Conference & Incentive Travel's Hot List

Best Conference Destination

• London (1st place)
  When the G20 delegation convened at Excel London for the London Summit, it placed the city on a global meetings platform and readers backed that by ranking it top of the conference league.
  
  
• Barcelona (2nd place)
  The Gaudi-esque jewel of the Spanish C&I crown remains a favourite with readers.
  
  
• Berlin (3rd place)
  Twenty years after the fall of the wall, Berlin has been awarded bronze, for establishing itself as the city of choice for discerning event planners.

Best Incentive Destination

• Cape Town (1st place)
  South Africa's star is the ascendance as the Fifa World Cup 2010 draws closer.
  
  
• Dubai (2nd place)
  This year event planners were loving it for its easy access, with routes by carriers including BA and Emirates.
  
  
• New York (3rd palce)
  The Stateside city with its sleek hotels, big yellow taxis and funky event spaces bagged the bronze.

Best UK Conference Hotel

• Celtic Manor (1st place)
  Established as one of the UK's leading conference properties, it hosts the Ryder Cup in 2010 on its spanking new 2010 course.
  
  
• Park Plaza Riverbank Hotel (2nd place)
  Park Plaza Riverbank's plum location on the south bank of the Thames, stunning views.
  
  
• The Grove (3rd place)
  The Gove has meeting facilities for up to 750, it attracts high-profile meetings.

Best Overseas Conference Hotel

• Hotel Arts Barcelona (1st place)
  Arts 41 opened for bookings at the end of 2008 and the 1,000m2 space offers views across the city and sea.
  
  
• Fairmont Monte Carlo (2nd place)
  One of the gems of Monte Carlo. The 602-room property, Willow Stream Spa, in-house casino.
  
  
• George V Paris (3rd place)
  George V takes bronze for its luxury functions festooned with rich tapestries and objects d'art.

Best UK Incentive Hotel

• Chewton Glen (1st place)
  Chewton Glen is ideal for exclusive incentive groups and has become a firm fave with high-end brands, spa, manicured lawns, or a round of golf or set sail down the Solent.
  
  
• Gleneagles (2nd place)
  Luxurious five-star resort, offers country-sports options such as gundog training and falconry alongside spa and golf packages.
  
  
• The Grove (3rd place)
  Half an hour from central London - championship golf course, Sequoia spa and fine dining options.

Best Overseas Incentive Hotel

• Hotel Arts Barcelona (1st place)
  Located close to both the waterfront and the city enables groups to make the most of the Catalan city's incentive charms.
  
  
• Le Touessrok, Mauritius (2nd place)
  Spa, golf course and beach sports will engage any delegate.
  
  
• Atlantis (3rd place)
  One year after opening its bejewelled doors, Atlantis has captured the imagination of the events market.

Best Conference Centre

• Excel London (1st place)
  Capital's flagship conference centre, Excel London, came out on top. The Docklands venue, which hosted the perstigious G20 Summit of world leaders in April this year, is currently investing £160m in expanding its facilities.
  
  
• ICC Birmingham (2nd place)
  Central location offers easy access for delegates from all corners of the UK and further afield.
  
  
• CCIB & The Grimaldi Forum (3rd place)
  The bronze spot is shared by two Mediterranean favourites, the Centre de Convencions International de Barcelona (CCIB) and Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.

Best Unusual Events Venue

• Sea Life London Aquarium (1st place)
  Storming in at the top to take gold, the Sea Life London Aquarium houses one of Europe's largest collections of marine life.
  
  
• Axica Berlin (2nd place)
  Axica, the uber-modern convention centre set in the heart of Berlin by the Brandenburg Gate. Quirky yet functional design.
  
  
• Vinopolis (3rd place)
  Vinopolis, with its wine schools, wine tours and event spaces for up to 1,250, a bronze placing.

Best Hotel Chain

• Four Seasons (1st place)
  The luxury hotel chain has clearly won the hearts of event planners. With properties stretching from established markets such as the UK and France, to the exotic - the Maldives, and emerging destinations like Doha.
  
  
• Marriott (2nd place)
  Marriott Hotels began rolling out its 'green events' concept across European properties this year to help planners reduce the environmental impact of events.
  
  
• Starwood (3rd place)
  From the chic and contemporary W Hotels and Aloft brands, through to the more established Sheraton, Westin, Le Meridien and the Luxury Collection brands, bronze winner Starwood has more than 1,000 properties around the world.

Best Venue For Sustainability

• ACC Liverpool (1st place)
  The ACC Liverpool, which incorporates the BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, is the congress leviathan of the north. Its green credentials, include energy-efficient lighting, a strong waste-management programme, rainwater collection and riverside wind turbines contributing to the electricity supply for the site.
  
  
• Sheepdrove (2nd place)
  The organic farm in Berkshire is home to an Eco Conference Centre designed with sustainability in mind. Powered by '100% renewable ecotricity' and stocked with organic food sourced from its own farm, the centre remains one of the prime options for green thinkers.
  
  
• Excel London (3rd place)
  The worms at Excel deserve some bronzed leaves this winter as the legendary wormery at London's impressive convention centre has helped establish the venue as a leader in sustainability.