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16/10/01
Warhol Wonders Go On Show
- Berlin launches an Andy Warhol retrospective

BERLIN'S NEW NATIONAL GALLERY launches a retrospective on Andy Warhol's work from October 6. The exhibition features 160 paintings and 80 drawings from the acclaimed pop artist.

The exhibition marks the first time in 12 years that Berlin has showcased Warhol's work. Thirty-five years after their making, Warhol's Thirteen Most Wanted Men receives a debut exhibition, as do the 'black-white' drawings from his early days when Warhol worked as a graphic designer and illustrator.

The exhibition also includes the consumer illustrations and self-portraits that made Warhol's name. One of the highlights of the retrospective is Warhol's array of Campell's Soup Cans, on loan from the Museum of Modern Art. Running in tandem with the exhibition, a series of Warhol's most popular films, including Empire, The Velvet Underground and Nico, Couch, Vinyl, and The Chelsea Girls will be shown at the Arsenal theatre.

TICKETS are now on sale for London's most innovative drama events. Those searching for the British Festival of Visual Theatre need fret no longer - Battersea Arts Centre director Tom Morris has simply retitled the festival, 'Octoberfest' - the name of the famous Munich beer festival.

"It's a bloody good festival in October where artists and audiences make theatre happen and drink lots of beer," said Morris. "Last year's opener was performed in the dark and we didn't want to limit ourselves artistically so we thought we'd better change the name."

As at the Lion and Unicorn theatre, Bethnal Green Cabaret Arches and other venues participating in the festival, directors of the BAC carefully select artists to collaborate with, then offer them artistic, marketing and technical support.

As a result, the work of imaginative companies specialising in the likes of puppetry and mime, but struggling with production costs, receives a rare staging and attracts a younger than usual crowd to the theatre.

12/07/01
Newlook Berlin
- The German capital enjoys a make over

SHOWCASE BERLIN puts Germany's capital on show with an array of eye-catching events and street parades until the end of August. Group trips down the river Spree in honour of the city's new developments are just one of the ways the city is celebrating.

' In this century of reurbanisation, living on the water has become a popular choice,' says the Berlin Senator for City Development. He explains that people have flocked to the city ever since the Berlin wall came down, and that with more and more of them choosing to live on the waterfront, plans are afoot for new water taxis.

But the water-shy needn't fear. There's plenty to take in on dry land, what with the new Sony-Center and the Reichstag reconstruction. And those with an ear for European musicians will be pleased to hear that youth orchestras from neighbouring countries are on their way to join in the festivities.

What's more, the Love Parade on Saturday is guaranteed to turn wallflowers into ravers. Now in its fifth year, the colourful parade comprising fifty floats and a whole lot of DJs kicks off at 17.30 and heralds a week of drinking and dancing in venues around the city.

Mean time museums open until midnight bring the past to life by staging historic productions throughout the town as part of 'Museum Night,' whilst the Hebbel Theatre hosts a series of dance events. All in all Berlin deserves more than a second glance.

27/06/01
Hotelgenie Dot Com
- A quick update on our fine filly Hotelgenie Dot Com

THE three year-old was set for a great season until, alas, injury
intervened. As a result she had to withdraw from the 1,000 Guineas, French
Oaks and Coronation Stakes, the three big races planned for the season. The
injury -a tendon problem- is relatively minor but significant enough to mean
it is unlikely she will race until the Autumn at the earliest.

Good news is her spirit remains strong and she is now out enjoying her
return to training on the gallops.

18/06/01
Internet In The Sky
- 'Surf as you fly' set for 2002 roll-out

AIR TRAVELLERS will be able to check destination info and check their email inflight from 2002.

The new in-flight internet service - nicknamed Connexion by Boeing - will initially be introduced to long distance routes. Several U.S. Airlines are already involved in the project. Top carriers American, United and Delta have agreed to take a direct equity stake in Connexion by Boeing.

Now Lufthansa has become the first European firm to join the scheme. Other continental airlines are now expected to follow suit.

19/04/01
Hotelgenie Dot Com Jt Fav
- Our filly looking good for today's Feilden Stakes at Newmarket

HOTELGENIE DOT COM, the three year old filly named after this website, is set to be joint favourite for today's Feilden Stakes at Newmarket.

She faces tough competition from fellow 1000 Guineas entry Autumn Rythmn. Both look set to start at around 3 to 1.

Hotelgenie Dot Com is trained by Mick Channon and will be ridden again today by Australian jockey Craig Williams who steered her to victory in her maiden race last year at Sandown Park.

"After last year's flying start, we are looking to Hotelgenie Dot Com to fulfill her true promise this season. All the indicators are good and this trip should prove a useful warm-up for May's 1000 Guineas", said Hotelgenie.com's publisher Peter D. Clee.

For previous news, more info and photos see:
www.hotelgenie.com/hotelgeniedotcom.shtml or call ++44 20 8949 5363.

Newmarket Hotels: For a selection of Newmarket's finest hotels see: http://www.hotelgenie.com/newmarket

12/03/01
Classic for Hotelgenie Dot Com
- Filly is entered in May's 1000 Guineas classic at Newmarket

HOTELGENIE DOT COM, the three year old filly named after this website has been entered in the 1000 Guineas.

The Guineas is the premier miler for three-year old fillies and is one of the five English Classics. The other four are The Derby (Epsom, 1.5 miles, colts and fillies), The Oaks (Epsom, 1.5 miles, fillies), the 2000 Guineas (Newmarket, 1 mile, colts and fillies) and the St Ledger (Doncaster, 1.75 miles, colts and fillies).

Hotelgenie Dot Com, trained by Mick Channon, had a superb debut season as a two year old. Winning on her first outing at Sandown she went on to score two seconds and one third in her next three offs which escalated from a listed race through to Group races. She is now rated 111 just three points down on 1000 Guineas favourite Regal Rose (6 to 1).

Betting
Punters who move fast can get some great ante-post bets on Hotelgenie Dot Com. My research found odds ranging from 25 to 1 (Ladbrokes) to 33 to 1 (The Tote). Best of all was William Hill where I managed to place an each way bet at 50 to 1.
(Prices correct as of 12 March 2001).

For previous news, more info and photos see:
www.hotelgenie.com/hotelgeniedotcom.shtml or call ++44 20 8949 5363.

Newmarket Hotels: For a selection of Newmarket's finest hotels see: http://www.hotelgenie.com/newmarket

12/03/01
Berlin Culture Clash
- German museum breaks artistic boundaries

BERLIN'S House of World Cultures premieres a three month exhibition starting this March. Translated Acts is an international co-production that will later be shown in New York, Chicago, Rotterdam, Seoul and Taipeh.

Artists and curators from Africa, Asia and the two Americas collectively focus on the human body as place of social and political conflict. True to the capital's reputation as a trend setter on the modern art scene, the twenty nine multimedia works on display include polaroids, sculptures and performance installations as well as older art forms like sculptures.

This exploration of technology's influence on present society and past art is typical of a city where dilapidated buildings stand beside modern tower blocks. The event taps into the capital's hunger for the future sparked by the Berlin wall's 1961 destruction.

Berlin Hotels: For a selection of Berlin's finest hotels see: http://www.hotelgenie.com/berlin
Berlin Tourist Office: http://www.berlin.de

15/01/01
51st Berlin International Film Festival
- February's Berlinale set to honour Kirk Douglas's career

From February 7 to 18, the Berlin International Film Festival "Berlinale" will take place for the 51st time.

At the Potsdamer Platz international stars like Kirk Douglas From February 7 to 18, the Berlin International Film Festival "Berlinale" will take place for the 51st time. At the Potsdamer Platz international stars like Kirk Douglas are expected for the competition -, the winner of this year's award for lifetime achievement. A special homage is dedicated to his work. In the sections "Forum" and "Panorama" a selection of international films will be shown. The climax of the retrospective of Fritz Lang's work will be the presentation of the restored classic "Metropolis".

As part of its homage to Kirk Douglas, the Berlin International Film Festival will present a retrospective of his films including the aforementioned screening of Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory.

The festival will also host the world premiere of Jean-Jacques Annaud's Enemy at the Gates. By selecting this film, shot exclusively in Germany and for the most part at Babelsberg Studios, the Berlinale would like to call attention to Germany as a centre for film and media production.

On making this announcement, Festival Director Mortiz de Hadeln emphasized: "Although we know that everyone is against war, we cannot ignore the gruesome events of the past. With this film director Jean-Jacques Annaud has brilliantly shed light on a chapter of German history.

From the massive crowd scenes to the tiniest details he and his team of German technicians successfully demonstrate that Germany and Europe are in a position to effectively realize such major projects and thus challenge the idea that Americans have a monopoly on such works."

This international co-production is largely financed by Germany. Jean-Jacques Annaud (The Name Of The Rose, The Bear), who has won the César award several times, translates to the screen the script by Alain Godard (The Name Of The Rose), a gripping saga of the Stalingrad siege. During the legendary battle of Stalingrad in 1942 a Russian sniper fights for his life against a German sharpshooter.

The film stars Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley), Ed Harris (The Truman Show), Joseph Fiennes (Shakespeare in Love) and Rachel Weisz (Stealing Beauty, The Mummy). In supporting roles Bob Hoskins (Mona Lisa) portrays Nikita Khrushtchev and Matthias Habich (Beyond Silence) plays General Paulus.

Thanks to Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH and Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin for the information in this feature.

For more Film Festival info see:
Berlin Film Festival Site: http://www.berlinale.de
Berlin Tourist Office: http://www.berlin.de

For a selection of Berlin's finest hotels see:
http://www.hotelgenie.com/berlin

28/11/00
Wheel of Light for Christmas
- London Eye gets into festive spirit

SANTA is set to have some colourful company when he flies his slay over the centre of town this Christmas as the London Eye is to be home to a festive light show.

"It will be beautiful to look at, reflecting the beauty of the architecture. It's going to be an elegant transformation of the Eye," said a spokesperson for the big wheel on London's south bank. "There will be a range of light sequences involving all the capsules, and we will be able to light different sections of the rim and pods in different colours."

The revolving light show kicks off on Thursday November 30th and continues until January 6th.

02/11/00
Women Wear the Trousers at BA
- Britain's biggest airline in uniform shake-up

BRITISH AIRWAYS is to drop its trouser ban on women, following a survey by the company.

BA chiefs made the decision after seven out of 10 of its female staff said they preferred trousers to skirts. The trademark wide-brimmed blue hats were also given the thumbs down.

Kate Gay, a spokesperson for the airline, said: "Our frontline staff are on a catwalk every day and are very much our ambassadors, so we want them to feel comfortable."

Paula Doran, BA's uniform design manager said that the new kit would be a good way of signalling change to staff while showing customers that BA is a 'dynamic and modern organisation.'

This isn't the first time that BA's female staff have been given the option of wearing trousers. Pinstripe suits were first introduced to the airline 30 years ago but failed to take off.

03/10/00
"Mozart On Ice"
- Salzburg's new attraction for Winter; ice skating in the Old City

SALZBURG, AUSTRIA: For the first time this winter, a "nostalgic" ice rink will be set up for Salzburg residents and guests under the eyes of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Skaters will be able to practice their figures on a rink measuring 600 square meters between the Mozart monument and Café Glockenspiel from November 24, 2000 to January 28, 2001. The rink will be open daily from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m.; admission will be charged according to age.

A babysitting service and skate rental will also be available. The "Mozart" market will offer special food and beverages. Numerous events such as exhibition skating, a fashion show, a curling match, an ice disco, a Fire & Ice show on New Year's Eve, a "Night of Lights" and a vernissage with ice sculptures are planned. Children's projects, performances by the "yby" theater, the Clown Doctors and Teletubbies are also on the program. Companies will be able to organize private Christmas parties.

For Salzburg city info and hotels see:
http://www.hotelgenie.com/salzburg
or call ++44 20 8949 5363

Salzburg tourist board:
New Marketing & Communication Manager. Michael Rosbaud
5020 - Salzburg, Giselakai 51
Tel. 0662/63 56 53-11
Email: n.m.c.ad@salzburg.co.at

From our News Archive:

23/09/00
Hotelgenie Dot Com Scores a Fighting Third at Ascot
- Group One place in Fillies' Mile

ASCOT, ENGLAND: Hotelgenie Dot Com achieved an encouraging third place in the hard fought prestigious Group 1 Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot on Saturday.

Once again the plucky filly chose to run from the back of the field and once again her charge through the pack just left her short of another dramatic win. However, the racing world seems very impressed with the two year old. Several offers have already been received for her, all of which have been politely refused.

For previous news, more info and photos see:
www.hotelgenie.com/hotelgeniedotcom.shtml or call ++44 20 8949 5363.

24/03/00
Tourists: We Love the Tube
Underground gets thumbs up as visitors shiver at thought of London's food and weather

LONDON, ENGLAND: Londoners might not believe it but one of the main reasons visitors keep coming back to the capital is the city's much maligned Underground train system.

For those who use the aging system every day, the news that others regard it as one of the wonders of the age will be scarcely credible, but many forget that a comprehensive metro network is a relatively rare phenomenon.

The Tube was cited along with London's famous sights and its shopping facilities in a tourist survey conducted by Madame Tussauds waxwork museum, which revealed that 80 per cent of visitors plan a return trip.

On the downside only 2 per cent pegged London for a friendly city and most had gripes about prices, weather, cleanliness and food.

For our selection of London Hotels click here.

Hotelgenie.com carefully selects all hotels in this guide to bring you a choice of fine, character-rich establishments, many at exclusive discounts.