Brussels Meetings Week

Programme

The Awards

Brussels rewards great initiatives...

In order to turn the spotlight on the initiatives and best practices that have left their mark on 2009 through their creativity, their innovation and the national and international prestige that they’ve given the Capital of Europe, the following events and projects have been nominated by BI-TC for the Brussels Tourism & Meetings Awards:

Vote now!

Tourism nominees

Culture

CINEMATEK: a new museum for cinema
The showcase of the Cinémathèque Royale (royal cinematheque and film library) collections, among the most extensive in the world, is displayed in an ultra-contemporary setting. The programme includes: 40 different film screenings a week aimed at all audiences, covering every genre and era, ranging from reflections of the current scene to the history of the 7th art. More than 85,000 visitors were there in 2009 over a period of less than 46 weeks.
www.cinematek.be

COUDENBERG: new discovery trail
Open since 2000, the underground archaeological site dedicated to the old Palace of the European Emperor Charles V has been fully rearranged into a trail of fascinating discoveries covering twice the previous surface area! Giving added value to the trail, a new museum also exhibits the treasures unearthed during the excavations. An additional attraction to your Mont des Arts discoveries.
www.coudenberg.com

Museum of Natural Sciences: opening of the EVOLUTION GALLERY
This room, with its impressive 19th-century architecture, has reopened after being closed for 40 years. In a contemporary setting, families and children can journey through the history of life and follow the meandering course of evolution. 600 fossils and 400 stuffed animals tell the tale of millions of years’ worth of biodiversity. This is a new educational attraction for visitors to Brussels in search of scientific knowledge!
www.sciencesnaturelles.be

Gastronomy

MOEDER LAMBIC, Place Fontainas, & their philosophy of independent beer!
A group of young professionals has decided to defend beer, jewel of our gastronomic culture! The challenge was to dare to offer only traditionally-brewed beers in a contemporary setting, without taking themselves too seriously, and to do so under optimum conditions. Here, serving beer is shown to be a matter of style, taste and a true profession! Thanks to them, Brussels is consolidating its leading position in the world of brewing!
www.moederlambic.com

LAURENT GERBAUD, chocolate-maker for the shop opening and participation in La Maison des Maitres Chocolatiers
Young, talented and daring, Laurent Gerbaud has a favourite domain: spices. He has just opened a new place dedicated to his passion for chocolate, and the product of his personality. A place for tastings, encounters and working, where children aren’t forgotten either. His slogan, “Gerbaud chocolate, the chocolate that makes you beautiful”, demonstrates - to anyone who doubted it - the extraordinary creativity and power of our traditional master chocolate-makers from Brussels.
www.chocolatsgerbaud.be

MIDI STATION: contribution on the scale of Gare du Midi and district
Pinto has always been a man for challenges. Midi Station is a wonderful illustration of his boldness in a rapidly changing district! In one of the most unlikely urban settings, he has installed his dreams and succeeded in propelling a fast-developing district into the “mood”! The place, the decor and the food on offer are in perfect accord with a space which has to juggle a number of gourmets, businessmen waiting for their next train or meeting. Well done to the artist for this multifaceted place!
www.midistation.eu

Green Tourism

THE GREEN WALK by Brussels Environment
63 km of signposted routes for exploring Brussels, on foot or by bicycle. Sometimes surrealist and always fascinating, the capital reveals its variety of parks, woodlands and landscapes along the course of this fully secured trail. A complete, free guide invites ramblers to slow down for a cultural break or well-earned refreshment!
www.bruxellesenvironnement.be

Luc Schuiten’s “VEGETAL CITY” exhibition, RMAH
What will Brussels look like in 2020? Brussels artist Luc Schuiten answers this question in an exhibition that’s attracting a lot of attention and in which the sustainable future merges with poetry in the craziest dreams. We love this committed and visionary architect, who turns generally accepted ideas upside down and tells himself that anything’s possible!
www.vegetalcity.net

VILLO! shared bicycles provided by Decaux
Brussels is rising to the ranks of the greatest capital cities thanks to its network of shared bicycles, Villo. Worth noting: the extent of the network, with its 180 hire stations offering sturdy, comfortable bicycles around the clock. Each first half-hour is free of charge!
www.villo.be

Young Travellers

COLOURS OF BRUSSELS
To bring out the dazzling colours of Brussels, the platform for guided tours “Voir et Dire Bruxelles” is setting a date, all summer long, with a surprise theme, and with no need to book, from Friday to Monday, starting from BIP on Mont des Arts. On foot or by bicycle, a guide will lead young trendsetters on an original and surprising journey of discovery through the European, cultural and trendy Brussels Capital!
www.voiretdirebruxelles.be

EUROPEAN FOYER
The brand new European Foyer provided by the Van Gogh youth hostel now accommodates Erasmus students and European trainees in Brussels with full facilities ranging from individual rooms to a shared dining room, and including laundry room, parking for bicycles and Internet connection. These young people are powerful ambassadors for Brussels, passing on internationally their personal fun experience of a Brussels that’s cosmopolitan, warm and friendly, a place of festivals, and of academic and professional encounters.
www.etr-brussels.be

LIBERTINE SUPERSPORT at K-NAL
With Libertine Supersport, since October 2009 our Brussels maniacs have been discovering a double-sided musical concept in the heart of a venue that’s in the purest European electro sphere of influence, open for events day and night. Don’t miss: a surprise line-up of Brussels and international DJs with a programme that’s revealed from suspense to suspense. Whether you’re free-thinking or super-sporty, these evenings have successfully set a new date for all members of the Y generation, every Saturday from 11 p.m.
www.libertinesupersport.be

Meetings nominees

Associations & Institutional Meetings

EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES (ESPID)
The European organisation ESPID brought together more than 3,300 researchers and doctors, at Brussels Expo, to discuss the subject of serious bacterial infections affecting children. This large-scale medical conference, organised under the leadership of Prof. Lepage, drew the biggest names in world research to the European capital. It also gave them the opportunity to discover a magical city, adorned with giant colourful walls and places dedicated to the heroes of comic strip as well as the legendary collection of the oldtimers of Autoworld.
www2.kenes.com

OPEN DAYS: EUROPEAN WEEK OF REGIONS & CITIES
What a challenge! 120 seminars and social events over four days attended by more than 6,000 participants representing local and regional authorities, European institutions, the business and financial sector, NGOs as well as the European press, discussing EU regional policy, cohesion, environmental issues etc. This feat was achieved by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission (Directorate General for Regional Policy). This major event, which brought together participants from more than 40 different countries, confirmed Brussels’ status as the beating heart of a united Europe. One of the highlights of the OPEN DAYS 2009, was the Official Reception held at the BOZAR. 1500 guests were invited to enjoy a concert “Regions live!” with an outstanding performance by young European musicians followed by a dinner reception.
www.opendays.europa.eu

31st EUROPEAN TAIZE FESTIVAL
With 30,000 backpackers from all over Europe and other continents descending on it, Brussels turned into a cheerful platform for the 31st European Taizé festival. Following Geneva and Milan, this large gathering, which was expertly organised by the Community of Taizé in cooperation with the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches, enabled a multilingual gathering of young people to communicate on and contemplate the subject of the Europe of values and of the young generations. They were also able to experience Belgian talent, the legendary hospitality of the host families, not to mention the delights proffered by Winter Pleasures, Mini Europe and the Atomium! www.taize.fr

Corporate Events

100 YEARS OF BESIX
As a leader in its sector in Belgium, the construction company Besix celebrated its 100th anniversary in September 2009 with the breathtaking magic of an aerial dance show by Luc Petit. Transformed into a multimedia and multi-stage amphitheatre presenting the highlights of the company, Brussels Expo thrilled the many VIPs who came to Brussels for the event. Businesspeople from all over the world, distinguished guests and political representatives were dazzled throughout the show and enjoyed cocktails and dinner served at their tables, setting the seal of quality on this great occasion.
www.besix.com

BRUSSELS AIRLINES JOINS STAR ALLIANCE
In December 2009, Brussels Airlines held a brilliant celebration of its official entry into “Star Alliance”, thus expanding and considerably increasing the range of flights it offers by flying to nearly 1,077 destinations and 175 countries. To mark the occasion, which is enabling Brussels strongly to assert its status as European capital and strategic gateway to the world, Brussels Airlines put on an event combining conviviality and prestige for its new partners. This included some of the gems of Brussels culture (memorable encounter with Manneken Pis – airline pilot, trying a Kriek beer, etc.), and a much-talked-about reception in the Gothic Room of the Town Hall.
www.brusselsairlines.com

LAUNCH OF THE MERCEDES E CLASS
After sailing directly from Germany by waterway, the Mercedes E Class conquered Brussels much like the Joyous Entries of the emperors of the time. In a big departure from the convenience of the Brussels venues so perfectly designed for launching new products, Mercedes made the original choice of a truly surprising backdrop: the Port of Brussels, thus enabling a VIP audience of 2,000 people to watch a wonderful show staged in a transparent Crystal marquee and combining pyrotechnics and water acrobatics. Jet skis, giant floating bubbles animated by characters and pulled along by divers, and tens of boats provided the setting for the heavenly Mercedes E Class. This corporate show even attracted television news cameras – a rare event!
www.mercedes-benz.be

Shows & Fairs

ART BRUSSELS
With its 174 or so exhibitors chosen on the basis of a selection process famed for its rigour and its 3 themed zones, Art Brussels is giving Contemporary Art the only score of its kind in Europe played by international galleries to more than 30,000 art lovers. Each event holds its special treasure chest of surprises in store for them, including new talents and safe bets. An amazing VIP programme full of finesse lifts the veil, by day and night, on Brussels – City of Creativity, whether you’re talking about galleries, gastronomy or fashion design.
www.artbrussels.be

BRAFA
Queen of art and antiques fairs, BRAFA has risen into the top three of European fairs alongside Maastricht and Paris! By increasing the number of challenges both in terms of site and public, the organisers have, in turn, pulled off the daring gambles of taking over Tour & Taxis, increasing the number of exhibitors now up to 125, and attracting visitors including connoisseurs, both Belgian and international, to Brussels by building up a specific network of international press.
www.brafa.be

THE HOLIDAY FAIR
2009 was a record-breaking year for the Brussels Holiday Fair! With some 106,000 visitors and positive tangible results for tour operators, this event is now famous for people from Brussels and elsewhere in Belgium coming here in search of inspiration for their future travel – near or far – as well as, in an increasingly targeted way, answers to their many questions. This year, the very first “Holiday Forum” was the icing on the cake, drawing in large crowds to hear some fascinating travel stories of adventurers and expert reporters.
www.salondesvacances.eu

Teambuilding & Incentive Events

YVES MATAGNE CULINARY WORKSHOP
Gastronomy is a mainstay of Brussels’ appeal and has a wonderful capacity to combine ‘art de vivre’ and team-building. And what can you say when the learning and tasting is led by Yves Mattagne, who is thrilling food-lovers in the heart of Brussels, in the Entrepôt Royal of Tour & Taxis, where his new workshop is based. An area covering no less than 400m2 is dedicated there to a sensual experience of gastronomy, for both corporate groups and seasoned cooks to enjoy! Since 1990 Yves Matagne has been the Chef of the double award-winning restaurant Sea Grill. In his workshop, he reveals the various aspects of the world of contemporary cuisine during these special encounters and thus makes another contribution to the excellence of Brussels gastronomy. www.atelieryvesmattagne.com

BRUSSELS CIRCUS SCHOOL
Brussels radiates excitement from a school performing breathtaking acrobatics. Jugglers, acrobats, fire-eaters and colourful performers conquer balls and hoops, trapezes and skittles, which, at events for businesses and the general public, defy the force of gravity with poetry and wit. The Circus School is an expert in organised activities and entertainment, crowning Brussels and its professional events with a large big top for entertaining activities to delight businesses.
www.ecoledecirquedebruxelles.be

DINNER IN THE SKY
This Brussels incentive has already been exported to more than 15 countries and is shaking up the world of organised activities for groups! If you like the idea of being thrilled in complete safety and dream of sipping from a glass of champagne or enjoying a Brussels banquet from a perfect ‘ringside’ seat in a centre of Brussels heritage such as the Royal Palace, “Dinner in the Sky” offers you and your guests the chance to dine with your head in the clouds more than 50 metres up.
www.dinnerinthesky.com

Special Venues

AREA 42
An avant-garde response to businesses looking for innovative ideas for their events and meetings, Area 42 is no less than the revisited version of a complex by Michel Polak. This historic place is the former head office of RTT. It surprises visitors by taking them from one world to another, such as a room paved with glass, another consisting of plants and a 15-tonne steel staircase-sculpture. Peter Keene, Edouard Poullain and Gi Monseu, big names in European design and light design, have combined their talents to offer organisers of professional meetings and exhibitions this 2,500 m² space on 2 storeys right in the centre of Brussels.
www.area42.be

CHALET ROBINSON
There it is, it’s back on its island again, Chalet Robinson, standing proudly in cedar and Douglas fir pine! People from Brussels and visitors alike have missed the Chalet, erected in Bois de la Cambre. They loved crossing the pond to make the transition from city life to this centre of good food. Now, the boat is once again carrying its passengers over to enjoy rediscovering the place: decorated in all black and white, Chalet Robinson offers a brasserie for sociable or business gatherings around its tables and a great reception area. Ladies and Gentlemen, lick your lips, the house specials prawn croquettes, beef Wagyu and Brussels waffles are being served!
www.chaletrobinson.be

MOOF MUSEUM
Hands up all those who love 3-D comic strip objects! MOOF (Museum Of Original Figurines) is “the” newcomer of Comic Strip in Brussels, brilliantly bringing to life some 600 figurines and objects from extraordinary collections as well as original illustration plates and sketches. With its six designer areas capable of taking up to 900 people and a tailor-made light show, MOOF adds a touch of authenticity and originality to the most professional events and is now one of the capital’s exclusive theme venues!
www.moof-museum.be

15-19 March 2010