialities have also been chosen with winter sports in mind - why not spend some time relaxing in an authentic mountain cabin atmosphere or dance the night away at an aprés ski party.

A host of other small Christmas markets, each with there own unique charm, make Berlin an enchanting place at Christmas time. Set in the historic ensemble of an old brewery is the Lucia Christmas Market (25 November to 22 December 2013) which offers a romantic Christmas atmosphere with lovingly decorated stalls and a programme of cultural and musical events. No matter what you choose - what could be lovelier than strolling through a Christmas market in the evening, giving in to the temptation of the culinary delights and getting in the mood for Christmas?

Fall under the spell of Berlin´s diversity in the run-up to Christmas all over again.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING – THE LOVELIEST CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN VIENNA

Christmas is just around the corner - and each year in Vienna the loveliest and most popular public spaces are transformed into fairy-tale Christmas markets, where the fragrance of candied fruit, candy floss, punch and other tasty delights conjure up a Christmas atmosphere - and have done for more than 700 years. The first precursor of today´s Christmas markets was held as early as 1296 and in addition to the goods usually on sale, traders also sold gingerbread and sweetmeats.

Probably the most famous Christmas market is the Wiener Adventzauber am Rathausplatz (16 November to 24 December 2013), which first opened in 1975. A total of 150 stalls with Christmas gifts, Christmas decorations, sweets and hot drinks await you in this fairy-tale landscape of decorated trees and Christmas lights. There are also a host of attractions for children.

Not far away, set against the imperial backdrop of the Ring, between the Kunsthistorisches Museum Christmas Village on Maria-Theresien-Platz (20 November to 26 December 2013) with its traditional handicrafts and original gift ideas. Typical Austrian brass brands and other ensembles ensure a Christmas atmosphere.
and the Museum of Natural History and in sight of some of the most magnificent buildings in Vienna, is the

The city centre inside the Ring also radiates a wonderful Christmas atmosphere. The new Christmas Market on Stephansplatz (16 November to 23 December 2013) which is being held for the first time, has the traditional and reflective atmosphere that is so typically Austrian. Just a few minutes' walk away are the Alt Wiener Christkindlmarkt (22 November to 23 December 2013) and the Advent Market am Hof (15 November to 23 December 2013), which also entices visitors with a very traditional and Austrian range of products.

Just around the corner from the ARCOTEL Wimberger Vienna is the arts and crafts market on Spittelberg. During the advent season, the romantic lanes in what was once a Biedermeier suburb are transformed into a lively winter village which offers visitors unforgettable memories (15 November to 23 December).

The Weihnachtsdorf im Alten AKH is just a couple of minutes away from our hotel. The lovely courtyrd of Vienna´s former General Hospital is a festive paradise of bright lights and colours that delights both young and old.

Treat yourself to a couple of hours of a Viennese Christmas next time you come to our city, for visiting a Christmas market is an absolute must for visitors and locals a like in the advent season.

Our Forthcoming Art and Culture Exhibition is all about "ARCOTEL Camino – Your Staff "

Thursday, 21 November 2013

The photographer and artist Wolf-Peter Steinheißer has put the spotlight on staff at the ARCOTEL Camino, giving you the chance to see them in a different light. Regardless of whether they belong to the Service team or Reception or work for departments that guests do not usually get to see, such as Bookings or Housekeeping, this exhibition gives you an opportunity to get to know these members of staff from a different perspective. 




Wolf-Peter Steinheißer was born in Sonneberg in 1965 and was given his first camera when he was only 6 years old. When he was 13 he had his first session in a photo lab. His love of photography grew and his career took off. He specialised in the field of photography and film production and in 1995 launched his freelance career. The majority of his work is dedicated to advertising, industrial, lifestyle and people photography. He has had numerous exhibitions in Germany and abroad and in 2010 was nominated for the German Photo Book Award. He also holds a position as a lecturer for film and photo production at a university. Wolf-Peter Steinheißer is happily married and lives with his wife and son in Ludwigsburg.

Once again you can look forward to Swabian and Austrian culinary delights conjured up by the capable hands in the kitchen of the Restaurant WEISSENHOF. You can also look forward to the exquisite wines presented by two fantastic wineries, one from Austria and one from the region.

Of course there will also be plenty of musical entertainment as the jazz trio Lounge Experience breathes acoustic life into the photographs by Wolf-Peter Steinheißer.

As the entrance ticket to the exhibition and to taste the wines, you will receive a top-quality ARCOTEL Camino wine glass, which you are welcome to take home with you after the event. Also included in the price is the aforementioned generous ARCOTEL buffet with Swabian and Austrian delicacies. The admission price per person is EUR 14.00

REGISTRATION
By telephone or e-mail:
CAROLINE PREIS
T +49 711 25858-2280
E bankett.camino@arcotelhotels.com

Apple Day - or funny and interesting things about the apple

Right on time for Apple Day, we want to devote our blog entry today to the refreshing and healthy fruit. Whoever thinks “Apple... how boring”, should know that the apple can do much more than just spend its existence as the bitten into variety in the logo of a large and well-known American company.

Viewed historically, the apple already has several legends under its belt. One of the best known is probably the story of Adam and Eve, in which the apple played a rather fateful role. Also in Greek mythology, the apple in the form of a present was rumoured to have finally triggered the Trojan War. In many cultures, the round fruit is indeed considered a symbol for love, fertility and the giver of life, and is assigned as a symbol to the corresponding goddesses.

Now as then, the apple serves as an excellent source of vitamins and keeps the body healthy.
Particularly during the winter months, the vitamin store needs to be regularly replenished. For this reason, we are greeting our guests when they arrive with tasty apples in their rooms. The teeth also benefit from regularly enjoying an apple: the apple is also commonly known as Nature’s toothbrush.

And we finish with a small fun fact:

A well-known apple lover was Friedrich Schiller. All over his studio and in his desk drawers were apples, but not to eat, as it is generally thought. Friedrich Schiller loved the mouldy apple smell given off by the decaying fruit. This smell was the source of his inspiration.