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In one of Europe’s largest hotel deals in recent years, in April 2013 the Israeli hotel chain Fattal Hotels Group acquired the 20 former hotels of the Queens Moat Houses Holding GmbH Germany, including 15 Holiday Inn Hotels, four Best Western Hotels and one Queens Hotel.

The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is not only Germany’s second largest city, locals claim it is also the most beautiful metropolis in the country. And more and more people seem to share the sentiment: Hamburg has for years now been enjoying an ever increasing number of overnight stays, reporting more than 50 consecutive months of substantial growth and projecting yet another record-high of 11.5 million for 2013.

Iceland may not be a country that automatically springs to mind when envisaging prestigious business destinations and inspiring architecture in much the same way that heat waves are not associated with this cool country. However, like it has in recent years been hit with some unusual high temperatures, there are some exceptional meeting locations to be found on this picturesque island. Read on and you may just consider cancelling your dependable conference room booking for something a little more adventurous.

In English, it’s bribery. In French, it’s pot-de-vin (a glass of wine). In Spanish, it’s mordida (a bite). In Italian, it’s spintarella (a little push). By whatever name, corruption is endemic in many parts of the world, harming GDP growth, discouraging foreign investment and reducing business and consumer confidence.

In 2007, James Watt and Martin Dickie, spurred on by the saturation of mass-market beers and the absence of high-quality tipples on the market, began fermenting their own. Think two 24 year olds – bored with the same dull ales and beers being offered in the same dull pubs, day in, day out. Welcome BrewDog.

Hanover, home to the world’s largest marksmen’s festival and former supplier of royalty to the UK, is an influential industrial centre and a thriving hub of business and trade. The capital of Lower Saxony, Hanover is a major presence in northern Germany with an international reputation as a trade fair and conference venue.

There are many pre-conceptions about biotechnology and its uses, and everything you think you know could be wrong. The OECD defines biotechnology as "the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents".  Essentially, it is the use of living organisms to make useful products. Biotechnology has been used for thousands of years for many intriguing and practical purposes such as making bread and cheese, preserving dairy products and fermenting beer.

From new drugs that address our medical needs to industrial processes that use renewable feedstock instead of crude oil, and crops that are able to grow in harsh climatic conditions and ensure safe and affordable food, biotech can and will increasingly pay economic, social and environmental dividends.