Destinations Unlimited

Spain - Barcelona

Proven Barcelona Destination Management Company: DMC and Planner
for Specialist Incentive, Conference, Event and Convention Travel Organisers Worldwide

	ITB DMC - BARCELONA (SITE)
Contacts Rambles 113, lr 08002 Barcelona Spain Tel: + 34 93 481 5858 Fax: + 34 93 481 5859 Email: barcelona@dudmc.com Web Site: www.viajesitb.com Contact: Olga Navarro - Marketing & Sales Manager Links Barcelona Company Destination Example Programme Suggested Sightseeing Theme Party Ideas for Incentives Specialist Groups

COUNTRY MAP

(Map by kind permission of the CIA Official Website)

General Information

Company

ITB is one of the leading Destination Management Companies in Spain in the incentive and conference markets. In a country with four official languages and several dialects, it is important to have staffing that can guarantee expertise in the local areas. For that reason, we have offices in Barcelona (for eastern Spain and the Balearic Islands), Madrid (for the central and northern parts of the country), and Costa del Sol (for southern Spain and the Canary Islands).

Overview of Services:
We cover every aspect of organisation from ground handling and transfers, to registration, hospitality desks, gala dinners and themed banquets. We manage the bookkeeping, project review and debriefing.

We have mastered the art of meeting management, thus ensuring that you will get the ideal venue, on-site inspections, speakers, support equipment and A/V requirements.

We also understand the different aspects and requirements of incentives, for which our expertise is sought, in this demanding type of business.

In addition product launching is another important activity in our country. Our reputation in this field, particularly with car manufactures, is well known.

Mission Statement:
Our creative and innovative programs have established our company as the #1 choice for many demanding major European and American companies. Since 1984, our main purpose has been helping our clients to reach their targets.

The very high, demanding standards that we require for our suppliers, even in the smallest details, assures the success of your project. Let us help you as well.

Destination

Capital of the Province of Catalonia and Spain's second city Barcelona is an important Mediterranean Port and is now considered the capital of Southern Europe.

The Olympic Games produced a vast improvement in the infrastructure & services making Barcelona an excellent venue for conference or incentive movements. In addition, the 2004 Forum of the Cultures has added to the existing facilities a new convention centre (the second biggest in Europe), 2200 beds in newly built hotels, an Auditorium and some extra leisure space on the sea front.

Barcelona is a blend of ancient & modern with excellent hotels and an Internationally famous nightlife in the upper side of the city, ranging from sophisticated clubs to the easy going bars and cafes on Las Ramblas.

Put simply Barcelona has something for everyone.

Example Programme

DAY ONE
Arrival to Barcelona. Meet & greet by our local guide and start of a short Orientation Tour.

This tour will give you a basic overview of the city of Barcelona. You will pass some of the most important sights of the city such as Plaza España, National Museum of Catalan Art, Spanish Village and Olympic Stadium. Here we make the first photo stop. Afterwards we continue to the terraces of the Mirador del Alcalde from where you have spectacular views of the port and city centre. Then onto the Columbus Monument at the end of the famous Ramblas and to the hotel.

The luggage is transported separately to the hotel.

Lunch at the Tapas Restaurant La Tramoia, situated at Rambla Catalunya, nearby to the Plaza Catalunya. The restaurant looks like an old wharf with lots of old items adorning the restaurant such as coffee pots, sacks, etc. and wooden panelling. The cuisine is based on all types of “tapas” small assorted dishes in excellent sauces.

Afterwards transfer to the hotel and check in.

Free time at leisure.

Evening transfer by coach to the Old Port and dinner at the restaurant La Barceloneta, located at the Old Port. It has the privilege of overlooking both the old yachting harbour and the city of Barcelona. They are specialised in fish, although they also have good meat specialities.

Upon arrival and after dinner entertainment by a Tuna Band. This is one of the most typical type of Spanish bands and it is composed by a group of university students. Every faculty of every university in Spain has its own tuna band. The origin of this comes from the middle ages and it was one way for students without much incomes to eat by performing in taverns in exchange for food. That's why their emblem is a fork and a spoon crossed. Nowadays these guys have always something to eat but this way they make some money for their expenses. Our Tuna Band is quite experienced and more than performers they are entertainers, encouraging guests to participate in their performance. They wear their characteristic costumes from the XVIIth century and play on their guitars and tambourines (although they can also use an accordion, a mandoline or even a clarinet or a saxophone) typical Spanish songs as well as latin music and also some international music, creating a very funny and lively ambience.

Return transfer to the hotel. Overnight

DAY TWO
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.

Departure by private bus and local guide to Sant Sadurni d´Anoia, at about 45 km south of Barcelona. This village is the capital of wine making, Cava, our version of the French Champagne. We will visit an important Cava cellar (depending on availability, usually Codorniu or Freixenet) where cava tasting is included.

After the visit departure to Sitges a beautiful coastal town located at about 30 minutes drive from Sant Sadurni.

Upon arrival short walk through the Maritime Promenade and visit of the Cau Ferrat Museu. It used to be the house of an important local impressionist painter and theatre writer, Mr. Santiago Rusiñol. He was friends with contemporary artists of his era like Picasso, Zuloaga and Ramón Casas. Samples of these painters art can be seen there as well as his glassware collection and forged iron from the Middle age till the present times. All this inside a beautiful house decorated in Modern Art style placed on top of a small cliff, facing the sea.

After the visit we will have a very short walking tour through the main streets of the old town ending at the Restaurant El Vivero for lunch. This Restaurant is situated at the cliff top overlooking the beaches of Sitges with splendid views over the sea. The decoration is hold in traditional Maritime style. Specialized in fish & shellfish dishes.

Free time at leisure and late afternoon return transfer to the hotel.

Evening transfer by coach to the restaurant Casa Leopoldo which is situated in the heart of the Gothic Quarter, and is a must among locals. Their menu is based in what the market provides every day. Decorated with Spanish ceramics, paintings of bullfighters and posters of bullfights adorn the walls (the owner is the former widow of a bullfighter)

After dinner, return transfer to the hotel. Overnight

DAY THREE
Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Transfer with by coach and guide from the hotel to Plaza Catalunya where the group will find bicycles for a funny and interesting Bike Treasure Hunt (at the hotel before departing we split the group into teams. Each team selects a team captain and once we start the tour every teams gets a map, a questionnaire and Polaroid camera).

The idea is to combine a treasure hunt whilst experiencing some of the most typical and well known examples of local history and food.

During the tour the teams have to complete the questionnaire properly. They are accompanied by a guide and a local whose knowledge may help them with questions on the questionnaire.

The Rally passes the most picturesque parts of downtown, like the Old Port, the Barceloneta fishermen quarter, the beach front, the Olympic Marina, Olympic Village and an itinerary through the Gothic Quarter, the most characteristic part of Barcelona. It is all flat so it is not exhausting at all. There will be several stops at different points during the tour, where different activities can take place i.e.

· the teams will find an actor dressed as typical Catalan farmer, who will offer them some typical Catalan sausages, bread and wine. There they will have to drink the wine using the' porrón' a typical Catalan drink glass, which is not so easy to do.

· at an other station they will find a fisherman who will teach them how to tie the difficult fishermen's knots before they prove their ability with the ropes...

· at the Ciutadella Park they have to paint in oil the cascade fountain getting a little help from some students of the art academy of Barcelona.

They'll have to show their expertise at Flamenco dancing, wine tasting, artcrafts...
During these activities the teams have to take funny photos with the polaroid camera provided. There will be also 2 stops for drinking i.e. at the famous and oldest food market of the town situated at the Ramblas.

The tour ends either of the following ways:

OPTION A
The tour ends at a small, nice square in the Gothic Quarter to drop off the bikes. Then short walk to the Basque Tapas Tavern Txakolin for lunch, and transfer back to the hotel.

OPTION B
The tour ends at the Old Port, dropping off the bikes, then short walk to the restaurant TraviI Mar.

Upon arrival a Welcome Drink and aperitif is served. Then we start a Paella Cooking Competition.

Each team has to cook his own Paella with the aid of the restaurant chef. Then a set meal with the cooked paella as main course will be offered for lunch.

Afterwards return transfer to the hotel and time for leisure and shopping.

Evening transfer with Vintage Cars to the Restaurant Can Travi Nou. This is a countryside manor house built at the end of the 17th century. It is located inside the city limits in the residential area of Horta. The house has been completely restored maintaining its original charm. The restaurant has many different sized dining rooms on its 3 floors, rustically decorated in Catalan style and featuring a beautiful terrace for hot summer evenings. They specialise in Catalan cuisine and our recommendation is to have a first course with tapas, some with fish, others with meat, vegetables,which will please the majority of dietary requirements, followed by a main course like roasted lamb (their speciality) or a steak or poultry. They also have a nice garden where a cocktails could be served.

Upon arrival and after dinner entertainment is provided by a Rumberos Band. This band is composed by 4 musicians and 4 girls dressed in colourful Andalusian costumes, dancing to the music. The band plays music similar to the Gypsy Kings and creates a special atmosphere filled with fun. The girls usually invite the guests to dance with them which always starts a big “Spanish Fiesta”.

After dinner return transfer to the hotel. Overnight.

DAY FOUR
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check out from the rooms.

Morning Gaudi Tour. Antoni Gaudí is the most famous of the Modernist architects and his heavy use of bright ceramics and unusual shapes brought the word “gaudy” into the English language. Amongst his leading patrons were the Güell who wanted Park Güell designed as a suburb for 60 new houses. Only two were ever completed but what is in place is a spectacular insight into the mind of this most individual of architects. Sinuous lines, natural forms, broken marble, spiral shaped towers, giant lizards, bright ceramic decoration all combine to create a surreal setting in which one can relax and enjoy a panoramic view of the city.

The Sagrada Familia is Gaudi´s unfinished masterpiece - a Cathedral that consumed all his time and money in his later years until his death in 1.926 but whose construction has inched forward amidst controversy and debate until the present day. Dominating the skyline, this is a Barcelona attraction that should not be missed.

The tour ends at the restaurant Cangrejo Loco for lunch. Overlooking the yachting harbour and beaches of Barcelona, it has several interior dining rooms a large terraces, all decorated in a modern naval style. Specialities are shellfish and fish.

After lunch, transfer to the airport for departure flight.

Suggested Sightseeing

Barcelona City sightseeing (Half day)
From the coach we'll visit the most important sights in town, like the Olympic Mountain, the Old and Olympic Harbour, the Gothic Quarter, the Paseo de Gracia, and even the fassade of the Sagrada Familia. Two stops are included, one at the Mirador del Alcalde (featuring impressive views over the city) and another at the Old Town including a walk through the picturesque narrow streets.

Walking Tour of the Gothic Quarter, (Half day)
This is a guided tour primarily on foot through the oldest areas of the city. Considering this area was walled until the expansion of the mid XIXth century, many of the buildings date from the XIIIth and XIVth centuries. The tour includes a stroll down the Rambles Boulevard, a visit of the Gothic Cathedral, Plaça del Rei, Call Street (medieval Jewish Quarter), Argenteria Street and Montcada Street.

Picasso Museum and Ribera Quarter
The tour starts with the visit to the Picasso Museum, located in an ancient Gothic palace. The museum contents include works donated by Picasso to the city before the Civil War, an extremely important collection of works from the blue to the pink period. After leaving the museum, you tour the Ribera Quarter on foot and visit the Santa Maria del Mar gothic church.

Miró Museum and Spanish Village
The first stop in this tour is the Miró Foundation in the Montjuic Hill. This museum contains most of the paintings of this famous artist born in Barcelona, complemented by extensive collections of works by contemporary artists. Following the visit of the museum, proceed down the hill to Poble Espanyol (Spanish Village). Built for the 1.929 International Exhibition as a permanent example of Spanish popular architecture and handicrafts, it entered a new phase in 1.988 when cultural, gastronomic, leisure and entertainment features were added to its traditional attractions.

Sitges and wine tour (Full day)
Depart Barcelona to the Penedes region where the largest producers of Spanish Cava are to be found. After visiting one of the cava cellars where wine tasting and appetizers will be served. Continue on to Sitges, a small fishing village that nowadays is one of the most popular tourist resorts, for lunch followed by time at leisure for shopping or visiting one of the cafes, before return to Barcelona.

Rally tour of Barcelona (Half day)
This is a team building activity in which we will try to make guests discover Barcelona by visiting various points of the city where they will be able to experience many aspects of the Spanish and Catalan culture and folklore from Flamenco to wine tasting. The group will be divided in teams that will have to fill up a questionnaire based in all the exciting things that they will have to do, to ask to locals, to taste, to see and possibly even to sing.

Montserrat and cava cellars visit (Half or Full day)
This tour includes a visit to Montserrat Monastery, home of the Worldwide famous Black Madonna, patron of Catalonia. Afterwards visit the town of Sant Sadurni D'Anoia where the majority of champagne (we call it Cava) in Spain is produced and stored in vast underground cellars. The tour includes a visit to one of the cellars to enjoy a Cava tasting.

Theme Party Ideas for Incentives

Classical Spanish Evening
A cocktail reception with a concert of classical music is followed by a banquet with waiters in XVIIth century costume. The evening can be staged in a choice of venues including the Royal Palace of Pedralbes, the Old Stock Exchange and the National Palace of Montjuic.

Catalan Evening
We will use a private manor or a restaurant exclusively and we will create areas with different types of food and drinks. There will be different types of Catalan folklorist pieces of entertainment strolling around like Castellers (human towers), Giants and Big Heads, Bastoners (stick dancers), Sardanas dances, mixed with a Tuna Band that creates a very lively atmosphere. As a Grand Finale a Diables Band (devils band), composed of men dressed like devils holding long sticks with fireworks on the top. They dance under their sparks with their own music in a very spectacular way.

Sports Activities
· Mini Olympic games in the Olympic stadium.
· Rowing at the Olympic Channel.
· Go - Karts competition.
. Indoor karting
· Water activities on the beach in Barcelona or surroundings: sailing, beach-volley, jet-ski, banana boat, etc.
· Adventure: 4x4, quads, wild waters rafting in the Pyrenees, ballooning.
· Bicycle ride
. Hot air ballooning
. Dragon Boats
. Football with FC Barcelona or Espanyol

Spanish Fiesta
A celebration of the best of Spanish food and entertainment, buffets from various regions offer cheese, seafood, fruits, barbecued meats, sausages, paellas and tapas. During the evening Flamenco and Catalan folklore is provided and an orchestra plays varied dance music.

Specialist Groups

• Architecture
• Agriculture
• Art
• Ornithology
• Wine