Berlin, Germany – Oozing MICE Appeal
48 hours in Berlin, Germany’s Capital, thanks to Ovation Global DMC (www.ovationdmc.com) gave me a taste of this fascinating city’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) offering. Berlin is recognised as one of the best quality to value capital cities in Europe making it an excellent location for MICE programmes. Currently served by two airports – Schoenefeld and Tegel, Berlin is due (after an uncharacteristic lengthy delay) to get a new airport in 2019 – the Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Upon arrival at Tegel Airport and after a quick transfer taking 15 – 30 minutes, I found myself in the centre of Berlin, a city with two city centres.
MICE Activity Appeal
Berlin just has IT. Diversity, edginess, living history, accommodations, nightlife, dining, retail, culture and so much more. Looking for an original incentive or a post meeting or conference activity, opt for an Underground Tour educating participants on the lengths Berliners went to trying to get from East to West via tunnels during the Berlin Wall era – fascinating stuff. Get a sense of the city whilst testing your driving skills by participating on a Trabe self -drive city tour. I haven’t laughed so much in ages. Release your inner graffiti artist by joining a graffiti themed team building activity. You could even participate on such an activity at Teufelsberg, a former US listening station located on a hill made of rubble. Need your museum fix? Choose from over 180 museums in the city. Retail therapy can be found along Berlin’s 5th Avenue – Kurfuerstendamm Strasse. A visit to the Kaufhaus des Westtens (KaDaWe) with over 60,000sq metres of retail space will not disappoint or simply go exploring to get a taste of the city’s independent retail scene.
MICE Hotel Appeal
Despite their excellent price point, Berlin hotels do not compromise on quality. Many of the city’s most well-known 5 star hotels are located within short distances of each other providing flexibility when dealing with larger groups. From independently owned hotels like The Palace with 280 bedrooms to internationally recognised brands like the Waldorf Astoria with 232 bedrooms, Berlin has an excellent offering. The Pullman Hotel by Accor definitely appeals to a more contemporary audience with LED lights in the lobby, chill out spaces on guestroom corridors, CO Bigelow bathroom amenities and 377 bedrooms and suites plus 18 meeting spaces. The Intercontinental is an excellent option for larger groups with 558 rooms and 45 meeting spaces whilst The Regent, a former Four Seasons Hotel, is a suitable choice for smaller groups with 195 bedrooms. The Jewel in the Berlin crown has to be the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, a member of Leading Hotels of The World. This iconic hotel did not disappoint. The hotels offers 385 bedrooms, which are exceptionally well appointed, a superb choice of suites including 3 Presidential Suites, the largest spa in Berlin
by La Prarie and sublime dining including a phenomenal champagne buffet breakfast to get your day off to a great start! Unrivalled views over The Brandenburg Gate make this an exceptional option for your next MICE programme. Visit their wonderful boutiques including Krigler for your fragrance fix or get your coffee and cake energy boost at their excellent on site coffee shop, which happens to be less expensive than the nearby Starbucks!
MICE Food and Beverage Appeal
Berliners are really their own distinctive group of people. They have a laid back approach to life, are friendly, fun and open and are effortlessly cool! This can be seen in their incredible food and beverage scene. The city boasts 21 Michelin starred restaurants, provides laid back options ideal for group dine arounds, many choices to eat and drink well by the water or simply pick up a Currywurst from one of many food stalls peppered throughout the city. Enjoy this wonderful food offering with a local beer, wine, Sekt (German sparkling wine) or a sublime Gin & Tonic – whatever tickles your taste buds. A delightful lunch was enjoyed at Katerschmaus, a waterside restaurant with casual interiors, beautiful terrace and open plan kitchen. Fresh local ingredients combined in a creative manner (pan fried veal with smoked trout cream anyone?) makes this an excellent choice for inclusion on a dine around schedule or used on an exclusive basis. With more atmosphere than you can shake a stick at, Neni, the Rooftop Restaurant at 25 Hours Bikini Hotel provides a memorable dining experience with some of the best hummus and falafel I have ever eaten.
MICE Venue Appeal
One thing that really stood out to me during my 48 hours in Berlin is the number of venues that are available for MICE programs. From classic options including museums and galleries, historical buildings to a more industrial style, Berlin is one huge event location! How about a team building activity recording your own song or an evening food and beverage event at The Meistersaal where artists including David Bowie, U2 and Depeche Mode have recorded some of their most famous songs? Take over a Market Hall in the city centre and create a special and casual evening dinner space, I was truly impressed with the options available to MICE professionals.
Berlin – You have my Heart
I fell in love with Berlin during these 48 hours. This is a city that needs to be experienced by MICE professionals. A city with its own special identity, a history that locals want to share with visitors, an energy that is infectious, hospitality that is unique to Berlin and an infrastructure that supports the hosting of the most memorable MICE programmes. I am already planning my next visit.
Stay In Touch
Keep up to speed on my MICE travels on Twitter @VeryKLC and Instagram @veryklc and look out for future travel posts on Madrid and Prague in the coming weeks. Contact me directly at ken@klc.ie if you have any questions on my MICE travels or need support in sourcing your next international MICE programme via my DMC partners.
Notes
KL Communications was hosted by its partner, Ovation Germany, the leading Berlin based destination management company, and part of Ovation Global DMC.
For more information on Ovation Germany, pop over to www.ovationdmc.com/destinations/germany/.
KL Communications
KL Communications is a Dublin based interaction design studio specialising in branding, communications and sales. With a background in business tourism, Ken Lyons brings a fresh approach to B2B sales. To further expand the agency offering, the collaboration with Paul Condron, Creative Strategist, brings a dynamic approach to how businesses embrace creativity. By adopting a Brand Publishing mindset to communications partnered with a commitment to company culture alignment, KL Communications collaborates with businesses to transform their branding and communications activities.
