Ambassador Travel - Special Interest Tours - Queensland Hotels Association Conference Tour

QHA Conference & Study Tour European River Cruise

Departs September 2010

Invitation from QHA

Highlights

Tour Itinerary

I am delighted to invite members and associates of the QHA to join me on the 2010 Queensland Hotel Industry Conference and Study Tour to Europe.

An exciting 14 day package tour has been designed to visit and explore traditional and emerging aspects of the tourism, licensed and wine industries in Europe, with a commendable balance of work and play. Members and guests will be sure to enjoy what promises to be the best and most sought after QHA event in years.

Tom McGuire - President, QHA

This special tour offers a unique opportunity to learn more about cutting edge hospitality industry practices and trends in a compact, varied and enjoyable format.

Europe is the traditional home of fine wining and dining but, increasingly, global hotel industry profitability and patronage are guided by more practical considerations such as targeted marketing, effective use of technology, staff quality and presentation, and the ability to offer consistent products within a structured budget and production format. With these issues in mind, the 2010 QHA Conference and Study Tour program has been structured to make the very best use of time, and to provide an opportunity to see not only the latest front-of-house products, but to also give a behind the scenes insight into leading hospitality events and liquor industry production houses.

Justin O'Connor - CEO, QHA

The 200th Bavarian Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a sixteen-day festival held each year in Munich, Germany during late September (and running to early October). It is one of the most famous events in Germany and the world’s largest fair, with some six million people attending every year.Our group will tour the giant 41 hectare site dedicated to the event, taking in all aspects of the food, music, beer, service and organization – a ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity.

8 Day Rhine River Cruise
Experience the sights, sounds, aromas and traditions of the historic Rhine River on a breathtaking eight day cruise aboard the 433 foot luxury Viking cruiser Helvetia. Try Cologne’s legendary Kolsch beer and taste the regional wines in Koblenz where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet. Visit the castles of the middle Rhine region, many of which were built to control the flow of river traffic and impose tolls and taxes on honest merchants going about their daily business - sound familiar? Climb the heights of Strasbourg Cathedral before an afternoon of tasty Alsatian treats.

Welcome Function at Heineken Brewery
Visit the word renowned Heineken brewery in Holland, step into the world of Heineken, learn more about the art of brewing, hear its famous Heineken family, see and taste how exciting beer can be. Welcome to the Heineken experience!

Extension Options Available
There are optional extensions to visit Dubai en-route, or to attend the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris, or Lucerne in Switzerland, at the end of our tour. So join your friends and the QHA in this experience of a lifetime.

Day 1, Tuesday 21 September
BRISBANE – DUBAI
Make your way to your respective airports today to join your Emirates flight to Munich via Dubai.
Accommodation: In Flight

Day 2, Wednesday 22 September
DUBAI – MUNICH
On arrival in Munich today, you will be transferred to your centrally located accommodation for check-in. This afternoon, you will enjoy an orientation tour of this thriving city with a charming blend of old Bavarian traditions and modern sensibilities. Dinner will be provided for you at the hotel this evening.
Accommodation: Munich

Day 3, Thursday 23 September
MUNICH
Today, attend the Munich Oktoberfest - the largest fair in the world celebrated by 6 million visitors each year. Gather at the festival grounds with the crowd and celebrate great music, fantastic food, and the largest variety of beers from all over the world! You will have the opportunity to tour the festival grounds and observe the many service organisations involved in this huge event.
Accommodation: Munich

Day 4, Friday 24 September
MUNICH – AMSTERDAM – BRUGES
Farewell the Oktoberfest and Munich today and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Amsterdam. On arrival you will be transferred to Bruges, a splendid city that has meticulously preserved the look and feel of medieval times, earning it the title of one of Belgium’s crown jewels. You will have the evening free to explore this ‘Venice of the North’ at your leisure.
Accommodation: Bruges

Day 5, Saturday 25 September
BRUGES – AMSTERDAM (JOIN CRUISE)
After check-out this morning, you will be transferred back to Amsterdam to board the Viking Helvetia to commence your cruise. After boarding, the remainder of your day is free to acquaint yourself with the ship and the city. This evening, a welcome dinner has been organised for the group at the Heineken Brewery.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 6, Sunday 26 September
AMSTERDAM
This morning, enjoy a cruise through this canal-laced city in a glass-topped boat. Pass narrow merchant houses and the renowned Skinny Bridge, and get a different perspective of this vibrant, multicultural city. Then take a tour of the Van Gogh Museum to see works by the famous artist and his contemporaries.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 7, Monday 27 September
COLOGNE
Cruise along the Rhine this morning, arriving just after lunch in Cologne. Disembark for a walking tour of this gem of the Rhine. Stroll through Old Town past St. Martin’s Church, and spend some time inside Cologne’s Dom, a remarkable Gothic cathedral. Then visit a local brewery and sample Kolsch, the hometown brew. Your evening is free to explore the dockside taverns, cafes and shops. Continue on to Koblenz overnight.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 8, Tuesday 28 September
KOBLENZ & RÜDESHEIM
After breakfast, disembark for a tour of 700-year-old Marksburg Castle and its museum. Reboard the ship for lunch and sail along the most scenic stretch of the Rhine, where castles overlook the river from their hilltop locations. Arrive in Rudesheim this afternoon and take a mini-train up the hill to tour Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum. After dinner, you may spend free time in the pedestrian-only Drosselgasse and sample a glass of locally produced wine at one of the wine bars. Accommodation: On Board

Day 9, Wednesday 29 September
HEIDELBERG & SPEYER
Cruise through the morning enjoying brunch and the passing scenery. Arrive in Mannheim and disembark for a tour. Journey to Heidelberg to see Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386. Then visit the beautiful sandstone ruins of imposing Heidelberg Castle, and take in the scenery of the Neckar River Valley from its hilltop location. Continue with a walking tour from the Old Town to Heidelberg’s renowned gates. Rejoin your ship in Speyer; take evening free time to see the town’s six majestic towers and Romanesque cathedral.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 10, Thursday 30 September
STRASBOURG
The morning is highlighted by scenic cruising followed by lunch aboard. Arrive in Kehl in the early afternoon and disembark for a guided tour of Strasbourg. See the European Parliament and tour the interior of the city’s famed cathedral. Free time to further explore the old section of this French-German city. Dine aboard and enjoy free time this evening in the quaint little city of Kehl.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 11, Friday 1 October
BREISACH
After cruising through the night you arrive during breakfast in Breisach, gateway to the Black Forest. Take a scenic excursion through the area’s renowned mountain landscape, rolling meadows and dense forests. Once there, visit a local workshop and see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration. Return to Breisach for some free time before an early evening departure. Dine aboard while you cruise on to Basel, arriving around midnight.
Accommodation: On Board

Day 12, Saturday 2 October
BASEL – ZURICH – DUBAI
Enjoy breakfast aboard this morning, before disembarking from the ship and be transferred to the airport in Zurich for your return flight to Australia via Dubai. Alternatively, you may join an optional Paris Extension and/or continue your travels in Europe.
Accommodation: In Flight

Day 13, Sunday 3 October
IN FLIGHT

Day 14, Monday 4 October
BRISBANE
Your arrival in Brisbane today concludes your QHA European River Cruise.