HEADQUARTERS

FEELINGS FORAMSTERDAM

Destination Report Amsterdam is a special edition of HeadQuarters Magazine - September 2009published by Meeting Media Company (Belgium) - www.hqmagazine.eu - press@meetingmedia.eu

HEADQUARTERS 2

> I N T R O D U C T I O N

A really strong feeling to begin with. For a

capital city, Amsterdam is possibly the most

compact one. It seems everything can be

done walking, no matter the many things that

are for sure in your agenda. For a congress

delegate, it’s a wonderful impression. Enough

of the huge, impersonal metropolises:

the trend is now to the more human-size

capital, where you don’t have to commute

from one place to another for ages. If you

don’t feel like walking, just grab a bike or

take the tram: you will easily fi nd your way

around. Just make sure you look left and

right whenever you want to cross a street!

Given this compact size and ever-bustling

life, a convention can be held in many unique

locations in Amsterdam. Whether you wish to

organise a congress of 15,000 scientists or

a smaller board meeting for IT specialists,

you will fi nd what you need for sure. It seems

Amsterdam does have the edge when it

comes to getting together to get things done.

Amsterdam RAI with its brand new Elicium

(see pages 6 and 7), an early 20th-century

movie theatre, a paddle steamer or a historic

canal house, the possibilities seem just end-

less. It would even well be worth returning on

a regular basis so each time you discover a

new side of Amsterdam that you didn’t know

existed before!

I won’t bore you with Amsterdam’s ICCA or

UIA rankings for once, though the capital of

the Netherlands has pride of place in them.

You simply have to go there and the work

will be done. It’s simply just impossible not

to be enthralled by the vibrant heart that

you can feel beating everywhere. Add to that

quick, easy access from Amsterdam Airport

Schiphol, which is considered to be one of

AMSTERDAM, A CONGRESS DELIGHT

AMSTERDAM. EVERYBODY KNOWS WHERE IT IS. NOT NECESSARILY FOR REASONS THAT

THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WOULD LIKE, BUT AT LEAST MOST PEOPLE CAN PLACE IT ON

A MAP. SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, IT WAS MY VERY FIRST TIME IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF

THE NETHERLANDS. LIKE A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD, AND A FORTIORI OF EUROPE, I HAD

PRECONCEIVED IDEAS ABOUT IT. OF COURSE AMSTERDAM IS ROCK’N’ROLL, OF COURSE

AMSTERDAM IS BUSTLING, OF COURSE ITS CANALS ARE WONDERFUL, OF COURSE YOU

FIND DIAMONDS ON THE STREETS. BUT AS AN ASSOCIATION CONGRESS DESTINATION,

IT MIGHT WELL BE THE PLACE TO BE.

REPORT RÉMI DÉVÉ

the best in the world,

railway stations and the motorway network,

hotels and restaurants that are never too

far away, and up-to-date facilities and

equipments, and you will wonder why you

haven’t gone there earlier.

One quick note to fi nish this introduction.

Being the guest of Amsterdam Tourism &

Convention Board, I was able to see the

bigger picture. I amsterdam is not just a

good branding, a formidable logo that’s

basically everywhere to be found in the city

and sometimes abroad, it’s an inspiring state

of mind. The actors of local tourism have

understood that only a common effort can

bring a city to the next level. Business tour-

ism has to work hand in hand with leisure

tourism for instance. Congress delegates

can defi nitely benefi t from it: because they

will experience Amsterdam as a whole, they

will get the feeling that they know the real

Amsterdam. Just take my word for it.

HEADQUARTERS 3

WHY AMSTERDAM?+ Accessible & compact: The city of Amster-

dam is a national and international junction.

The main airport is just 20 minutes from the

city centre. Amsterdam’s compact city centre

makes for outstanding public transport

service; everything’s basically at walking

distance!

+ Historic heart: The historic heart of the city

remained beautifully intact to this day. But be

sure it’s not just a preserved open-air museum!

+ Stable economic climate: The relationship

between price and quality has passed offi cial

international testing with positive results.

+ Outstanding culture: The Netherlands’ capital

city has been a centre of creativity for centu-

ries. You will not get enough of its countless

museums and cultural treasures.

+ Hub of knowledge: Amsterdam’s location

on the edge of Europe positions the city as

a central marketplace for free and effi cient

exchange... of ideas.

+ Dazzling nightlife: Amsterdam is home to a

plethora of bars, nightclubs and cafés.

At nightime you will just have to take your pick!

+ Striking events: Some 30 to 40 festivals take

place in Amsterdam each year, many of which

attract world acclaim.

+ Superb surroundings: Many people think of the

Netherlands as the land of tulips and windmills.

In just 15 minutes from the centre of Amster-

dam you can experience these idyllic scenes.

+ Colourful people: People are what have made

Amsterdam the unique city it is, one with a

character that’s highly individual, spirited and

young-at-heart.

+ Business with pleasure: The city ranks among

the world’s top 10 most preferred conference

locations.

the best in the world,

railway stations and the motorway network

Reinet Krijger, Koninklijk Horeca Nederland‘Amsterdam is even more hospitable than ever. Visitors are welcomed by I amsterdam Welcome Teams and the entire tourism industry is making extra, special effort to

welcome congress delegates.’

CONTACT

Amsterdam Tourism &

Convention Board

T: +31 (0)20 551 25 70

E: acb@atcb.nl

W: www.iamsterdam.com/meetings

HEADQUARTERS 4

> A R T & C U L T U R E

Amsterdam has been a centre of creativity

and culture for centuries. Old, new, contem-

porary, avant-garde: the cultural pallet of the

most discerning visitor will surely be satis-

fi ed. Everybody of course knows Van Gogh:

in Amsterdam, its museum houses several

of the artist’s masterpieces. If you’re more

into 17th century Dutch Masters, the famous

Rijksmuseum proudly displays paintings of

Rembrandt and Vermeer. If your heart leans

towards contemporary art, it will be fulfi lled

by the newly renovated Stedelijk Museum

(opening in 2010). Other cultural treasures in-

clude Anne Frank’s house, the baroque Royal

Palace on Dam Square and the Rembrandt

House - among others of course.

I was personally impressed by the Hermitage

Amsterdam. A superbly renovated museum

on the River Amstel in the heart of the city,

it organizes exhibitions - evidently - but also

concerts, lectures and courses. And guess

what? It boasts a superb conference room that

seats over 350 persons, as well as three con-

ference rooms for up to 60 people. For a board

Amsterdam is famous for its world-class art and culture. Here, old and new mesh seamlessly together, exemplifi ed by the modern art displayed in centuries-old buildings. The city’s many facilities, initia-tives and study programmes, its night life, events and creative residents all contribute to its dynamism. In so doing, they help attract more talented artists and profes-sionals to Amsterdam and to keep them here when they arrive.

When the Stedelijk Museum, the Rijks-museum and the Filmmuseum re-open their doors in the near future, Amsterdam will have the highest concentration of art per square meter in the world. The Hermit-age on the Amstel opened in June, and is already a must-see; not only due to its

exquisite exhibits, but also because of its wonderful location and the beautiful architecture. Almost fi ve million tourists visit our city each year, in part attracted by the cultural sector. The sector is therefore helping Amsterdam achieve its goal of being one of the top fi ve cities in Europe.

Almost 80 percent of Amsterdam’s residents claim to be interested in culture, and Amsterdammers visit more cultural institutions than the average Dutch citizen. Nowhere else in the country are so many people active in the arts and culture. The Mayor and Aldermen of Amsterdam place a high priority on art and culture, for all residents of Amsterdam. Art and culture bring individuals together. Cultural exchanges can help bridge differences and

provide a common feeling for what is good and beautiful. It is exactly this community that makes Amsterdam the wonderful city that it is. We consider art and culture to be one of our residents’ basic needs, and therefore work to build a unifi ed city where everyone has the opportunity to develop his or her talents.

Amsterdam considers it the government’s responsibility to stimulate the arts and culture where it originates, and to protect the most vulnerable artistic and cultural expressions. Each year the Amsterdam City Council draws up a new artistic and cultural policy and sets suitable goals. This policy is then elaborated into an Arts Plan. The current Arts Plan 2009-2012 reserves subsidies for 140 institutions to enable

AMSTERDAM IS ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE!

A MESSAGE FROM DEPUTY MAYOR CAROLIEN GEHRELS

WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURE AND ART, AMSTERDAM IS SIMPLY AMAZING. A METROPOLIS AT THE SIZE OF A VILLAGE, THE CAPITAL

OF THE NETHERLANDS HAS A LOT TO OFFER: SOME OF THE GREATEST WORKS OF ART IN THE WORLD AND NO LESS THAN 7,000

MONUMENTAL BUILDINGS. LIKE CAROLIEN GEHRELS SAYS IN HER MESSAGE, IT’S JUST PERFECT FOR CONGRESS DELEGATES LOOKING

TO LINK WORK WITH CULTURAL EDIFICATION!

Hermitage - Ossenpoort

HEADQUARTERS 5

them to carry out their programmes. The City has allocated twelve million euros more for this plan period than it did during the last Art Plan period.

The Art Plan 2009-2012 lists four ambi-tions that the city wishes to realise: world class, city of beauty, laboratory and talent development.

1. World Class is the best that Amsterdam has to offer: the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the IDFA, De Nederlandse Opera, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, the Dutch National Ballet, the Stedelijk Museum, the Holland Festival and our new Public Library.

2. City of Beauty means that we have to stimulate art where it is created. We therefore provide support to cultural

initiatives in all of the city’s neighbourhoods, not only in the centre.

3. Laboratory: the laboratory is a programme for stimu-lating experimentation and innovation. Institutions that push the boundaries of their discipline are pioneers for new develop-ments in culture and the arts.

4. Talent Development has always been the foundation for Amsterdam’s position in the arts and culture. Art and culture are not a luxury, but a basic need for young people’s development, in that they contribute to their self-development and self-awareness.

Art and culture, creativity and innovation have always been the driving forces behind our city. They are vital to the development and maintenance of the city’s lifestyles and cultural identities

Amsterdam is Art, Culture and Heritage!

‘We consider art and culture

to be one of our residents’

basic needs, and therefore work

to build a unifi ed city where

everyone has the opportunity

to develop his or her talents’

meeting, it might be the ideal place! Science

center Nemo is another landmark building

where adults can become kids again and where

several nice rooms are perfectly suitable for

conferences of all sorts.

CAN YOU KEEP UP?Marc Horsmans, business unit manager of

Amsterdam Convention Board, confessed it

himself: it’s just impossible to keep up with

the array of cultural activities the city offers.

Simply count the number of festivals that take

place each year - some 30 to 40! - and you will

be pleasantly surprised. The Holland Festival

showcases the very best in theatre, opera and

ballet; the Canal Festival features classical

music played on fl oating stages; the Amsterdam

Fantastic Film Festival screens arthouse to main-

stream masterpieces… These are of course just

a sample of events that take place all year long.

All of this wouldn’t be half as fun without the

people living in Amsterdam. What I will always

remember is their spontaneous willingness to

help you out. Many times I obviously looked a

bit dazed and confused looking for my way on

the street, and before I even dared asking, a

nice lady or a friendly guy was already ready

to point me in the right direction! Known to be

a tolerant - sometimes even a bit too tolerant

- city, it’s quite unique because of its spirited

people - a mindset also illustrated by the fact

that most people speak more than one

language. As a congress delegate, you’ll be

able to feel instantly at ease, even part of the

bigger picture. In addition to attending your

conference, you’ll actually experience the city,

which is sometimes what’s

missing during this kind of

events.

science center Nemo Muziekgebouw aan het IJ

Royal Palace on Dam Square

HEADQUARTERS 6

> A M S T E R D A M R A I

BEFORE ENTERING AMSTERDAM RAI ON A

SUNNY DAY OF JULY, I THOUGHT: ‘GREAT,

ANOTHER CONGRESS CENTRE THAT’S

GOING TO PROMOTE ITSELF AS A ONE-OF-

KIND, ABSOLUTELY-NOWHERE-ELSE-TO-BE-

FOUND VENUE…’ I HAVE TO CONFESS: IT’S

IN FACT TRUE, BUT RIGHTLY SO. NOT JUST

BECAUSE IT’S IN AMSTERDAM OF COURSE,

BUT ALSO BECAUSE RAI’S NEW EXPAN-

SION, CALLED RAI ELICIUM, AND A BUNCH

OF SUSTAINABLE GREEN INITIATIVES

MAKE IT INDEED VERY SPECIAL.

I could not say it better than Director of

Sales Ilko Tonen: ‘Amsterdam RAI is the

perfect location for high-profi le events in

innovative surroundings, especially association

congresses which are rightfully demanding.’

Here are, indeed, the main highlights of the

facility.

AMSTERDAM RAI IS GOOD-LOOKINGWith its gentle curves, its purple carpeting

and its wonderful view of the city, you feel in-

stantly at ease within the walls of Amsterdam

RAI. It’s not just because you can relax on its

summer beach between sessions or rely on

the airport check-in desks on fl exible loca-

tions, it’s also because it has been rationally

designed. It’s indeed impossible to get lost in

it and its unique, elegant appearance, which

extends from the overall structure, relevantly

refl ects Amsterdam’s passion for innovation.

AMSTERDAM RAI IS NEWOpening this very month, the brand-new RAI

Elicium, an extension of the current facility,

brings the whole meeting complex to a new

level, as it has been designed to meet the

requirements of the most demanding meeting

planners. Before - and the RAI people honestly

acknowlege it - the venue lacked a proper

place to hold gala dinners or simply big events

of any kind. Now the high-quality building can

be used as a luxurious exhibition area, but it

is also suitable for large dinners, conferences

and parties. Its pillar-free, ultra-fl exible space

which can be divided into several rooms

AMSTERDAM RAI, THE CONGRESS CENTRE PAR EXCELLENCE

RAI ELICIUM, THE HARD FACTS

Total fl oor surface: 3,400 m2

Maximum capacity (theatre-style): 2,072 pax

4 congress rooms for up to 100 people and

20 meeting rooms for up to 60 people

AMSTERDAM RAI, THE HARD FACTS

12 exhibition halls

Total conference capacity:

200 separate rooms

Capacity for conferences:

from 10 to 30,000 pax

Total surface: 250,000 m2

HEADQUARTERS 7

> A M S T E R D A M R A I

CONTACT

Amsterdam RAI

Europaplein - 1078 GZ Amsterdam

tel: +31 (0)20 549 17 22

raimarketing@rai.nl

www.rai.nl

www.rai-elicium.nl

Opening this very month, the brand-new RAI Elicium, an extension of the current facility, brings the whole meeting complex to a new level

accommodates up to 2,072 people. Simply

put: anything’s possible! Add to that the

imminent construction of a new Marriott

hotel in the direct surroundings and the

seven conference hotels that already exist at

walking distance and you will ask: where

do I sign?

AMSTERDAM RAI IS SUSTAINABLEThe sustainability of the building is one of the

main features that makes Technical Manager

Wilco van den Born, who gave me a tour of

the facility, particularly proud. In addition

to have been recognized as a Green Globe

Benchmarked Company, Amsterdam RAI

won the Sustainable Initiative of

the Year award last June in

London for its corporate

sustainability policy. Indeed

everything has been

carefully planned out

so that the carbon

footprint of any event is as minimal as pos-

sible. One example speaks louder than words:

only 30% of the energy the venue needs has

to be purchased, the rest of it being

‘produced’ by the facility itself!

AMSTERDAM RAI IS FUN

It’s too rare in the

meetings industry

to go unnoticed. So

that Amsterdam

RAI gets all the attention it deserves, its

marketing team has created a mascot that

guides the visitor to its website. Her name?

Elise. Elise is pretty, she’s fun and she epito-

mises the modern, innovative and exclusive

nature of the RAI Elicium, while at the same

time enhancing the ‘likeability’ of the RAI as

a whole. In short, no more boring websites,

where it’s impossible to fi nd the information

you need: just follow Elise’s steps and you

will be likely to fi nd even more than what you

were looking for!

The Euroanaesthesia congress, the annual meeting of the European Society of Anaesthesiology (ESA), will take place in Amsterdam RAI from 11 to 14 June 2011. Executive Director Michel De Bisschop explains why they chose Amsterdam RAI… and why Amsterdam is such an appealing city for congress delegates.

HQ: Could you give a short description of your event?Michel De Bisschop: The ESA organises European Anaesthesiology Congresses throughout Europe. These Congresses are attended by members and non-members representing more than 65 countries from around the world. The European Anaesthesi-ology Congresses are organised with active participation of the National Societies, and

joint meetings are held with them on occasion. It usually gathers more than 5,000 participants and 100 exhibitors, offering refresher courses, workshops and symposia in all different fi elds of anaesthesiology, intensive care and emergency medicine.

HQ: Why did you choose the RAI to hold your event?Michel De Bisschop: Amsterdam RAI has been refurbished, its atmosphere is pleasant elegant and modern and many halls and rooms have day light - which is not necessarily the case in congress centres of this size. The RAI has also been recently extended with the Elicium building, offering more rooms of large capacity, which is perfect for a big event like ours. Amsterdam RAI is also close to the airport and easily accessible by public

transportation, which makes it easy for delegates to commute between the congress, their hotel and the city centre for instance.

HQ: According to you, what are the main assets of the destination?Michel De Bisschop: Amsterdam is centrally located in Europe and easily accessible - Schiphol airport being one of the largest and most modern in Europe - and public transportation is very effi cient. The hotel capacity is around 18,000 rooms which is more than enough for our event. The Convention Bureau is also very active and helpful. And of course, the history of the city is very rich - for social programmes, Amsterdam is just wonderful!

www.euroanesthesia.org

CASE STUDY: EUROANAESTHESIA 2011

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HEADQUARTERS 8

> I N N O V A T I O N & C R E A T I V I T Y

When it comes to fi nding a unique place

to get together or an outstanding social

programme after a hard day’s work at a

conference, Amsterdam provides an array

of possibilities that will make you speech-

less. This derives from the very fact that the

Amsterdammers have always had a thing for

innovation and creativity. Not only does the

city attract prominent academics and has

become an attractive meeting place for those

involved in science and research, thanks to

its two universities and several laboratories,

but it also generates knowledge of all kinds -

and everyday so.

Let me fi rst mention the rightfully named

Creative Amsterdam. Initiated in 2007,

the programme aims to stimulate creative

industries in the seven industries of the

Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Based on the

idea that creative players can not always fi nd

each other, Creative Amsterdam’s goal is to

promote, among other things of course, the

attractiveness of the region for international

creative talent. When you think about it, this

is exactly what association congresses are

about - exchange of ideas, sharing of

knowledge in a stimulating environment!

That surely explains why Amsterdam is

becoming more successful in attracting

conventions or events in the creative sector…

ART ON THE WATERLast year in HQ, we already had a clue about

Amsterdammers’ passion for creativity when

we wrote about Amsterdam Art City. The

basic idea was to make the city brim over

with cultural attractions and remarkable

exhibitions to visit. In addition to high-quality

INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY IN

AMSTERDAM YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD (AYSA)The AYSA is an incentive prize that is

awarded to promising young scientists

who present their research during an inter-

national congress in Amsterdam. The award

comes with a sum of 5,000 euros. The

money is intended to be spent on (scientifi c)

research or on attending congresses. All

associations may apply to obtain the AYSA.

More information:

www.iamsterdam.com/meetings

PTA - Main deck

Koepelkerk of the Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel

Novotel Amsterdam City

LUCKY FOR ME, THIS REPORT IS NOT JUST A MERE CATALOGUE OF MEETING FACILITIES,

SPECIAL VENUES, AND HOTELS THE PEOPLE OF THE AMSTERDAM TOURISM &

CONVENTION BOARD WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. INSTEAD, THEY WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT

A MORE THEMATIC APPROACH TO PROMOTE AMSTERDAM AS A CONGRESS DESTINATION.

INDEED, INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY CONSTITUTE THE BASIC DRIVING FORCE BEHIND

EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE DUTCH CAPITAL. IT’S THIS PARTICULAR FORCE

THAT MAKES IT SO SPECIAL - AND THAT SERVES BEST THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF

THE MEETING PLANNER.

HEADQUARTERS 9

cultural programmes

and the opening of the

Hermitage Amsterdam

and the Stedelijk

Museum, museums

have promoted their

conference facilities

to delegates. Why not

indeed organize a welcome

reception in front of Rembrandt’s Nightwatch

or a board dinner near Anastacia at the

Hermitage Amsterdam? This collective effort,

which seems nowhere else to be found in any

other European capital, made Amsterdam a

one-of-kind destination for congress delegates.

In the same line of ideas, the theme year of

2010 will be ‘Water Sensations’. Going back

to the roots of Amsterdam, a large number

of events on and around the city’s many

waterways will be organised. Extra attention

will also be paid to Amsterdam’s permanent

attractions associated with water in the

Metropolitan Area of Amsterdam (see above).

These water sensations will defi nitely give the

Mövenpick Hotel Amsterdam City

Centre, in which I was lucky enough to stay,

and its next-door neighbour, the Passenger

Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), pride of place.

Maybe one of the best accessible hotels in

Amsterdam, the Mövenpick is located in the

area known as the Eastern Docklands and

enjoys a wonderful view of the entire city and

of the water in general. Its biggest meeting

room accommodates up to 500 people. But

what makes the hotel truly unique is its inten-

sive collaboration with the adjacent PTA that

offers a total of 3,000 m2 of conference space.

LAURELS AND HOTELSBecause it’s not a habit for Amsterdammers

to rest on their laurels, the few

hotels I visited either relaunched

and have been completely refur-

bished - as if to fi t perfectly this

idea of creativity and innovation!

Situated right next to Amsterdam

RAI, Novotel Amsterdam City has

just experienced a total make-over.

Symbolizing a kind of openness,

it is harmoniously designed: its

meeting space accommodates up to

1,000 people. In a totally different style, the

Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel completed a

top-to-bottom renovation in 2008. Its main

highlight is defi nitely its elegant 17th century

one-of-a-kind convention centre in the

Renaissance Koepelkerk - a beautiful chapel for

up to 700 delegates - connected to the hotel.

For a complete list of hotels, special

venues and other meeting facilities:

www.iamsterdam.com/meetings

For more information on Creative

Amsterdam: www.aimsterdam.nl

> I N N O V A T I O N & C R E A T I V I T Y

AMSTERDAM2010 IN AMSTERDAM: WATER SENSATIONSThe lifeblood of Amsterdam has long been its aquatic locale, close as it is to the North Sea and built on myriad canals. In 2010, Amsterdam Water Sensations will be offering many cultural and touristic events displaying how citizens of Amsterdam live their lives on the waterside to the fullest. Festivals such as SAIL Amsterdam, museums, shipping companies and hotels will join forces. The festivities will revolve around four ‘water themes’:+ Waterfun: Discover Amsterdam and its

centuries-old ties with water: e.g. major events such as SAIL Amsterdam 2010, special interest boat tours, kite surfi ng and many other active sports.

+ Culture & design: Art exhibitions will be displayed on the waterside or around the

river IJ, the city lake, along with music festivals. It will be also a good time to discover Amsterdam’s innovative archi-tectural city line alongside the canals and the waterside.

+ Innovation and water management: Having conquered their land from the sea, the metropolitan area of Amsterdam is known for its unique relation with water.

+ Sustainability: Environmental awareness is big in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, offering more and more environmentally-friendly touristic facilities. Find out what Amsterdam is doing to ensure the pure-ness of drinking water. The traditional canal boats are replaced by eco-friendly ones, hotel households are becoming ‘green’ and top restaurants are selling ‘earth water’, contributing to sustainable water systems in several parts in the world.

www.amsterdamwatersensations.com

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Culture & design: Art exhibitions will bedisplayed on the waterside or around the

Hans Vugts, Hotel Casa 400‘In terms of accommodation, Amsterdam’s offer is vast, from 5-star palaces to budget or independent hotels. Because of the size of the city there’s a hotel or a Bed & Breakfast to be found in every area. Your place to sleep is always close by.’

PCO’SIf your conference requires elements for which you

don’t have the resources, time or expertise, hiring a

PCO may be useful for you. If you and/or your organ-

izing committee need a partner to offer advice and act

as a link to suppliers and service provid-

ers, a PCO can achieve this:

+ ATP, The Advanced Travel Partner

+ CAOS

+ Congress Care

+ Congrex Holland BV

+ Eurocongress International

+ MCI Amsterdam Offi ce

+ The Congress Organisation of the AMC

DMC’SIf you fi nd the countless options of

suppliers, venues and social pro-

grammes in Amsterdam overwhelm-

ing to evaluate, hiring a DMC may

be very useful and time-saving.

With their creative input, you are

sure to come up with imaginative,

memorable events. In addition, they will relieve you of

logistical headaches in the process:

+ Amsterdam Events Company

+ Incentive Europe

+ ITB Holland

+ KeyDM

+ Kuoni Benelux, Incoming Services

+ Partners & SAM

+ Amsterdam Quality Bookings

+ Krasevents

BOAT COMPANIESThe romantic, winsome canals of Amsterdam are one

of the most popular attractions for visitors. One of

the best ways to discover the city is from the water:

+ Rederij Lovers

+ Cruise with us

+ Canal Company

+ Rederij ‘t Smidtje

+ Amsterdam Boats

For a comprehensive list of services,

please visit www.iamsterdam.com/meetings

A WEALTH OF SERVICES

SUGGESTED CONFERENCE HOTELS*+ Amsterdam Marriott Hotel 392 rooms - 11 meeting rooms+ Bilderberg Garden Hotel 124 rooms – 3 meeting rooms+ Crowne Plaza Amsterdam

City Centre 270 rooms - 7 meeting rooms+ Crowne Plaza

Amsterdam Schiphol 242 rooms - 19 meeting rooms+ Dorint Hotel Amsterdam Airport 442 rooms - 15 meeting rooms+ Dutch Design Hotel

Artemis Amsterdam 256 rooms - 11 meeting rooms + Eden Amsterdam American Hotel 175 rooms - 9 meeting rooms + Eden Rembrandt Square

Hotel Amsterdam 166 rooms - 5 meeting rooms + Golden Tulip Apollo Amsterdam 223 rooms - 5 meeting rooms + Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam 165 rooms - 8 meeting rooms + Hilton Amsterdam

Airport Schiphol Hotel 280 rooms - 19 meeting rooms

+ Hilton Amsterdam Hotel 271 rooms - 21 meeting rooms + Holiday Inn Amsterdam 264 rooms - 12 meeting rooms

+ Holiday Inn Amsterdam-Schiphol 342 rooms - 25 meeting rooms+ Hotel Amsterdam -

Restaurant De Roode Leeuw 79 rooms - 2 meeting rooms + Hotel Arena 116 rooms - 4 meeting rooms + Hotel de l’Europe 100 rooms - 5 meeting rooms + Hotel Casa 400 400 rooms - 11 meeting rooms + Hotel Novotel Amsterdam City 611 rooms - 17 meeting rooms + Hotel Okura Amsterdam 301 rooms - 17 meeting rooms + Hotel Pulitzer 230 rooms - 9 meeting rooms + InterContinental

Amstel Amsterdam 79 rooms - 6 meeting rooms + Lloyd Hotel & Cultural Embassy 117 rooms - 12 meeting rooms + Mercure Hotel Amsterdam

aan de Amstel 368 rooms - 17 meeting rooms+ Mövenpick Hotel

Amsterdam City Centre 408 rooms - 12 meeting rooms

+ NH Amsterdam Centre 230 rooms - 10 meeting rooms

+ NH Barbizon Palace 270 rooms - 11 meeting rooms + NH City Centre Amsterdam 209 rooms - 2 meeting rooms + NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky 468 rooms - 22 meeting rooms+ NH Schiphol Airport 419 rooms - 15 meeting rooms + Park Hotel Amsterdam 189 rooms - 9 meeting rooms + Park Plaza Victoria 306 rooms - 12 meeting rooms + Radisson Blu Hotel

Amsterdam Airport 279 rooms - 15 meeting rooms+ Renaissance Amsterdam Hotel 408 rooms - 26 meeting rooms+ Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel & Conference Center

406 rooms -29 meeting rooms + Sofi tel Amsterdam the Grand 233 rooms - 19 meeting rooms+ The Dylan Amsterdam 41 rooms - 5 meeting rooms + The Toren Amsterdam 38 rooms - 1 meeting room + Tulip Inn Amsterdam Art 130 rooms - 9 meeting rooms * these hotels have signifi cantly contributed

to city promotion

> S E R V I C E S

Oudekerk

Java

THERE’S ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE THAT YOU WON’T FIND ANY HELP WHEN ORGANIZING

YOUR CONFERENCE IN AMSTERDAM. FROM PCO’S TO DMC’S, FROM PROFESSIONAL CATERERS

TO HIGH-STANDARD IT SPECIALISTS, EVERYBODY IS THERE TO MAKE YOUR EVENT

A RESOUNDING SUCCESS!

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SUGGES

Richard Olling, Taxi Centrale Amsterdam

‘Amsterdam has developed

a taxi branch fully dedicated to

quality, reliability and customer

service. In addition to regulated

rates, taxis will be provided

anywhere and anytime in

Amsterdam and surroundings

within 5 - 7 minutes.’

Hosted meeting planner programme

21 and 22 January 2010

Interested? E-mail acb@atcb.nl

www.iamsterdam.com

2010

The Amsterdam Tourism & Convention

Board offers a unique opportunity to enhance

delegates’ experience of the city and its

services by introducing the I amsterdam

Congress Card. During your stay in Amster-

dam you might want to meet new contacts

in the city centre, spend time exploring the

city’s culture or need Internet access to catch

up with your emails. All these services are

combined to enhance the convenience of

visiting the city and are built

into one special card.

The I amsterdam Congress

Card includes the following features:

> 96 hours public transportation ticket

> 50 Minutes WiFi access

> Service for online restaurant reservation

> Free admission to one museum and in

addition an Amsterdam canal cruise

Visit www.iamsterdam.com/meetings

for more information or e-mail acb@atcb.nl

I AMSTERDAM CONGRESS CARD

ures:

n ticket

THE MORE INTENSE THE EXPERIENCETHE MORE PRECIOUS THE MEMORY

Where you see it, is how you see it. Here you see everything at its most beautiful, your experience is intense. Whether it’s a gala diner, a party, an exhibition, a presentation, an awards ceremony or a convention, our enormous ballroom with spellbinding LED lighting

will make it an unforgettable experience. With our panoramic views and delicious catering, the RAI Elicium also adds unprecedented allure and elegance to all your meetings and trainings. Sustainability comes first! For example our hypermodern renewable energy

system stores excess heat and cold in the floors for later use.

I’d love to give you a tour at www.rai-elicium.nl

Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre | raimarketing@rai.nl | +31 20 549 17 22 | www.rai.nl

I’d love to give you a tour at www.r