NEWS FROM EUROPE. Dear Friends and Partners of TAO European Incoming,

Transcription

1 NEWS FROM EUROPE Dear Friends and Partners of TAO European Incoming, Welcome to the June edition of the TAO European Incoming newsletter. This month we report on some of TAO s latest projects and some interesting new developments at the company, as well as looking at a new hospitality complex at the very core of London s financial district. As always, we also provide you with some inspiration on where best to experience Europe s forthcoming cultural festivals and events. 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@taoincoming.com News from TAO: Rewarding Excellence with BMW This April, TAO was able to continue its successful cooperation with BMW China, by executing an award gala event in the Deutsches Theater in Munich, in conjunction with UMICE. The event was the culmination of 2017 s National Sales Competition of Excellence, run by BMW China to support sales and product education among the company s Chinese dealership network. The event in Munich formed part of a trip to Munich for 47 of the award s winners, representing the elite of 8,000 competitors in the incentive programme. The group were also rewarded for their outstanding work with a special educational visit to BMW s headquarters in the Bavarian capital.

2 Thorsten on Tour! This month, TAO s CEO, Thorsten Wilhelm, took part in a special fam trip organized by TUI China to Dujiangyan and Sanya in southern China. The trip was part of a regional effort to highlight the tourism product which the area offers and seek new opportunities to market and promote the region in new source destinations. The trip included an overview of the cultural and natural highlights of Dujiangyan and Sanya, but also allowed participants to engage at the TUI International Conference on Tourism Development and Water Culture Tourism, held on 13th June. Speakers included the CEO of TUI China and the leader of the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Development Committee. Last-Minute to the World Cup in Russia! TAO is delighted to let our partners know that we have managed to secure access to last-minute tickets to various matches at the football World Cup in Russia. So it s still not too late to arrange a visit for you or your clients to this exceptional, international celebration of soccer. TAO is happy to offer tickets with a VIP hospitality package, allowing for an amazing, exclusive experience. Please don t hesitate to contact the TAO team for more information!

3 TAO An Official Vendor for the Alibaba Group in Germany TAO European Incoming is thrilled to announce that the company is now an officially recognized vendor for the Alibaba Group in Germany. To kick off the relationship and prepare for future events and cooperation, a training session took place at TAO s Munich offices on 19 th June. The training was hosted by TAO and given by Christoph Kung, Business Development Manager at Alibaba Cloud Germany, covering various aspects of the group s processes, areas of business and strategy. Activities & Locations: The Ned, London A Fresh Space in the Heart of London s City The Ned is the culmination of an ambitious plan to create a new luxury space in the very heart of London s financial district. Opened at the end of last year, the project was five years in the making and is reported to have cost in the region of 200 million pounds to complete. At The Ned, the Soho House & Co group (famous for their private members clubs and luxury boutique hotels), have brought together 250 sumptuous hotel rooms, ten restaurants, six private event spaces, a spa, a gym and a member s club. Housed in an historic bank building, the property is full of architectural style and charm which has been carefully underscored in the quintessentially British interior design. Alongside such treats as a traditional barbershop and hammam, The Ned also delights with its huge array of places to eat and drink. From classic British cuisine, to Californian and New York deli styles, Asian-Pacific or a Venetian brasserie, The Ned offers a global spectrum of taste. Each one of The Ned s meeting spaces also include original period features such as walnut-wood panelling and vintage chandeliers, as well as large domed windows allowing in plenty of natural light.

4 Event rooms range in size from 21m² for small, private gatherings or meetings, to 165m². As such, The Ned can accommodate for events from four to 200 people. For further details on the The Ned or other exceptional MICE locations and hotels throughout Europe, 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 summer season. Contact TAO for more details of how to incorporate these events into your MICE planning. Pálava Wine Harvest Festival, Moravia, Czech Republic 7th to 9th September 2018 Although the Czech Republic is known for its fantastic beers, the annual Pálava wine harvest festival is a celebration of everything to do with the noble grape. It s also a good time to try out some burčák, a semi-fermented grape-juice that s available only in late summer. It s lightly alcoholic and very good to drink on a warm autumn evening. The three-day event celebrates winemaking in the region around the town of Mikulov, on the Austrian borde. Highlights include a lively procession with King Wenceslas IV and his court parading through the town in costume. Wine tastings are held at the town s castles and visitors can also try out local wine and gastronomic specialties along Kapucínská street. Largs Viking Festival, North Ayrshire, Scotland 1st to 9th September 2018 A thousand years ago, the Scottish coast was a dangerous place to be. The fierce rivalry and fighting between the Vikings and the Scots made sure of that. The last battle fought between the two peoples on Scottish territory was The Battle of Largs, in 1263, which saw the Scottish king, Alexander III, crushed by the Viking leader, Haakon. The Largs Viking festival celebrates this unique history with a parade in Viking and ancient Scots dress, accompanied by traditional Scottish bagpipers and a re-enacted battle. The event also features an atmospheric, flaming-torchlit procession, the ceremonial burning of a Viking longship and fireworks. Feria de Ganado y Fiestas de San Mateo, Villamartin, Spain 20 th to 24 th September 2018 Across Spain, the traditional feast of Saint Matthew is celebrated in villages and towns, heralding the beginning of autumn. In the small Andalucian town of Villamartín, around 85km north-east of Cadiz, the celebration takes on the form of a traditional cattle fair during the day, transforming into a round of dancing, eating, drinking and a fairground during the night. The daytime experience includes traditional horse and carriage races, displays of outstanding horsemanship and

5 passionate flamenco performances. When night falls, the town s people dress themselves in their finest traditional dress and make their way to the local parade square, to stroll, eat, drink, sing and dance. The festival is a complete celebration of the most lively and attractive aspects of southern Spanish tradition. 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: