Berlin & Vienna: a perfect pairing for 2016

“If Canadians make it all the way over to Europe, they don’t just visit one city, and these two cities go really well together,” Kirsten Schmidt, representation USA/Canada for visitBerlin told PAX at the top of a media luncheon promoting Berlin and Vienna in Toronto yesterday.

With Germany Travel Mart just around the corner, the event served as a perfect opportunity to showcase the capital city’s tourism offerings for the coming year.

Also showcased was Vienna, Austria, which Helena Hartlauer, media relations, Vienna Tourist Board, said is an excellent complement to Berlin - especially for travellers looking for a cultural destination with an alternative twist.

“Vienna and Berlin’s unique history and architecture are things you really can’t find in Canada,” she pointed out, “and at the same time, both cities can also surprise travellers with how young and dynamic they are.”

Canadian overnight visits to Berlin and Vienna have increased by 10.7 and 8.7 per cent respectively from 2014, a climb the tourism boards partially attributed to the city’s unexpected affordability in the face of the Canadian dollar.

“Berlin has some of the best value for travellers on the continent right now, compared to London or Paris,” Schmidt told PAX. “You can get a five-star hotel for as low as 150 euros depending on the season.”

Hartlauer agreed, adding that “[Vienna] is much more affordable than people would expect. It was just voted the most livable city in the world, which has a lot to do with the [costs associated] with its restaurants and bars.”

Among the new initiatives being highlighted for Berlin was its newly-rolled out campaign, “Berlin 365/24,” a series of 1,500 cultural and subcultural events and activities per day, all day, taking place throughout the city for the duration of 2016.

“Wherever you go, there will be an event for you,” Schmidt told event guests, directing them to the initiative’s new website at www.365-24.berlin for information on the activities and attractions scheduled to take place.

Schmidt also took a moment to address the migrant crisis, a matter that has seen Germany become a topic of global conversation.

“Berlin is known as the city of freedom,” she said, explaining that the city welcomes all types of visitors from all walks of life – an attribute which greatly contributes to its identity as an authentic and vibrant destination.

Schmidt also pointed out that Berlin, once termed as “poor, but sexy,” has been experiencing a considerable increase in its economy, particularly as it pertains to startups and the film industry.

“We’re still sexy,” she joked, adding that the city is well-positioned to receive visitors, with more hotel rooms than New York City – and 1,200 more due for 2016.

Similarly, Vienna, labeled by some as a beautiful sleeping beauty, has much more than meets the eye, according to Hartlauer.

“It’s still beautiful, but no longer sleepy,” she said during her presentation, which included an array of new and upcoming art exhibitions, some significant historical anniversaries, and a litany of hotel developments.

One of the several common ventures being tackled by the cities is an effort to encourage guests beyond the historical and cultural attractions that lure them there and toward more authentic and experiential districts and businesses that can be found off the beaten track.

One example is Vienna’s grätzlhotel, a hotel which provides maps of neighbourhood businesses in lieu of an in-house restaurant, in order to coax guests into exploring their surroundings. Berlin, meanwhile, has a host of festivals and celebrations – both new and traditional – planned for the upcoming year.

Berlin in 2016

Berlin Fashion Week - June 28 – July 1, 2016

DMY International Design Festival - June 2 – 5, 2016

Long Night of the Sciences - June 11, 2016

Lesbian and Gay Street Festival – July 16 & 17, 2016

17th Berlin International Beer Festival - Aug. 5 - 7, 2016

43rd Berlin Marathon - Sept. 24-25, 2016

German Re-Unification Day - Oct. 3, 2016

JazzFest Berlin - Nov. 3-6, 2016

Christmas Fairs and Winter Magic - Dec. 2016

New Year’s Eve at the Brandenburg Gate  - Dec. 31, 2016