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HOSPITALITY / RESTAURANTS / BARS WHERE TO GOIN BERLIN WWW.WHERETOGOINBERLIN.COM CLUBS / EVENTS / SHOPPING / CULTURE Berlin's Ever-Changing Face A New Tech Start-Up Founded Every 20 Hours Burkhard Kieker, Chief Executive Officer of visitBerlin tells IFA International about the latest projects and developments in one of the world's most dynamic, exciting and individual cities... In 2014, the German capital will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. So much has been achieved in that quarter of a century. Berlin is a city that’s changing, reinventing itself, and combining awareness of the past, with looking ahead to the future. From this point of view, IFA has always been an integral part of Berlin, because it was held for the first time in 1924, and can now look back on a long history, while still presenting the latest achievements in technology and design. Berlin has become a leading international trade fair and congress metropolis because the city is an ideal location for events, especially those dedicated to trends and creative ideas. For example, Social Media Week, an event that reflects Berlin’s booming start-up scene, will be held from 23 September on, marking the fact that a new internet company is founded in Berlin every 20 hours. The open spaces and sophisticated infrastructure make the city attractive to artists as well as tech start-ups, and empty factory buildings and unused areas are being transformed into galleries and exhibition spaces. A combination of well-established institutions and up and coming artists has made Berlin the epicentre of contemporary art, and soBerlin Art Week, which takes place from 17 to 22 September, is an opportunity for art connoisseurs to get to know the art scene in Berlin. What do you recommend for visitors to IFA who may not have much time to visit the city. What should they do first? Burkhard Kieker Chief Executive Officer of visitBerlin “Every visitor can find their own unique experience in Berlin” I recommend anyone who has been inspired by IFA and wants to try out gadgets to discover Berlin using an app. Numerous providers offer mobile guided tours on topics such as street art or the Berlin Wall, as well as virtual 3D tours. If, on the other hand, you want to disconnect in the truest sense of the word, you can let off steam in Berlin’s open spaces. For example, on the runways of the former Tempelhof airport visitors can fly a kite or try out kite surfing. At 115 metres, the former US listening station on the Teufelsberg is Berlin’s highest mountain, and it's well worth climbing. There are guided tours which provide an intriguing view of the history of Berlin during the Cold War era, while at dusk the area offers an amazing view of the whole city from above. Are you finding that more people are tending to stay on after shows like IFA in order to visit the city? In my experience, yes. Visitors to events and trade fairs take advantage of the opportunity and often extend their stay by a couple of days. The German capital has a lot to offer apart from trade fairs, everything from cultural hotspots to partying until dawn in one of the many clubs. Every visitor can find their own unique experience in Berlin. How do you work to support Messe Berlin and its IFA show? Messe Berlin is a long established partner of visitBerlin. We work together regularly and closely, especially in the congress sector. For IFA we mainly help with communications through online and press work. 36
WHERE TO GO IN BERLIN Hospitality Restaurants Waldorf Astoria Berlin Waldorf Astoria Berlin Adapting the mythology of the famed original in New York, Waldorf Astoria Berlin is in the heart of the German capital's premium shopping, tourist and commercial district. The hotel features over 2,000sqm of dedicated conference and meeting facilities, in addition to Germany’s first Guerlain Spa. If you need some peace, the library is the place for you. WALDORF ASTORIA BERLIN Hardenbergstraße 28 10623 Berlin www.waldorfastoriaberlin. com Metro U Zoologischer Garten U2 U9 Reinhard’s Reinhard’s brings to life the spirit of the twenties. The atmosphere is reminiscent of Berlin’s golden age. The walls are decorated with pictures of celebrated theatre and movie stars. The international kitchen with French finesse presents weekly changing menus. One of their specialities “The secret of the Kaiserhof” is a dish that the kitchen of the hotel Kaiserhof once created for the artist Max Liebermann. The recipe is still a secret. Opening hours: Tue – Sat 6.30 pm to 11 pm RESTAURANT REINHARD’S IM NIKOLAIVIERTEL Poststr. 28, 10178 Berlin Phone. +49 (03)0 242 52 95 www.reinhards.de restaurant@reinhards.de Reinhard’s Reinhard’s Metro S+U Alexanderplatz U2, S3, S5, S7 Waldorf Astoria Berlin www.ifa-international.org IFA International • Tuesday 10 th September 2013 37
