©ACM 2006/Photo:Carlo
Borlenghi
Valwencia, May 14,
2006, Valencia Louis Vuitton Acts 10&11
Port America's Cup |
Not so
long ago Valencia had its back turned to the Mediterranean
Sea, only a few kilometers from its city center.
There is a main thoroughfare leading from the center
of Valencia to the port area called Avenida del
Puerto. In the past century it was common for Valencians
to travel this road and make the five kilometer
drive into a weekend affair.
All that
has changed today with advent of the 32nd America’s
Cup having chosen Valencia as the host City. A city
which has a distinct eye on the future reflecting
a modern region that makes headlines for its medical
research, its modern architecture and has shown
spectacular growth in the new century.
The selection
of Valencia has brought about significant changes.
The most visible is undoubtedly the Port America’s
Cup, a marina in the city that Valencian’s
will inherit to enjoy after the regattas are over.
A new exit canal to the sea was built facilitating
access for the competition. Also the construction
of the Veles e Vents building, designed by David
Chipperfield and Fermin Vaquez, will house the Fore
Deck, a special tribune for VIP guests to view the
regattas from. All part of the AC Park, an amusement
area of 140,000 square meters with six restaurants
and 20 leisure-time establishments. From here, what
is being colloquially termed as "base camp",
it will be possible to experience first hand everything
that goes on with the individual teams. The competition
can be followed by means of giant television screens
as well as live, from spectators boats that sail
out from Port America’s Cup, to the regatta
area.
©ACM 2006/Photo:Fernando
Sacristan
Madrid, May 9, 2006
His Majesty the Kings of Spain, visit the
America’s Cup, with the Prime Minister,
José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero;
the Public Administration Minister, Jordi
Sevilla; the President of the Regional Government,
Francisco Camps; the Mayoress of Valencia,
Rita Barberá; the Head of Alinghi,
Ernesto Bertarelli; the President of Endesa,
Manuel Pizarro; and the Director for the Louis
Vuitton Cup, Christine Bélanger. |
In 2005
Valencia had a 15% increase in the number of tourists
over 2004 and continued to be the European city
with the greatest growth in the last 15 years. This
is reflected in its hotel offer; increasing from
8,180 beds in 1999 to 13,076 in 2005. Last year
saw the opening of two new five star hotels, Las
Arenas and the Westin Valencia, springing from the
old "tabacalera" building, totally restored
and brought back as a five star hotel. This year
the city will witness the opening of two more hotels
in the vicinity of the Convention Center, The Hilton
and the Sorolla thereby increasing Valencia’s
capacity to host major meetings and conventions.
Undoubtedly
it is the America’s Cup that will act as the
major catalyst in attracting new bodies to Valencia
and to this end Turismo Valencia (www.turisvalencia.es)
which was recently certified by the World Tourism
Organization as one of the world’s six best
tourist organizers, has developed a plan to insure
that the 2007 sailing date is not just a goal but
the beginning of a new phase in development for
the city. This will be carried out in three phases.
The first from January to March; a countdown for
the start of the regattas. The second-with the holding
of the Louis Vuitton act 13, the Louis Vuitton Cup
and the America’s Match- — will be used
to promote Valencia through the news media that
will cover the competition. The third, from July
to December will be a sort of post America’s
Cup period to ensure that the City makes a greater
effort to maintain the high levels of visitors.
©ACM2007/photo:
Vicent Bosch
Valencia, January 11,
2007 Port America´s Cup. Press conference/
Vodafone Spain becomes supporter of the 32nd
America´s Cup. Michel Bonnefous, the
CEO of the organisers of the 32nd America´s
Cup , Rita Barberá, the Mayoress of
Valencia and Antonio Aleman , Director of
Corporate Business Unit for Vodafone Spain. |
One of
the less talked about attractions of The America’s
Cup its social aspect, attracting an eclectic mix
of elite athletes, popular figures in society, politicians,
royalty and a selection of the world’s millionaires.
To this effect, the Cup’s organizers, ACM (America’s
Cup management) created a VIP club known as Club
Goleta which acts as corporate hospitality program
targeting businesses and will operate on both land
and sea. The privileged ones will have access to
a tent, strategically positioned in the dock area
offering an excellent view of everything going on
at the teams headquarters in the port. Adjacent
to the tent will be anchored an exclusive fleet
of boats allowing viewing in the restricted areas
by the sailing course.
Ship owners
can also rent dock space for large yachts raging
from 35-150 meters. It will be also possible to
tie up at the Port America’s Cup marina where
there are space for boats from 8-35 meters in length.
|
