More than 200 guests took part in the Grand Opening of the boutique hotel Sir Plantin, Antwerp. The Hotel Sir Plantin, a member of Epoque Hotels, officially opened on the 4^th of May, 2011. Below you can find a video created during this memorable evening as well as some pictures with very famous faces which have come along. These images, without a doubt, caught the unforgettable moments in order to eternalize a movie atmosphere of this amazing event. The new Sir Plantin Boutique Hotel in Antwerp guarantees a 100% no-excuse-service, which is far beyond the expectations of business - and individual travelers. The 176 comfortable and stylish rooms are designed in different colors and ensure a pleasant atmosphere for well-being. The new boutique hotel is located in the trendy district Zurenborg, just a stone’s throw away from several restaurants and pubs. Ideally situated nearby the historic Central Station of wonderful Antwerp.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=468gug9247g

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Please enjoy below the floral gallery which definitely will indulge your eyes and will make you think about your own floral design!

725 Continental Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/buenos-aires-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/725buenosaires/l/en

Hotel 562 Nogaro, Buenos Aires, Argentina http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/buenos-aires-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/nogaro/l/en

Hotel Alexandra, Copenhagen, Denmark http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/copenhagen-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/alexandrahotel/l/en

Hotel Amira, Istanbul, Turkey http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/istanbul-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/amirahotel/l/en

Banke Hotel, Paris, France http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/paris-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/bankehotel/l/en

The Beaufort Hotel Knightsbridge, London, UK http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/london-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/beaufort-knightsbridge/l/en

Central Park Hotel, Hong Kong, China http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/hong-kong-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/centralparkhotel/l/en

Cosmo Hotel, Hong Kong, China http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/hong-kong-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/cosmohotel/l/en

Diamant Hotel Sydney, Australia http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/sydney-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/diamanthotelsydney/l/en

Dream Hotel, New York http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/new-york-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/dreamny/l/en

Duquesa de Cardona Hotel, Barcelona, Spain http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/barcelona-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/duquesacardona/l/en

Hart's Hotel Nottingham, UK http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/nottingham-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/hartsnottingham/l/en

Hollmann Beletage Boutique Hotel, Vienna, Austria http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/vienna-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/hollmann-beletage/l/en

Bloom Brussels Hotel, Brussels, Belgium http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/brussels-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/bloombrussels/l/en

Hotel Palazzo Giovanelli Gran Canal, Venice, Italy http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/venice-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/palazzogiovanelli/l/en

Kirketon Boutique Hotel, Sydney, Australia http://www.epoquehotels.com/h.php/sydney-hotels/boutique-hotel/h/kirketonboutiquehotel/l/en

TO  BE  CONTINUED

At this year’s ITB in Berlin, Epoque’s staff was in attendance and showcased its collection together with its member hotels: Rocpool Reserve Hotel of Inverness, Scotland and Duge Courtyard Hotel of Beijing in China.

ITB is the world’s leading Travel Trade show and the top think tank of the global tourism industry. The International Tourism Exchange (ITB) is the prime meeting place, marketplace and driving force behind the entire travel industry. With more than 180,000 visitors, amongst, over 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries and 108,000 trade visitors, the whole variety of travelling is present: tour operators, booking systems, carriers, destinations, hotels and all other suppliers.

Epoque Hotels is a collection of worldwide avant-garde, trendy-chic, and luxury-classic boutique hotels based in over 100 destinations. With more than 350 hotels in its portfolio, Epoque Hotels holds two lines: Avantgarde Line and Epoque Classic. It is quickly making a name for itself as the chief reference in the segment of boutique hotels.

A cultural center since medieval times – the oldest existing University in the Western World was established here in 1088 – Bologna is also famous in Italy for its excellent culinary tradition: Bolognese sauce (ragù) and Bologna sausage, or Boloney (mortadella), are just two world-famous examples of its legacy. In the streets of Bologna you will find ubiquitous food shops displaying aromatic cheeses, mortadella, prized Parma hams and dozens of handmade types of pasta. Other stores sell local products of Emilia-Romagna such as grappa and Modena’s prestigious balsamic vinegar.

Bologna’s city centre is quintessentially medieval, a delightful mix of red brick, tiled roofs and balconies spreading out from the great central square of Piazza Maggiore. Just walking through these streets makes it for a wonderful experience. Of the 20 medieval towers that survive today, the Two Towers, Torre degli Asinelli and the Torre Garisenda (both leaning just like the one in Pisa) are Bologna’s most famous.

But when you are done with your walk to digest your rich Bolognese treat, we suggest you visit one of Bologna’s great museums, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna (Bologna’s National Gallery). The works here trace the region’s art history from the XIII to the XIX century. You can admire paintings of Raffaello, Carracci, Reni and other personalities connected to Bologna.

Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna

Via Belli Arti 56

Tel: 05142 09411.

Website: www.pinacotecabologna.it

Monday closed

READ ALSO

Bologna, Part II: a Contribution by a Travelogue Reader

City of Arts and Science in Valencia

This futuristic “city within a city” is one of the world’s most electrifying and imaginative millennium projects. The entire compound, designed as a celebration of the 21st century, looks as though it was beamed down to earth from another planet.

Santiago Calatrava, who designed most of this complex, comments: ” I am proud of the fact that people can walk through and around the main buildings without paying. It is a city to be discovered by promenading.”

You can walk for more than 7 km around the City of Science  thanks to the vision of this internationally acclaimed architect, artist and engineer.

Many locals admit to having visited the arts and science city many times without ever having bought an entrance ticket to any of its four star turns: the “Hemesferic”, Planetarium, the Principe Felipe Science Museum, the Oceanarium and the Reina Sofia Arts Palace.

L’Hemisferic

Mon-Fri 11am-2pm and 4-8pm, Sat-Sun 11am-2pm and 4-9pm.

Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe

Mon-Fri and Sun 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-8pm

L’Oceanografic

Mon-Fri and Sun 10am-6pm, Sat 10am-8pm

Getting there by bus:

From Valencia city take buses 13, 14, or 15 to Centro Comercio de Saler

Hospes Palau de la Mar Valencia is housed in a heritage-listed 19th century stately home which symbolizes the values of the city’s inhabitants and their seafaring spirit. Standing in one of the most attractive streets in downtown Valencia, this majestic and stimulating mansion is a wonderful example of elegance, art and design combined to lead us in any direction down the paths of history to discover the reality of the mysteries of the past.

Scheduled to open on Monday 22nd February 2010, Bistrot Bruno Loubet is an 85-seat restaurant, with a small lounge area, that will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menus will feature Loubet’s characteristic cooking technique of modern bistrot food, and will include the trademark style of his previous significant London establishments – including Bistrot Bruno and L’Odéon.

Loubet has spent the past eight years in Australia, working at three separate sites in Queensland – two in Brisbane (Bruno’s Tables and Baguette) and one in Noosa on the Sunshine Coast (Berardo’s). Upon his return to the UK in summer 2009, he has collaborated with chef Pierre Koffmann on the hugely successful pop-up restaurant at Selfridges.

The Zetter hotel London,  member of Epoque Hotels, is located in one of London’s most fashionable neighbourhoods, Clerkenwell, which boasts superb restaurants, excellent pubs, clubs, wine bars, and a number of galleries, theatres. Conveniently situated on the edge of the City Financial District, and a 10 minutes taxi to the West End, the Zetter looks out onto St John’s square right in the heart of this buzzing locale.

The full address of Bistrot Bruno Loubet will be St John’s Square, 86-88 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5RJ.

Due to its overwhelming  excellence, Hotel G has won several important  awards:

Top Boutique Hotels in China, Travel & Leisure China

2009 Best Charm Hotel in China, New Weekly

Short-listed on the  Hot List 2009,  Condé Nast Traveler

Best Design Hotel in Asia, Perspective Magazine

Finalist  of the MIPIM Asia Awards 2009 in Best Hotel Category

Editors Best Recommended Restaurant Award by Modern Weekly for the Scarlett wine bar.

Hotel G boasts 110 generous rooms and suites complete with 3 exciting and distinctive venues for dining, entertainment and relaxation.  Congratulations from Epoque Hotels for these great achievements.

Address: A7 Gongtixilu, Chao Yang District, Beijing

Casco Viejo (Old Quarter)

Take the bright-green tram in front of the Hotel and go explore the old part of town.

Get lost in the labyrinth of streets and re-fuel having some pintxos in the Plaza Nueva.

Museo de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Museum)

Located at a stone´s throw from the Hotel, it is definitely a must. It is the third most important collection in Spain. If in a hurry, visit the selection of 16 masterworks from the collection. Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-8 pm, Mondays closed.

Getxo

Just 20 minutes outside the city, beautiful seaside town with beaches and beautiful turn of the century houses. Cross the Vizcaya Bridge in the first steel shuttle bridge in the world. http://www.puente-colgante.com/en/principal.html

Hotel Miro | Bilbao

Casco Viejo Bilbao

The Kimberly Hotel is convenient to many of New York City’s famous landmarks.  For this reason, I like to encourage guests to do a short walking tour to get acquainted with the neighborhood. Within just a few blocks, guests can see the Chrysler Building

Chrysler Building | New York

(which can also be enjoyed from our rooftop and some of our suites), and the glorious architecture of Grand Central Station. At the station there are several restaurants for dining, including the world famous Oyster Bar, the marketplace, numerous shops and the Campbell Apartment for a relaxing cocktail.  Holiday fairs and laser shows are also an attraction at various times of the year inside the station.

Grand Central Station | New York

Kimberly Hotel | New York

VISIT: Barcelona Walks Gòtic

Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter links past and present. Discover in a guided tour the charm of its streets, squares, hidden corners and hundred-year-old buildings with expert guides who will take you, step by step, on a journey through history.

Departure point: Turisme de Barcelona information office at: Pl. de Catalunya, 17 basements. You should be at the information office 10 minutes before the visit of the Gothic Quarter begins. It takes 2 hours long and you could start every day. It takes 2 hours long. Times: In English: Monday to Sunday at 10 am. In Catalan/Spanish: Saturdays at 12 pm.

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/

DISCOVER: Collserola Park

The Collserola range offers visitors the chance to feel as if they were in the middle of a forest. The park is spread out over close to 8,000 hectares, releasing 60,000 metric tons of oxygen every year and eliminating 80,000 of carbon dioxide. It contains some 10 million trees, 1,000 different species of plants and close to 190 species of vertebrates.

The park has eleven important scenic viewpoints, such as those on Carretera de l’Arrabassada, Torre Baró, la Font Groga and el Puig de la Guàrdia, all offering different views of the park. You can reach Tibidabo by public transport, either by bus or local train, the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat and then the Tramvia Blau to Peu del Funicular, or from one of the park’s many footpaths. At the top of the hill there are a few restaurants and the Tibidabo Amusement Park.

http://www.bcn.es/turisme/english/turisme/welcome.htm

ENJOY: Sightjogging in Barcelona

Whatever for people on work or vacation – Sightjogging in Barcelona is a unique way to experience the city. We run at the place suited for you and your group. You can choose from eight different routes. Barcelona is trendy. But only in the early morning you will escape the big heat, especially in the summertime and the big crush of tourists in the streets. Therefore our advice: Discover the awaking city between 6 and 10 am. If you want to be picked up use the pick up service.
All you need are your running shoes and comfortable running attire.

http://www.sightjogging-barcelona.com/

CUISINE IS PASSION…

A special day means a special dinner here at Ávalon restaurant. Our recognised chef, Ramon Freixa has created a Valentine’s Menu, the most romantic dinner with candles, selected wine and the best company. Celebrate with us this unique day in a different way!

Book your table now! welcome@avalonrestaurant.es