About Rome Hotels and meeting facilities

E-NEWSLETTER
June 2012 I # 9
almost every turn one finds protected ruins, majestic
monuments, millennium-old churches and basilicas,
opulent palaces, ornate statues and art treasures.
Unsurprisingly, the historic city center was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
About Rome
San Pietro e Tevere, Rome
Built on the legendary seven hills, the capital of the Italian
Republic lies on the River Tiber between the Apennine
Mountains and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rome has 2.7 million
inhabitants, while the metropolitan area is home to
around 4.5 million. Also within Rome's Territory is Vatican
City, the world‘s smallest independent sovereign
state, sprawling over a hill west of the River Tiber, and
separated from the rest of the city by a wall.
The Eternal City, though, is as close to eternal as it gets.
Pretty backdrop to many a Hollywood movie, the city of
spacious parks, tree-lined boulevards and fountainsplashed piazzas is also one of the world’s most
attractive cities where to indulge in more ephemeral
pleasures: like embarking on a spending spree at
upscale fashion boutiques or tantalizing one’s taste buds
at traditional Roman eateries, abundant in the maze of
narrow streets and alleys. Living “La Dolce Vita”…
Rome was not built in a day and has the spectacular
treasures to prove it. The entire city is a vast, nearly
3’000-year-old living museum full of history where at
Colosseo, Rome
Rome has two main airports, Leonardo da Vinci (better
known as Fiumicino), located 30 kilometers southwest of
the city center where most international carriers fly to;
and Ciampino, 15 kilometers in the southeast, served by
low-cost and charter airlines. The Italian capital is easily
accessible with over 170 direct flights connections
from and to major cities worldwide (with the exception
of Australasia and South Africa). Albeit suffering from
chronic traffic jams and from the fact that the underground network covers only 38 kilometers, all (airport)roads lead to Rome in less than 45 minutes or so…
Hotels and meeting facilities
Rome offers a choice of more than 260 hotels in the 4
to 5 star segments, many with meeting facilities.
Counting almost 50 purpose-built convention centers,
some 20 castles with conference facilities as well as
meeting rooms in refurbished period buildings, the City of
the Caesars, also called Caput Mundi (capital of the
world) is a truly complete meeting destination.
Vischer, Merkt & Partner AG | CH-8049 Zürich | phone +41 43 244 70 60 | www.vmp-ag.ch
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E-NEWSLETTER
June 2012 I # 9
Hotels and meeting facilities (continued)
Our picks for larger meetings
Almost 3’000 years old and still growing: currently
under construction is the New Convention Center “La
Nuvola” (= cloud) for its futuristic shape, designed by
Roman architect M. Fuksas. As of 2013, the complex
located in the EUR district will be offering an auditorium
capable of accommodating 1’800 delegates as well as
modular meeting space for a total of 6’000 attendees.
Radisson Blu es. Hotel Rome: www.radissonblu.com
4-star design hotel offering 232 rooms with minimalist
and ultra-contemporary design touches, topped off by an
outdoor rooftop pool. At lobby level, built as an amphitheater, is a 500 m2 conference center that can hold up to
500 guests or be divided into 3 smaller rooms. 7 breakout
rooms and a meeting room on the 7th floor with outdoor
terrace are part of the superb meeting facilities.
The Westin Excelsior Rome: www.starwoodhotels.com
5-star luxury property on Rome’s prestigious Via Veneto.
Since its opening in 1906, synonymous with refinement,
luxury and comfort. Its grand style is reflected in the
splendid early 20th century furnishings of the recently
remodeled 316 rooms. Dramatic decor also abounds in
the 11 meeting rooms, whereby The Winter Garden
represents the ornate, Empire-style centerpiece.
«La Nuvola», Nuovo Centro Congressi, Rome
Our recommendations for smaller meetings
Gran Melià Rome: www.granmeliarome.com
5-star luxury urban resort, just opened, so we haven’t had
a chance to test it yet… Superb location in a park on the
banks of the River Tiber, at a 5 min. walk from the
Vatican. A glamorous hotel-cum-museum, showcasing
valuable archaeological remains discovered during
construction, it offers116 elegant guest rooms and 3
modern meeting rooms.
Boscolo Exedra Roma: www.boscolohotels.com
5-star deluxe hotel in a restored late 19th century palace
just minutes from Roma Termini train station. The 238
rooms behind the arched Neoclassical façade showcase
precious materials and exquisite furnishings. Timeless
elegance and a breezy, contemporary atmosphere also
reign in the 7 meeting rooms. A posh terrace with
restaurant, bar and pool overlooks Rome’s rooftops.
UNA Hotel Rome: www.unahotels.it
4-star clean-lined, contemporary hotel located in the city
center close to Roma Termini and at 1.2 km from the
Colosseum. Opened in 2009, the hotel features 197
bright and spacious rooms in a fully updated early-1900s
building. Art Deco influences can also be found in the
public areas and the hotel’s 5 meeting rooms and board
room.
Crowne Plaza Rome: www.crowneplazaromehotel.com
4-star modern hotel located in a residential area on Via
Aurelia Antica at 3 km from Vatican City. Its 309 spacious
rooms, between standard, superior and suites, combine
contemporary decor with soothing neutral colors. Has a
conference center with 13 flexible meeting rooms, an
exhibition area and outdoor spaces for banquets.
Rome Cavalieri: www.romecavalieri.com
5-star luxury hotel set in a park offering breathtaking city
views with the dome of St. Peter’s prominently in sight.
Home to one of the world’s most prestigious art collections housed within a hotel, it features 370 comfortable
rooms as well as the largest congress center facility of
any European 5-star deluxe hotel with 8’700 m2 of stateof-the-art, flexible event space incl. 25 meeting rooms.
Rooftop pool and terrace, Radisson Blu es, Rome
The St. Regis Rome: www.starwoodhotels.com
5-star landmark hotel within walking distance of the
Spanish Steps. Its 161 exquisitely appointed rooms,
opulent interiors and austere façade have recently
undergone restoration. 13 lavish meeting and function
rooms, including the original ballroom Salone Ritz, offer
the perfect backdrop for any corporate or social event.
Salone Ritz, Hotel St. Regis, Rome
Vischer, Merkt & Partner AG | CH-8049 Zürich | phone +41 43 244 70 60 | www.vmp-ag.ch
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June 2012 I # 9
Rome hotel overview
Hotel
Ideal Meeting Rooms Max. Capacity
Size
Classroom Style
Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina
20 - 40
116
70
Boscolo Exedra Roma
20 - 70
238
80
Una Hotel Roma
30 - 60
197
80
The St. Regis Rome
80 - 140
161
160
100 - 180
232
234
80 - 220
316
230
Crowne Plaza Rome - St. Peter's
140 - 250
311
340
Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria
150 - 370
370
1'000
Radisson Blu es. Hotel, Rome
The Westin Excelsior, Rome
Special venues
A part from hotel venues, special functions may also be
organized at a number of world famous icons which can
be visited privately and blended into any program. These
include reinterpreted spaces where the old is blended
with the new, as well as contemporary buildings.
Let’s start with a unique underground journey through
history. For example in the 12th century church of San
Crisogono in Trastevere, Rome’s oldest neighborhood.
After a cocktail on the premises, guests will visit the excavations below the church and admire ancient frescoes.
Then, turning to more worldly pleasures, savor typical
Roman dishes at L’Antica Pesa, a buzzy, stylish restaurant, its walls adorned with contemporary murals; or at
Glass Hostaria, where the cooking is as innovative as
the building, awarded internationally for its cutting-edge
architecture and sophisticated sleek design.
Glass Hostaria, Rome
From villa to vessel: another historical venue located in
the same district worth visiting is the Villa Farnesina,
one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance architecture, famous for its paintings by Raphael and his
pupils. The private visit with special evening opening for
the group could be followed by cocktails and dinner on
the IV Roma, a naval structure devoid of engines,
moored on the nearby Tevere. Its luxurious interiors are a
perfect blend of contemporary design and colonial style,
ideal for harboring exclusive corporate meetings and
events on three decks linked by an elevator.
In the peace of home: the new Ara Pacis complex,
hosting a 2’000 year old altar, is undoubtedly a unique
venue in which to welcome any small to medium-size
group. Special openings of the museum can be arranged
for private tours, and functions may be held in the
auditorium, foyer and on the terrace. A trendy and refined
venue only a few steps away is rHome (its name a blend
between Rome and home), featuring modern and
innovative Italian cuisine. Later in the night the restaurant
turns into a hip meeting point with DJ or live music.
Column after column: the 13th century Palazzo Colonna
is one of the largest and oldest privately owned Roman
palaces, one of its wings housing a prestigious art collection. Besides the gallery, itself a true piece of art, and
overlooking two monumental internal gardens, there are
a number of lavish halls, where, after a private tour, a
banquet could be set up. Alternatively, to counterbalance
the Baroque opulence, we suggest Open Colonna, a
modern, minimalist restaurant-lounge set on the rooftop
of a 19th century Palazzo, the cuisine new Roman style,
refined and highly creative. The dining space, topped off
by a soaring glass-ceiling, is ideal for events of any type
on two levels, usable together including outdoor terraces.
Open Colonna, Rome
Of machines and gods: An exclusive setting for a memorable event can be found outside the Centro Storico at
the Centrale Montemartini. At Rome’s first electrical
power station, now converted into a museum, one sees
two diametrically opposed worlds, those of classical art
and industrial archaeology, side by side. Here, small
receptions and conferences may be held in a suggestive
atmosphere where gleaming statues stand among rows
of machinery in lofty, industrial spaces.
The laboratory of the mind: 7515 The Lounge, originally
a workshop, has been renovated entirely, retaining the
essential features of the original building, interweaving
postindustrial style with contemporary design. Its
versatile interiors and exteriors welcome small parties
and meetings in an informal setting just outside the
historical center.
Vischer, Merkt & Partner AG | CH-8049 Zürich | phone +41 43 244 70 60 | www.vmp-ag.ch
IV Roma, Rome
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E-NEWSLETTER
June 2012 I # 9
Team activities in Rome
A hands-on, fun way to explore the city’s many faces and
beauty is by means of a city hunt on the seat of a
classic Vespa or through the open roof of a vintage
Fiat 500, the winning team treated to the best “gelato” in
town. Just like most Romans did… and still do!
For a culinary discovery tour, an Italian village market
festival with music, wine and regional food delights may
be set up in a rustic restaurant, the outdoor premises of
an old villa or in a hotel garden. The evening may be
further enlivened with games, strolling minstrels, and
fortune tellers. The themed event could be preceded and
complemented with a cooking class or a wine tasting
session to enhance the team spirit. “Dolce far niente” is
postponed to dinner…
When the business wants to dream: Cinecittà Studios,
the vast complex of indoor and outdoor film sets that was
home to the Italian film industry, not only hosts large
conferences, but can also be used as backdrop for a
banquet Roman style with guests dressed in togas
and sandals, entertained by fire eaters, jugglers and
gladiator games. As a team-building activity, a create
your own movie exercise could be integrated, including
script writing and translating it into visuals with digital
cameras. The participants turn into film crew and Cinecittà craftsmen are enlisted to help building custom-designed sets. As an alternative activity, a Roman chariot
race could be organized whereby the groups aim to build
2-wheeled carriages with materials provided. The roadworthiness of the vehicles has to be demonstrated in a
race, with the chariot being pulled by its own team and
the winners crowned with laurels. Ben Hur revisited!
A typical condiment is strutto, pork lard prepared and
canned each winter, or the fat of prosciutto, while olive oil
is used only for raw vegetables and - partially - to fry.
Romans love pepper and bold spices, whereby mint is
among their favorite tastes.
Days of the week are often assigned to foods, such a
gnocchi on Thursdays, baccalà (salted cod) on Fridays
and trippa (innards) on Saturdays. Buon appetito!
Market, Campo de’ Fiori, Rome
Our working style at home and abroad
From small, exclusive and complex right through to
comprehensive, large-scale projects: Vischer, Merkt &
Partner enjoy extensive experience in the conception,
creation and worldwide organization of corporate
meetings and events. All our events fulfill a stringent
requirement: offering an unforgettable experience in a
unique atmosphere. We achieve this by preparing a
sound concept based on an innovative, compelling idea.
In order to guarantee the high quality standards we stand
for, we select and manage the venues and local partners
personally. Regardless of the size of your meeting or
event, we put together the perfect team for your project,
always under the expert guidance of one of the two
owners who will take care of everything in person on site.
Objective of our newsletter
Vespa tour, Rome
Cuisine
Roman cuisine is based on local, seasonal ingredients
prepared ”alla Romana”, in a simple way. Among these,
the most important are vegetables, such as globe
artichokes, peas and fava beans, meat (milk lamb, goat
and inexpensive cuts, the so called “quinto quarto”) and
cheeses such as pecorino romano and ricotta.
Pasta is also a very important element of Roman cuisine,
whereby the most common shape is spaghetti, but there
are many other forms too, such as capelli d’angelo
(angel’s hair). Known sauces are amatriciana, carbonara,
Alfredo, cacio e pepe and gricia.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide you with
background information on some of the cities and regions
in which we have held successful meetings and
corporate events to date. Maybe we can also persuade
you to consider holding your next meeting or event in one
of our preferred cities – we would be happy to do so!
Closing remarks
With the exception perhaps of Istanbul, can there be a
city on the planet more steeped in history - intrigue and
jaw-dropping ancient architecture at every corner?
Empires have risen and fallen, old gods have been
replaced with new ones, but Rome remains. And a
lifetime is not enough!
Contact us for a more in-depth presentation and a tailormade offer.
Arrivederci a Roma!
Vischer, Merkt & Partner AG | CH-8049 Zürich | phone +41 43 244 70 60 | www.vmp-ag.ch
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