Issue link: https://digital.meetinreykjavik.is/i/653841
1/26/2016 International Meetings | www.themeetingmagazines.com file:///S:/Marketing%20MIR/PR%20&%20Press/Articles%20on%20MiR/English/International%20Meetings%20_%20www.themeetingmagazines.com.html 4/8 1,700 theaterstyle; 1,000 for a banquet. Three resorts completed major renovations in March: Vomo Island Resort, Matamanoa Island Resort and Namale Resort & Spa. Captain Cook Cruises Fiji also refurbished its sailing catamaran, Fiji One, popular for private group charters. Greece — by Land and Sea A cradle of modern civilization, Greece has strong appeal for conferences attended by people in the arts and sciences. How can attendees not be inspired by art and architecture that still awes after centuries, to say nothing of the sea and terrain that define the Greek isles? The hardest choice for planners may be deciding between the urban riches of Athens and the appealing natural bounty and intimacy of the islands. According to Visit Greece, the country's tourism organization, the seas around Greece are also drawing planners to book boats as floating conference centers, offering attendees the chance to moor in multiple harbors. With its mild climate, Greece is a yearround destination and travel is streamlined because no visa is required for Canadian and U. S. citizens. Hong Kong — Cultural Crossroad "From its strategic location to sophisticated infrastructure and leadingedge venues, Hong Kong is one of the world's leading meeting destinations," says Bill Flora, U.S. director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board. "There's no better base to connect with mainland China's highgrowth markets. … Every MICE event held in Hong Kong makes engaging with mainland China an efficient and effortless process." China has become a coveted destination for meetings, including Hong Kong, which has long experienced international influences and offers facilities, hotels and infrastructure firmly in place. Meetings with thousands of attendees are no problem. Hong Kong Convention Center and AsiaWorldExpo offer 975,000 and 753,000 sf, respectively, and there are nearly 73,000 hotel rooms. In 2013, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal opened overlooking Victoria Harbour. Built on a former runway of Kai Tak airport, the terminal features four indoor venues that accommodate 3,000 guests each. On the expansive roof, a garden provides an inspiring setting for functions. Other worthy venues include Hong Kong Maritime Museum and PMQ, the historic site of the former Police Married Quarters. It's not just about facilities. Hong Kong is a cultural crossroad. Its EastmeetsWest culture has appeal for conferencegoers from both sides of the Pacific, and that multiculturalism extends to the superb cuisine and notable shopping, as well as to diverse cultural attractions. Attendees can learn such skills as traditional liondancing and dragonboat racing, experience a traditional fishing village or take to the seas in a tall ship, among other options. Iceland — Meeting in the Middle Iceland is a primary destination for international meetings, drawing attendees from North America and Europe. The tagline for Meet in Reykjavik, the capital city's convention bureau and goto resource for planners, puts it this way: Let's Meet in the Middle. Founded in 2012, a joint venture of the city of Reykjavik, Icelandair Group and Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, the bureau's goal is to make Reykjavik one of the top 10 meeting cities in Europe. Between 2014 and 2017 Reykjavik's hotelroom inventory is slated to increase from 3,400 to 5,500.