Introduction
Fleuroselect is delighted to invite its Members to the 49th Annual Convention that will take place from 29th May to 1st June 2018 in beautiful Barcelona.
Invitation
Dear Member,
Fleuroselect is delighted to invite you to the 49th Annual Convention that will take place from 29th May to 1st June 2018 in beautiful Barcelona. Capital of Catalunya, Barcelona is the third most visited city in Europe beaten only by London and Paris.
It is particularly famous for its modernist architecture, but the city also has much more including a gothic heart, a thriving sea front and of course Mediterranean cuisine.
Host of this year's Convention is Grup Roig. A major player in the Spanish market in the production of young plants, the company’s aim is to select unique hybrids which are attractive, productive and which thrive in the Iberian peninsula.
Our hotel for the event is the ultra-modern Gates Diagonal. Situated on the main Avenida Diagonal near the Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes it is ideally located to all city connections and the rooms are bright, spacious and avant-garde.
The Convention commences on Wednesday evening with an outdoor drinks reception on the external patio and a meet and greet, get-together buffet in the hotel’s traditional restaurant. Thursday morning begins with a presentation in the hotel from our hosts on their company, its roots and its goals, together with an insider view on the ups and downs of the Spanish market. We then move onto the Annual meeting where members have a chance to put their questions and concerns to the Board of Directors.
After lunch on the magnificent roof top of the hotel with views over the entire city, we take a bus ride to visit memorable sights which will obviously include a modernistic highlight! In keeping with a horticultural theme we will also visit the fortress on Montjuïc mountain, home to Barcelona's biggest park and gardens. The first day in Barcelona finishes with an evening of entertainment in Poble Espanyol, an open air museum which offers insights into Spain’s art, architecture and handicrafts and of course gastronomy.
On Friday we leave the main city to visit CRAG, the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics where a programme of presentations has been organised. We then move to the Grup Roig facilities where over 1000 containers of top varieties will be on trial for their suitability in the Spanish sun. Plantings will also include a full Fleuroselect trial and a selection of the Gold Medal winners. Roig will treat us to an al fresco lunch of home-made Paella with some local wine to wash it down.
Back at the hotel there will be time to change before we leave for the Gala dinner and awards ceremony in the Miramar Hotel, an artistically restored palace on the slope of Montjuïc mountain with marvellous views. The evening will start with a cocktail on the patio with its authentic Mediterranean atmosphere created by the ancient orange trees and dinner is in the Sala Azulete, a wide, glass-walled space fully integrated into a beautiful garden.
There is so much to see in Barcelona and the ladies programme will visit an historic house created by the famous architect Gaudí, and make a tour of the gothic area of the city, also joining the main programme for all the other highlights.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Beautiful Barcelona
Sally van der Horst - Fleuroselect
The Roig Family & Ignasi Calvo í Verges – Grup Roig
Hotel
The Gates Diagonal Room Rate is €195 for a double room for single us and €210 for a double room for double use. Prices include breakfast and VAT. Please complete the Room Reservation Form and return it to THE HOTEL DIRECTLY. Room upgrades are possible. Please contact the hotel for prices and further details.
Programme
Delegates Programme
Wednesday 30th May
19.30 – 20.00 Get-together drinks reception in Beer Garden
20.00 – 22.00 Dinner in the hotel main restaurant
Thursday 31st May
08.45 – 09.45 Presentation in hotel on Grup Roig, Plantinova and Spanish horticulture
in hotel meeting room SOL+FA
09.45 – 10.00 Short coffee break
10:00 – 12.30 Annual General Meeting in hotel meeting room SOL+FA
12.45 – 14.00 Lunch on hotel roof top restaurant
14.15 – 18.40 Bus leaves hotel for sightseeing and horticultural Barcelona –
visit to Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Palauet Albéniz and Montjuïc flower beds
18.45 – 19.30 Arrival at Poble Espanyol and drinks reception
19.30 – 22.00 Dinner and entertainment at Poble Espanyol city hall
22.00 – 22.30 Buses return to hotel
Friday 1st June
08.45 – 09.30 Bus CRAG Genomics Institute
09.30 – 11.30 Visit to CRAG Genomics Institute
11.30 – 12.00 Bus to Grup Roig
12.00 – 15.00 Visits to Grup Roig trials and facility, Fleuroselect trials, paella lunch and
group photo
15.00 – 15.15 Bus to Plantinova Plant Lab BCN
15.15 – 16.15 Visit to Plantinova Plant Lab BCN
16.15 – 17.00 Bus returns to hotel
19.00 – 19.30 Bus to Hotel Miramar
19.30 – 00.30 Dinner, awards ceremony and dancing at Hotel Miramar
From midnight Buses return to hotel
Accompanying Person Programme
Wednesday 30th May
19.30 – 20.00 Get-together drinks reception in Beer Garden
20.00 – 22.00 Dinner in the hotel main restaurant
Thursday 31st May
08.45 – 09.45 Presentation in hotel on Grup Roig, Plantinova and Spanish horticulture
in hotel meeting room SOL+FA
10.00 – 12.15 Visit to La Pedrera
12.45 – 14.00 Lunch on hotel roof top restaurant
14.15 – 18.40 Bus leaves hotel for sightseeing and horticultural Barcelona –
visit to Sant Pau Recinte Modernista, Palauet Albéniz and Montjuïc flower beds
18.45 – 19.30 Arrival at Poble Espanyol and drinks reception
19.30 – 22.00 Dinner and entertainment at Poble Espanyol city hall
22.00 – 22.30 Buses return to hotel
Friday 1st June
08.45 – 12.15 Bus to city centre and walking tour of historic Barcelona
12.15 – 13.00 Bus to Grup Roig
13.00 – 15.00 Visits to Grup Roig trials and facility, Fleuroselect trials, paella lunch and
group photo
15.00 – 15.15 Bus to Plantinova Plant Lab BCN
15.15 – 16.15 Visit to Plantinova Plant Lab BCN
16.15 – 17.00 Bus returns to hotel
19.00 – 19.30 Bus to Hotel Miramar
19.30 – 00.30 Dinner, awards ceremony and dancing at Hotel Miramar
From midnight Buses return to hotel