4 to 6 July 2017

48th Annual Member Convention

Date:

4 to 6 July 2017

Location:

Budapest, Hungary

Introduction

Fleuroselect is delighted to invite you to the 48th Annual Convention that will take place from 4-6 July 2017 in Budapest, Hungary. Occupying both banks of the Danube river, Budapest is cited to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Nicknamed 'Pearl of Danube', Budapest is one of the leading economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Host of this year's Convention is the Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre (NARIC), whose departments also cover their ornamental breeding activities.



Invitation

Boedapest cropped withlogo
View on Danube, Chain Bridge and Hungarian Parliament

Dear Member,

Fleuroselect is delighted to invite you to the 48th Annual Convention that will take place from 4-6 July 2017 in Budapest, Hungary. Occupying both banks of the Danube river, Budapest is cited to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Nicknamed 'Pearl of Danube', Budapest is one of the leading economies of Central and Eastern Europe. Host of this year's Convention is the Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Research and Innovation Centre (NAIK), whose departments also cover their ornamental breeding activities.  

Margaret island 548px 
Margaret Island

The city of Budapest invests considerably in green spaces and public parks and on Wednesday Fökert - the organisation responsible for the city plantings - will host the morning starting with a presentation on their activities. Afterwards, a guided city tour will take us along the main city parks ending at Margaret Island, the city's green lung located in the middle of the Danube. Here a selection of Gold Medal and FleuroStar winners and Hungarian breeding achievements will be incorporated into the central flower beds. After the garden party style lunch, we will return to the hotel for the Annual General Meeting.

In the late afternoon, we leave the hotel on foot for a scenic city tour to the secret gardens and squares of Budapest concluding with a traditional dinner and gypsy music at a restaurant in the centre of the city.

compo 2 NARIC 
Dr. Zoltan Kovats & his Celosia breeding

The programme on Thursday starts off with a visit to FloraHungaria, the largest Flower Market in Central Europe which services not only Hungary, but also the surrounding countries. General Director András Tréer will present the latest developments in Hungarian horticulture and explain the strategic importance of the market to the area. The programme continues with lunch at NAIK, followed by a presentation on its main activities in agriculture. This will be followed with a presentation on the ornamental breeding history and current assortment. In memory of Dr. Zoltan Kovacs, special attention will be given to his breeding successes particularly in Celosia and Rudbeckia. The NAIK assortment will be on display in the trial garden, as well as a full Fleuroselect trial field and the Gold Medal and FleuroStar winners.

The evening programme would not be complete without a boat tour on the Danube with a drinks reception while seeing the famous sights. This will be followed by the Gala Dinner and Award Ceremony at one of the finest restaurants moored on the river bank in full view on the Chain Bridge and iconic Buda Castle.

The ladies programme is a delightful mixture of relaxation and sightseeing including a morning in a famous Hungarian spa, a visit to a famous market and some time for shopping and sightseeing.

Sofitel compo

Our delegation will stay in the Sofitel, a modern hotel centrally located near the Chain Bridge, the Hungarian Parliament and Budapest main tourist attractions. The rooms are luxuriously equipped and offer complimentary Wi-Fi. The meeting rooms have all it takes to ensure efficient business. Entirely in line with Hungarian tradition, the hotel facilities include a luxury spa to soothe the body and mind.

Our hotel block includes some rooms with a view over the Danube. The hotel will allocate these on a first come first serve basis. A definite reason to book your room on time!

We look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Budapest.

Sally van der Horst - Fleuroselect Secretary
Norbert Somogyi - Deputy Director NAIK 

 

Preliminary Programme

Delegate Programme


Tuesday 4th July
19.00 – 22.00     Get-together drinks reception and dinner in Chain Bridge Sofitel Bibliotek Lounge followed by room Bellevue

Wednesday 5th July
08.30 – 09.15     Presentation on FŐKERT in hotel – Ballroom A
09.30                 Buses leave hotel
09:30 – 11.00     Tour city parks of Budapest by bus
11.00 – 11.20     Coffee break on Margaret Island at the fountain
11.20 – 12.00     Tour on Margaret Island by electric cars
12.00 – 13.00     Garden Party lunch at the rose garden on Margaret Island
13.00 – 13.10     Return to the buses
13.15 – 13.25     Buses return to hotel
13.45 – 16.15     Annual General Meeting in hotel – Ballroom A
16.30 – 19.00     Leave on foot for Budapest sightseeing tour Secret Gardens and Squares ending at Karpatia restaurant
19.00 – 22.00     Drinks reception, dinner and gypsy band
22.00 – 22.15     Return to hotel on foot

Thursday 6th July
08.45 – 09.15     Bus to FloraHungaria
09.30 – 12.00     Visit to FloraHungaria flower market, presentation on Hungarian horticulture, interaction with distributors, flower arranging.
12.00 – 12.15     Bus to NAIK
12.15 – 13.15     Lunch at NAIK
13.15 – 13.20     Group photograph
13.20 – 14.15     Introduction to NAIK activities and presentation on Dr. Zoltán Kováts
14.15 – 14.30     Coffee break
14.30 – 15.30     Visit breeding trials and Fleuroselect trials
15.30 – 16.00     Bus back to hotel
18.20 – 18.30     Walk to Danube quay
18.30 – 19.30     Drinks reception and boat tour Danube
19.30 – 01.00     Dinner, awards ceremony and dancing – Spoon Restaurant
From 23.00         Return to hotel on foot

Accompanying Person Programme

Tuesday 4th July
19.00 – 22.00     Get-together drinks reception and dinner in Chain Bridge Sofitel
                         Bibliotek Lounge followed by room Bellevue


Wednesday 5th July
08.30 – 09.15     Presentation on FŐKERT in hotel – Ballroom A
09.30                 Buses leave hotel
09:30 – 11.00     Tour city parks of Budapest by bus
11.00 – 11.20     Coffee break on Margaret Island at the fountain
11.20 – 12.00     Tour on Margaret Island by electric cars
12.00 – 13.00     Garden Party lunch at the rose garden on Margaret Island
13.00 – 13.10     Return to the buses
13.15 – 13.25     Buses return to hotel
13.30 – 16.00     Afternoon free for shopping
16.30 – 19.00     Leave on foot for Budapest sightseeing tour Secret Gardens and Squares ending at Karpatia Restaurant
19.00 – 22.00     Drinks reception, dinner and gypsy band
22.00 – 22.15     Return to hotel on foot


Thursday 6th July
08.45 – 09.15     Bus to spa
09.15 – 11.30     Visit to Hungarian spa
11.30 – 12.00     Bus to NAIK
12.15 – 13.15     Lunch at NAIK
13.15 – 13.20    Group photograph
13.20 – 16.00    Bus and visit to Budapest market and local sites
18.20 – 18.30    Walk to Danube quay
18.30 – 19.30    Drinks reception and boat tour Danube
19.30 – 01.00    Dinner, awards ceremony and dancing – Spoon Restaurant
From 23.00       Return to hotel on foot


Meetings

Tuesday 4th July 2017
10.00 – 16.00     Board meeting – Boardroom
16.00 – 17.00     Judges’ meeting – Boardroom

Wednesday 5th July 2017
13.45 – 16.15     Annual General Meeting – Ballroom A

Hotel

Sofitel Budapest Chain Bridge
Szechenyi Istvan ter 2
1051 BUDAPEST 

T:  (+36)1/2351234
E:  H3229@sofitel.com

View on map

Our delegation will stay in the Sofitel, a modern hotel centrally located near the Chain Bridge, the Hungarian Parliament and Budapest main tourist attractions. The rooms are luxuriously equipped and offer complimentary Wi-Fi. The meeting rooms have all it takes to ensure efficient business. Entirely in line with Hungarian tradition, the hotel facilities include a luxury spa to soothe the body and mind.


How to book your Room?

The Sofitel Room Rate is €135 for a single room and €155 for a double.  Prices include breakfast, VAT and WiFi internet. Our room block has some rooms with a Danube River View. The hotel will allocate these on a first-come-first-served basis. 

To book your rooms, please complete the Room Reservation Form and return it to info@fleuroselect.com.

Travel Information

By Plane

Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport is the international airport that serves Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The airport is located 16 km southeast of Budapest city centre. The airport serves as a base for many low-budget airlines such as Ryanair, EasyJet, Transavia and Wizzair. Also many classical airlines such as Lufthansa, AirBerlin, Brussels Airlines, Iberia and others serve this airport. 

!  Coming from the Netherlands, Transavia offers very affordable flights from Rotterdam.
  

Airport transfer

The Sofitel offers a shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. Please contact the concierge (e-mail: H3229-FO3@sofitel.com, Phone: +36 1 266 8550) and provide him with the details of your arrival together with your credit card details for guarantee.
Prices: 
- Regular Transfer Service: HUF 19.000 (approx. EUR 64)
- Luxury Limousine Service: HUF 34.000 (approx. EUR 111)