Westin Valencia, Spain

Meeting destinations are like fashion, constantly changing so if you find there’s a “been there, seen it, done it” attitude towards Barcelona, then consider Valencia.

Admittedly, Valencia does not offer the vast array of hotels as Barcelona, but the Westin Valencia is an excellent venue for meeting and events.  Formerly a textile factory the exterior outwardly reflects the Belle Epoc era seen in Valencia’s many fine buildings.  City centre hotels can be busy, unwelcoming places but the Westin Valencia is an oasis of calm, being situated in a quiet road yet just a short walk to the Historic centre and the Science Park.

Setting up for a Gala Dinner - Exposición

The hotel building is only two storeys high and forms a square with the central area consisting of a beautiful courtyard, complete with fountains and orange trees. This fabulous, unique space is ideal for outdoors lunches and drinks receptions.  The largest meeting room, “Exposición” holds 400 theatre style and opens out onto a courtyard, providing a welcome escape for any delegates “punch drunk on PowerPoint presentations”.

The 135 bedrooms are smart chain hotel décor, the exception being the lovely marble bathrooms.  Guest floor corridors consist of period, dark wooden doors, and being an historic property there’s only two lifts, meaning a bit of hike to bedrooms for some.

    

Royal Suite

But if money’s no object, then book your VIP into the over-designed Royal Suite complete with outdoor hot tub. Commissioned by a famous interior designer and patronised by the likes of Claudia Shiffer and Julia Roberts, it certainly is “an attack on the eyeballs” and the VG preferred the calming yellows, creams and browns of the deluxe rooms. 

Courtyard at the Westin

Westin Valencia Verdict:  
Lovely hotel in an excellent location.

 www.eventoptions.com

Expert venue finding for business meetings and events

E-mail: enquires@eventoptions.com  Tel: +44 (0) 1483 281 426

The Venue Guru is a name given for reviews of business venues that as a professional, I have inspected personally or used for meeting and events.  The venues reviewed are in the UK or mainland Europe and these reviews are from a meeting and event planners perspective.  I have no links with any hotels or venue marketing consortia and the reviews expressed are my own opinions. I hope you find them useful.

W Barcelona

You can’t miss the resemblance of the W Barcelona to the Burj al Arabe in Dubai.  This stunning curved glass structure sits at the edge of the Mediterranean overlooking the Port of Barcelona on one side yet it’s only 10 minutes drive to the centre of Barcelona.

When I arrived at the hotel, they were laying out the red carpet. Not for the VG! But for guests attending a dinner for a major Spanish telecoms company. The hotel reception was buzzy and busy, and I suspect many people wandering around were there just have a “nose around”.  I was taken up to the 24th floor in an elevator so smooth the only reason I knew we’d arrived was my ears popped.  The “W” in W hotels stands for WOW!, and this is true of their 473 bedrooms.  Each bed is strategically placed facing the floor to ceiling windows, so the occupants can conveniently gaze out to sea without leaving bed.  The views are stunning and the shape of the hotel makes the bedroom appear if suspended in mid air.

For an events organiser, it is the Great Room that gets them excited; or rather it’s an AV technician’s dream – a function room holding 850 with a ceiling height of 7 metres!  The rear aspect comprises of a floor to ceiling window with views of the coastline.  A well thought out terrace at the side makes a great area for a drinks reception or dining al fresco.  Slightly disappointing was the narrow staircase access to the other meeting rooms located on the ground floor.  There are 10 meeting rooms down on the ground floor; they’re good, but typical of any modern meeting rooms in a major city hotel.

This is the only hotel in Barcelona that has direct access to the beach, so obviously attracts strong interest from the leisure market.  As a consequence, if you are proposing to use the W Barcelona for a serious meeting, the business suits could well be mixing with the swimsuits and the flip-flop brigade. 

www.eventoptions.com

Expert venue finding for business meetings and events

E-mail: enquires@eventoptions.com  Tel: +44 (0) 1483281426

The Venue Guru is a name given for reviews of business venues that as a professional, I have inspected personally or used for meeting and events.  The venues reviewed are in the UK or mainland Europe and these reviews are from a meeting and event planners perspective.  I have no links with any hotels or venue marketing consortia and the reviews expressed are my own opinions. I hope you find them useful.

Movenpick, Amsterdam

 Meeting venues in Amsterdam are all about being near water and the Mövenpick Amsterdam is no exception. One of the best things about this hotel’s location is its direct quayside access, providing a great starting point for canal boat cruises.  An event planner’s delight – no coach transfers!

Schiphol Airport connects directly to Amsterdam’s mainline station; just 14 mins walk to the Mövenpick (yes, even I’ve walked it).  Downtown hotels off quaint, narrow streets can mean you get held up by the sheer volume of cyclists alone, but the Mövenpick’s main road access takes you quickly out of the city.

All 408 bedrooms are ultra modern and apart from a couple of suites, identical in size, so this avoids arguments as to who has a better/bigger room.  The only slight difference is the higher up your room the better the view over the river IJ, and it’s pretty spectacular when enormous cruise ships dock alongside.

 

There’s a dedicated meetings floor with 12 modern meeting rooms and a central standing only catering area.  (see photo of bored technician seated in one half of the Matterhorn suite).

The Mövenpick only has one restaurant, (The Silk Road) it’s a shame it’s not on the top floor for the views but it does have a large outside terrace that can be used in fine weather. 

 

As a meeting planner, the VG liked this hotel.  The conference staff are some of the best I’ve dealt with, and it’s 4 star rated so the costs aren’t outrageous.

www.eventoptions.com

Expert venue finding for business meetings and events

E-mail: enquires@eventoptions.com  Tel: +44 (0) 1483281426

The Venue Guru is a name given for reviews of business venues that as a professional, I have inspected personally or used for meeting and events.  The venues reviewed are in the UK or mainland Europe and these reviews are from a meeting and event planners perspective.  I have no links with any hotels or venue marketing consortia and the reviews expressed are my own opinions. I hope you find them useful.

Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa

There are few things more exciting with venue inspections than driving along a stately tree-lined avenue and the anticipation of what’s at the end. Arriving at Pennyhill Park Hotel however can be a bit confusing; some Satnav systems may direct you to the deliveries entrance, as happened to the client I was meeting!  You are first signposted to the Car Park, but it’s only a short, steep walk down to the hotel entrance, that’s unless you have a truly stunning motor in which case you are allowed to park in small area in front of the hotel.   However, Pennyhill Park understands first impressions count, and there is a competent car valet service to take care of your wheels if you’ve left the Ferrari at home.

Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa is a luxury 5-star hotel, comprising of a combination of a beautiful ivy-clad manor house and at the rear a luxury spa and accommodation complex. Meeting rooms are attractive, light and airy and all have the latest technology. If you need a lot of breakout rooms this could be a problem – they’re not that many and not all meeting rooms are located in the same place.  The bedrooms viewed were elegant, well appointed and the décor not too glitzy. Perhaps reflecting the fact that the hotel is home to England’s Rugby team during training for home internationals. 

The jewel in Pennyhill’s crown is it’s staff – efficient, attentive and friendly, this more than anything confirms its luxury status.  What would the VG consider Pennyhill Park Hotel & Spa for? Certainly, this venue’s aim is to attract those senior executive board meetings and it’s impressive enough for important customer events and incentives, plus, the Manor House makes a beautiful backdrop for weddings.  Rates are high for run of the mill meetings and events but it’s ideal for smallish incentive groups.  Following other top hotel trends, they’ve introduced a “Chef’s Table” or rather a “dine in the hotel kitchen experience” where you can watch chefs prepare your food order on TV screens – it gives a whole new meaning to TV dinners!

Fast find facts - What is it?

A first class luxury hotel located 25 miles from central London and only 15 miles from London Heathrow (LHR).  Nearest motorway: M3/ Nearest Train Station: Bagshot.

Maximum theatre style: 140, Total beds: 123.

The VG liked: Parkland setting, Fabulous Spa, Michelin Food, Ruby Pitch, 9 hole Golf course, Carbon-neutral conferencing, Free WIFI throughout

   www.eventoptions.com

Expert venue finding for business meetings and events

+ 44 (0) 1483 281426

The Venue Guru is a name given for reviews of business venues that as a professional, I have inspected personally or used for meeting and events.  The venues reviewed are in the UK or mainland Europe and these reviews are from a meeting and event planners perspective.  I have no links with any hotels or venue marketing consortia and the reviews expressed are my own opinions. I hope you find them useful.