NEWS FROM EUROPE

Dear Friends and Partners of TAO European Incoming,

Welcome to the July edition of the TAO European Incoming newsletter. This month we report on one of TAO’s latest projects and activities, and take a look at a new luxury hotel, opening in the magical south-west of France. As always, we also provide you with some inspiration on where best to experience Europe’s forthcoming cultural festivals and events – this time for the month of October.

If there is any aspect of our newsletter you would like more information on, or if you’d just like to share some feedback, please send us a mail to: contact@tao- incoming.com

News from TAO:

Motoring with Pirelli

July saw TAO execute an exclusive project for the famous Italian tyre manufacturer, Pirelli, in conjunction with the Chinese partner agency, Meeting Innocations and Excellences (MIE). From 23rd to 30th July, seven media guests from China were offered the opportunity to experience some of Europe’s most iconic driving routes, with a test drive from Milan in Italy to Spa in Belgium.

After passing through picturesque and historical destinations such as Stresa, Zermatt, Baden Baden and Trier, on arriving in Spa, the guests were able to enjoy a further motoring and sporting highlight: The 70th edition of the annual Spa 24-hour race. Pirelli is one of the race’s main sponsors.

TAO assisted in the organization and management of the project, covering elements including hotel bookings and ground arrangements, local transfers, restaurant arrangements for each stop and onsite support.

Prof Treff in

On 12th July, the TAO team attended this year’s “Prof Treff” in Munich. The event has taken place each year since its foundation in 1989, attracting top scientists and leaders of academic bodies and centres throughout Munich. Each year, the event is used to inform this important group of multipliers about the congress and event opportunities which are available in the city of Munich. Through their work and networks, these leading scientists attract major MICE projects to the city, such as the European Society of Cardiology’s annual Congress, taking place in the Bavarian capital this August. The congress is attended by around 31,000 healthcare professionals from some 150 countries.

This year’s Prof Treff met at the site in the Nockherberg quarter of Munich, where Paulaner took the opportunity to showcase the opening of their new garden, restaurant and MICE location – a great place for all kinds of indoor and outdoor celebrations!

Activities & Locations:

Hotel Chais Monnet – A Hotel of Exceptional Taste, Opening August

Next month sees the opening of a new luxury hotel in the historic centre of Cognac, in south-west France. In the birthplace of cognac, surrounded by acres of vineyards and bordered by the Charente River, Hotel Chais Monnet offers 92 guest rooms and suites, 13 apartments, two restaurants and a state-of-the art spa on a huge heritage site, with original buildings dating back to 1838.

In a region known for refined tastes and a dedication to quality, Hotel Chais Monnet brings a new element of contemporary elegance. Its design combines sophisticated interiors with rustic accents, illustrating the property’s previous incarnation as a cognac warehouse. Surrounded by the legendary producers of some of the world’s finest Cognacs, the hotel offers the perfect base for activities centering on wine and gastronomy.

Alongside its welcoming guestrooms and interiors, Hotel Chais Monnet also offers a gourmet restaurant headed by chef Sébastien Broda, a 120-seat brasserie and a jazz bar, as well as a large wellness suite with afitness room, spa, jacuzzi, hammam and sauna, ideal for a peaceful retreat after a busy day.

Chais Monnet’s MICE space is just as impressive as the rest of the property, comprising five different meeting rooms, including a 400m² multipurpose function room, as well as outdoor spaces with 550m² of terrace. The hotel can cover all kinds of MICE projects, including conferences, board meetings, product launches, business dinners or galas, for 10 to 400 guests.

For more information and ideas about unusual and new MICE locations throughout Europe, please contact your TAO team!

Festivals and Events around Europe

Each month, we’ll keep you updated on forthcoming events, festivals and exhibitions taking place around our continent. Here are three highlights to watch out for in the coming autumn. Contact TAO for more details of how to incorporate these events into your MICE planning.

Festival of Lights, Berlin, Germany – 5th to 14th October 2018

While for most people, the shorter days and longer nights that the European autumn brings are not a popular element of the season, it’s at nightfall when Berlin’s Festival of Lights really comes alive. This nine-day event sees all the German capital’s major sights and landmarks illuminated in a spectacular show of colour and drama.

Local and international artists present incredible light installations that illustrate the city’s incredible vibe and highlight the city’s unique history. The illuminations reach through all parts of the city – from trendy Prenzlauer Berg to the business district of Mitte – making it a great time to visit Berlin.

Café Budapest Contemporary Arts Festival, Budapest, Hungary – 2nd to 18th October 2018

Known for the past 20 years as the Budapest Autumn Festival, this event has recently been renamed to Café Budapest, to reflect the atmosphere which the festival brings to the streets of the Hungarian capital. Whatever the name, this citywide event celebrates the creative talent and achievements of contemporary art in all its forms.

During the festival, Budapest’s cultural creators take over the city, flooding Budapest with works of contemporary art ranging from classical and pop music to dance, film and fine arts to children’s programmes. The list of venues where events, performances and art shows take place includes popular cafés and pubs, contemporary art galleries and many of the city's theatres and public stages.

Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany – 22nd September to 7th October 2018

Quite simply the world’s largest public party, Munich’s world-renowned almost needs no introduction. Between six and seven million visitors attend each year, reveling in the unique atmosphere of one of the 16 large and 22 festival tents, enjoying the fairground rides and stands, eating and drinking and soaking up the spirit of the event. Some 20% of all visitors come from outside Germany.

The construction of the beer-tents is an industry in itself. The first construction work for each Oktoberfest begins in mid-July, to ensure that the festival grounds and all buildings are ready for opening two months later. Around 13,000 staff work at the festival during the two weeks it takes place, serving beer and traditional Bavarian food, entertaining guests and ensuring that the Oktoberfest retains its relaxed, fun- loving feel.

And don’t forget!

TAO European Incoming is your one-stop shop for all MICE projects in Europe. Whether you’re looking for assistance with incentives, trade fairs, congresses, meetings and workshops, kick-off, merger or motivational events, corporate hospitality or business travel, we’ve got it covered. With a network covering more than 32 European countries, TAO European Incoming can support and guide you through the whole continent.

To find out more, visit our website (in Mandarin and English) at: www.tao- incoming.com