Hungary
Budapest - Esztergom - Gyor - Balaton
Proven Hungary & Budapest Destination Management Company: DMC and Planner
for Specialist Incentive, Conference, Event and Convention Travel Organisers Worldwide
 |
AIMS INTERNATIONAL BUDAPEST
(IAPCO / IATA / EVENTIA / MPI / SITE / INCON / ICCA) |
 |
|
|
COUNTRY MAP
(Map by kind permission of the CIA Official Website)
General Information
Company
Founded in January 1979 as part of AHR Travel, AIMS International has a long and successful tradition of service to the conference, event and incentive travel industry. Their skilled staff have vast experience, having planned, set up and operated superb conference and incentive programmes for a host of major worldwide corporations.
AIMS International is one of the few Destination Management Companies purely handling business group travel that deals with the whole of Austria, as well as many of the neighbouring countries, including the Czech and Slovakian Republics.
AIMS International has a full time representative in Budapest to act on your behalf during your stay and to ensure the response you receive is comparable to the service level you have grown to expect from AIMS International, for this reason we would request that you initially contact the Vienna office.
Budapest is one of the last unchanged great cities of Europe that still offers a unique combination of timeless grandeur yet also has all the facilities that are required to ensure a successful incentive or conference programme.
Destination
HUNGARY
Hungary is viewed by many who have not been fortunate enough to visit it as just one more dull, grey, former East European satellite.
Nothing could be further from the truth ! As part of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, Hungary has a profusion of impressive historical buildings, beautiful scenery and excellent accommodation.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in the capital, Budapest, where the areas of Buda and Pest are joined by historic bridges across the Danube. A beautiful city of cafes and restaurants, night-clubs and theatres, a land of music and dancing with traditional gypsy music offered in restaurants by master violinists and on street corners by young students.
Example Programme
Day One
Arrival at Budapest. Separate luggage transfer to the hotel can be organised, whilst the group is enjoying a brief orientation sightseeing tour of Budapest.
This comes to a stop on the Gellert hill where you have a complete view over the entire twin cities Buda and Pest separated in its centre by the Danube, conquered by the picturesque Elisabeth bridge and Chain bridge. Enjoy the overwhelming view, a glass of champagne and a "Pogatscherl" a typically Hungarian welcome bite. Down Gellert Hill you will arrive at the hotel for check-in.
Dinner at Restaurant Belcanto , one of the most original restaurants in Budapest located opposite the State Opera. The "speciality" of the restaurant are the singing and acting waiters, a real treat not to be missed.
Day Two
Full buffet breakfast in the hotel. Depart by coach for visit to the Hungarian Great Plain (Puszta).
Stop in the town of Kecskemet for an official welcome at the Town Hall, with a souvenir bottle of Apricot Brandy and a private concert.
Continue to Lajosmize for a horse show extravaganza, based on skills developed in the past rustling the wild horses of the plains.
Lunch at a typical Hungarian Czarda, goulash soup in the kettle, a large selection of roast meats and vegetables and copious supply of local wines. Return to the hotel with free time before the evening's events.
Dinner at Restaurant Gundel, Budapest's leading restaurant. Wine tasting in the cellar, followed by dinner in the main restaurant or in one of the private rooms on the first floor to the accompaniement of Gypsy music.
Day Three
Full buffet breakfast in the hotel.
Late morning transfer by old-timer tram to one of the most impressive structures of the city - the Market Hall. Enjoy the stunning architecture and a fantastic market with fish on the basement floor; meats, fruits and vegetables on the ground floor and handicrafts and food stalls on the second floor. An informal standing buffet will be the feature for lunch with cold meats and salads accompanied by hearty local wines and beers. After lunch time to relax and soak up the local atmosphere.
Farewell dinner at the Museum of Applied Arts, which is probably the most beautiful building of the Hungarian Art Nouveau which was finished in 1896, in the year of the Millennium. The facade and entrance hall is colourful and a wild folk art fantasy, with red, blue and yellow tiles, a yellow and white floral ceiling, pink marble steps and Byzantine sand-coloured pillars. The interior "shocks" by its contrast: a modern steel-girded ceiling captures light into the pure white hall, textured with oriental zigzags and art nouveau swirls and topped with an exquisite stained glass window.
Fanfare blowers are announcing the guest's arrival. Inside, waiters in liveries are serving cocktails, before a master of ceremonies announces that dinner is being served. During the dinner light musical entertainment. Coffee, digestive, followed by a classical or traditional show programme. Afterwards the dance floor is open and concludes an unforgettable evening.
Coach transfer back to the hotel.
Day Four
Full buffet breakfast in the hotel.
Excursion to Szentendre which is located at the Danube knee 1/2 hour north of Budapest and is famous for its shops, cafes and the ceramics museum. Walk around the village, visit the Margit Kovacs Ceramics museum, the Greek cathedral etc. A wine tasting can be organised in the "Wine Museum". Possible return by ship back to Budapest. Lunch can also be taken on the ship.
Coach transfer to the airport.
Suggested Sightseeing
HALF DAY TOURS
Sightseeing Tour of Budapest
Our guide will introduce you to the most important sights of Budapest, such as the Place of Heroes, the Houses of Parliament, Gellert hill and Castle hill.
Budapest has a lot of famous museums, such as the National Gallery, the History Museum, the Kiscelli Museum and the Castle Museum of Nagyteteny.
Amongst the most beautiful churches to visit are the St. Annen church, the Basilica, the Matthias church and the Franziskaner church. The guide would of course also point out the Jewish living quarter and the synagogue. Lunch can be taken in an inner-city restaurant. Return back to the hotel.
Additional:
They say in the castle quarters every house tells its own stories.... Thus you split up in small teams and you will learn a lot about the turbulent past of Hungary.
- King Mathyas - the hailed Renaissance King awaits his guests at "Fisherman's Bastion", named after the fishmarket during medieval times there.
- And the so very loved - Habsburg Empress Sissi - welcomes her guests at the entrance of the castle.
- On another corner the Turks stampede in - all will have riddles, which will easily be solved if you followed the comments of the tour directors.
Visit of Óbuda
The history of Budapest began in Óbuda (Ancient Buda). Already a Roman camp and a civilian town, Aquincum, was established there. Unfortunately, today's Óbuda does not live up to its rich history. Still, scattered in between the ugliness, there are incongruous remnants of outstanding beauty - a row of Roman pillars, a richly coloured Baroque palace, a classical temple-like synagogue - bravely defying the arrogance of modernity. Start of the visit at the main square of Óbuda. Short walk to Zichy Palace complex, built in the 1750s which now houses the Vasarely Museum.
This Hungarian-born French artist who became famous in the 1960’s for his dynamic and colourful geometrical paintings, donated almost 400 of his work to this specially designed museum. After the visit of the museum short walk back to the main square, the showpiece of 18th century, left untouched by the crusading zeal of the 1960’s planners.
Visit the museum of Imre Varga, which is bursting with his works which largely draw their inspiration from Hungarian themes. There the group is welcomed by a glass of champagne or mulled wine, followed by a short guided tour. This tour comes to an end in a private room where a classical concert (approx. 30 min) is arranged.
Szentendre
Excursion to Szentendre, located at the Danube knee 1/2 hour north of Budapest, which is famous for its shops, cafes and the ceramics museum.
Enjoy the "Czarda" lunch as described above and afterwards walk around the village, visit the Margit Kovacs Ceramics museum, the Greek cathedral etc.
Possible return by ship back to Budapest with lunch aboard.
Visit to the Market Hall
Morning transfer by old-timer tram to one of the most impressive structures of the city - the Market Hall. Enjoy the stunning architecture and a fantastic market with fish on the basement floor; meats, fruits and vegetables on the ground floor and handicrafts and food stalls on the second floor. An informal standing buffet will be the feature for lunch with cold meats and salads accompanied by hearty local wines and beers.
FULL DAY TOURS
The Danube Knee - Full day excursion into Hungary’s history
Leave Budapest and drive through the beautiful country side, the Danube knee to Esztergom, the ancient and ecclesiastical residence of Hungary.
Visit of the cathedral with its treasury. The journey continues to Visegrad, famous for its excavations of the king Matthias palace. Enjoy the wonderful panoramic view from the castle over the Danube landscape. Luncheon at the restaurant "Nagyvillam", famous for its venison specialities.
After the delicious meal, return back to Szentendre, the very attractive and artistic village, located at the Danube knee, 1/2 hour north of Budapest. Visit of the famous Margit Kovacs ceramics museum and some time at leisure to stroll around and buy some souvenirs. An additional highlight of the tour is a one hour boat ride from Szentendre back to Budapest, where refreshments are being served on the boat.
Excursion to Eger
Eger was the site of a famous siege in 1552 when the Hungarians - both men and women - held out against the armies of the Ottoman Empire. The city is filled with historic buildings that date from that period and after, including a monumental cathedral and plenty of Baroque structures. The walk up to the castle gives a commanding view overlooking the town.
Our coach would pick you up from the hotel and take you to the train station where you are welcomed with a glass of Champagne. Afterwards you will board an old-timer train, enjoying second breakfast whilst a harmonica player would entertain throughout the train ride.
On arrival at Eger enjoy a guided tour through this remarkable city before having lunch. Eger's surrounding black clay soil produces one of Hungary's bestknown, though not its finest, wine: Egri Bikavaer or Bull's Blood. The place to taste these wines is at Szepasszony-völgy (Valley of Beautiful Women). Wine cellars, each representing different vineyard, are clustered in a ring. You are invited for on extensive wine tasting together with a brief introduction about wine production.
Transfer by train back to Budapest.
Theme Party Ideas for Incentives
Puszta Party
Travelling to Southeast Hungary. Fun carriage-drive to the farm-stead (Czarda), lavish buffet with copious amount of wine and apricot brandy. Gypsy music. Horse-show, virtuoso equestrian performance and visit of the stud-farm. On request, the Puszta contest is held: various skills - like bench dancing, horse shoe throwing, whip cracking and cake eating by the dozen. The lucky winner will get the Puszta Award.
Trabant Rally (Max. 30 Pax)
Departure to Szigetszentmiklos (10km south of Budapest). Change into the Trabant cars which are hidden at a parking place in the countryside.
Route: via Bugyi to Rackeve. En route solving of certain tasks (e.g. flower picking for the ladies, purchasing of panties (bugyi), purchasing of Hungarian paprika, ...).
Final check point at Rackeve Palace, where a finger buffet with coffee/tea and snacks awaits the "home-comers".
Knight's Tour
Driving to Esztergom in the morning. Concert in the Basilica residence of the Head of the Hungarian Catholic Church. Tour to the picturesque Danube Bend to Visegrad. On the top of the hill a party will be held in historical surroundings. Under the ruins of King Matthias' Royal Castle of the Middle Ages a welcome drink will be served by the King's servants and guards. Our guests will have a fantastic game meal in the company of the King and his Court. During lunch the King's archers shoot for the title of the Golden Arrow, falconers hunt with their birds of prey and Knights of the Black Army engage duels with all sorts of unpleasant hardware.
Poolside Party
This elegant dinner will take place in the famous Gellert Bath. The inside pool, richly decorated with columns and balconies, will host the party. A first class dinner will be served while classical music is played by an orchestra in period dress. After tasting champagne you can keep on drinking in the pool. And for those who do not want to get wet there is dancing available.
Danube Cruise
Disembark on a private chartered ship. During the 3 hours cruise a ragtime or Dixieland band will entertain the group. Open bar during the whole cruise followed by a buffet dinner.
Possible casino on board (1 Roulette and 1 Black Jack table)
Disembark the ship at the Marriott Hotel and the coach will take you back to the hotel.
A Few Extra Touches
- Exclusive dinner in the courtyard of the Royal Palace
- Hussars on horses waiting for the guests
- Nostalgic steam engine drawn train as transfer
- Serenade at the Opera House training
Convention Centres
Budapest Congress & World Trade Centre
No. of rooms: 9
Seating capacity: Up to 1750 pax
Èpitök Liget Congress Centre
No. of rooms: 8
Seating capacity: Up to 1200 pax
Hungarian Academy of Science
No. of rooms: 5
Seating capacity: 1000 pax
Villanyi - Centre
No. of rooms: 4
Seating capacity: 1200 pax
Welcome Gifts
- Hungarian chinware (Herend, Zolnai, Hollohaza)
- Small bottle of Hungarian apricot brandy (Barack) or Tokaji Aszu (dessert wine)
- Old engraved maps of Budapest
- Lace and hand-made napkins and table-cloth
- Peasant wood carving
- Coloured book of Budapest
- Gundel's cookery book
Specialist Groups
- All types of Special Interest