If our most successful events in the month of flaming June had one thing in common, it was a beautiful open-air setting to take advantage of the hot weather and its warm and mellow summer nights. Another common aspect was the exclusive character of these get-togethers: Our Ambassadors definitely did their very best to surprise their international guests with particularly lovely locations. In Oslo, the InterNations members gathered in the open terrace lounge of one the trendiest hotels downtown, with complimentary drinks sponsored by Diageo, the world’s leading premium beverage provider.
The Geneva Lake Community – which met up in Lausanne this time – preferred historical ambience to contemporary design, though.They enjoyed the garden setting, right between the pool area and the lakeside of Lac Leman, at the medieval Château d’Ouchy, while the members in Istanbul and Madrid went for a brand-new venue and sporty chic, respectively. At the Bosporus, the weather gods were finally smiling down upon them, so they could organize a fabulous open-air get-together at the newly opened 8th Hill, and the Ambassadors in Madrid managed to secure the terrace of the Real Café, with an amazing view of the famous football stadium Bernabeau.
Our non-European communities, from the US over the Middle East to the Far East, were really busy as well. Everyone here at the InterNations office in Munich couldn’t suppress a jealous sigh ot two when we heard the description of Miami‘s latest event location. They held their June gathering at the poolside bar of one of the hottest lounges in town, where they could sip ice-cold cocktails, enjoy a cool breeze and thus escape the sweltering heat of Florida in mid-summer. In the Dubai Community, over 200 members signed up for their summer get-together, lured by the attractions of the Raffles cocktail bar and its outdoor patio with settees for shisha-smoking.
Doha, in neighbouring Qatar, hasn’t grown quite as big yet, but its InterNations Community is one of our rising stars: After only three months of regular meet-ups, over 50 members were not at all discouraged by the summer heat at the Persian Gulf, but still came together at the Dunes bar of the luxurious Grand Hyatt. And last but not least, the Ambassadors and members of InterNations Bangkok were very happy to finally see each other again. Now that the political climate in Thailand seems to have stabilized again, they ventured out to give a promising pizzeria directly on Sukhumvit Road a try.
(Photos by François Raval & Angela Pedrao. Thanks a lot!)