Andrea KOSTNER
(Vienna Tourist Board, Austria)
Keywords: Vienna, Ringstrasse, May 1, 1865, Emperor Franz Joseph
Abstract:
Emperor Franz Joseph officially opened Vienna’s Ringstrasse on May 1, 1865. The construction of Vienna’s Ringstrasse was a masterpiece in terms of urban planning. Building works lasted for more than half a century. Today the Ringstrasse is the most beautiful boulevard in the world. And Vienna is celebrating its 150th birthday in 2015 with events and exhibitions.
The Vienna Tourist Board has set numerous marketing activities and initiated various cooperations to promote this important anniversary and to make Vienna the place to visit in 2015. Brochures, a website in seven languages, two online campaigns (remembeRing and Vienna Ring View) and lighthouse events in Barcelona, Berlin, Milan, Paris and London are just a few examples of how the story of the Ringstrasse was told. In addition to that, the Vienna Tourist Board has published a book and invited 13 internationally acclaimed authors from different countries all over the world to celebrate this anniversary with literary contributions.
Together with Staud’s, the renowned Viennese maker of preserves, the “Treasures of the Ringstrasse” collection was created to mark the anniversary. Schlumberger, the Vienna Bar Community and the Vienna Tourist Board announced a cocktail competition. The winner: “Sound of the Ring” by Kan Zuo is available in many bars not only around the Ring.
The celebrations will go on until the end of 2015.