Venues and Events International, Projects and Events Executive, Holly Vallerius shares her top tips for organising incentives to the Spanish capital
For me, the appeal of
Madrid as an incentive destination is as much about the modernity of its bars, hotels and nightlife as it is about the preserved look and feel of many of its historic landmarks, streets and neighbourhoods.
Must-see attractions for groups include the Golden Triangle of Art, located along the Paseo del Prado and comprising three remarkable museums; the
Royal Palace of Madrid and the
Plaza de Oriente, with tours of the grounds available for a single Euro.
Best for Meeting
The
Marriott Madrid Auditorium offers 869 rooms, an auditorium for up to 2000 delegates, 56 meeting rooms and 15,500sqm of exhibition space.
It is the ultimate spacious contemporary conference hotel and located just six kilometres from the Madrid-Barajas Airport and 22km from Buen Retiro Park in downtown Madrid.
In addition, the four-star hotel has two restaurants, three bars including a lovely terrace bar and an outdoor pool. There’s also tennis courts, an indoor pool and fitness centre.
Best for Eating
Check out
Palacio del Negralejo - a beautiful, traditional Spanish estate belonging to Madrid nobility and located in the Vega del Henares just 15 minutes from downtown Madrid.
It has been preserved for large dinners, receptions and parties for up to 1,500 guests, both inside and in its splendid grounds and gardens, surrounded by a backdrop of old pine trees.
The venue is full of charm and serves excellent Basque-Spanish cuisine.
Best for Group Activities
Local destination management companies such as Conventia can organise fun cultural experiences such as flamenco dancing lessons or to watch a show whilst enjoying dinner.
During my visit, I toured the city by GoCar - a two-seater, three-wheeled vehicle that runs with a 49cc-size scooter engine. It was a lot of fun and a great way for large groups to see the sights and experience the sounds of Madrid.
Best for Nightlife
Head to El Madrid de los Austrias - the city’s oldest neighbourhood. In the centre is the Plaza Mayor, a bustling city square lined with cocktail bars and tapas joints. Nearby is the four-star
ME Madrid Reina Victoria. Its seven meeting rooms can host groups of ten to 300 for events, while The Roof is a cool, open-top terrace bar with spectacle cityscape views.
Another popular nightlife square is Chueca in the Justicia neighbourhood. Here, there’s an endless assortment of bars, nightclubs and tapas restaurants.
Best for Sleeping
One of my favourite Madrid hotels is the five-star Urban, in the heart of the city’s Golden Triangle. It’s an Art Deco property with 96 designer rooms and suites, stylish meeting rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, solarium, gym, sauna and a superb oyster/cocktail bar. It also has its own museum dedicated to Papua New Guinea art and jewellery.
Room styles range from Superior and split-level Duplex Suites to Suites including the designer Loft Suite with its sleeping area and sitting room on different levels.