HIDDEN GUEST: Salzburg Congress Centre

• Opened: 2001
• Halls: 15 conference rooms and halls
• Theater max: 1324
• Category: E-Convention Centre

LOCATION

The central location next to the Mirabell Palace is one of its many advantages. This architectural masterpiece offers not only a picturesque view over the gardens of the Mirabell Palace and downtown Salzburg; it also captures congress participants with its close vicinity to nature, its combination of modernity and tradition and the tidiness of the city itself.

ACCESSIBILITY

Salzburg is easily accessible. Most downtown areas are accessible by foot or by the punctual and efficient public transport. Easy access by train is part of the city’s green tourism and sustainable development strategy. In this exceptionally well regulated and clean city, you will hardly find any mess. In terms of quality of living, this city ranks among the best in the world. In close proximity to the centre, you will find 1,000 parking spaces in the neighbouring Mirabell and Sheraton Salzburg car parks.

COLD APPETIZER – Architecture and Aesthetics

The architects did a fabulous job. After all, they took six years to fulfil their task. The exterior is elegant, breezy, and in perfect harmony with the green surroundings; the interior is dynamic, minimalistic and oriented toward congress participants. This centre is the perfect example of combining spaciousness, high-quality equipment and rational design. But it is by no means pretentious – pretentious design and playing with emotions is of secondary importance. The entire architectural design, which is complemented by a thorough construction, ergonomic design, and compared to its competitors, dominant integrated services, is elegant and pleasant to behold.

WARM APPETISER – Staff and customer service

Harmonised technical equipment and services are synonymous with this centre, whose services are predictable, but nevertheless extraordinary. Salzburg itself is in its core and its organisation one of the most sustainable congress destinations in the world. Furthermore, the city makes an effort for every single congress and the well-being of all participants. The city offers event organisers a pleasant gesture in the form of a free concert for the participants of international congresses, financial assistance if at least 250 international participants are brought to the city, and cheaper public transport tickets.

MAIN COURSE – Quality of facilities

Salzburg Congress is one of Salzburg’s main weapons in the fierce competition for international association congresses. The centre has a variety of systems that simplify congress guests’ life in many ways. This ultramodern centre has the largest hall for 1,350 participants, including a sophisticated stage.

DESSERT – Catering and additional offer

Exquisite catering is provided by the Sheraton Salzburg hotel. This assures a top-quality international cuisine and a chance to become acquainted with local flavours. Especially inspiring is the use of local ingredients in accordance with the Green Meetings Certificate held by this hotel.

FLOP – NEGATIVE SURPRISES
As a matter of fact, the only weakness is that city hotels are filled to capacity in peak congress season and arguably overpriced.

TOP – POSITIVE SURPRISES
In 2011, Salzburg Congress obtained the Green Meetings Certificate, which is awarded by the Austria Convention Bureau. Obtaining this certificate is quite demanding, as a centre has to fulfil many sustainability criteria. This policy is a positive added value for this centre.

MAIN FACILITIES
– Europa Hall with balcony 1,100 m2
– Entrance foyer
– Mozart Hall, 436 m2
– Karajan Hall, 294 m2
– Wolf-Dietrich Hall, 166 m2
– Paracelsus Hall, 90 m2
– Trakl Hall, 90 m2
– Doppler Hall, 90 m2

EXTRAS
Wireless internet access is available at all congress and event facilities, which are fitted with the latest WLAN access points (standard IEEE 802.11n).

FINAL IMPRESSION AND CREDIBILITY
A premium congress centre, which does not challenge its competitors with an extravagant exterior but rather with spacious, functional and effective comprehensive services. What counts is the whole package. This hotel is well aware of that and prepared to tackle even the biggest congress challenges and to pit itself against the harshest competitors in its class. The Salzburg Congress is determined to hold its market place and it is therefore virtually impossible to point at anything specifically wrong. With its design, innovative technological solutions, interior, high-quality materials and precise technical performance, it can be ranked among the best congress centres in Europe.