Kirsten Schmidt, Public Relations - North America, visitBerlin & Astrid Pockfuss, Media Relations, Vienna Tourist Board
VTB's Astrid Pockfuss reveals new offerings for 2013
visitBerlin's Kirsten Schmidt
In a private room at the Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver's historic Rosewood Hotel Georgia, representatives from visitBerlin and the Vienna Tourist Board (VTB) joined forces to tout the advantages of a 2 city experience they have created.
According to visitBerlin's Kirsten Schmidt, the German capital has become a hotspot for artists. It is also known for its fashion, legendary nightlife and underground arts scene. Next year, Berlin will be marking the 80th anniversary of the Nazi's rise to power in “Diversity Destroyed: Berlin before and after 1933.” Events comprising exhibitions, panel discussions, readings and film projects will be staged throughout the city. By this, Berlin hopes to show it is not hiding from its past but has instead become a tolerant and culturally diverse city.
In other news, following several delays, Berlin Brandenburg International Airport (BER) is finally scheduled to open October 27, 2013. This will provide a new gateway to Eastern Europe, shaving 1 hr. off flights from established hubs in Western Europe. It will replace the existing Tegel Airport.
Vienna is focusing on “The Art of Enjoyment” in 2013. It helps that the city has 160 museums, 4 opera houses and 15,000 concerts year-round. VTB's Astrid Pockfuss announced that its famous Vienna Boys Choir will at last have a permanent home in a modern building at Augarten Park. Two museums are scheduled to reopen – Kunstkammer, featuring 2,000+ artifacts and objects collected over the past 600 years and Liechtenstein City Palace, showcasing Liechtenstein's royal family's classical art collection.
Other developments include a former bank being transformed into a luxury goods mall and an unconventional hotel. The Vienna Street Lofts were converted from retail spaces. These street level units feature a clever blind system which allow both inward and outward views. Dispensing with regular hotel amenities (there is no lobby), travel tips are indicated on a map in the room.
All of these enticing details were offered in conjunction with a delicious lunch. The 1st course was cioppino – stew featuring dungeness crab and Manila clams. Although we were in a rather formal dining room, I couldn't help but dip my bread into the delicious stew. To my relief, I realized I wasn't the only one who was tempted. To compliment the meal, guests were offered palate pleasing German and Austrian wines – Laurenz Und Sophie Singing Gruner Veltliner and Schloss Rheinhaurthausen (Pinot Noir), Rheingau.
