Barefoot Incentives – St

destination UPDATE
MUNICH
Munich and its surrounding areas provide a wide range of excitement, fun and cultural activities
suitable for all types of groups.
Munich offers an extensive choice of entertainment, from the traditional ‘Oktoberfest’ to the best
of the cultural scene, including superb ballet; and the opera of which the city is so proud.
HOTELS
The following hotels are the principal properties, highly recommended by Weichlein for their allround service and understanding of the needs of UK events organisers.
KEMPINSKI VIER JAHRESZEITEN (Four Seasons) 5* Deluxe - Situated in the city centre on the
Maximillianstrasse near to the Opera House, what can one say about what must be the best hotel
in the city? 275 rooms, 41 suites - all the facilities you would expect of a hotel of this calibre,
including 8 function rooms for up to 300 persons. For the right group, with the right (higher)
budget, this or the Königshof are at the head of the queue.
HOTEL KÖNIGSHOF 5* Deluxe - Small is beautiful. The Königshof is a 94 room, 9 suite deluxe
family run property situated in the city centre. Style, elegant and sophisticated, the Königshof is
suitable for small very prestigious groups, but is a useful hotel to know for those very special
groups.
BAYERISCHER HOF 5*- A more relaxed property than the Vier Jahreszeiten, yet with a quality
that will not disappoint. Situated in the city centre near to the cathedral, it has 378 rooms, 45
suites and 33 function rooms for up to 2700 person. The hotel has its own lively nightclub and is
recommended for those with a reasonable budget and who wish to enjoy a relaxed smart/casual
style.
EDEN-HOTEL-WOLFF 4* - A traditional style city centre property offering quality 4*
accommodation at an affordable price. It offers 220 rooms & 5 suites and has 9 function rooms
for up to 270 persons. A good all round property, ideal for a quality incentive and small
conference group on a mid range budget. Highly recommended.
PARK HILTON 5* - The city centre keeps being mentioned because three of Munich’s largest
properties, the Park Hilton, Sheraton and Arabella Bogenhausen are situated approximately 2 to 3
miles from the city centre in a parkland area which includes the Englischer Garten. The Park Hilton
has 477 rooms and 21 suites plus all the facilities expected of a hotel of this type
(conference/business) and size including function rooms offering theatre style seating from 40 to
1300 persons.
WESTIN GRAND 5* - What can one say? It’s a Sheraton with the pluses and minuses associated
with large 650-room properties of this type. They certainly have their place and will fill the needs
of any group that needs special requirements due to their size or the content of their programme.
The hotel is in the business area on the edge of the city with easy access to the cities ring road
and the autobahn.
OTHER RECOMMENDED PROPERTIES
ARABELLA SHERATON PARK 4* - large modern property, situated close to the Sheraton
offering some 391 rooms, 39 suites and 37 apartments, good facilities including fitness studio,
pool etc., plus conferences facilities for up to 500 persons.
HOLIDAY INN MUNICH CITY CENTER 4* - a large hotel with 580 rooms and suites situated
near to the Deutsche Museum. Good for large groups with a young profile, as it is a relaxed
informal property without any pretentiousness whatsoever.
HILTON MUNICH CITY 4* - Situated a short 10 minute walk from the city centre, the City
Hilton has 479 rooms and meeting facilities ranging from 30 to 320 persons theatre style. The
hotel has few leisure facilities, but is useful as a value for money alternative for groups with little
free time available to them due to a heavy social or meetings programme.
WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO SEE
THE STANDARD CITY TOUR: The city tour offers a good combination of the hustle and bustle of
the cities main meeting point, the Marienplatz, with its famous Glockenspiel chimes that can be
heard every day at 11am. Culture is included with a visit to the Nymphenburg Palace - the largest
baroque palace in Germany. Sport is covered with a visit to the Olympic Park the home of the
1972 Olympic Games. All this and the other sights of the city make a well balanced half-day
programme.
Sightseeing extensions: Apart from lunch which can be taken anywhere, from a typical Bavarian
beer hall to the revolving restaurant set atop the Olympic Tower overlooking the stadium and the
city beyond; a number of additional extras can be added to make a well balanced, yet not too
exhausting full day in and around the city.
BMW Museum: is a must,
situated by the side of BMW’s
Headquarters, right next to
the Olympic Park.
This
futuristic
museum,
locally
called the soup bowl because
of its shape, shows the history of BMW, not just of the cars, but of
the motorbikes and aeroplanes of the past as well.
As the BMW Museum is the number one tourist attraction in Germany, it provides the perfect
setting for gala dinners for high-budget, high-end groups in its meeting space. This is further
supported by the fact that the venue’s restaurant is home to the best caterers in Germany.
Private guides can also perform exclusive factory tours for groups.
FULL DAY EXCURSIONS
The diversity of the beauty and splendour of Bavaria is breathtaking, stretching from the historic
towns and cities of Nuremberg and Bamberg in the north and the beautiful medieval towns, such
as Rothenburg ob de Tauber, which are set along the ‘Romantische Strasse’.
The delights of the south are easily covered in a full day excursion including the fairytale Castles
of ‘Mad’ King Ludwig the most famous being at Neuschwanstein.
Enjoy the Alpine splendour of Garmisch-Partenkirchen - a former Winter Olympic venue which can
include a visit to Germany’s highest mountain the ‘Zugspitze’. Train and cable car can take you to
the top with refreshments or lunch served either before your ascent at the Hotel Berggasthof
Panorama in Garmisch, a superb venue with views of the valley and the towering mountains
above; or at the summit in the Sonn Alpin restaurant, which is ideal for an entertaining lunch or
even dinner.
Why not combine this or any other visit with a bit of light hearted competition and enjoy a winter
or summer mini-Olympics. Enjoy events ranging from archery, mountain biking and horseshoe
throwing in the summer or snow rafting and igloo building in the winter; and at anytime and
anywhere an indoors Bavarian Olympics with tree trunk sawing, beer mug weight lifting and
milking etc.
EXCURSIONS WITH A DIFFERENCE
On the subject of fun, my favourite full day excursion has always
been the Bavarian Alps and a visit to the Salt Mines at
Berchtesgaden (2 hours from Munich). The day includes a journey
south of the city towards the Austrian border, past Lake Chiemsee,
past the foreboding Eagles Nest
(Hitler’s mountain retreat), then on to
Berchtesgaden
where
everyone
changes into quirky boiler suits.
From there you go by miners train a kilometre into the mountain
and then journey through passages, down wooden slides to lower
levels, across a brine lake on a raft and back out at speed by the
train. It is a great fun visit, suitable for any age and any level of
invitee; and all set in the awe inspiring beauty of the Alps.
This work really well as a farewell event, but it is worth noting that strict timing will need to be
adhered to, as the airport is 2-2.5 hours away
EATING OUT - RECOMMENDED LOCAL RESTAURANTS
The two things we can guarantee in Munich is that you won’t starve or die of thirst. In fact the
combinations of eating and drinking are endless; from the big halls such as the Hofbräuhaus
(which be warned for some inexplicable reason sticks to UK pub times and closes at 11 pm) to
small bars and clubs in Schwabing, the Bohemian area of the city. So where is a good place to
eat?
TYPICAL BAVARIAN
Löwenbräukeller
Bavarian, cosy, traditional – and full of life: in our traditional Munich restaurant, the brewer´s
room, the lion roars daily from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Typically Bavarian delicacies and varied daily
meals are served with Löwenbräu beer specialties. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room:
1,600
Hofbräukeller
Munich hospitality and Bavarian beer tradition come together in the Hofbräukeller at Wiener Platz.
For more than a hundred years, locals and guests from all over the world came to enjoy the
famous Hofbräuhaus beer as well as hearty delicacies. If the weather permits, the idyllic beer
garden invites to beer and snacks. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room: 250
Zum Franziskaner
Since April 1966, the family Reinbold rules the Zum Franziskaner. Eduard Reinbold and his sons
Louis and Mathias, today's chefs, provide with around 120 employees and the 25-strong kitchen
brigade for the pleasure of his guests. The successful mix of different styles has made the house a
meeting place for connoisseurs of fine cuisine, local and international celebrities, business people
and lovers of neat snacks. The well-kept Bavarian cuisine is known far beyond the country's
borders for its Weißwurst (Bavarian veal sausage) with Franciscan mustard is completed by the
specialty beers. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room: 180
Der Pschorr
This traditional restaurant is a meeting place for locals, residents and tourists. In a pleasant
atmosphere you can enjoy excellent beer, Bavarian cuisine and friendly service. Located in the
heart of the historic old town is Der Pschorr next to the Viktualienmarkt and Schrannenhalle. In
the summer, you can admire the colourful market from the beer garden. Maximum amount of
guests in the larger room: 170
Paulaner am Nockherberg
Beer lovers will find everything their heart desire in Paulaner Tavern: enjoy the variety
of fine fresh beer, culinary delicacies, friendly people and superb service in tastefully
decorated rooms with cosy fireplace. For a stylish atmosphere, the bright, large banquet rooms
will ensure upstairs. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room: 1450
Augustiner am Dom
The ambience suits typical Bavarian Munich cooking: comfortable and traditional. You will find
individual service everywhere in a lot of details: in the cover, the table cloth, the decoration,
the seating’s and the atmospheric room illumination. Augustiner beer is freshly tapped by the
wooden barrel. 3 floors in comfortable ambience with 400 seats in the whole house. Each floor
has its own bar and is accessible with our elevator. Particularly suitable for your
celebration or conference. Upstairs is particularly cosy and there are great window tables with a
view out over the Frauenplatz below. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room: 170
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Augustiner Grossgaststätte
The Augustiner restaurant in the bustling pedestrian zone between Marienplatz routes is the last
original preserved Munich brewery restaurant in the city centre. The large beer hall just behind
the entrance is full of life; this restaurant is the meeting point for soccer fans on match days.
The kitchen serves delicious roast, but also specialties such as baked calf's head or oxtail stew.
The sausages are all from the own butchery. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room:
200
Augustinerkeller
The Augustinerkeller is centrally located and is known for its friendly service. The Festsaal, a
large Bavarian hall that couldn’t be more splendid, can be exclusively reserved for you. It is a
comfortable room to enjoy the typical Bavarian cuisine.
Splendid old paintings, imposing chandeliers and a wooden ceiling with numerous carvings make
this room something special. It is also one of the few remaining halls with barrel vaults in
Munich. Maximum amount of guests in the larger room: 400
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INTERNATIONAL RESTAURANTS
Olympia Tower - an elegant revolving restaurant, offering good food 600 foot above the Olympic Park.
Maximum capacity: 220-250, Ratskeller traditional German cuisine serving both local and international
cuisine situated in the vaults of the Town Hall, maximum capacity: 1000, Schwarzwalder Munich’s oldest
wine house and gourmet restaurant located close to the Marienplatz, maximum capacity: 45.
WELSER KUCHE
A Bavarian version of a medieval banquet. A great ice-breaker restaurant
for delegates who not know each other so well; the quality of food 10
course), entertainment, audience participation all contribute to an
incredibile evening!
The informality of this restaurant will
relax a group, but it is worth noting
that there is a good deal of audience
involvement, and a light-hearted
male/female divide (in line with the olden days), so activities will
need to be taken with a pinch of salt! Maximum capacity – 400 or
private room is available for smaller groups.
BANQUETING VENUES
Munich has many excellent banqueting venues which can be hired on an exclusive basis and also has
private catering companies that offer food of superb quality without losing the basis of the regional
cuisine. A wide variety of entertainment can also be provided, from typical Bavarian folklore, to a
balanced evening of music arranged by the Munich Opera House, or a complete history of music from
the Classics through to the 1920’s; and on to rock and pop ending with rap either performed between
courses, or as a complete presentation. Among the venues that are suitable are:
A FEW IDEAS FOR INCENTIVE GROUPS
Everyone’s heard of the Oktoberfest, but do you know of the less crowded and as much fun MUNICH
STRONG BEER FESTIVAL, or as it is known locally, the Starkbierfest. This festival, which is unique to
Munich, occurs every year during March when the local breweries serve up a very strong beer they call
‘liquid bread’ so named by the monks who drank it during their Lent fast. This festival is celebrated by
the local inhabitants and such has a more authentic feel to it than the Oktoberfest, yet it features all one
would expect - Brass Bands, Folklore groups, plus singing and dancing.
The Löwenbrau-Beerkeller hosts almost 1800, mostly locals, every night of the week during the 4-5
weeks of the festival. Why not try the real thing and get details of this annual event direct from
Weichlein Incentives + Tours.
There are many enhancements to add to a lunch or dinner; these range from a Tramcar Party on the
way to the restaurant of your choice. The tramcar is bedecked with banners and streamers (personalised
if required) and beer and schnapps are served to the accompaniment of a local musician. Gala dinners
can be enhanced with period costumed waiters with ‘King Ludwig II’ making a guest appearance with his
page; with classical music accompaniment throughout the meal. All this plus Alphorn-Blowers, Folk
Dancers, magicians, illusionists and a mini-Oktoberfest can be arranged through Weichlein to ensure a
successful event for both you and your client.
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For those groups needing a more leisure-based programme (or just a day of
it) it might be well worth a visit the Monastery Ettal, close to Oberammergau
and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria.
This would encompass a visit to its brewery and museum, with liqueur tasting
involved and an explanation of the many herbs used for your health.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen is a beautiful alpine ski resort and if time allows it is
worth visiting Pflegersee Restaurant for lunch. The beautiful
views from the restaurant across the lake are a real draw
for guests, especially in the winter when it is totally frozen.
The restaurant seats 80 inside, while there is space for 120
on the terrace (with heated marquee) and the food is
excellent, backed up by the fact that they provide the
catering at ski championships!
The venue is perfect for large groups wishing to utilise it exclusively and is a great base
for teambuilding programmes. For example, the DMC can arrange Bavarian games
inside the building, or on and around the lake. Examples: Fake cow milking, Olympic
Games, shooting, curling ice fishing, transporting hay across the ice via slides…
FLIGHTS
The new Munich airport is superbly laid out and has everything to make life easy, as well as its very own
beer hall! The major airlines serving Munich are Lufthansa and British Airways ex LHR, with additional
services by Air UK ex Stansted and Deutsche BA ex Gatwick, with both carriers offering particularly
attractive rates.
CONCLUSION
Munich and the surrounding areas have been largely ignored for far too long. It has so much to offer
every type of group that once you have visited the city you will wonder why it is not at the top of
everyone’s list of European incentive destinations.
For those of you who are deeply involved in conventions and exhibitions you will already know that
Munich is already a major convention city, meaning that it will have few rivals in both capacity and
facilities anywhere in the world.
So to sum up, a great all round destination winter or summer and an innovative DMC who has dealt with
the UK market for over 20 years. All it needs is for you to join the growing band of organisers who have
discovered what I have known all along and that is simply - Munich works.
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