Vienna puts the spotlight on its neighbourhoods
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Vienna, Austria’s capital city, retained its crown as the world’s most liveable city in 2023, according to the Economist’s annual index.
Along with green spaces, impressive architecture and world-renowned food, attractions and festive christmas markets, Elke Bachner, International B2B Relations for USA, Canada, Great Britain for the Vienna Tourist Board, said the destination is focusing on the diversity of its neighbourhoods.
Known as Grätzel by locals, Vienna will celebrate its neighbourhoods during a 2024 ‘Heartbeat Streets’ initiative, with the aim of getting visitors to “Fall in love with Vienna’s neighbourhoods.”
Upon arrival at the airport in Vienna, Armando Mendonca of AMPM, who represents the Vienna Tourist Board in Canada, says it’s a quick 15-minute journey to get downtown on the CAT (City Airport Train). For those with clients heading to Vienna soon, Hotel Imperial is offering special rates for the 150th birthday of the iconic hotel where the likes of Madonna have stayed.
Notably, travel advisors can become official retailers of the Vienna City Card, which along with discounts to attractions and museums allows guests to travel on public transport in Vienna, in order to earn five percent commission on sales.
“For all the travel advisors, I want to invite you to sign up to be a Vienna Expert, it’s very easy, it’s free of charge, you sign up and you get all the benefits, No. 1 you get the Vienna City Card for three days when you come to Vienna, for free,” Bachner said. “And of course, you get information every month about new exhibitions, about concerts, about opera. On top of that, you get discounts at hotels so it’s also a good bargain.”
More resources for the travel trade are available here, including staying up-to-date on fam opportunities.
“I love my job, I love my city, be ensured that whenever you need something, let me know, I can give you ideas, I can help,” she added. “If you need information I will find it for you, I will send out for fam trips, inspection trips, I will get you in touch with the right hotels.”
Air Canada and Lufthansa Group remain the only nonstop, year round carriers to Vienna. From Toronto, there were daily flights in summer 2023 and plans are for more of the same next summer with Air Canada. From Montreal, there were five weekly flights in summer 2023, with the same planned again for summer 2024, with Austrian Airlines. Throughout the upcoming winter season, flights will operate up to six times a week from Toronto with Air Canada and up to three times a week out of Montreal with Austrian Airlines.
