Coolcations : Redefining Summer Meetings & Events with a Breath of Fresh Air   

Coolcation destinations offer something few high-summer hotspots can: the ability to effortlessly combine business with outdoor leisure, culture with calm. Cities like Regensburg, Sopot, and Amsterdam offer world-class MICE facilities alongside walkable historic centres, leafy parks and waterfront cafés. 

Novotel Regensburg Zentrum, just 15 minutes from the medieval Old Town, brings Bavarian charm to your agenda. With five stylish meeting rooms, on-site Levantine cuisine, and easy access to the Danube, it’s the ideal launchpad for scenic hikes, boat tours or heritage walks. 

In the Netherlands, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam delivers five-star grandeur in the heart of the city. Its 19 meeting spaces – including five historic monument rooms – make a lasting impression, while the surrounding canals, museums, and gardens offer endless opportunities for post-meeting exploration.  

Summer by the sea can be refreshing, restorative and inspiring – offering more than just warmth and sunshine. In Northern and Eastern Europe, coastal cities like Sopot and The Hague combine sea breezes, scenic charm and high-quality business facilities, making them ideal for wellness-focused, relaxed professional gatherings. 

Sofitel Grand Sopot in northern Poland is a Coolcation classic: a five-star beachfront hotel with a private garden, 126 rooms, spa, and elegant meeting spaces overlooking the Baltic Sea. With the longest wooden pier in Europe just steps away, teams can begin the day with breakfast by the water, host energising sessions in bright seafront rooms, and finish with drinks as the sun sets over the beach. 

Further inland, ibis Styles Krakow East offers a more budget-friendly Coolcation in one of Krakow’s greenest districts. Close to lakes, parks and the EXPO centre, the hotel is perfect for smaller workshops or training days, with quiet surroundings and a relaxed, local feel. 

Choosing a cooler destination doesn’t just make events more comfortable – it can also make them more sustainable. Many of Accor’s Northern properties are Green Key certified and offer smart initiatives like free public transport, EV charging, waste reduction, and low-impact dining. 

Mövenpick Hotel Basel, for example, was designed with sustainability in mind. Its 16 flexible meeting rooms (including a 505m² ballroom), locally sourced dining and central location make it ideal for large-scale events with a smaller footprint. Guests receive free public transport access and can explore Basel’s riverside charm on foot or bike. 

In Luxembourg, Novotel Luxembourg Kirchberg has also earned Green Key certification. Located in the city’s business district with 10 bright meeting rooms, it’s just a short tram ride from the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Free public transport throughout the country makes it easy to explore without adding to your carbon footprint. 

Meanwhile in Brussels, Pullman Brussels Centre Midi offers 1,000 m² of modular meeting space with direct access from the Eurostar terminal – an ideal low-emissions choice for cross-border teams. Green Key certified and designed by Jean-Philippe Nuel, the hotel blends bold aesthetics with environmental accountability. 

Northern capitals offer the kind of creative energy and cultural depth that energise attendees before they even check in. In Copenhagen, 25hours Hotel Indre By brings playful design and Nordic flair to your agenda. Located between the Round Tower and Tivoli, it offers event spaces, free bikes, and a rooftop sauna for winding down after workshops. 

In Tallinn, Swissôtel Tallinn – the city’s tallest building – pairs luxury with sustainability. With panoramic views, Michelin-listed dining, and a Green Key certification, it proves that you don’t have to compromise on style to stay eco-conscious. The hotel’s wellness spa, skyline bar and walkable Old Town location make it an ideal choice for focus-driven meetings and wellbeing-oriented events.  

Rounding out the Baltic offering is Mercure Riga Centre, located in a beautifully restored Art Nouveau building just steps from the historic heart of Riga. With multiple conference rooms, a fine dining restaurant, and excellent rail access, it’s an elegant and central base for cultural excursions and seaside day trips to Jurmala.

Whether you’re planning an incentive trip, strategic retreat or client-facing conference, the Coolcation approach offers something refreshing: a chance to slow down without missing out. It’s also a chance to embrace a greener, performance-friendly environment that gives teams and clients something more memorable, more comfortable and more inspiring than the usual summer setting.

As more planners look to escape the heat and rethink how and where we meet, Coolcations offer a timely, people-first alternative that puts wellbeing, creativity and sustainability at the centre. For forward-thinking organisers, it’s an opportunity to lead with a trend that delivers real value – by improving attendee experience, supporting performance, and aligning events with today’s expectations.

With thoughtful design, expert support, and prime locations across Europe’s coolest corners, Accor’s MICE-ready hotels help you turn summer events into meaningful moments. 

From iconic Sofitel venues to creative ibis Styles properties, every hotel delivers on quality, flexibility and a unique sense of place. And with sustainability embedded into so many of these destinations, your next gathering can be impactful in more ways than one.

Now is the time to reimagine summer meetings – not as something to escape from, but something to look forward to. When the setting is right, ideas flow better – and Coolcations are designed to make that happen.