Vienna – New venue openings and funding packages to encourage organisers to return

Vienna is ready and waiting to welcome conference, meeting and events visitors again.  There’s lots going on in the city with new hotels and venues opening during this year and beyond.

Austria has recently introduced a €300 million protective shield, which means that the Austrian government will cover financial damage resulting from events being cancelled or restricted due to Covid-19.  An event is considered restricted if more than 30% of the participants cannot take part in the event due to COVID-19.  Applications can be made for events until December 2021.  The scheme applies to event organisers from outside Austria as long as the event is held in Austria.

In addition, Vienna also has a fund of €4m for domestic and international organisers who are planning meetings to be held in Vienna between 1 May 2021 and 31 December 2023.  Its aim is to encourage organisers to host congresses and corporate events in Vienna in the current circumstances.  Funding is provided for costs incurred when organizing meetings and is not intended as compensation for any financial losses.

This is particularly aimed at association congresses and meetings, as well as corporate events and meetings.  The event must be attended by at least 50 on-site participants and it lasts a minimum of four hours.  There is also funding for overnight stays and hybrid meetings.

Centrally located in Europe, Vienna is under 2 hours by plan from most other European capital cities.  It has a quick rail link from the airport to the city centre, which is compact, green and regarded as a safe city.

New Hotels

• Almanac – opening in the summer of 2021, with 111 bedrooms and 11 meeting rooms
• Hotel Motto – has 91 bedrooms and two meeting rooms is due to open in September 2021
• Radisson Red Vienna – with 179 bedrooms and 480m² of meeting space will open during 2021
• Hampton by Hilton – just opened in February 2021 and located next to the Messe.  This hotel has 192 bedrooms and one meeting room
• Moons – a contemporary property with 170 bedrooms will open this summer.
• Jaz in the city – opening in August will have 163 bedrooms and 150m² of meeting space
• Zoku – 131 loft spaces with the option of a balcony, these are combined living and working space and there’s communal workspace and private meeting rooms.
• Superbude – a combined hostel and hotel will open in June and has 75m² of meeting space

New Venues

• Palais Wertheim – a contemporary venue which opened in 2019.  There are three meeting spaces and the largest has capacity for 300 in theatre style.
• MQ Libelle – a rooftop venue with indoor and outdoor space.  The multi-functional room has capacity for 160 in theatre style.
• Ariana – opening in 2021 with capacity for up to 500 people in theatre style and five meeting rooms in total
• Austria Center Vienna ‘Danube Sail’ – has been refurbished, extended and is due to open in 2022.

Opening in 2022

At the luxury end of the market, The Rosewood is due to open in 2022.  It is located in the old town and will have 99 bedrooms, a rooftop bar, spa and meeting space.  This is Rosewood’s 5^th property in Europe.

Opening in 2023

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel is being built in Vienna’s old law court building.  There will be 151 bedrooms and the amount of meeting space will be confirmed nearer to completion of the build.

Vienna has three conference centres and is a well-established conference destination, particularly popular with associations as there are numerous international organisations located in the city.  There is a city-wide Coronavirus policy, called Stay Safe, which has set safety and hygiene standards for hotels, including testing for guests.

If you’re interesting in holding your event in Vienna, search for your venue on www.edgevenues.com or call us on 01780 484051 for more information.