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Munich

GCB Educational Trip to Munich – recap

Last month’s Educational Trip to Munich, organised by the German Convention Bureau and Munich Convention Bureau had a busy agenda and in three days we got a good overview of what Munich has to offer for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions. We viewed some of the most iconic and worldwide famous venues, such as the Allianz Arena and BMW World and familiarised ourselves with local hotels, including The Westin Grand Munich Hotel, Platzl Hotel, Sheraton Arabellapark Hotel, DOLCE Hotel Munich Unterschleissheim and Bayerischer Hof. Also, there is no trip to Munich without visiting a Brewery, so we got this off the list by visiting the Brewery Giesinger Bräu. Lastly, we also met My DMC, Conference & Touring and Interplan who can assist international planners with local knowledge, know-how and be your partners “on the ground”.

In my previous post Munich for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions I shared with you our itinerary, but there are more photos I wanted to share with you from the trip I just couldn’t fit in the post. So here I share them with you, hope you’ll enjoy it and get inspiration for your next event in Munich.

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My room at The Westin Grand Munich

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Warm welcome from the hotel 

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View from my room at The Westin Grand Munich

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Lunch at The Westin Grand Munich

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Mediterranean starter 

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Wiener Schnitzel is a must when in Germany!

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Seasonal dessert, yum!

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Venue tour of The Westin Grand Munich, viewing event spaces 

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ZEN restaurant, where breakfast is served

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City Rally with My DMC, Marienplatz 

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View from the Frauenkirche

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Can see the Viktualienmarkt, but close on Sundays

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Viktualienmarkt

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Viewing meeting space at the Platzl Hotel

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Space for small groups

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Event space at the Sheraton Arabellapark Hotel

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Our group dinner at the Sheraton Arabellapark Hotel

Sheraton Arabellapark Hotel

Site visit of Allianz Arena

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Site visit of DOLCE Hotel Munich Unterschleissheim

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 Self-service e-café where delegates can boost their energy with healthy snacks, juices and coffee

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Event space at the DOLCE Hotel Munich Unterschleissheim

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Viewing the BallhausForum

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Lunch at Redox restaurant. Baked avocado, sweet potatoes, wild herbs and maple syrup

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Beef fillet, root vegetables, celery cream and Truffle Jus for main course

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Petit Fours for dessert at the Winter Chalet

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Winter Chalet for Bavarian specialties

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Our delegates enjoying their coffee by the fireplace 

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Meeting Conference & Touring for a Yodel Seminar in the English Garden

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More cake! 

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Enjoying the great weather and networking before the seminar

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The English Garden

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Yodel Seminar with Conference & Touring and our guide Horst

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Learning how to Yodel with Horst!

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Beer tasting at Brewery Giesinger Bräu

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Beer tasting

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Three different beers to taste

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Drinks reception and dinner at the Bayerischer Hof

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Drinks receptions with a view!

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Buffalo ricotta with malt bread crisp, herb salad and Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar for starter

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Supreme of chicken with Kaffir lime leaf risotto and green asparagus for main course

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Greek yogurt sherbet with lime soused strawberries and virgin strawberry Mojito for dessert

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Site visit of the BMW Group Classic

BMW Group Classic

Non-traditional room design for meetings to foster creative thinking at the BMW Group Classic

BMW Group Classic

Ideal for trainings and seminars

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Viewing event space at BMW World

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Having a break at Biker’s Lodge

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Time to go home, thanks for the great time!

Munich for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions

Last month I was invited to attend an Educational Trip to Munich, city famous for the Oktoberfest, FC Bayern and BMW, among others. I was very excited to join this trip because between 2010-11 I lived 10 month in Munich and did an internship in events. I thought I knew Munich well before arriving, but the trip definitely showed me few hidden gems I wasn’t familiar with. The trip was organised by German Convention Bureau and Munich Convention Bureau and 12 event planners attended from Europe: Austria, Italy, Belgium, Poland, UK and Holland and represented agencies, corporate planners and associations. The trip took place from 26 – 28 June 2016.

A few delegates arrived on the 26th  and others, like me, the day before, and we all met at the hotel lobby of The Westin Grand Munich, where we also stayed both nights. To make it logistically convenient our first stop on the tour was the hotel for a show round and lunch. The hotel has two restaurants, the Paulaner’s Wirtshaus, offering traditional Bavarian hospitality and the ZEN, where the breakfast is served, and in the evening is available for private hire. The Ducktail’s bar is also open for hotel guests in the evening until 2am. Our lunch was at the Paulaner’s Wirtshaus to kick off the trip the right way with a wide selection of Bavarian delights. That’s a great lunch option if your delegates arrive on the day and you just want to keep it easy for everyone. Starting with a sharing platter we then had a second starter, main and dessert.

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For meetings and events, the hotel has three dedicated floors on levels 1 – 3. On the Lobby level you can find the ballroom, suitable for large events. For example it can accommodate up to 600 delegates for dinner. There is no natural day light in this one. On the second floor, the rooms benefit from natural daylight and when the weather allows, events can be held outside on the terrace. There are six meeting rooms in total for up to 200 delegates. On the third floor there are more meeting rooms, 11 in total that can accommodate up to 420 delegates. Very flexible and large event space, it can cater for small and large events.

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After the lunch it was time for some exercise so we left for City Rally with My DMC to learn about Munich and explore it by foot and bike. We were given a set of questions about key city attractions, including Odeonsplatz, Marienplatz and Viktualienmarkt and had to complete them in teams. We also climbed the Frauenkirche, from where you probably have one of the most beautiful views over the city.

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Our last stop on the tour was Platzl Hotel, a boutique, family owned hotel with a traditional Bavarian flair. There we had a presentation from Green City e.V. about the different green initiatives in Munich, including urban mobility and urban design, for example – Munich bike sharing and night bike tours, roof greening to create cooling effect in summer and warming effect in winter and others.

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Sustainability is very high on corporate agendas today and it’s important if the destination has green initiatives in place that you can incorporate them into your event. Our next stop was to hear about München Summt. Since 2011 bee hives are placed on rooftops to prevent their disappearing in cities and this initiative is run by volunteers to take care of the bees and educate the public about the importance of the bees to our planet.

From there we came back to the hotel before leaving for dinner at the Sheraton Arabellapark Hotel. The hotel is just 5 minutes walking distance from The Westin Grand Munich Hotel and also offers large meetings spaces and catering facilities. With 17 rooms for up to 450 delegates, the hotel can be also used jointly with the Westin Grand Munich, together possible to accommodate up to 1250 delegates. After the tour we had dinner at the SixtySix restaurant.

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Second day began with individual breakfast at The Westin Grand Munich hotel. It’s one of the nicest breakfast buffets I’ve experienced so far, offering a wide variety of cold and warm buffet.

First stop on the second day was Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern Football Club. One of the iconic venues in Munich, they host around 1400 corporate events per year on non-match days. I was very looking forward to visit this venue because when I worked in Munich in events I used to take clients there for a meet and greet with a football professional, before we watched the match together. On this occasion, there was no game so we got to see all the event spaces available for hire on non-match days. On non-match days, event boxes can be set up for trainings, seminars, dinners or conferences. For larger groups, the Saebener Lounge can be used for up 450 delegates for seated dinner. The Saebener Lounge has also a show-kitchen and delegates can see the dishes before ordering. The in-house catering is provided exclusively by DO & CO. The largest event space, The Business Club, overlooking the pitch can be used for banquets or exhibitions for groups larger than 2000 delegates. Last but not least, FC Bayern Museum can be used as an event space, for up to 200 delegates for seated dinner and 500 delegates for drinks reception. Venue tours can be also incorporated in the programme, as well as organisers can host a small drinks reception on the border of the pitch.

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Our next stop was DOLCE Hotel Munich Unterschleissheim. Hotel’s focus is primarily on MICE and they offer modern and well equipped facilities for business travellers. In addition to the 19 meeting rooms, the hotel has also a dedicated Auditorium for events, the BallhausForum. Another USP is the Hotel’s free of charge parking with 1000 slots (as several people during our trips mentioned how hard and expensive it is to find parking space in Munich). For breaks between meetings, the hotel has an e-café, a self-service area where delegates can boost their energy with healthy snacks, juices and coffee.

After the tour we had lunch at Redox restaurant and for coffee and petite furs moved to view the Winter Chalet, another venue for groups offering Bavarian specialties.

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After this light and enjoyable lunch we headed to the English Garden, another must when in Munich, for a Yodel Seminar hosted by Conference & Touring.

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When our instructor Horst taught us how to make these Yodel sounds everyone was laughing but was engaged. Adding some instruments to make more sounds and atmosphere, everyone loved it. This activity can be as short as 30 minutes to energise attendees between meetings or after lunch or can be a longer group team building activity, including a song composition, for example.

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Well entertained and energised our tour continued to Brewery Giesinger Bräu for beer tasting. After a short presentation about brewing process we were given three beers to taste. 

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From there we went back to the hotel to have a short rest and check emails before leaving for dinner at the Bayerischer Hof, an iconic 5* hotel. The dinner was hosted by Interplan, one of the leading German PCOs. After a short hotel tour we had a drinks reception on the terrace, with beautiful views of the famous Frauenkirche and since the weather allowed it, also had our dinner outside on the terrace. We all enjoyed our last night in Munich over great food, drinks and conversations. I must say that the service was impeccable at all venues.

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The last day of our trip started with breakfast at the hotel, before heading to BMW World, another highlight of the local (but also national and global) car industry to view their event spaces at BMW Group Classic, suitable for seminars and training and BMW World, suitable for dinners, conferences, product launches and other big events. Spaces are very modern with very distinct architecture, technology driven and futuristic. AV facility is included in the venue hire and the in-house caterer is Käfer, a high-end Munich based company.

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I’m very proud to say that my first major experience in events was in Munich so I definitely can recommend this city for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition. It’s an international city with very good connections by car, rail and air, it offers modern facilities, expertise and know how. Hopefully will be back soon!

My favourite spots in Munich

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Recently a friend told me he is moving to Munich and doesn’t know the city very well. Since I spent one year in Munich, which was also one of the best years of my life, I decided to equip him with a list of my favourite places, which I also happy to share with you here today.

When I’m in a new city I like to go to places where the locals go, because only then I feel as I really experienced it. Munich has it all, art, business, leisure, sports, Oktoberfest, you name it. But I decided to pick the ones suitable for business travellers, whether you are there for only one day or longer, alone or with colleagues, want to spend a relaxing time or party a bit.

I visited all of these places and can’t recommend you enough to visit them next time you’re in town. All places were recommended to me by locals from the corporate world and event planners who are leaders in their field. I feel so grateful that I had this opportunity to spend one year in one of the most beautiful cities in Germany, and in the world, and I hope you will find this guide useful.

Schumann´s

Is the ultimate place for cocktails. They have a wide selection of cocktails which are prepared in front of you by their experienced bartenders and the atmosphere there is fantastic.  On weekends it’s very crowded and hard to get a table but on the other hand you can stay on the bar and watch the bartenders in action, which is also great.

Mandarin Oriental München

I can’t recommend you enough this rooftop, my all-time favourite. I loved the lounge music and the excellent service. Perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon or after work.

Andechser am Dom

If you want to try a real German/ Bavarian food this is your place. Or you just want to have an after work beer with friends, this is also your place. It is owned by the same owner of the Oktoberfest tent Hippodrome Sepp Krätz and you can expect excellent food and service.

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La Baracca München

If you want to experience something new this place is for you. Here you place orders using an iPad. This is very engaging so you may find yourself ordering more than you can eat but just for the fun of it. Some of the portions are very small, such as the lasagne and others are bigger, such as the pizza so it’s a good place if you want to try and share different dishes. It’s a great concept, the restaurant is very modern and welcoming and the food is fantastic. Owned by the same owners of Vapiano it has the same payment system. Good place to enjoy with friends or colleagues, but not alone.

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Cafe Reitschule

The perfect place for a weekend breakfast. A bit hidden from the main road, but when you find it, it’s a lovely quite place for a late breakfast or branch. If you’re lucky you’ll also see pony trainings.

Bergwolf

Is the legendary place for Currywurst. This is the place where everyone goes after a night out partying and you’ll be surprised to see the long queue. That’s definitely not the healthiest option but something you also have to experience while in Munich.

Paulaner am Nockherberg

If you are looking for a Biergarten this is the one you have to visit. It’s a lovely Biergarten, away from the city hassle and very popular with locals.

2 days in Munich

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Munich is an ultimate events destination. It has lots to offer, including infrustructure, culture, leisure, business and it is very international. Every time I´m in Munich, even for a 1-2 days trip, there are a number of places I never miss to render a visit.

Munich, a place to the lagest beer festival in the world, the Oktoberfest, can also pride itself for two very big gastronomes: Sepp Krätz, the owner of the famous beer tent at the Oktoberfest Hippodrom and and the german restaurant Andechser am Dom and Alfons Schuhbeck, a prominent TV cook and presenter who has also several restaurants in Munich, cooking classes, branded products and much more. Both of them stand for very high standards of customer service.

For an informal lunch or dinner I like the restaurant Andechser am Dom. It’s not a touristic palce as other places located on Marienplatz and it has very delicious food and excellent customer service. As you can see on the photos, the owner is well connected and the place was visited by famous people. They have space downstairs for private dining suitable for groups.

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Founded by the founders of Vapiano, the relatively new Italian restaurant and concept La Baracca offers the diners a new dining experience, where they can order their food with an iPad. When I was there for dinner they were very busy so it will be best to make a reservation. Also they have space for groups, it is not in a private setting, which can be great for an informal dinner with colleagues.

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For last minute souvenirs I can recommend you to go to Dallmayr. This is a gourmet food shop and souvenirs from there are always appreciated by my friends and family. They have also a coffee shop upstairs with very delicious desserts, highly recommended!

The second place I can recommend is Alfons Schuhbeck’s shop(s). There you can find a variety of spices, teas and other products. They are more pricy but the quality meets the price and the present will be appreciated. I have his cooking book and all of the recipes I made were amazing, and I guess big part of it is due to the choice of spices he uses for the dishes.

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Last but not least is the Viktualienmarkt, one of my favourite markets.

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Review: live decision 2018 Winter Olympics

Munich did a great job and the preparations lasted 3.5 years to this moment, but unfortunately it lost to Pyeongchang. Munich definitely showed that it has the right infrastructure, resources, staff and most of all spirit to host international events.

Here are some impressions from the public viewing which attracted many local and international visitors. Exceptional performance gave the hip hop band Madcon with three songs and they will be back in Munich on November 7, 2011  so don’t miss it.

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And here are some photos: