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Hotel & Travel

Click here to make your hotel reservations for BbWorld Europe '09!

Hotel Reservations
The Blackboard Hotel Reservation Service will guide you through the process of selecting a room at an official Blackboard hotel for BbWorld® Europe '09.

Official Blackboard hotels have been pre-selected and offer a discounted rate to Blackboard attendees. Click here for Hotel Reservations and for additional information.

You may reach Blackboard Hotel Reservations at (888) 839-8523 (from the U.S. only) or 001 937-824-8338, from 8:00 AM-5:00 PM ET, Monday-Friday or via email at blackboard@eim-inc.com for assistance.

Overview and Destination
We are excited to invite you to join us in the fascinating city of Barcelona for BbWorld Europe ’09, the largest Blackboard user’s conference outside of the U.S.A.

Educators, course designers, system administrators and e-Learning managers from across Europe, the Middle East and Africa will come together to share their knowledge and expertise in the field of online teaching and learning.

Barcelona, Spain

From the narrow winding streets of its medieval Gothic quarter to the Catalan Art Nouveau architecture, the lively Mediterranean port of Barcelona is not only a treasure of the past, but also a brilliant metropolis. Situated on the coast of the western Mediterranean just a short distance from France, it has developed as a leading world city since its foundation by the Carthaginians in 218 B.C. Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city is an exceptionally modern and innovative coastal city. Artists and designers gravitate to Barcelona’s bustling seafront to indulge in the eclectic assortment of Spanish bars, restaurants and beaches that submerge visitors in an intensive culinary and cultural microcosm. Barcelona is home to some of the world’s most eclectic fine art in Europe. Museums such as the Picasso Museum, the Miro Foundation and the Tapies Foundation are considered the city’s true cultural driving force and offer a distinctive Bohemian experience.

Being located on the Mediterranean assures visitors warm, welcoming climate and pleasant temperatures all year round to enjoy the many lush green parks throughout the city. Barcelona’s indefinable charm and whimsical character is best enjoyed with a meal or an aperitif on an open-air terrace.

Sants-Montjuic, Barcelona, Spain
The verdant hill of Montjuic has long been a place of recreation and achieved worldwide fame during the 1992 Olympics. Experience its breathtaking views by taking the cable car from the port and then a smaller cable car to the castle at the very top. The area is chock-a-block with historic and cultural treasures; don’t miss the Museu National de Arte de Catalunya (MNAC) or the Fundació Miró.

Hotel Fira Palace Barcelona
Click here to make your hotel reservations at the Hotel Fira Palace. The hotel is centrally located in downtown Barcelona, right next to the well known Plaza España, and a short distance away from the famous Ramblas and the sea front not to mention scenic Montjuïc Park, the site of the 1992 Olympics. There are many other landmarks nearby and within walking distance including the National Palace, Montjuic Fountains, National Art Museum of Catalunya (MNAC) and Romanesque Museum, Spanish Village and Fran Daurel Museum, "Fundació La Caixa" Museum, Mies van der Rohe Pavilion, Miró Museum, Ethnology Museum, Archaeology Museum, Greek Theatre, Mercat de les Flors, Teatre Lliure, Olympic Ring, Montjuic Castle, Harbour / Columbus Monument, Las Ramblas and Joan Miro Park.

This hotel has 276 spacious sleeping rooms. Each room has satellite flat screen digital TV, direct dial telephone, radio, movie channels, a safety box, mini bar, desk and wireless internet, your choice of pillows, room service and even a voice mail service. Each room also has Italian marble bathrooms with separate shower cabin, equipped with hairdryer, make up mirror and water-control thermostat. Renowned as the most spacious in Barcelona, these superb air-conditioned and sound-proofed guest rooms are well appointed with your comfort in mind. The hotel's gym has a range of cardio and weight-training equipment, as well as fitness classes, indoor lap pool, and sauna.

Distance from the hotel to:

International Airport Barcelona "El Prat": 8 km/15 minutes approximately by car
Central Railway Station "Sants": 1,5 km/6 minutes
Harbour Cruises: 2 km/7 minutes
Bus and Underground Terminal: "Plaza de España": 5 minutes walking
Shopping Street: "Creu Coberta": 5 minutes walking
Barcelona Beach: 3 km/10 minutes by car

Things to Do:
www.skywayscat.com (Tours around Catalonia)
www.fcbarcelona.com (FC Barcelona Museum)
www.bicicletabarcelona.com (English byke tours)
www.cathelicopters.com (Barcelona from the air ...)
www.tmb.net (Montjuic Cable car)
www.aquariumbcn.com (Barcelona Aquarium)
www.aquariumbcn.com (Barcelona Zoo)

Weather
Barcelona, Spain weather in April can be cool. At night, the temperatures are usually very comfortable.

Month	Avg. High	Avg. Low	Avg. Rainfall
April	63°F / 17°C	54°F / 12°C	.09 inches / 2.77 cm

Time Zone
During BbWorld Europe ’09, Barcelona will be on Central European Summer Time (Standard Time Zone: UTC/GMT+2 hour). Daylight savings time will be observed beginning March 29, 2009. Please refer to the following chart for time differences:

Barcelona (Spain)	Washington (U.S.A.)	Amsterdam (Netherlands)	Chelyabinsk (Russia)
12:00pm	6:00am	12:00pm	4:00pm