The Øresund Region: Meetings/incentive spa & wellness theme

WHAT: Sweden is world famous for its spa traditions and there is a great selection of venues on the Swedish side of Øresund. On the Danish side the spa-concept is not that widely spread, but for M&I costumers there are a number of useful venues. In April 2007 Hilton Copenhagen Airport will open a spa, which will supplement the existing selection on the Danish side. One obvious MICE theme in the Copenhagen area is therefore how to combine meetings with spa/wellness and/or how to do a spa incentive trip.

WHEN: A cross-national press trip in the Øresund region on how to combine meeting with spa & wellness is offered by VisitDenmark, Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, Position Skåne and Malmö Turism in mid April.

Vikings and Kings

WHAT: Denmark and Sweden have a rich history. The period of the Vikings is world famous, but also the monarchies in the two countries have a colourful history. In July 2007 a replica of the old Viking ship Glendaloch will hoist its sails departing from the old merchant town of Roskilde in North-West Sealand.

On both sides of Øresund there are a number of venues, historically related to the Vikings or the royal families, which can be used for meetings and incentives.
In Roskilde - Denmark’s capital city during the Viking age - you can sail in a replica of a Viking Ship at the Vikingeskibs Museet. Here you will also find Roskilde Cathedral, where the Viking Harald Blåtand, who united the Danes, is assumed to have his grave. A number of Danish royalties also rest here, and thus, the church is an obvious choice for an introduction in Danish history. In the greater Copenhagen area various royal venues, from the Royal Library to small inns also offer great meeting facilities.

On the Swedish side – just south of Malmö – lies the only reconstructed Viking village in the world – the Foteviken Viking reserve. Here the Danish Viking Harald Blåtand kept his War fleet during wintertime. The Kings House was located here and the Vikings made their sacrifices to the honour of the Vikings gods here. Today the reconstructed Viking environment by the beach consists of 22 fully rebuild Viking houses. Other “royal” meeting facilities in Skåne include Sofiero, a former summer residence of the Swedish Royal family, and charming local inns.

WHEN: VisitDenmark, Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, Position Skåne and Malmö Turism offer a cross-national press trip in early June or July (if it is possible for the group to attend the departure of Glendaloch July 2 the press trip will take place here).

Gastronomy trip I

WHAT: The latest, most specific trend in Copenhagen when it comes to production of food is the micro production. Copenhagen and the surrounding areas offers more than 10 microbreweries and a number of small producers also work within e.g. the chocolate and diary products. Denmark is also a frontrunner when it comes to organic food, being the country in Europe with the largest sale of organic food with a market share of 6,7% of the total sale, and an expected market share of 11% in 2015. In 2006, the Danish government agreed on earmarking DKK 1 billion (€13,4 mill.) to develop organic farming in order to improve and secure e.g. the ground water, the welfare for the animals and the nature.

On this press trip we will focus on how to combine food experience with meetings and incentives. We will e.g. cook with the Danish chef from BBC’s New Scandinavian cooking (Claus Meyer), brew bear at the organic farm Fuglebjerggaard and dine at a Michelin starred restaurant.

WHEN: VisitDenmark and Wonderful Copenhagen CVB will offer a cross-national press trip 22-24 May.

Gastronomy trip II

WHAT: When it comes to food the Øresund Region also has a lot to offer:
The Copenhagen Cooking Festival celebrates the Nordic kitchen and the aim is to develop the festival into an international tourist attraction. Copenhagen’s restaurants are part of Europe’s elite. In the last version of the Michelin Guide Copenhagen is awarded 9 stars – the greatest amount of stars in the North. The Swedes too are at the forefront of Scandinavian cooking with Swedish chefs being in the international elite – not least proven by the number of international championships won recently.

The cooking festival is an evident occasion for showing of the regions’ many fine restaurants and food products and can be used as a great example of how to combine food with meetings and incentives.

WHEN: The Copenhagen Cooking Festival takes place in August and VisitDenmark, Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, Position Skåne and Malmö Turism will offer a cross-national press trip.

The Øresund Region – the human capital (IMO)

WHAT: This trip is tailored in cooperation with the Department of Economic Development & Innovation in Region Skåne and Copenhagen Capacity. The idea is to increase awareness of the Øresund Region as a knowledge-based region and to attract further business, conventions and congresses to the area.

The Øresund Region is a popular area for IT and pharmaceutical companies and has a lot to offer in terms of scientific work and development. The Øresund Region as a whole contains 14 universities, with a total of 150,000 students, 6,500 PhD students and 12,000 researchers. As a result, the region boasts experts, researchers and companies in a wide range of areas who can contribute their knowledge to congresses and conventions. Apart from the general program each journalist will be offered an interview session with a company related to their own country. This is done to make trip even more relevant for each an every journalist.

WHEN: VisitDenmark, Wonderful Copenhagen CVB, Position Skåne and Malmö Turism will offer a cross-national press trip in conjunction with large pharmaceutical congress mid October in Bella Center.

Copenhagen – meet on water

WHAT: Copenhagen is a harbour city, which, for many markets, is quite exotic. There is a wide range of possibilities in combining MICE activities with water activities.

Sail the group from the airport to one of the cities many harbour side hotels, or to one of the meeting venue, located at by the cost or the harbour front. Hold your conference on a sailboat, a yacht or a ferry and arrange the gala as a dinner cruise. Have champagne served by divers at The Little Mermaid. Have high speed zodiacs sail you to the party arranged at one of the fortresses. Arrange a sailing, canoe or water polo competition as part of a teambuilding activity. Have a stroll, hang out and relax at one of the promenades or go for a swim at one of the many beaches or in the harbours open air swimming pools. When it comes to water – Copenhagen has it all.

The group will stay at one of the harbour side hotels – maybe at the new floating hotel offering only 12 rooms right next to Langeliniebro.

WHEN: VisitDenmark and Wonderful Copenhagen will offer a cross-national press trip in early July.

Let Copenhagen entertain you – a VIP treat

WHAT: Tailor-made press trips that differ from the regular trips with site inspections and “wine and dine”. The idea is to surprise the visitors with a unique and unusual itinerary which will be developed in cooperation with an event bureau and the company Advance Security. There will also be some elements of agent 007-action incorporated in the program, maybe with high-speed zodiacs and abseiling.

Only part of the itinerary will be revealed before the trip but what is definite is, that the trip is going to be an up market VIP treat. The purpose is to show Copenhagen’s possibilities as a MICE destination within the frame of a more complex VIP concept.

WHEN: VisitDenmark and Wonderful Copenhagen offer a cross-national press trip over a weekend, from early Saturday to late Monday (!) in late September. This theme is not possible for individual press visits.