DESTINATIONS: MADRID

Filled with life and excitement, Madrid is the Spain’s biggest city and capital and third largest city in Europe. Famous worldwide for its football, with Real and Atlético being frequently present in the most important competitions in football. But Madrid is much more than just football and tapas, it is a prosper international city that serves as the seat of government and residence of the Spanish Monarch. The city houses the headquarters of the World Tourism Organization and important international institutions regulating the Spanish language, with worldwide influence, such as the RAE and the Instituto Cervantes.

This beautiful Spanish metropolis holds the third largest gross domestic product among the cities of the European Union and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, environment, media, fashion, science, culture and arts contributes to its status as one of the major urban centers around the world. Due to the economic production, high standard of living and the size of its consumer market, Madrid is considered to be the largest financial center in southern Europe and the Iberian Peninsula, where most of the major Spanish companies, such as the oil giant Repsol, telecommunications giant Telefónica, Iberia, Santander and BBVA, among others. Madrid’s aerospace industry employs more than 20,000 people in companies such as Airbus and EADS Casa, and university students account for almost a tenth of the city’s population.

Despite having a modern infrastructure for a fantastic stay in a business trip, Madrid preserves all the beauty of many of its neighborhoods and historic streets for good leisure and cultural tours. Among the most remarkable places are the Royal Palace of Madrid; the Teatro Real; the Parque del Retiro, the building of the National Library of Spain, many national museums and the so-called “Golden Triangle of Art”, located along the Paseo del Prado, made up of three important art museums: the Prado Museum, the Queen Sofia’s Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum.

The Barajas Airport in Madrid is 9 km from the AZCA financial district and 23 km from Puerta del Sol, the historic city center. It is only 15 minutes by metro from any airport terminal to Nuevos Ministerios central station. You can also easily and quickly reach the city center by train – 11 minutes! Or of course, by taxi or rental car, which although more expensive, are also the most comfortable solutions.

The accommodation in Madrid is very vast and diverse, and the values of stay of the business hotels in Madrid, although also very varied, they are low by the standards of the main European cities.

Among several hotels the Silken Puerta America Hotel is a real treat for the senses! World-renowned architects, including Zaha Hadid and Sir Norman Foster, created distinctive designs – some of science fiction – on each floor. It also has a very popular rooftop bar with an incredible view of the city and ideal for unwinding after an intense day of work! Also the Hotel AC Palacio Del Retiro is a wonderful option as it is housed in a national heritage palace overlooking Retiro Park, one of Madrid’s main attractions. Its interior design is modern in a perfect symbiosis with the essence of the past, and as a bonus the Prado Museum is right next door!