Berlin Focus: 2008

At a recent NY press conference held at the 4 Seasons Hotel, media executives from Berlin Tourism brought travel agents and journalists up-to-date on the current state of tourism to this sophisticated city.

At a recent NY press conference held at the 4 Seasons Hotel, media executives from Berlin Tourism brought travel agents and journalists up-to-date on the current state of tourism to this sophisticated city.

With an increase of over 7 percent of guest arrivals from January โ€“ November, 2007, Berlin accommodated over 7 million visitors and an excess of 16 million overnights. Of this total, 215, 663 were American visitors, and 29,742 arrived from Canada. Given the strength of the Euro, the significant number of foreign visitors is quite impressive.

Ambitious Art Projects
The 2008 Berlin calendar includes the Fifth Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art under the direction of Adam Szmczyk of the Basel Art Hall, will highlight new arts and emerging artists.

The Pergamon Museum is featuring Babylonโ€™s splendor and presents the link between the intellectual history of Europe and the Near East over several millennia.

The Museum Scharf-Gerstenberg has selected Surrealism as its focus, displaying over 250 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by famed artists that include Dali, Magritte, Max Ernst and Dubuffet.

A Paul Klee retrospective will be on view at Berlinโ€™s New National Gallery, covering the years from 1879 โ€“ 1940.
Liquid Culture

For visitors anxious to go beyond the usual to the unusual, they may find their quest satisfied at the Liquidrom which is publicized as a seat of โ€œwellnessโ€ that plunges bathers into sound, color, light and salt water – all at the same time! From live performances of harp and trance music to spa treatments, this unique experience glides clients from the real to the surreal.
Cabaret Redux

Set in Berlin against the background of growing Fascism, the musical Cabaret is back in Berlin and tickets are available at the Mirror Tent of the Bar Jeder Vernunft.
Communist Era Berlin

A new budget hotel with an unusual theme will open in May: The Ostel is furnished in original vintage furnishings and wall-coverings from the Communist period. Think retro-dark red carpeting, heavy sofas and original 1970s brown-orange-green wallpaper. Keeping with authenticity, the Party leader of the period, Erich Honeckerโ€™s portraits decorate the hotel walls. At only 9 Euros per person per night for a six-bed room, and 33 Euros for a single room, we may want to rethink our political attitude in exchange for a travel bargain.

For additional information on what is trendy, unusual and unique in Berlin, visit http://www.berlin-tourist-information.de/index.en.php

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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