Since earliest times, the island of Cyprus has welcomed travellers to its shores, and has evolved as a natural meeting and trading place because of its unique geographical position.Cyprus is situated at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and this makes it theperfect stepping stone between three continents - Europe, Africa and Asia.
Cyprus is also a wonderful island where not only does east meet west geographically, but also socially and economically.Importantly there are two international airports at Larnaca and Paphos and they are both under five hours flying time from most European cities, and a real bonus is that the Cypriots are well-known for their warm hospitality.
Cyprus the emerging business destination.
Over the past ten years Cyprus has become one of Europe?s premier holiday resorts and is now emerging as an increasingly popular venue for business exhibitions, conferences and seminars, and as an incentive destination with over sixty hotels offering superb facilities to all types of business travellers. One of the market leaders for the business market is The Hilton Cyprus, on the outskirts of Nicosia. Each year the hotel welcomes statesmen, politicians and heads of government, and businessmen and delegates from all over the world and particularly countries in the Middle East. The hotel holds a wide variety of conferences, meetings and seminars and an increasing number of exhibitions and fashion shows.
With the perfect solutions for your company’s needs...
Each of the hotels that offer business facilities also has a dedicated team within its staff who can confidently ensure that each conference is a success as they are experienced and trained to meet the high demands of the business world. They can confidentially organise a whole spectrum of events from a State banquet with scores of
guests to a series of small seminars or an important conference where timing is of crucial
importance. Time is always at a premium as ‘time means money’ so most conferences last just
three to four days and during that time most businessmen need to be in touch with their
office. If partners accompany their ‘other half’ to the conference there is plenty
for them to do either getting out and about sightseeing or relaxing and enjoying the
hotel’s comprehensive leisure and health facilities. With two international
airports Cyprus is within easy reach of all delegates and the national carrier Cyprus Airways
offers an excellent timetable with flights to 26 European and Middle Eastern
airports and of course onward travel to destinations that are further afield can be easily organised.
Versatility is the name of the game..
Many of the hotels that offer business conference facilities have
excellent and very versatile function rooms that can be effortlessly re-configured to the
ideal size for whatever type of meeting or conference you are organising and can
comfortably accommodate from ten to several hundred delegates. The Hilton Cyprus can offer a
conference facility for one thousand delegates. Many of the hotels have several conference
rooms so that several meetings and seminars can be held simultaneously. It is a
well-known fact that to perform well, delegates have to relax a little so all conference seating
is comfortable.
Rooms have also been carefully designed with plenty of good natural
daylight and complimentary dedicated lighting, and have very efficient air-conditioning
for the summer months.
Hotel business suites incorporate the latest in conference technology, and
there are several hotels that offer simultaneous translation equipment for several
hundred delegates delegates, interpreter's booths and high quality audio- visual facilities.
Hotels can also offer a wide range of business orientated facilities
including typing, faxing, e-mail and word processing, document compilation and some even
offer a document binding service!
Each year the hotels in Cyprus host a wide variety of exhibitions and
again, many hotels offer suites with specialised lighting panels and picture rails that are
perfect for jewellery, craft and antique exhibitions. Christmas is always a
particularly popular time of year for a wide variety of exhibitions. Several suites also offer
directional spotlighting which of course is perfect for painting exhibitions and
photographic collections. An increasing number of both visiting and local artists hold
regular exhibitions in hotels in all the major towns, but primarily, Nicosia. A
number of hotels also successfully host fashion shows, and again these are proving
increasingly popular.
But it is not all work and no play...
As well as offering comfortable conference facilities it is essential that
hotels offer impressive banqueting services for a wide variety of business functions.
This of course include ‘working lunches’ but also gala dinners, cocktail parties and
dinner dances - again in function rooms that are just the right size and carefully
decorated to the company’s specifications for example with fresh floral arrangements or
with the appropriate colour theme! Again all the hotels have highly experienced
Banqueting staff who create and tailor menus to customers’ personal wishes either featuring
international cuisine or of course, Cypriot specialities! During the summer and autumn
months it is perfect to make the most of the balmy summer evenings and hold informal
evening functions outside on the hotel terrace. Guests can enjoy a delicious cold buffet or
barbecue you can rest assured that all hotel Food & Beverage managers are full of
innovative ideas for something a little different but very memorable!
Why not link your business trip to Cyprus with one of the major events?
Each year there are a number of major events in Cyprus that are
particularly popular with visitors, so it is well worth considering linking your company’s
conference with {for example} the Cyprus International Fair that is held each Spring or the
thrills and spills of the Cyprus International Rally! Other ideas include the Cyprus Motor
Show which takes place every November and delights visitors from all over the eastern
Mediterranean or {for those who enjoy sheer nostalgia} the Classic Car Rally. The Paphos
Aphrodite Festival in early September is spectacular with the performance of a well-known
opera by internationally acclaimed orchestras and singers in the memorable
surroundings of Paphos harbour. Full details of the diary of major events for 2002 are obtainable
from the Cyprus Tourist Organisation.
What an incentive!
Cyprus is increasingly popular as an incentive destination because there
are so many different things to do that it is perfect for everyone! For those who
enjoy sport there is golf, tennis, horse riding and all the water sports, whilst those
interested in archaeology, ornithology or botany will certainly not be disappointed!
Cyprus offers mini-cruises to a variety of destinations including some of the beautiful
Greek islands and culturally there is variety too with a whole host of different events
ranging from Shakespeare at Curium to regular concerts by the Cyprus State Orchestra.
all this and marvellous weather too, it is hard to believe that Cyprus is less than
five hours flying time away from most European cities!
Chrissie Flint.