MICE BENELUX Spring Edition

BUSINESS MAGAZINE FOR MEETINGS INCENTIVES CONGRESSES EVENTS, SPRING EDITION 2022

THE BEST OF BELGIUM HOTELS, PAST THE PANDEMIC SURVEY: BUSINESS IS COMING BACK

plus

Royally fun: The Hague 10 teambuilding tips Malaga and the Costa del Sol

THE MIDDLE EAST...

BACK TO THE FUTURE

One-of-a-kind event venue in Central Netherlands In the center of Hollands own Hollywood, Hilversum, you’ll find a unique, characteristic venue for your next business event: Gooiland Events & Hotel. Build in 1936 in the style of ‘Het Nieuwe Bouwen’ and with sustainability in mind, the light and green elements in this building adds character to any event.

Gooiland specializes in organizing business events and offers 16 multifunctional spaces, including a spacious theater and an exhibition floor. Hilversum Central Station and over 1.400 parking spots can be found at walking distance, which makes Gooiland the ideal location for your next (multi-day) event.

Interested in a tour of the location? An enthusiastic team would love to show you around and show you the possibilities for your next business event. Or simply request a quote, hassle free and without any obligations.

035-7440115 | events@gooiland.nl | Gooilandevents.nl/en

Your next company event at Gooiland: - Centrally situated event location in the middle of the Netherlands; - Modern, characteristic monument; - For business events from 100 up to 1.500 visitors; - Ideal for (multi-day) conferences, trade fairs and company events; - 16 beautiful atmospheric spaces, including a characteristic theater and an exhibition floor; - Different subareas for meetings and break-out sessions; - Dutch Brand Hotel with 56 hotel rooms; - Everything under one roof: your event, vital catering and a hotel stay.

Congresses | Conferences | Fairs | Company parties | Product presentations | Seminars Gooilandevents.nl/en

Wallonië en de Belgische Ardennen bieden een aantrekkelijke combinatie van ongerepte natuur, historische steden en een gastronomie van wereldklasse. Deze veelzijdige streek vormt het ideale decor voor meetings, incentives, congressen en evenementen. Op een half uur van Maastricht en een uur van Breda zijn alle ingrediënten aanwezig voor een geslaagde teambuilding of bedrijfsevent.

Bijzondere locaties © Findyourplace.be Findyourplace.be

Ontdek Wallonië - de Ardennen

Kayakken © B.d’Alimonte

MICE bij de Zuiderburen

Outdoor: De bossen, rivieren en rotspartijen bieden fantastische mogelijkheden om uitdagende activiteiten te ondernemen. Survival en teambuilding voor ieder niveau onder begeleiding van professionele buitensportbedrijven met ervaren instructeurs.

Gastronomie: De Belgische keuken wordt internationaal hoog gewaardeerd. Na een vergadering of teambuilding genieten van een bourgondisch diner. Of een proeverij van Belgische specialiteiten, zoals bieren, wafels, likeur, chocolade, gin, kaas, charcuterie en meer.

Bijeenkomsten: Wallonië biedt bijzondere locaties voor vergaderingen en bijeenkomsten met klanten. Kleine en grotere zalen met alle moderne voorzieningen en MICE locaties met grote tuinen, zodat brainstormsessies ook buiten georganiseerd kunnen worden.

Ferme de Mont-Saint-Jean Proeverijen © Lucas Clifford

Historie: De geschiedenis van de streek wordt bewaard op de vele monumentale plaatsen die Wallonië rijk is. Historische dorpen en steden met kastelen, burchten, mijnsites en abdijen geven een inkijkje in een interessant verleden.

Verblijf: Het aanbod van verblijfsaccommodaties in Wallonië is veelzijdig. Prachtig gelegen, midden in de natuur of in de Waalse steden en dorpen. Van splinternieuwe hotels tot eeuwenoude kastelen, kerken en groepsaccommodaties, er is voor elk wat wils.

Voor meer informatie over gespecialiseerde meetings en incentive bedrijven, accommodaties en programma’s op maat: Mice.walloniebelgietoerisme.be Heeft u vragen of wilt u gratis tips en advies: informatie@wbtoerisme.nl

CONTENT

14

20

44

The future of mice?

Who knew two years ago… What will await us, what will business travel do?

The last two years have been a time for reflection, leading to a refocus on new priorities for the future. What does this refocus mean for travel?

Travel giant BCD Travel identified the trends you need to know about.

Middle East Future Special No region has probably done so well in the storm as the Middle East. Coincidence or not? The region is working hard to stay on top. We visit Dubai of course, where there is always something new. We stop at Qatar for a bite to eat and football. And we listen to the plans of the new powerhouse…Saudi Arabia.

Teambuilding!

Finally some real teambuilding, out in the open with fresh air. We look at some of the most creative ways to do a little team building in the Benelux. Finally…

Some old school real fun, with non-digital encounters and a few drinks as well.

COLOPHON Editor-in-chief

Press relases and info:

Sales & Marketing:

MICE BENELUX is a

Tijn Kramer

info@micebenelux.com

Sales and information about adverti-

TRAVelMEDIA publication.

tijn.kramer@travmedia.nl

TRAVelMEDIA

sing, etc.

SUBSCRIPTION::

MICE Benelux. Arendstraat 33A,

danielle@travmedia.nl

29 euro per year

Editors Belgium & The Netherlands:

1223 RE, Hilversum.

(0031-35-6728855),

Adeline Willems, Arjen Lutgendorff,

www.micebenelux.com

dennis.ebbers@travmedia.nl

Sharon Evers, Dylan Cinjee, Bart Matthijs, Jan Peeters, Theo de Reus, Rahanna van Stapele, Mariska Kesteloo (columnist).

(0031-35-6728852), Design: Iris Beenen Publishers: Tom van Apeldoorn T.J. van Apeldoorn

-5-

Year 17, issue 1

VERGADERINGEN EN EVENEMENTEN Functionaliteit en gepersonaliseerde service gaan bij het Corendon Village Hotel hand in hand. Daarom ben je hier voor MICE aan het juiste adres. Met een Boeing 747 in de achtertuin van het hotel is jouw MICE op voorhand al een succes!

Geniet van een groot aanbod aan MICE-mogelijkheden: • 11 innovatieve en flexibele vergaderzalen voor groepen tot 400 personen in theateropstelling en 600 personen in receptie opstelling.

• 4 boardrooms • SKYBAR 747 • Boeing 747 • Evenementen onder de Boeing 747 • Corendon Cinema met 78 zitplaatsen voor exclusieve events/seminars

Doordat het Corendon Village Hotel dichtbij Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, de A4, A9 en zakelijke districten ligt, is deze plek de ideale locatie voor (inter)nationale vergaderingen, galadiners, evenementen en congressen.

De zalen zijn in verschillende opstellingen en naar eigen smaak op te zetten. Tevens heeft het hotel verschillende break-out rooms beschikbaar voor workshops of als sub-zalen.

Inclusief: • Projector • Geluidssysteem • Natuurlijk daglicht • Persoonlijke service

• • • •

Flipovers & markers Notitieblokken & pennen Wi-Fi Garderobe & Foyer

Voor meer informatie kunt u contact opnemen met sales.village@corendonhotels.com

THE EDITOR

Tijn Kramer, Editor-in-Chief MICE Benelux

Let’s work together for a better future Admittingly, I heard the lines first in the movie-adaptation. But still, I never forgot. ‘Life is a storm, my young friend. You will bask in the sunlight one moment, be shattered on the rocks the next. What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes. You must look into that storm and shout as you did in Rome. Do your worst, for I will do mine! Then the fates will know you as we know you”. Or so the words by Alexandre Dumas for ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’.

Now of course, even Dumas would have agreed, that man can also be a woman, but the message is clear. And it certainly goes for the mice-sector. We have faced many crises, economic downfalls, natures predicaments, terror, ash and what not. Yet, we – you – remained standing tall. And now, with the most unpredictable of times, with pandemics, war threat and so on, we still do.

Better yet, we stand up. Knowing that travel, and meeting people from different cultures is essential. For business, and for a better understanding.

And so, we as a magazine also refreshed, with a firm believe in what we do. A renewed magazine, for all of the Benelux, in English. With new ambitions, Belgiand and Dutch editors, partnerships, a love for everything that is creative, interesting and fun. In which this market excels. We all need to meet! Now more than ever. Let’s take our future back in our own hands and make the world a better place. Do your best mice-market, you can handle this storm as well. You got this and we are with you. Together.

Tijn Kramer

-7-

Let’s meet again!

Reconnect and rejoin at Inntel Hotels.

Inspiring venues for all your meetings Whether it’s for a meeting, conference or cocktail party the unique setting of Inntel Hotels will surprise you and your guests. Inntel Hotels is your partner for events ranging from 8 to 400 people.

Unlimited possibilities From meeting rooms overlooking the Rotterdam skyline to a mesmerizing view over the coast of The Hague. Discover our unique locations in Amsterdam, Zaandam, Eindhoven, The Hague, Rotterdam & Utrecht.

Modern & comfortable rooms Inntel Hotels offers the chance to unwind and relax in a comfortable room. Inntel Hotels guarantees unforgettable moments, ensuring your guests will be impressed.













BREAK-OUT ROOMS

AIR CONDITIONING

UNIEK DESIGN

www.inntelhotels.nl

EASY TO ACCESS

CULINARY DELIGHTS

FREE WI-FI

AIRLINES

INTERVIEW

The latest from the sky New summer routes, improvement and innovations, the world of airlines is always on the move. We take some of the most interesting, funny or likeable news and bring it you here. Always in the know? Check www.micebenelux.com and subscripe to our weekly newsletter.

By Tijn Kramer

Brussels Airlines: 85 destinations This coming summer season, starting on March 27, Brussels Airlines will offer 85 destinations, with a focus on leisure.

Newcomers in the airline’s summer portfolio compared to last year are Arecife (Lanzarote), Chania (Crete), Hurghada (Egypt), Mytilene (Lesbos), Samos, Marrakesh ( Morocco), Rabat (Morocco) and Munich. On top of the year-round destinations like Alicante, Madrid, Lisbon, Milano, Rome and many more, the airline relaunches a series of summer holiday destinations: On the intercontinental network, Brussels Airlines will reopen Conakry (Guinea) and Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in Africa and will resume flights to Washington D.C. during the summer season. In total, the Belgian airline offers 19 long haul destinations, including 17 in Sub Sahara Africa and 2 in the US (New York and Washington).

And for the first time, Brussels Airlines will operate flights between Brussels and Munich. The Belgian airline will operate two flights a day, while Lufthansa continues to operate 5 daily frequencies.

The first Brussels Airlines flight to Munich will take off on March 27th.

KLM ready for summer With direct flights to 167 destinations, KLM is ready for summer. Between 27 March and 29 October, KLM will fly to 96 European and 71 intercontinental destinations. Belgrade, Dubrovnik and Palma de Mallorca will once again be included in the summer schedule. KLM also expects business travellers to return, which is why frequencies are added to British, German and Polish routes. Services to Kyiv, St Petersburg

-9-

and Moscow continue to be suspended.

KLM will also operate daily flights to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, increasing the frequency to Curaçao to twice daily during the summer holiday season.

Port of Spain is included in the summer schedule too. The resumption of flights to Salt Lake City and the new addition of Austin to their route network, means KLM will be operating direct services this summer to 12 destinations in the USA, the highest number ever. KLM will likely increase frequencies to Delhi and Mumbai. Capacity on most routes to South America has been restored to more or less pre-pandemic levels, operating daily services to Sao Paulo, Panama City and Lima, with a minimum of six flights a week to Quito/Guayaquil, Bogota/ Cartagena, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires/Santiago de Chile. Zanzibar is once again included in the summer schedule.

KLM is also operating services to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Accra, Lagos, Kigali, Entebbe, Nairobi, Kilimanjaro, and Dar es Salaam.

Eat, work & play at voco® The Hague By getting you and your team into a space that pushes your creative brains into action, we’re hoping to make your next off-site work experience or event anything but stuffy!

From product launches in our vault to crunch time in our suites, or a brainstorm session in the Play Work area, at voco® The Hague we offer plenty of options that will get you inspired. Join us in saying bye to outdated, dimly lit meeting rooms and hello to bright spaces that'll fill you with inspiration.

In the morning you can relax and enjoy exceptional coffee, in the afternoon there’s a space to catch up with friends or colleagues, and in the evening, you can enjoy locally-inspired cuisine or a cocktail with tastes from by the directions of the wind.

Meet us at voco® The Hague.

+31 70 218 5600 sales.vocothehague@ihg.com www.ihg.com/voco/hotels/us/en/ den-haag/hagdh/hoteldetail

SHORT NEWS ROUNDUP

20 new Leading Hotels for 2022 The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (LHW) is pleased to announce nearly 20 highly anticipated openings in 2022. The new hotels span the globe from New York to Casablanca, Jakarta to Edinburgh.

These exceptional properties are sure to set new standards for luxury hospitality in their markets and across the industry. Explore all the openings below.

Americas • Mari Mari Natural Reserve Experience (Los Muermos, Chile) • Las Majadas (Pirque, Chile) • Hotel Santos de Piedra (Cartagena, Colombia) • Casa Polanco (Mexico City, Mexico) • Viñedo San Miguel Hotel & Villas (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico) • Rock House (Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands) • Villa Mara Carmel (Carmel-by-the-sea, United States) • The Fifth Avenue Hotel (New York, New York, United States) • Hotel Montevideo (Montevideo, Uruguay) Europe • Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp (Antwerp, Belgium) • Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel (Nice, France) • Lesante Cape Resort & Spa (Zakynthos, Greece) • The Gleneagles TownHouse (Edinburgh, Scotland) • Samarkand Regency Amir Temur (Samarkand, Uzbekistan) Asia • The Orient Hotel Jakarta (Jakarta, Indonesia) • SIWA Cliffs (Lombok, Indonesia) • The Legian Sire, Lombok (Lombok, Indonesia) • Emerald Faarufushi Resort & Spa (Faarufushi Islands, Maldives) Africa • Royal Mansour Casablanca (Casablanca, Morocco)

- 11 -

SHORT NEWS ROUNDUP

hotspot and bustling street known for its high concentration of Haussmann and Art Nouveau style town houses and mansions.

A perfect location within walking distance of Brussels’ historical sites, museums and other landmarks, easily accessible from any part of the city, on public transports, be it metro, tram or train. The 169-bedroom hotel situated around a central bright and lush courtyard, features a restaurant and bar with a large outdoor terrace. The 159 rooms and 10 suites have an astounding view over the park and Avenue de la Toison d’Or, while boasting a homely feeling contributing to the unique character of the hotel. In addition to the great location and elegant atmosphere the Le Louise Hotel Brussels offers - Mariano Van Cleve, the hotel’s concierge, is the honorary president of Les Clefs d’Or for Belgium, a guarantee for guests to receive the best knowledge to make their stay memorable.

New: Le Louise Hotel Brussels MGallery Hotel Collection has officially opened its first property in Belgium: Le Louise Hotel Brussels. The former Sofitel is located on the Avenue de la Toison d’Or just, between the historic center and the European quarters and has been completely transformed into a tribute to the city of Brussels, its people, architecture and gardens. The new flagship offers 159 rooms and 10 suites focusing on both business and leisure guests visiting the European metropolis. Le Louise Hotel Brussels – MGallery is part of the MGallery Collection uniting over 120 beautiful properties in over 30 countries all over the world.

Vieri Biticchi, General Manager of Le Louise Hotel Brussels: “MGallery embraces

‘Invisible Luxury’, a constant but discrete attention to detail, service anticipation and human touch, all in a context of modern and elegant design. The hospitality level coming from our experienced team with their local approach “la Belgitude’ is what makes us unique. It allows us to provide our guests with service of the highest level, making each stay unforgettable.”

Le Louise Hotel Brussels – MGallery Le Louise Hotel Brussels - MGallery is a homage to the city it calls home. The hotel’s logo is inspired by the curves of the floral Art Nouveau of Brussels. . The hotel’s name is a reference to the location of the hotel - the recognized Avenue Louise.

The famous high-end thoroughfare, named after Princess Louise, is a fashion

- 12 -

Restaurant & Bar Maison Louise restaurant and wine bar is a foodie destination to taste the best of Belgian’s gastronomy. Renowned Isabelle Arpin chef’ has curated an exquisite menu showcasing the beauty and taste of gardens around the globe for succulent culinary twists and a unique feminine touch. Mister Blue bar is themed around jazz music and proposes musical events such as DJ sets or live music, a place to discover and enjoy the city’s creative vibe.

Green spaces are important in Brussels, as they are at Le Louise; the courtyard terrace and garden offer the chance to breathe, touch nature, feel alive and relaxed while keeping a finger on the pulse of Brussel’s hippest district.

IATA: Air Passenger Numbers to Recover in 2024 The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects overall traveler numbers to reach 4.0 billion in 2024 (counting multisector connecting trips as one passenger), exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels (103% of the 2019 total).

Expectations for the shape of the nearterm recovery have shifted slightly, reflecting the evolution of governmentimposed travel restrictions in some markets. The overall picture presented in the latest update to IATA’s long-term forecast, however, is unchanged from what was expected in November, prior to the Omicron variant.

“The trajectory for the recovery in

passenger numbers from COVID-19 was not changed by the Omicron variant.

People want to travel. And when travel restrictions are lifted, they return to the skies. There is still a long way to go to reach a normal state of affairs, but the forecast for the evolution in passenger numbers gives good reason to be optimistic,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

The February update to the long-term forecast includes the following highlights: • In 2021, overall traveler numbers were 47% of 2019 levels. This is expected to improve to 83% in 2022, 94% in 2023, 103% in 2024 and 111% in 2025.

• In 2021, international traveler numbers

were 27% of 2019 levels. This is expected to improve to 69% in 2022, 82% in 2023, 92% in 2024 and 101% in 2025.

This is a slightly more optimistic nearterm international recovery scenario compared to November 2021, based on the progressive relaxation or elimination of travel restrictions in many markets. This has seen improvements in the major North Atlantic and intra-European markets, strengthening the baseline for recovery.

Asia-Pacific is expected to continue to lag the recovery with the region’s largest market, China, not showing any signs of relaxing its severe border measures in the near future.

Nordic expands: Lapland from Dusseldorf Scandinavia specialist Nordic expands to Germany. Nordic Travel, market leader in Belgium, and since the beginning of 2021 also with a Dutch office, Nordic has been an established name for leisure and incentive travel. Now Germany will follow, says Hugo van Drie, director of Nordic Travel Netherlands.“We are starting with Nordic on the German market. For Nordic, this is a logical next step after the successful launch of Nordic in the Netherlands last year. In Germany you

should only start something if you actually have something to add to the market’, says Van Drie, who will lead the German organization in addition to the Dutch one.

The first offer we will launch is ‘Winters Lapland’ (Lapland in Winter’ where we will operate a direct flight from Dusseldorf to Finnish Rovaniemi during winter 22/23.

- 13 -

BCD TRENDS

Business Travel Trends for 2022 The COVID-19 pandemic has dominated our lives for the last two years, and the recognition of Omicron as a variant of concern may see this continue for a while longer. This focus on COVID-19 is entirely understandable. It’s most likely touched all of us at a personal level in some way. And of course, the restrictions that accompanied the pandemic caused significant damage and disruption to business travel.

By Adeline Willems

- 14 -

We’re now coming closer to emerging from the crisis, even if that means simply learning to live with COVID-19; a position many countries are now adopting. That doesn’t mean things will be exactly the same as they were before the pandemic. Some practices brought in in response to the pandemic may endure beyond it, and travel is likely to remain more complex for some time.

stress it creates for their families, health issues, or the disruption to their work-life balance.

Technology has forever changed the way we work.

But online isn’t the best solution for all meeting types.

Video calls work well for certain types of meeting, but sometimes it’s more productive to conduct business in person. Certain types of collaboration are more efficiently done face-to-face. As our research shows, traveling employees consider in-person client meetings as the most important reason for business travel: three quarters say it’s extremely or very important to meet clients face-to-face. At the same time, internal company meetings are most vulnerable to substitution by virtual solutions.

The last two years have also been a time for reflection, leading to a refocus on new priorities for the future. What does this refocus mean for travel?

BCD Travel identified a short list of trends, which they think will come to resonate with both travel managers and travelers during 2022.

The trends • The value of business travel • Environmentally sustainable travel • New worker expectations • People risk management • A broader set of risks • Cybersecurity essentials • Globalization reset • Fintech in focus • Share your thoughts

The Value of Business Travel

Virtual meetings have their weaknesses While virtual meetings and remote working are clearly here to stay, they’re unlikely to herald the death knell for all business travel. Employees recognize virtual is not the only way and they’re increasingly raising concerns about the prospect of relying on screenbased interaction as their primary meeting method.

Virtual communication is particularly ineffective for relationship building. After 20 months of restrictions, pent-up demand for face-to-face meetings with clients, partners and colleagues has never been so high.

‘The hybrid and remote work setup functioned surprisingly well for many employees and employers’

Traveling with purpose It’s not clear when business travel will return to prepandemic levels. The timing will vary by market and by the reason for the trip. But it’s high time companies and travel managers started thinking about the shifting travel paradigm and how to adjust their travel programs to the new ways of working. Crucial tasks for a travel manager include measuring the value of travel, demonstrating the quality of its outcome, and proving to internal stakeholders that it’s worthwhile.

The key is not to simply reduce travel spend – although some companies may want to do this – but to increase the effectiveness of that travel towards meeting the company’s goals.

How business travel matters In the past 20 months or so, a good share of day-today work communication moved online with little to no loss in employee productivity and company bottom lines. The hybrid and remote work setup functioned surprisingly well for many employees and employers.

While business travel came almost to a complete halt, many businesses recorded high profits.

Understandably, executives started wondering if past travel volumes had been needed at all and what business travel should look like in the future.

Three quarters told us that business travel helps them perform their work efficiently and provides an irreplaceable opportunity to meet with their colleagues, clients and business partners in-person.

For round a half of the respondents, business travel provides a source of job satisfaction and also boosts productivity, both of which should be good news to their employers. Only a small proportion of employees raised negative aspects of business travel, such as the

Environmentally sustainable travel November 2021’s COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference has put climate change and sustainability firmly in the global spotlight, and it’s a

- 15 -

BCD TRENDS

theme that’s seeing widespread adoption.

As more countries and multinational nongovernmental organizations, such as IATA (International Air Transport Association), make commitments towards a net zero carbon future, the pressure will grow on everyone, including companies and the employees that travel on their behalf, to make their own contributions towards lower emissions.

Interest in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is gaining momentum as a nearterm solution for reducing emissions, and aerospace and aviation companies are making the investments needed to use SAF at scale. Companies are also beginning to buy into SAF for their business travel, making commitments to use the fuel. At the same time, aerospace companies are pursuing new technologies, such as electric and hydrogen powered flight, which will help deliver the carbon neutrality required for sustainable travel.

Companies are starting to act The global pandemic and the rise up the agenda of climate issues are prompting travel managers to re-evaluate their travel programs. As many companies adopt targets for environmental sustainability, these are naturally demanding action on business travel. Some corporate customers are already partnering with travel suppliers to reduce their environmental impact. Global consultancy Deloitte is such a case, entering into deals with American Airlines and Delta Air Lines to purchase sustainable aviation fuel for a portion of its business travel.

Travel managers must look at a variety of approaches to reduce the carbon footprint of their programs. The request for proposal (RFP) documents they issue to suppliers will increasingly require commitments on sustainability and more information about the progress being made towards their sustainability goals. And travel buyers will most likely want sufficient information to be able to compare RFPs and suppliers on the basis

- 16 -

of environmental sustainability. They will also need their suppliers to provide appropriate information at point of booking, to enable travelers to make the most sustainable travel choices.

New worker expectations The location of work is changing Remote working is already a wellestablished practice in many companies, and it continues to drive dynamic changes in the labor market. It has taken on new forms, with the emergence of hybrid workers and digital nomads. This trend towards more remote working was given a big injection of impetus by the COVID-19 pandemic, with many workers obliged to embrace remote working, if only temporarily. But it seems this shift towards new locations for work will now be a permanent feature for many workers, many of whom (or whose employers) may not have given it serious consideration until their hands were forced by the pandemic.

Companies risk losing some of their highest-performing employees. Offering remote working is increasingly seen as a perk, helping to retain workers and attract new employees from a global talent pool.

Given employees’ increasing interest in changing their work location, companies are under more pressure to allow flexible working. Employers may benefit from increased labor mobility helping to adjust the workforce in different locations. In order to manage a hybrid workforce, companies must do their homework.

Few organizations currently have an official policy for digital nomads, even though work on alleviating the legal and regulatory risks and avoiding tax pitfalls is crucial.

People risk management

Digital nomads – a new type of remote worker The shift towards remote working and a more mobile workforce has got people in travel talking about the emergence of the digital nomad. These are employees who can work remotely, and they may often be working for an international organization, or for a company registered in a third country.

What this new employee mobility means for employers Highly-skilled employees increasingly demand flexibility. An appetite for change exists among workers. According to our July 2021 survey of business travelers, 25% would like to move to another city or country and work remotely from there. And almost one-third would like to work remotely during long trips to the destinations of their choice. The availability of flexible working can impact both a company’s image and its bottom line. If companies don’t listen to their employees, they may go elsewhere.

Corporate responsibility goes beyond business trips As businesses continue to manage new hybrid workforces, with a considerable share of employees shifting to remote working, they’re being forced to expand their duty of care beyond business travelers to include all employees when away from the office. This requirement has been further reinforced by the movement of workers away from office locations, with some choosing to become digital nomads, working remotely and frequently changing their location. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic has pivoted the focus of risk management towards the employee, making it less about simply travel.

Who’s responsible?

Organizations are increasingly looking for ways to ensure their employees are aware of the potential risks they face any time and help keep them safe and productive, no matter where they are.

The rise of the digital nomad has created both new challenges and opportunities for travel managers. Protecting remote employees working anywhere requires an integrated approach from various stakeholders. COVID-19 has already demanded collaboration across multiple

- 17 -

roles and departments – from Risk Management and Human Resources (HR) to Procurement, Communication and the C-Suite.

Moving to people risk management People Risk Management is steadily rising up the corporate agenda, becoming top of mind for HR, risk and travel managers. In the past, some companies used dedicated tools to track high-risk events that may have influenced the locations of their offices. The goal of traveler duty of care was to take care of the employees hitting the road to conduct business. A new allencompassing approach, which embraces hybrid workforces, must be expanded to include a new set of locations, which employees have chosen as the permanent or temporary site for remote working since the start of the pandemic.

With more companies adopting workfrom-anywhere policies, all employees, irrespective of their location, may soon need and enjoy risk management support.

A broader set of risks Understandably, the risks associated with a global pandemic have dominated people’s minds for almost the last two years. The risks to health and travel disruption are likely to remain for some time. But as travel returns, it’s important to recognize the other risks during a trip – they’ve not gone away; they’ve just retreated from the consciousness.

Underlying risks didn’t simply disappear simply because the world was fighting a pandemic.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) claims extreme weather events are the new norm. Aside from the direct disruption to trips caused by extreme weather, the alarm bells such events are ringing has demanded a call to action, whose implications are likely to resonate throughout travel.

Acts of terrorism didn’t simply disappear during the pandemic. Terror attacks and conflicts continued in a number of developing countries including

BCD TRENDS

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria; they simply weren’t as newsworthy as COVID-19.

As the world continues to become more digitized, this has increased the risk of cybercrime and cyberattacks. A shift towards more remote working has increased companies’ vulnerability, while the pandemic is itself being used as a vector for committing new cyberattacks.

The subject of cybersecurity deserves more consideration, and we look at the issue in more depth as a trend in its own right later in this report.

While restrictions and lockdowns switched off consumption for long periods of time, government policies, including furloughs and direct financial support for companies, helped to largely preserve the supply side of the economy. The economy is ready to bounce back, largely intact. And as consumers have accumulated savings over the last two years, their spending is ready to lead the recovery.

leading travel brands. These have affected all aspects of travel – airlines, hotel companies, IT companies, travel agencies, airports, fuel suppliers. These headlinegrabbing attacks distract from the large number of smaller-scale assaults. The transactional nature of the travel industry and the legacy systems on which many companies still rely heavily, makes it an attractive target. As the industry recovers, hackers are likely to see it as a lucrative target once again.

Globalization Reset Reset under way Globalization has brought incredible benefits over the last 20-30 years, which have been realized through improvements in efficiency, standardization and cost savings.

Emerging markets have reaped significant socioeconomic benefits from shifts in production into their countries, but this has come at the cost of stagnant household wealth growth in advanced economies.

But things are now changing. The rise of political populism, changing consumer values including concerns about their carbon footprint, and the rising costs and supply chain issues associated with the pandemic are forcing a rethink. To address these emerging concerns and make their businesses more resilient, companies are shifting from a consolidated to a more diversified approach towards supply, production and consumption. At the same time, they are also looking at ways of bringing production back closer to the point of consumption.

‘Digital health passes may well endure beyond the pandemic’

Cybersecurity Essentials A challenge for everyone Technology’s evolution continues to generate new cybersecurity-related challenges. Through the use of apps, sharing of data, online purchases, services and communications, the digital world connects everything and everyone. Ensuring this cyberworld is secure is essential for protecting people, organizations, infrastructure. In fact, it’s vital for almost everything we value and rely on. Cyber threats continue to grow, as does their potential impact.

It’s therefore important for everyone to remain vigilant, and that includes travel managers and their travelers.

Travel is exposed In recent years, cybercriminals and hackers have targeted a number of

Does vaccination become the new passport?

Being fully-vaccinated has become a passport to crossing international borders with reduced or no restrictions.

Vaccines have been mandated for specific - 18 -

occupations, visits to offices and even for attending certain venues and events in some countries. Austria is making COVID-19 vaccination a legal requirement from February 2022. What will this mean for freedom of international movement?

Being fully-vaccinated could become a condition of travel post-pandemic or a requirement at the destination, even for visitors from abroad. Ironically, this could actually present a globalization upside, reinvigorating some travel freedoms. Digital health passes, which many travelers are using today to confirm their health credentials, and in particular their vaccination status, may well endure beyond the pandemic. As they also function to confirm the user’s identity to the authorities, they could be suitable for deployment as a digital global identity platform, reducing much of the complexity in crossing international borders in the future. Just a closing thought.

experience offered to travelers, fintechsolutions will provide travel managers with access to the high-quality, real-time data they need to power more effective decisions. A manual process that was once an operational necessity can now be converted into an automated source of value for those companies that invest in fintech-based solutions. In a pilot of its BCD Pay solution, BCD Travel noted a 75% improvement in the total time required to input data, reconcile, report and integrate the data across a fragmented system of back office functions, ERP systems and credit card issue systems.

Source and more information: www.bcdtravel.com

Fintech in Travel Huge potential value Judging by the number of times fintech (sometimes also referred to as paytech) got a mention at a recent travel innovation conference, the business travel industry finally appears to be waking up to the benefits of adopting certain aspects of finance technology. The rewards for travel as a whole could be huge: one estimate suggests the adoption of fintech by all channels could increase total consumer spend on travel by nearly $80 billion annually. Where it resonates most for business travel is its potential to save time and money.

Transforming travel and expense spend management Companies involved in corporate travel, including travel management companies and specialist fintech businesses, are now using fintech to deliver solutions

that simplify, digitize and automate corporate travel payment, reconciliation and invoice management. Travelers and travel managers can mutually enjoy the benefits of a frictionless, digital payment experience, that starts with trip booking and payment and ends with reconciliation.

These new solutions can seamlessly manage payment, invoices and receipts during a trip, and then automate review, reconciliation and audit. Travelers may no longer need to make payments or expense claims during or after a business trip. And travel managers will have more control over payment for corporate travel, meetings and events. The ability to introduce rules engines will make it much easier to apply payment policy and spending limits across different traveler segments: a traveler-centric approach to payment and expense, so everyone wins.

As well as the simplified and bespoke

- 19 -

DUBAI

Dubai: ahead of the future...

Once, not even such a long time ago, Dubai was a sleepy fishing village.

Then we all closed our eyes one second...and there was a bustling Arabian Megapolis.

An engine of ambitions, fun and innovations.

You think you know Dubai? Think again.

By Tijn Kramer

Bilbao has the Guggenheim, London the Tate and Mexico City the equally stunning Soumaya Museum. But a new member of the club of breathtakingly beautiful museums is the very recently opened Museum of The Future in Dubai. Wow, just wow.

The museum has a thema that fits the emirate very well. The future! ‘One of Dubai’s most famous landmarks, the Museum of the Future (MOTF) takes pride of place along the city’s superhighway, Sheikh Zayed Road.

Founded by the Dubai Future Foundation and launched on 22 February 2022, the museum explores how society could evolve in the coming decades using science and technology. Termed a ‘living museum’, it incorporates elements of traditional exhibitions, immersive theatre and themed attractions, so visitors can look beyond the present and towards the future’s limitless possibilities. Furthering a global intellectual movement, it’s also the headquarters for the city’s ‘Great Arab Minds’ initiative that aims to identify 1,000 exceptional Arab talents across key fields.’

The Museum of the Future has been recognized as one of 14 most beautiful museums in the world

Museum of the Future design and architecture Of course the museum building was there for a while, just not open yet. That has changed now. But let’s first look at the outside. Designed as an asymmetric torus clad in steel and glass, the Museum of the Future has been recognized by National Geographic as one of 14 most beautiful museums in the world. It’s a credit to architect Shaun Killa, who wanted the structure to represent Dubai’s vision of the future. ‘ Buit what can you expect on the inside? ’A gateway to the world 50 years from now, the landmark development will contribute to a better humanity and stronger global economy by demonstrating how nextgeneration solutions – incorporating

- 21 -

everything from artificial intelligence to augmented reality – can enhance our lives. Visitors will have the chance to engage with this game-changing technology. Each floor of the museum is designed like an expansive, interactive movie set, brought to life by expert storytellers, technologists and visionary artists. Topics in focus include the future of space travel and living, climate change and ecology, health, wellness and spirituality. Aside from ground-breaking innovations, there will also be special workshops and talks from the world’s greatest minds.’

Dubai remails on top Back to Dubai as a whole. Pandemic or not, Dubai did relatively well. Better than most others really. According to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) international visitation to the city surpassed 3.4 million visitors in the fourth quarter of 2021, achieving 74 per cent of the total pre-pandemic tourist arrivals of Q4 2019, and paving the way for hotels in Dubai to deliver a stellar fourth quarter performance that surpassed prepandemic levels. A positive trend which is expected to continue throughout 2022 and beyond.

Dubai strongholds regain momentum Overcoming the impact of international

DUBAI

travel restrictions in key global markets, Dubai continued to be the first-choice safe tourism destination, attracting holidaymakers throughout 2021 from markets that were open. Dubai strongholds regained momentum to register positive growth during 2021.

Robust international visitation was boosted by strong tourism arrivals from regional markets. MENA and GCC markets collectively contributed to 26 per cent of the total volumes, reinforcing Dubai’s continued appeal to travellers from proximity markets. Western Europe accounted for 22 per cent of total visitors in 2021, with visitation led by UK, followed by France, Germany, Italy and Netherlands. South Asia contributed 18 per cent of the international visitation with Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe together making a 15 per cent contribution.

What else is new...

Supporting the city’s commitment to always offer something new, unique and world-class to every global traveller, 2021 saw further strides made in broadening Dubai’s appeal to a wide spectrum

of visitors with the opening of new attractions and leisure destinations including Ain Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Hatta Dome Park and The View at The Palm, to name a few, while building on the destination pillars - from culture to cuisine, entertainment, outdoor adventures to beach activities, familyoriented experiences to shopping.

Speaking of which…how about Business Tourism/mice? Steen Jakobsen, Assistant Vice President, Dubai Business Events, said: “Our partners across hotels, venues, service providers and others within the business events ecosystem have always embraced the city’s culture of collaboration, and in 2022 this will be more important than ever, as we look to leverage our world-leading tourism and events recovery and provide planners and associations with compelling reasons to bring their conferences, meetings and incentive travel programmes to Dubai.

We are encouraging stakeholders to join and support DBE in our year-round calendar of activities both in Dubai and in source markets around the world, as well as of course in bidding for and hosting events.”

‘Dubai to deliver a stellar fourth quarter performance that surpassed pre-pandemic levels’

Top 14 tips HOT in Dubai Some new, some classic but also fun and exciting. Some great tips to spark your WOW in Dubai.

1) The 25hours Hotel. New, and opposite the Museum of the Future. Great Skydeck with pool! The future of trendy five star hotels? Not for boring people! Love it!

2) Must do! Helicopter Tour. Take a short ride, take a long tour, rent it for a group. But very little beats the view from a chopper!

(Falcon Tours on Atlantis, The Palm) 3) Aura Sky Pool. Super sleek trendy gorgeous 360 degrees infinity pool.

Reserve ahead!

4) We have a special place in our heart for the new Shindaga Museum. Go back to the old traditions and life much slower.

Interesting!

5) Arabian Tea House. The Arabian Tea House serves local and Lebanese food and does it wonderfully. Also locals love it.

6) One of the new fun yet quality hotels is Sofitel The Obelisk with of our our favorite restaurants in Dubai…Taiko!

7) Fun in the water? Try OdySea, for a jetski-like fast paced ride on the water to see all those famous landmarks. FUN!

A DMC’s point of view: Gaby Seikaly from Gulf Circle Tours ‘Dubai is a canvas ready to create memories.’

During a recent visit to Dubai with IDEA members attending, local DMC Gulf Circle Tours was one of the partners in this successful trip. The DMC is represented by Sigrid Scheffer of Travel Marketing in our countries. We interview Gaby Seikaly.

8) Of course you take a day in the desert.

Such as the Platinum Heritage Experience, with authentic Land Rovers and a fun night under the starts. Must do.

9) The always excellent chain ShangriLa has a great hotel in/near the Financial District with great food, rooms and a skybar to go wild. Wow times 10.

10) Vincent, is that you? In the famed Dubai Mall, there is now also a digital art museum focusing on. Infinity des Lumieres is the name.

11) Mina. At the wonderful Four Seasons Financial District. What a great restaurant, with French styled food, great wines and service. Famous for it’s artsy cocktails.

12) The Four Seasons at Jumeirah Beach is the place to stay if you want the best of the best on the beach. Superior hotel, wonderful food, privacy and many miceoptions.

13) We love the A380. There is an A380 experience in the Dubai mall but we prefer flying it. From Amsterdam for example. (www.emirates.com). Fly in style!

14) La Mer, JBR the walk, the Marina. Great fun…outside! When the season is right for it of course.

Dubai is in constant movement. What is new in 2022 and what will be new beyond?

Seikaly: We are blessed with the proactiveness of the UAE government to open the country to visitors. EXPO2020 was a major factor. The new largest observation wheel in the world “Ain Dubai”, the recently opened The Museum of the Future, dubbed the “most beautiful building in the world” . The return of The Dubai World Cup horse race, and plans at the Expo site for after EXPO2020 are driving demand.’

How is the MICE-business doing in Dubai?

‘Covid restrictions are slowly being

lifted. Dubai has been a leader in easing all restrictions. We are receiving many requests and confirmations for MICE groups. Last minute requests are on the rise. I believe that is due to the fact that Dubai never stopped promoting the destination, and to many corporate clients, they see Dubai as an ideal place to travel to.

The destination can be an expensive one, what would you recommend to save some budget.

‘Like other destinations, marketing efforts show the best of the destination. Best hotels, venues, best restaurants, etc. Dubai has the best of everything, nevertheless, designing itineraries can be without including all attractions and without dining at the best restaurant every night. There is plenty to do with a budget in mind.’

What is your personal favorite activity to do with a team ‘Dubai has the Sea, City, and Desert. A combination of the three is a favourite of mine and our clients alike. A sunset cruise with the Dubai skyline, climbing up over 120 floors for a bird’s-eye view of the city, a barefoot Bedouin style dinner in the desert, Dubai is a canvas ready to create memories.’

Gaby and Sigrid (r) (photocredit: Jan Buteijn)

QATAR

Qatar: After the match, the 10 hottest restaurants for 2022 Come fall, things will heat up. Both the red devils as the team in orange have qualified for the World Cup Football 2022 in Qatar. Without a doubt a miceorganisers dream to bring fans over, in whatever price bracket. But we know the stadiums and the hotels…but where do we eat and party?

By Tijn Kramer

2 3

5 10 - 24 -

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 bringing the world to the Middle East peninsula this year, Qatar is welcoming a wave of new international restaurants. The future restaurants, combined with the destination’s extensive existing foodie portfolio, are poised to position Qatar as a leading culinary destination.

6

In the words of Berthold Trenkel, Chief Operating Officer of Qatar Tourism, “Great food is an integral part of any trip and in Qatar, foodies have a choice when it comes to eating out. With residents from over 100 countries, the dining options here truly reflect our multicultural society. From the streets of Italy and the mountains of Turkey, to the coasts of Greece and the cities of Japan, we are excited to see even more cuisines from around the world making their way to Qatar this year.”

5. KAIA (Q2 2022) KAIA is a boutique hotel within the Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, offering AsianPacific inspired cuisine and a carefully curated menu of premium dishes and drinks to match. Immersive entertainment will be provided by powerful DJs and unique party concepts.

So for those looking for the hottest new culinary hotspots, Qatar Tourism has rounded up some of the most delectable restaurants to look forward to in 2022.

6. The Score (Q2 2022) This trendy gastro and sports bar in the Pullman Doha West Bay serves contemporary American cuisine. The menu features traditional favorites such as the ‘Massive Beef Rib Burger’ and the ‘Any Given Sunday’ dessert, served with live coverage of major sporting events.

1. ADRIFT Ami by David Myers (Q2 2022) Aiming to bring the rustic charm of Provence to life, David Myers uses his Michelin status to serve up a highlevel culinary journey. Le Royal Méridien Doha embraces a farm-to-table philosophy and offers visitors beautiful dishes inspired by the South of France.

7. SUSHISAMBA (Q3 2022) SUSHISAMBA, known for its Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine, is coming to Qatar. Located in the new Waldorf Astoria in Qatar Entertainment City, the expansive beachfront eatery will be the fifth SUSHISAMBA in the world, offering a diverse menu.

2. Yedi Terrace (Q2 2022) Le Royal Méridien Doha brings the rich history of Turkey, combined with the vibrancy of modern Turkey, from Izmir-born chef Esat Akyildiz. The poolside restaurant offers a warm atmosphere, laid-back beachhouse vibes and authentic Anatolian cuisine from Turkey’s seven regions.

8. OCTA (Q3 2022) Inspired by sea creatures, Octa is full of flavour, life and colour. The trendy, sophisticated and exclusive restaurant will serve delicious seafood, with live music and the sounds of the coolest DJs, located at Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas.

3. Chotto Matte (April 2022) Originally launched in London with locations around the world, Chotto Matte brings one of the key manifestations of Nikkei cuisine to Qatar. The restaurant comes from restaurateur Kurt Zdesar and will open in The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar.

9. Beef Bar Doha (TBC 2022) Riccardo Giraudi brings the Beef Bar with delectable dishes to the city’s seaside, in the heart of the Lusail Marina district, near the blues of the Arabian Gulf.

4. Babel (May 2022) Babel takes its guests on a unique journey of award-winning Lebanese cuisine, exploring combinations of traditional ingredients, reflecting all that Lebanon has to offer. At Babel, food becomes a common language, bringing together sophisticated recipes that have been reimagined to offer progressive cuisine.

10. AZURE Beach Club (to be confirmed 2022) Visitors will be delighted by Qatar’s coolest new beach club in town, where guests can enjoy sun, sea and sand. It is located on the future Qetaifan Island, Qatar’s first entertainment island overlooking the beautiful waters of the Arabian Gulf. AZURE Beach Club will be the place to be seen in Qatar in 2022.

- 25 -

SAUDI

Very ambitious, deep pockets and eager for change Business tourism is opening up in Saudi Arabia...

By Tijn Kramer

The opening words of Vision 2030. ‘MY FIRST OBJECTIVE IS FOR OUR COUNTRY TO BE A PIONEERING AND SUCCESSFUL GLOBAL MODEL OF EXCELLENCE, ON ALL FRONTS, AND I WILL WORK WITH YOU TO ACHIEVE THAT.’ As written by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Or in our words: Ladies and Gentlemen: Saudi Arabia is getting ready to show the world what it has to offer.

You may have noticed, or perhaps not due to the pandemic. But there is a ‘new kid on the block’ in the tourism. Well new?

It has age old culture and arts. Mountains and seas. And it is very ambitious, with deep pockets to back it up. Saudi Arabia.

Quite unexpected, perhaps controversial, yet on a steady way to a better future.

Their vast ‘Vision 2030’ makes for a ‘new’ country, and certainly a very interesting destinations to visit for mice. There is a wind of change in travel… Well, let’s start at the beginning, some five years ago when Vision 2030 was presented from amongst the highest of authorities. In the words of the crown prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz: ‘It is my pleasure to present Saudi Arabia’s Vision for the future. It is an ambitious yet achievable blueprint, which expresses our long-term goals and expectations and reflects our country’s strengths and capabilities. All success stories start with a vision, and successful visions are based on strong pillars.’

It is not only a tourism masterplan yet a state of the union for a new future.

Who wants to know all can visit www. vision2030.gov.sa. And print out the 80 page or so Vision! But what about tourism? The once almost completely closed country...a tourism powerhouse for the future? Have you said this 10 years ago people would have called you crazy.

Those days are over. In the Vision there are parts of the country which are (re)

- 27 -

SAUDI

designed for all kinds of tourism.

First of all, the red sea. In the Vision: ‘The Red Sea Project is the world’s most ambitious and exciting tourism and hospitality project: a luxury destination created around one of the world’s last hidden natural treasures, it is one of the projects backed by the Public Investment Fund. The project sits over 28,000 km2 of pristine lands and waters and includes a vast archipelago of more than 90 islands and will set new standards in regenerative tourism and sustainable development, creating unique travel experiences and unforgettable memories.

With sustainability at its core, supporting infrastructure emphasizes renewable energy and water conservation and re-use. The destination also features mountain canyons, dormant volcanoes, and ancient culture and heritage sites.

The Red Sea Project will include hotels, residential properties, leisure facilities and entertainment ventures.

Then there is the northwest coast Designed to evolve and elevate the very best in travel, AMAALA, located along Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coast, is a global wellness ultra-luxury destination that focuses on transformative personal journeys inspired by wellness, arts, culture and purity of the Red Sea.’ AMAALA is, according to its own website,

‘an exquisite, luxury tourism destination being developed along the northwestern Red Sea coastline of Saudi Arabia, set to curate transformative personal journeys.

AMAALA incorporates an integrated approach to health and wellbeing and is centered around three key pillars: wellness and sports; arts and culture; and sea, sun, and lifestyle.’

Mountain High And then there are the mountains, quite the USP. ‘In the Asir region, home to the highest peak in Saudi Arabia at 3,015 meters above sea level, the mountainous area of Soudah boasts cool temperatures all year round and is a popular destination for the domestic tourism market.

Featuring sweeping valleys, thrilling hiking trails and the serene views of mountains nestled among refreshing rain clouds, Soudah Development will protect the distinctive natural resources of the region and celebrate its unique cultural heritage to create a destination that has both local and international appeal.

But obviously these are the words of the planners of the masterplan. The rest of the world is slowly responding and taking the country more and more serious as

a future player on the market. But it will need time, simply because the ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans’ do is not yet transferable to this Kingdom in the Middle East (yet). Law and tradition have to follow the ambitious transformation. Will it? Time will tell, but there is change in the air. The International Trade Administration of the USA says: ‘Travel, Tourism, and Entertainment is priority sector under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic diversification initiative. The Saudi Arabian government aims to increase domestic household spending related to entertainment and leisure activities and to transform the country into a major global travel destination. The entertainment sector perhaps more than any other reflects the remarkable transformation of the Kingdom over the past five years.

In 2018, the government ended the 30-year ban on cinemas. By the end of 2021, there were 45 movie theaters in Saudi Arabia that had presented more than 1,000 films, and it was announced that the inaugural edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival would feature Arab and international films. Additionally, there are plans to build a media city to create a multiservice media ecosystem to support and enable content and talent creation.

‘The Red Sea Project is the world’s most ambitious tourism project’

- 28 -

On the tourism front, ‘Saudi Arabia plans to welcome over 100 million visitors annually by 2030. To this end, it has implemented numerous initiatives including an e-visa system for citizens of 49 countries, the opening of its UNESCO World Heritage sites, the construction of resorts on its Red Sea coast, and the launch of a cruise line. In 2020, the Ministry of Tourism announced that it would invest up to $4 billion into bolstering the tourism industry by launching the new Tourism Development Fund. The ministry also stated that it would actively work with private sector investors to capitalize on new growth opportunities over the coming years as tourism enters a post-COVID pandemic rebound phase. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, Saudi Arabia was the fastest-growing tourism market in the Middle East in 2019.’ And on

the mice side of the things: the Saudi Convention & Exhibition General Authority (SCEGA) is concerned with developing the exhibitions and conferences industry to make Saudi an international center for exhibitions.

So what does the country have to offer?

(That is, other than the religious trips obviously for Muslims to Mecca and Medina…something set aside from this article. Mecca will not open up, Medina slowly it seems.) There is great richness in culture. ‘The city of Al Ula, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the northwestern region of the country and features historical and cultural assets such as Mada’in Saleh, the second largest Nabatean heritage site after Jordan’s Petra. The Saudi government is transforming the city into a cultural, eco-tourism destination that

- 29 -

is expected to offer various recreational activities including sightseeing, hiking, camping, and other desert-friendly sports and festivals. Closer to Riyadh, the historic city of Diriyah will showcase Saudi Arabia’s 300-plus years of culture and history by delivering one-of-akind, inspiring heritage experiences, educational and cultural opportunities, world-class residential living, and outstanding lifestyle offerings to include shopping, entertainment, and dining experiences. At the heart of the development is the At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, an iconic mud-brick city, and the home of the First House of the Al Saud family and capital of the First Saudi State, preserved and restored for future generations. Diriyah will offer 20 luxury hotels, over one hundred cafes and restaurants, eight museums and galleries, a golf course, and a racetrack.’

Have you taken a breath to take it all in? This is not ‘just another’ tourism campaign, this is a country opening up to world. Slowly but steadily. Hosting Grand Prix Formula 1, important football matches, more and more business and in years to come more and more tourists, conventions and incentives. Let’s have a positive outlook after these darks days.

The world is coming to Saudi Arabia.

(Sources Arabian Travel Market: www. wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html, AMAALA www.amaala.com, www.vision2030.gov. sa/v2030/v2030-projects)

ADVERTORIAL

Meet sustainable in Switzerland It is well known, that the Swiss are particularly sustainable: Consistent recycling, rigid exhaust emissions standards, good waste management, carefully controlled landscape planning and strict conditions for construction projects are just part of our every-day life.

A new approach to travel Sustainable travel doesn’t necessarily mean having to live without it completely.

Sustainable travel means greater awareness and depth and more enjoyment. With this in mind, Switzerland follows its own sustainability strategy: Swisstainable.

Swisstainable is all about having one’s finger on the pulse – and maximum relaxation in a natural setting: 1. Enjoy nature up close and at first hand 2. Experience the local culture in an authentic way 3. Consume regional products 4. Stay for longer and delve deeper Global Destination Sustainability Movement (GDS) Switzerland Tourism and eight Swiss Destinations have entered a partnership with the GDS-movement. Their index evaluates and rates the social and environmental performance of a destination.

This contributes to an improvement in performance and helps to create sustainable meeting destinations in the longer term.

Need more information?

The Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau is a national non-profit-making organisation, representing the leading conference destinations, national event organisers as well as transport companies.

As a central enquiry contact, the Switzerland Convention & Incentive Bureau offers free of charge independent assistance in planning your event in Switzerland.

Our services Our independent advice is provided free and with no obligations. We will help you to quickly source a venue and compile a quote, and will accompany you on an inspection visit. We offer the following basic services free of charge: • Advice on selecting the right destination • Sourcing of competent service providers • Delivery of promotional material In particular for organisers of congresses: • Analysis of congress requirements and conditions • Creation of pitch documentation • Assistance with presenting a congress application

- 30 -

• Organising the inspection of destinations and the associated invitations • Delivery of checklists • Meet & greet service at the airport Sourcing of destinations and service providers for: clarification of prices and availabilities, reservation of congress premises, reservation and management of hotel assignments, organisation of social programs, excursions and transfers, information points for congress participants Belgium & Luxembourg: Myriam Winnepenninckx T +32 (0)2 345 83 57 E myriam.winnepenninckx@switzerland.com The Netherlands: Lisette Van Dolderen, T +31 (0)20 620 92 29, E lisette.vandolderen@switzerland.com MySwitzerland.com/meetings

COLUMN

Mariska Kesteloo, columnist

The future of our beloved industry....

Did we finally see light at the end of the long dark tunnel, after Covid, suddenly Putin presents himself in the Ukraine. Who would have thought this? At least, I did not.

Horrified, I am watching the television, and meanwhile my freelancer, who lives in Poland, is texting me. He watches the television with fear in his eyes and I understand him completely, especially when you look at the history of his country.

And he thinks (and I agree with him) that many companies in our industry are not doing anything, even worse, they are not taking a stand. When he gave his ‘straight forward’ opinion on the position of ICCA, I was actually proud of him, a cool action.

Meanwhile, I am preparing for my trip to Poland and packing my camper, which is my first destination. Then you get reactions like, would you really do that? Are you sure? Yes, I will definitely do that. And if it is not safe at the last minute, I will turn around or go to Denmark first. There are plenty of alternatives, but I want to go to Poland. I just don’t want to believe that Poland would not be safe, because that would mean that a third world war has started?

I remain optimistic and stick to my plan: I will not only go to Poland as a tourist and finally have that long-awaited beer with my freelancer after 1.5 years! My goal is to support destinations and other suppliers and give presentations and workshops about B2B influencer marketing. Finally, standing on a stage again, looking at people, seeking interaction, wonderful. I have missed it terribly...

In the meantime, a lot is happening in my life, as always. Together with Nienke van der Malen-van der Horst, co-founder of Conferli, we are building an incubator and accelerator programme for our industry.

Briefly, an incubator is a place in which we want to support entrepreneurs from our industry through mentoring, knowledge and if possible access to funding.

An exciting project that gives me a lot of energy. Because I (and Nienke and many others with me) are determined to put our industry, which has been hit so hard recently, on the map. We need each other! Now more than ever.

And we are about to launch our crowdfunding campaign! Keep an eye on the media, you will definitely hear more about it.

And if you can’t wait, send me a message, I’d love to help you out.

In the meantime, let’s stay positive and keep our fingers crossed that Putin disappears from the stage as soon as possible... And I will continue packing my camper, see you soon.

Mariska Kesteloo

- 31 -

THE HAGUE

Royal, trendy and ready for business…

The Hague!

The Hague, or as the Dutch say ‘Den Haag’ is so much more than politics and the beach. We have listed the best tips for a wonderful visit to this tasty hip coastal town. And of course put some top venues for meetings and conventions…

By Rahanna van Stapele

7 x Best meeting venues At the moment many possibilities to organize a safe meeting or event have returned. The Hague is only a roughly estimated 30 minute drive from two international airports, and has some high quality and unique meeting venues to offer. Let’s have a look at some very special ones.

1) Amare Finished and opened in 2021, Amare will be the new cultural and conference heart of The Hague. With its location a 5-minute walk from the station and 7 parking garages within 100 meters, it

also will be one of the most accessible venues in The Netherlands. Besides it being a theatre, it also largely focusses on convention and event location. There are multiple tasteful meeting rooms for 10 to 250 attendees and larger halls for events and conventions (up to 1500 people). During breaks people can catch up in the independent coffee corner, and for lunch, The Theaterzaal’s lobby and the Kunstenplein are just a few steps away.

2) Fokker Terminal Fokker Terminal is really something different. Due to its rich history as a former school for aircraft technology. The

- 32 -

heart of the building is formed by the impressive 89 meter high hangar where the planes used to be set up. The second part of the hangar can be darkened automatically for plenary settings.

With a free floor space of more than 2000 m2, the hangar can be arranged flexibly and is ideal for conferences, product presentations, dinners, trade fairs or corporate events. The hangar is surrounded by 18 former classrooms, fully furnished and with fixed AV Technology, that can house 40 to 250 people.

3) Big Church In the middle of the historical heart of the

Amare - ColorMaker - Shutterstock

Hague, you find this iconic old church that has been a unique background to events for the last 40 years. It offers a variety of spaces and no less than 2200 m2. The historical and stately interior provides an authentic atmosphere, comfort including underfloor heating, professional catering space and modern sanitary facilities .

4) Kunstmuseum (Art Museum) Art Museum The Hague is with its collection of 160,000 works one of Europe’s largest art museums, and offers therefor a distinctive location for your meeting or event. The Art Deco building and the constantly changing exhibitions

provide a special backdrop for any occasion, and their experts are happy to support any event by linking your mission to the masterpieces of the Kunstmuseum or the Fotomuseum/KM21.

5) Madurodam This location will ensure any meeting of being remembered. Themepark Madurodam, opened in 1952, offers a view over the whole of the Netherland on a miniature scale. These days Madurodam also serves as one of the most unique locations for events, having 7 multifunctional rooms (modernly furnished, equipped with professional theater lighting

- 33 -

and a Bose sound system) and extensive experience with receiving large groups. The park is also able to provide a good buffet, or a culinary course dinner.

6) The Hague Conference Centre The Hague Conference Center stands for international hospitality, luxury catering and contemporary facilities at the highest level. They welcome both smaller meetings and multi-day conferences from 20 to 650 people. The variety of spacious halls and breakout options are extremely easily accessible: located adjacent to The Hague Central and easy to reach by car with ample parking in the same building.

More INFORMATION More NETWORKING More INSPIRATION Amare: thé newest event venue of The Hague Register on www.btmf.nl

© Sebas�aan van Damme

-

© Carlijn Stortelder

Indispensable for every business travel agent, corporate traveller and mice professional Catch up on the latest trends from the mice, hotel and airline industry Interac�ve exhibi�on floor Networking cocktail and awards

Interested to exhibit and meet the Benelux market?

Please contact us: E sales@travmedia.nl T +31 356728855

THE HAGUE

Menno van der Haven - Shutterstock

7) World Forum The Hague Between the city and the beach, World Forum The Hague has an ideal location and good accessibility. The unique combination of a multifunctional auditorium, 35 breakout rooms and 12,000 m2 of exhibition space makes it possible to house events with 5000 visitors, but also accommodate small meetings. With its fifty years of experience in organizing events and excellent service, the World Forum makes for a very reliable choice. Brand new: Postiljon Hotel & Convention Centre

traditional, unique and eccentric Vietnamese aromas. You can sit outside, but inside it really is super atmospheric!

sites of the city, as well as the embassy quarter and the Peace Palace within walking distance.

C) Nice in the center: Milu At Milu in the center, opposite the big church it’s all about tasting and enjoying.

In the restaurant, various dishes based on international influences are served for both lunch and dinner. The restaurant is decorated with industrial and robust elements.

After the work is done: 8 tips to hit the town We asked the experts of the Hague Convention Bureau to collect some nice tips for a beer, a place to eat and a nice hotel.

A) Excellent! BIT Grill & Cafe BIT Grill & Café is an excellent steak restaurant on the Buitenhof. This restaurant is located in the center and suitable for breakfast, lunch, company lunch, coffee and of course dinner.

D) Fish in hip Scheveningen: Catch by Simonis Catch is an international fish restaurant located at the Marina on the harbor. The restaurant receives fresh fish daily, which is prepared specially for you.

This chic restaurant is highly regarded and ideal for business occasions. After, you head to the old harbor pub. Of course you can also just eat a herring from Simonis in the city center.

F) Local at Botanica Kitchen Bar & Lounge At Botanica, Voco offers locally produced dishes with an international twist for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sit back and relax in the indoor and outdoor garden.

Despite the reason for your visit, Botanica offers a refuge in the bustling center of The Hague.

B) Lovely in Chinatown: Little V Little V is a trendy Vietnamese restaurant located in the authentic Chinatown of The Hague, which is teeming with tasty eateries. The interior reflects a mix of modern and traditional Vietnamese culture. The cuisine focuses on the

E) New hotel: Voco The Hague Voco The Hague is a unique hotel where typical Dutch design and an unstuffy style come together in the center of The Hague. This beautiful former bank building is located in the Hofkwartier and has the Noordeinde shops, museums and heritage

This butcher is a purveyor to the royal household

G) Hotel Indigo The Hague - Palace Noordeinde This trendy hotel in a stately former bank building is located opposite the Noordeinde palace from the sixteenth century, an eight-minute walk from the old masters in the art gallery of the Mauritshuis and one kilometer from The Hague Central train station.

H) Cool: Ziplining at the beach The most unique zipline in the Netherlands, which runs over a distance of 350 meters from the top of the Bungy Tower, with a speed of up to 70 kilometers per hour along the Ferris wheel, over the sea and beach.

CITIES

Flanders meeting cities With your conference you want to share knowledge. Push boundaries. Establish milestones. Create a legacy. There is nowhere better to do this than in Flanders. Modern or historical, small and cosy or large and multifunctional, from medieval to contemporary, from Art Nouveau to avant garde... The cities in Flanders will surprise you with 1001 views and as many opportunities for your conference.

By Adeline Willems

Antwerp

Antwerp

CITIES Antwerp

An industrial and cultural diamond on the river Scheldt Antwerp, which for many centuries has been a major trading hub in the Low Countries, is home to Europe’s second largest port, in addition to being the world capital of the diamond trade and the second largest petrochemical cluster in the world.

This trendy city – which has also played a pioneering role in fine art, design, contemporary architecture, and fashion – once was the home of such famous painters as the iconic Flemish Baroque artist Peter Paul Rubens and Sir Anthony van Dijck. Today conference delegates can admire their works in museums and churches throughout the city. In recent years, however, canvas has made way for

cotton, however, with fashion designers contributing to the city’s reputation.

The gourmets among your delegates will be impressed by the many local delicacies and beautiful dinner venues in historic settings. Highlights include Felix Pakhuis, Paleis op de Meir, Amuz and The Jane, which was recently voted the most beautiful restaurant in the world.

With its thriving cultural scene, bustling trade and culinary gems, Antwerp offers the ideal setting for your next conference.

Bruges

A convention centre in a UNESCO World Heritage Site Small but oh-so-perfect. Bruges’s compact size really is its greatest asset. Here your delegates can enjoy exceptional venues,

marvellous boutique hotels and the city’s many cultural attractions, which are all within walking distance of each other. The entire city centre – including the “Site Oud Sint-Jan” convention centre – is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bruges has a whopping 24 museums and a cornucopia of special venues where you can host your conference. How can you fail to be impressed by a welcome reception in the impressive Gothic City Hall? The city, which has than eight Michelin-starred restaurants and over 50 chocolate shops, is also the perfect place to pamper your delegates’ taste buds.

In short, this small scenic city, that is tucked away in a landscape with plenty of canals and whose historical and cultural heritage is second to none, has a lot to offer for your conference.

Ghent

A medieval city with a contemporary heart With its perfect blend of the old and the new, Ghent is breath-taking, full of light and life. An undiscovered gem, Ghent is small enough to be cosy, but large enough to stay vibrant. Historical without being provincial, and lively without being boisterous, Ghent has a reputation for doing things its own way.

Antwerp

The city has a modern, bustling commercial centre and is the cultural capital of East Flanders. The university’s 60,000 students give the city a young feel.

Bruges

Ghent offers your association or PCO unique historic venues for an inspirational conference. This compact city prides itself on its sustainable approach to living: most of the venues and accommodations are situated within the largest pedestrianfriendly historic city centre of Belgium.

Leuven

The premier destination for books and beer Leuven is a centuries-old city which has remained young at heart. It is home to KU Leuven, one of Europe’s oldest and most important universities. As such, generations of students have flocked

Ghent

- 38 -

to the city, as evidenced by the historic college buildings that dominate its cosy squares and streets. Leuven is a place of knowledge from where high-tech companies, that were established in the lap of this great university, conquer the world.

It’s worth noting, however, that Leuven is also the beer capital of the world. It is the birthplace of the world-famous Stella Artois beer and home to the headquarters of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer.

So remember, giving your delegates a taste of Belgian beer is also a great way of introducing them to UNESCO cultural heritage.

Brussels Airport is only 15 minutes by train, making this small city with its modern hotels and unique historical venues the ideal location for your conference.

Mechelen

Small and picturesque, steeped in history Mechelen, the former capital of the Burgundian Netherlands, is just 10 minutes by train from Brussels Airport and conveniently located between Brussels and Antwerp. This small, picturesque city offers plenty of charm and is steeped in history. You’ll also find plenty of quaint shops in the city’s many car-free areas and lovely squares.

Mechelen is home to a whopping 336 listed buildings and monuments, including eight gothic and baroque churches that were built between the 14th and the 17th century. As such, it is the Flemish city with the largest number of monuments on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Here you’ll also find plenty of modern hotels within walking distance of the city’s well-equipped conference venues.

Challenge your delegates to climb the 538 steps to the top of the tower of Saint Rumbolds’ Cathedral and surprise them with a cocktail on the Skywalk as they take in sweeping views of the city below.

Ostend

In the footsteps of Albert Einstein, Karl Marx, and James Ensor Choose Ostend for your conference, and you will be a guest in “de Stad aan Zee” or

the City by the Sea. The seaside resorts owes its moniker to the many stunning 19th century buildings in its city centre, which are a stunning example of Belle Epoque architecture. Many of the world’s greats have stopped here, from Albert Einstein to Karl Marx, Mark Twain and even Woodrow Wilson.

Culture is still especially important in Ostend today. James Ensor, a forerunner of modern art, was born here. The city also

- 39 -

hosts numerous cultural events, including an arts festival, a theatre festival and a film festival, every year. The historic buildings within and outside the city are the perfect venue for your conference. During a break, delegates can stroll along the promenade, visiting the famous Venetian and Royal Galleries. And since you are in a city by the sea, the fish lovers among your delegates will definitely enjoy exploring Ostend’s culinary offering!

COLUMN

Jan Peeters, columnist

MICE: The Champion’s League of Travel There is something special about MICE. This very profitable segment of the travel industry has a strong “we have it all” feeling. It is business related, but the fun factor is never far away. It has the smell of luxury, but almost every two- and three-star hotel boasts at least one meeting room. It attracts big budgets, but it is permanently under cost pressure. CEO’s love meetings, incentives, conferences and events – but CFO’s tend to frown on these activities. A successful MICE event generates business, increases the motivation of staff and is the subject of lots of watercooler conversations for a long time afterwards. A MICE event that has gone wrong, can cost careers and money.

Be it a small meeting with nothing more than a powerpoint presentation and a beamer (yes, they still exist) or a grand event with helicopters, champagne fueled sundowners, and memorable presentations by internationally renowned speakers (yes, they will exist again) – there is one norm: it must be perfect.

There is no room for mistakes in the MICE segment.

Even the smallest screw up when organizing a meeting, an incentive or a conference is painful, because it is extremely visible – by many people. Back in the days, the leisure specialist could get away with a well-managed overbooking every now and then. But in MICE, there has never been room for mistakes.

Hence, the title of this article: the MICE segment is the Champion’s League of travel. Many travel companies have ambitions for this segment, but only the true specialists are successful. If you get to manage big budgets, it gets the adrenaline going and the rewards can be huge. MICE is a world on its own in travel, with often a lot of glitter and glamour – but there is a lot of hard work behind the scenes.

With the potential of hybrid events, the MICE sector faces challenges and opportunities. Although the magic will still come from live, face to face events & meetings with plenty of emotion, at least a part of the future is virtual.

Virtual events will not replace physical events, but the added value -and the potential cost saving- of a virtual reality element will increase over the months and years. We will still enjoy a sound and light spectacle in Greece or in Egypt, but the speech by Elon Musk or the performance of Beyoncé will be virtual. And that is not a bad thing – it eliminates “bad hair day” performances.

The MICE part of the travel industry has been extremely hard hit in the past two years. But hope is on the horizon. More than ever, it is going to be a market for “professionals only”. I am happy to contribute to this MICE Benelux magazine, because every segment of the travel industry needs a specialized magazine – so that professionals can learn from each other, so that information can reach all players and so that we all can contribute to the revival of this glorious segment.

The Champion’s League of the travel industry is back. Let’s go to work Jan Peeters.

- 40 -

INTERVIEW TRADE NEWS

UPDATES from the field Every issue we welcome trade organizations to the stage to share interesting news. Offering people in the know a relevant platform, must-reeds for our readers. From MPI to ICCA, from SITE to NATM and GBTA, and many more. The stage is to the trade…

NEWS

www.micebenelux.com

Bridge BT4Europe will build a bridge between its member associations and political decision makers in Europe.

On top of its agenda are the recovery of business travel from Covid19 pandemic, changing business travel to make it more sustainable and promoting digital processes within business travel.

Pimenta da Silva

European Business Travel Buyers Unite in new association Thirteen business travel associations from countries across Europe have formed the ‘European Network of Business Travel Associations’ (BT4Europe). The new non-profit association will be headquartered in Brussels. Its 13 founding members have joined forces to give business travel buyers a stronger voice in Europe.

Millions of Europeans travel on business every year, thousands of jobs have been created and are needed to service business travel. In all European countries business travel on behalf of private corporations, public service and NGOs is vital to our economies and our societies. Up to now the buyers of business travel – companies, public services, NGOs – did not have a unified network to make their demands heard on a European level.

BT4Europe will provide a network for its member associations and a platform for European decision makers to take the demands of business travel buyers into account in their decisions.

Founding members of BT4Europe are ABTA (Austria), AEGVE (Spain), AITMM (Italy), AFTM (France), ASTM (Switzerland), BATM (Belgium), CORTAS (The Netherlands), DBTA (Denmark), FBTA (Finland), NATM (The Netherlands), NBTA (Norway), SBTA (Sweden) and VDR (Germany).

United force BT4Europe remains open for membership of more associations and other supporting entities. “A united force to represent business travel buyers is strongly needed in Europe. For too long has the industry focused on national decision makers while relevant legislation has moved to pan-European levels.

BT4Europe will advance the industry and will advance Europe.” say Odete Pimenta da Silva and Stephanie Smook, respectively Managing Directors of NATM and CORTAS. “CORTAS and NATM proudly became a founding member of BT4Europe to advance progress in the business travel industry on a European level.”

You can

You’ll be surprised at what’s new and where; who’s who, and why; where’s hot, where’s cool and what’s coming up next...

on IMEX »

The world might feel as if it’s been standing still - IMEX in Frankfurt will prove otherwise.

• • • • • • •

New alliances New venues New technologies New hotels New trends New investment New faces

The IMEX team is busy planning a truly global showcase packed with value and business opportunity to mark 20 years of IMEX in Frankfurt, 31 May – 2 June 2022.

Will you be there? Register today (it’s free). imex-frankfurt.com #IMEX2022 #wewillmeetagain

The heartbeat of the global business events community

IMEX Frankfurt (really) ready for business Numbers released by the IMEX Group reflect the strong demand for the global community to get back to business, with a truly international spread of participants confirmed for IMEX in Frankfurt, taking place 31 May – 2 June.

Over 1,000 buyers are committed to attending the show with new intermediaries bringing buyer groups from across the world including Australia and the US. 10 hotel intermediaries including Melia, Hilton, Marriott, Radisson and Hyatt are also set to bring international clients.

The global roster of destinations, venues and suppliers confirmed as exhibitors includes Catalonia, Caribbean Tours, Cuba, Egypt, Finland, Los Cabos, Morocco, Titanic Hotels, Singapore and Spain.

inspiration, reflection, business, networking, promotion. It is the MICE meeting point and we would like everyone to know that Catalonia is ready for the new challenges. We’re looking for events with a positive, long-lasting impact that stimulate and drive social and economic change in our destination; and IMEX is a great opportunity to make that possible.”

IMEX in Frankfurt takes place 31 May – 2 June 2022.

Registration is free.

Catalonia Convention Bureau’s director, Sònia Serracarbassa, explains why IMEX in Frankfurt is a crucial platform for showcasing their business on the world stage: “IMEX is a space for debate,

www.imex-frankfurt.com

SNAP SHOT ROUND UP WHAT: CLC VECTA SPRING MEETING WHERE: Postillion Hotel & Convention Centre Amsterdam.

SPEAKERS: Jacco Vonhof en Mark Struik 6 WORD REVIEW: Full house, great speakers, finally live!

- 43 -

INCENTIVES

INTERVIEW

Let’s axe Zoom!

10 tips for real fun and teambuilding Nearby is a trend and to no surprise. There is so much fun to be had in the Benelux. Companies can finally work on teambuilding again, not via a screen.

We sorted out some of the best options in the low countries.

By Rahanna van Stapele

- 44 -

1 En garde! - NL Wishing to be active but something a tad more exciting and off the beating track than kayaking or bicycling? How about a fencing course! During a lively and exciting 1,5 hours the group will learn the principles of dueling and every colleague will end up feeling like a real musketeer.

The teacher in question is top fencer Ruud Makarawung, but Robbert Goossen, nine time National Fencing Champion, will also join the team if booked extra. The fencing sport really appeals to all ages and every person is suitable for it. Because of its liveliness and playful vibe this outing is a real team builder. End ancient vendetta’s on the work floor by means of a real duel! The workshop is offered by Break and conveniently enough they are able to carry it out on every preferred Dutch location. On a field of grass near the office building, or they can arrange a great afternoon on their own turf. A closing that can be booked additionally and would be recommended to really end the outing on a cozy note: a real sabrage, with a glass of champagne for all participants. Leading back to Napoleon, sabraging is done to celebrate your victory!

2 Duck Race - NL Slightly on the nostalgic side but great for anyone over eighteen: tearing through the eastern Dutch woods in brightly colored Citroën 2CV’s! Arriving at Beneman Events, the group will be divided into teams. From there on its an exciting race in full throttle, during which you are expected to navigate using traditional hiking instructions, photos and GPS or map. These sparsely populated woods are really something to enjoy, and on the way the Ducks will have to pass different agility tests and team assignments. The schedule and activities aren’t completely fixed and there are various packages to choose from. One of them includes the option of adding a nice barbeque at the end. The whole afternoon is expected to take about four hours.

‘What could be more bonding than herding alpacas as a team?’

Falconry - BE NL Bird group Birds@Work offer various packages with their extensive number and variety of birds of prey and owls.

This spectacular outing is able to be booked at a location of choice throughout the Netherlands and Belgium (condition: a large field), or at their home base in Thorn (Dutch Limburg). Birds@Work has 230 different birds of prey, and no matter the group size, after the initial instructions, every participant will get a chance to put their falconer skills into practice with their own bird or owl.

In addition, a spectacular promo will take place in which humans, horses, dogs and birds work together to show the age-old art of falconry. The duration and the precise program are tailor-made.

- 45 -

INCENTIVES

INTERVIEW

4 Bob Ross Workshop -NL You can’t really go wrong with this one.

Who doesn’t like Bob Ross? The famous afro-haired TV painter managed to suck everyone in with his serene voice and simple and friendly directions. With matching afro wigs to honor his memory and entry level canvasses to work on, this creative workshop makes for a perfect team outing, even if the employees aren’t particularly drawn to art. As Bob said himself: you can’t make any mistakes, because mistakes are really just happy accidents. The Dutch team of PuurUitjes offers a mix of fun, creativity and hilarity, ending their Bob Ross Workshop with everyone leaving with a piece of own work.

5 Andean Games- BE Let the energetic company V-Formation take you and your team straight to the Andes Mountains (in Mariakerke, BE) for some sunshine and lighthearted fun.

While at the same time teaching you everything about this South American area and its culture in 1 to 3 hours. What could be more bonding than hunting together by throwing axes, or herding (real) alpacas as a team? Work through

the tough soil with alcohol goggles and shoot potatoes with a slingshot. The whole afternoon is brought with a lot of humor but also calls on your team to be and stay openminded to and interested in their environment. Enthusiastic about the outdoor- and activity driven aspect, but not so much fond of the Andes?

V-Formation also offers the Highland Games, where the group will be immersed in the Scottish way of life and will, among many other things, work on their teamHaka (the famous ceremonial dance to strengthen the team spirit).

6 Murder Diner -BE NL With everything around serial killers, Scandinavian detectives and murderer docu’s being trending right now, what’s better than to dive in a real mystery’s with your own team. In The Netherlands and Belgium there are countless arrangements that are basically Cluedo on a large scale. One of those options is the Murder Dinner, set up by the Belgian company 1001Activities.

With a minimum

of 15 people, you can choose to play at your own location and/or restaurant of choice. The game will be accompanied by a tasty three course dinner. During and around dinner, together you will hunt for the killer of the gossiping housekeeper, the plane captain, or the upcoming Miss World.

7 Competitive brewing – BE NL With youngsters checking off special brands and bottles using the popular app Untapped and café’s and restaurants organizing special beer evenings, its clear that craft beer has become a very popular nightlife drink. Following this trend, BrewSpot offers the ‘Brewing Challenge’ for groups and teams. The program they offer is slightly different from the standard tour and talk through a classic brewery. It can be given on location anywhere in Belgium or The Netherlands and offers a playful way of learning about the brewing profession and culture.

Divided into teams, colleagues get to work with a microbrewery

‘Colleagues get to work with a microbrewery to create their own beers’

Beer brewing - 46 -

Solex to create their own beers. But its not just about the creating. Sales and marketing colleagues in particular will find themselves in their element here, because a fictious brand has to be made up and built, and investors have to be pulled in through a group presentation. Needless to say there will be a tasting session during the workshop and a closing dinner or barbeque can be added to the outing.

Two months later, the self-brewed beer will be ready and send to the company.

BrewSpot is a young company, consisting of several locations through Belgium, combining the culture of beer brewing with teambuilding and mice.

8 Solexing along the coast - BE Rather recommended for summer or spring, but for any team that just wants to revive, bond and collect itself. No need for climbing treetops, rafting on a twirling river or nerve-recking escape rooms here!

How about a program of beach pavilion hopping along the Belgian coast. It offers the perfect combination between getting a breath of fresh in nature and making some good conversation while socializing with drinks and snacks. The team moves

Murder dinner

Duck rally around through the dunes on trendy e-solexes between the villages Cadzand and Breskens. The aperitif, lunch and dessert are spread over different pavilions.

Finally, there will be a tasty drink on the beach during sunset.

9 Learning how to mix - LU What better way to get in tune with each other, than by learning how to DJ like a pro. Skilz DJ Academy, located in the capital, offers team building workshops that make for a very original company outing. With capacity for up to 20 people, a team of skilled teachers will be ready to explain the basic art of being a DJ, using professional equipment. The average duration of The Corporate DJ Workshop is two to three hours, but the event can be customized to preferred needs and specifications. The workshop is focused on teambuilding, but there is an eye for the individual and enough personal attention to awaken the DJ in everyone.

- 47 -

A final small competition between colleagues will ensure full commitment.

10 Wine Rally – LU Not so much a beer lover? Bothers Events in the city of Luxembourg offers a great alternative! For groups up to 50 people, this event agency created an exciting Wine Rally, crisscross through the capital streets. By GPS, each team follows leads and chases after different locations.

Once arrived there, every venue offers unique sensory experiences by tasting an exclusive selection of wine. Besides this being an active experience where teamwork is put to the test, its also a great way to get some sightseeing of the city and to discover exclusive places. Not that fond of making the outing about wine?

Brothers Events also offers a similar program where the emphasis is more on the coordinating with GPS and the exploring of interesting and hidden places in the city.

TRADE NEWS

INTERVIEW

KRAKOW TO HOST THE 61ST ICCA CONGRESS! Get the agenda out, start booking yourt trip. ICCA IS going to Krakow, 6-9 november 2022. ‘We are proud to announce that Krakow has been selected as the host city for the 61st ICCA Congress in 2022! Hosting the International Congress and Convention Association is a huge success not only for the city of Krakow, but for the entire country.’ Experts on the event...

The ICCA Congress is one of the most important events in the global meetings industry, every year bringing together about a thousand of the most experienced experts in organising international conferences and congresses, representing destinations, facilities, PCO companies and associations.

The Congress will be organised in Poland for the first time, which on the one hand proves the mature position of the industry in our country, and on the other, creates great opportunities for its further development – said the Acting President of the Polish Tourism Organisation, Anna Salamończyk- Mochel.

The bidding for hosting the Congress was multi-stage and detailed and began in the spring of 2020.

The very development and submission of the city’s offer during the uncertain times

of the pandemic was a huge challenge.

It is worth mentioning that during the selection phase, two virtual inspections were performed. For the first inspection that lasted almost five hours, 4 films were produced in a record short time – over 30 entities from the MICE industry were engaged and the entire presentation was broadcast live from a virtual studio.

Thanks to the professionalism and cooperation of all partners operating at the host committee, we finally managed to beat our competitors – Athens and Bangkok – explains Małgorzata Przygórska-Skowron, Local Organizing Committee Member and Manager of the Krakow Convention Bureau operating at the Tourism Department of the Krakow City Hall.

This success is due to the cooperation of the local industry representatives, headed by the Krakow Convention Bureau, as

- 48 -

well as the entire team of the ICE Krakow Congress Centre, Symposium Cracoviense, CMA Concept Music Art, Stara Zajezdnia by DeSilva, Sheraton Grand Krakow, Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow and Park Inn by Radisson Krakow. The involvement of partners from all over Poland who supported Krakow’s bid cannot be overemphasised.

Support for the event was declared by: Ministry of Sport and Tourism; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; LOT Polish Airlines; Polish Tourism Organisation headed by the Poland Convention Bureau, SKKP Association and MPI Poland Chapter; local Congress Offices from Warsaw, Poznań, Wrocław and Łódź, and members of ICCA from Poland, including the following companies: Mazurkas Travel, Targi w Krakowie, and MTP Group.

The hosting of ICCA Congress in Krakow is the result of the city’s consistent

policy in developing business tourism.

This is another milestone in fulfilling the strategic vision, which was initiated by the establishment of the Krakow Convention Bureau, and then by the opening of three large facilities in 2014: ICE Krakow Congress Centre, TAURON Arena Krakow and EXPO Krakow. The next stage was the creation, in 2020, of the strategic document, ‘Krakow’s Sustainable Tourism Policy for 2021-2028’.. By organising the ICCA Congress, Krakow is demonstrating its ambition to make the meetings industry one of the pillars of sustainable tourism and a key tool to help the city to rebound after the pandemic. But Krakow will also offer ICCA all its uniqueness and prestige, all the creative energy of the team, the hospitality of the residents, and the commitment of the city authorities.

Anna Salamończyk- Mochel adds that in 2022 the Poland Convention Bureau, operating within the structures of the Polish Tourism Organisation, will celebrate its 20th birthday and the 20th anniversary of its membership in ICCA. This is a great time to show our Polish hospitality and share our cultural and intellectual heritage with the ICCA delegates, but also to show our latest achievements, including those related to tourist and business infrastructure. ‘I believe that this event will contribute to the recovery and further development of the Polish meetings industry after the Covid-19 pandemic and will be a moving spirit in our future promotional activities at home and abroad’, emphasises the Acting President of the Polish Tourism Organisation.

All these anniversaries coincide perfectly, marking the new stage the Polish meetings industry is entering with its hosting of the ICCA Congress. It will be a great opportunity for Krakow and Poland to promote our destinations, show the highest standard conference facilities and the professionalism of service providers.

The organisation of the Congress will provide the Polish meetings industry access to the knowledge of experts from all over the world. Moreover, since the Congress events are always at the highest level in terms of content and innovation of solutions, it will be not only

Ice wandzel

an opportunity to become acquainted with the current trends, but also to set them. This is not a discovery, but the fam trip is the perfect tool to showcase a given region’s biggest attractions and its conference infrastructure. That is why, as a part of the congress, in cooperation with the municipal Convention Bureaux, we are planning in 2022 intense promotional activities targeted at the representatives of the meeting industry, in order to maintain interest in Poland and build trust among meeting and event planners. #DestinationPoland ICCA Post tours to 6 cities as well as intensive promotion at IMEX 2022 are amoung of them explains Aneta Książek, Local Organizing

- 49 -

Committee Member and Chief specialist of the Poland Convention Bureau.

We are sure that the ICCA Congress will leave lasting traces in the city, and its influence will be mutually reinforcing. If we make good use of the opportunities the Congress provides, it will also contribute to the development and consolidation of the MICE industry throughout Poland. We also have great hopes for a quick end to the RussianUkrainian war. Tourism, including the meetings industry, should unite and not divide people.

EXCEED YOUR

EXPECTATIONS.

mice LIBERTY SALES BENELUX +31 6 3333 6368 ruud.denhooglander@liberty-int.com

30+ 50+ YEARS OF EXPERTISE DMC OFFICES as a DMC group around the globe

LIBERTY INTERNATIONAL TOURISM GROUP www.liberty-int.com

100+ DESTINATIONS covered worldwide

1000+ MICE EVENTS organized per year

a pe rson al touc h worldwide

mice | leisure | spor ts | cruise | aircraft | vi r tu al

Mice in Malaga and Costa del Sol Where Malaga with its large airport previously functioned mainly as a gateway to charming coastal towns, the city is currently booming. Also when it comes to conferences, incentives and events. We dive into lovely Malaga and sum up the state of affairs for conferences under the sun.

By Rahanna van Stapele & Tijn Kramer

MALAGA

INTERVIEW

Tasyy Malaga Affordable and because of all the religious decoration you will be amazed. No luck?

Then you can also very well go to tapas bar Casa Lola.

Picasso - Plaze de la Merced Mas Málaga!

The city of Malaga is more than ever a great destination on it’s own, not just coastal access. A hotspot full of old charm and new innovations. Our editor Rahanna van Stapele loves this city and shares her tips.

1) Plaza de la Merced A perfect place to land with a cup of coffee after your trip. This is a cozy and friendly square, surrounded by lively tents with a variety of cuisines.

2) Picasso Undoubtedly the most famous Malagueno: Pablo Picasso. The artist spent his childhood here and the Picasso Museum, entirely dedicated to him, offers a huge collection of works. The museum shop has plenty of beautiful books and gifts to take home. Also nice: Picasso’s birthplace, on the aforementioned Plaza La Merced.

3) Historic must see As one of the oldest cities in the world, Malaga has a rich history of Roman, Christian and Islamic influences. A walk through the amazingly peaceful Moorish fortress Alcazaba right in the center should not be missed.

4) The street that never sleeps No visit to Malaga is complete without a stroll down the main street, La Calle Larios.

This is where the big chains and shopping

crowds can be found. Special: in December the street is decorated with thousands of lights and there are light shows in the evening.

5) Modern art Art lovers can also indulge themselves.

The famous Paris Center Pompidou with modern art has a branch in Malaga.

Admission is free on Sundays, but it is busier. The Museum of Contemporary Art (CAC Malaga) is also recommended.

8) White Gazpacho and Round Sandwich Want to try typical Magalese food?

Ajoblanco is an Andalusian soup that is served cold. Ingredients include bread, almonds, garlic and olive oil, and it is often served with white grapes or cantaloupe.

For the second course, opt for a Campero, Malaga’s traditional sandwich. A round bread that is traditionally topped with ham and mayonnaise (nowadays you can often choose from several types of fillings) and that, due to its size, can satisfy even the worst appetites.

6) Special fresh market You will be amazed at the Atarazanas Market.

The three halls house a lively market with small tapas bars between the stalls where you can enjoy a snack and drink standing up. The large Arab gateway was once part of the old city wall, which ran along the waterline at the time (before the Prohibition).

9) Green pit stop Need a breather outside the city? In Jardin Botanico Historico La Conception you imagine yourself in a true jungle.

This botanical garden has more than 2,000 species of different trees and guarantees a unique and refreshing walk.

You can get a nice lunch at the pavilion.

Easy to reach by bus and also within cycling distance.

7) Tapas On Spanish soil you want to eat tapas and in Malaga the choice is of course enormous.

Nevertheless, Las Merchanas is really worth it. A nice, no-nonsense cafe where mainly locals can be found and where you just have to be lucky to find a spot.

10) City of Museums That’s what Malaga is called and the reason is obvious: the city has 37. After the aforementioned Picasso Museum and Center Pompidou, there are more that are really worth seeing. In the Carmen Thyssen Museum you will find typical Andalusian

‘At the oldest Bodega you get your wine poured directly from the barrels’

- 52 -

landscapes and scenes, made between the 17th and 20th centuries by, among others, the Baroness of the same name. Impressive paintings of enormous size can be found in the State Russian Museum, a branch of the museum in Saint Petersburg.

11) Across the Boardwalk Less traditional but nice, recharge your batteries in the port of Malaga. This part of the city has been refurbished and brought in to the entertainment district. Along the wharf you will find a strip of hip little tents, franchises and local restaurants. Enjoy the sea view (with unfortunately often no more ships than the ferry) with a richly filled bowl at the Taste Poke Bar, Mediterranean at Toro Muelle Uno or during sunset: at the Atlantis Sunset Lounge.

12) Sardines on the Beach The Southern Spanish cuisine is well stocked with all kinds of fish and you will find the so-called Espetos de Sardines: fresh sardines along the entire Costa del Sol. Fresh fish are grilled over the fire on the beaches. Recommended to try that on the beach of Pedregalejo, formerly an old fishing village and now a charming neighborhood.

13) Dulce Malaga is known for its sweet wine.

Actually a dessert wine, but also delicious next to a cheese board. Bodega Bar El Pimpi is very popular among both locals (actor Antonio Banderas has shares in it) and tourists and is a great place to pick up such a sweet wine. Prefer just red? El Pimpi has a high quality wine assortment.

14) Alternative SOHO is considered the hippest, most artsy district of Malaga. The museum of modern art is located here, accompanied by the museum restaurant Oleo with a special Andalusian-Japanese cuisine. For a drink, the young, industrial Grand Café La Fabrica is recommended. At least if you like beer.

Cruzcampo, Andalusia’s most popular beer brand, is co-owner and home-brewed glasses are also served.

15) Vegetable Just like in the rest of the world, the vegan trend is slowly gaining ground in Malaga.

In the cute MIMO Vegan Bistro you can eat very imaginative, culinary dishes without animal products for a reasonable price. It is smart to make a reservation because there is not much space. The locals also love the Recyclo Bike Cafe on the more remote Plaza Enrique García-Herrera. Lots of fresh produce and vegetarian options.

169 Relaxed oasis For the wellness and spa enthusiast, a visit

to the Hammam Al Andalus in the center of the city will be a unique experience.

In terms of facilities, the Hammam is comparable to a Turkish bath house, but the design inside is exactly like the Arab Hammams during the Moorish occupation.

16) Tapas from far In La Taberna del Pintxo Larios, on a side street off La Calle Larios. With a view of the shoppers you can eat all kinds of pintxos (Northern Spanish tapas) here. Just something different. Don’t forget to save the sticks: you will pay later based on this.

17) Craft beer bar La Botanica de la Cerveza is the perfect place for a cold beer after a day on the road.

It is quiet and feels far away from hordes of tourists. With more than 250 international beers, this is a pure mecca for the enthusiast. The service knows its beers and can advise you well. Also very affordable.

18) Rooftop bar In addition to accommodation right on the main street, the AC Palacio also has a spectacular rooftop bar that is freely accessible. From the Atico Bar on the fifteenth floor you look out over the whole of Malaga and it is needless to say a must to go to the sunset. Fun fact: A scene with Princess Diana and Prince Charles from The Crown was shot here.

19) Wine tasting Apart from its own traditional sweet wine, Andalusia is of course a top region for tasty wines. If you’re really going for the traditional experience, Antigue Casa de Guardia is just what you’re looking for. At the oldest Bodega in Malaga you imagine yourself in another time and you get your wine poured directly from one of stacked wooden barrels. You can also visit Anyway Winebar - young and atmospheric - or Los Patios de Beatas, a high-quality vinoteca with an extensive range of national and international wines.

20) Vamos a la playa!

For a large part of the year it is warm enough to get a breath of fresh air on the beach, and for that you can best go to the city beach Malagueta beach.

- 53 -

MALAGA

INTERVIEW

Malaga and beyond: Mice on the Costa del Sol The Costa del Sol boasts exceptional congress and exhibition centres that are equipped to hold all sorts of events, whether they are meetings, presentations, trade fairs or conferences. Combined with incredible leisure activities, fascinating culture and delicious cuisine, it is no surprise that the province of Málaga is a leading destination in the business travel sector.

centre situated close to the centre of Marbella in the heart of the Costa del Sol. Offering generous spaces, the centre has been designed to hold congresses, conventions, product launches, trade fairs and any other type of meeting. .

3) Located in Torremolinos, Torremolinos Congress Centre offers 14 large spaces, divided into three auditoriums, seven committee rooms, two secretariats, a board room, a VIP room and an exclusive meeting room. The centre is a member of the World Tourism Organization and one of just a handful of congress centres that belong to the institution

‘Palacio de Ferias y Congresos elegantly fuses Andalusian tradition and avantgarde architecture’

1) Palacio de Ferias y Congresos de Málaga, known as Málaga Trade Fairs and Congress Centre in English, elegantly fuses Andalusian tradition and avantgarde architecture. The centre is a leading business space in Europe with its 60,000m2 divided into two pavilions, two auditoriums, conference rooms, a press room and various catering areas.

2) Marbella Exhibition & Conference Centre Adolfo Suárez is a 10,000m2 congress

4) Estepona Exhibition and Congress Hall is just an hour from Málaga airport and 30 minutes from Gibraltar.

Its multi-use facilities can be tailored to host any kind of event, whether it be a trade fair, workshop, exhibition, competition, convention, product launch or anything else. The centre extends for over 21,000m2 and comprises a 3,000m2 pavilion and extensive grounds

- 54 -

(approximately 15,000m2), offering an ideal space for outdoor events 5) With beautiful views over Tajo de Ronda, Congress and Exhibition Centre of Ronda hosts a large number of congresses, conventions, workshops, seminars, exhibitions and other types of events. Housed in former Convent of Santo Domingo it offers an enchanting environment for medium-sized events.

THE FEEDBACK From the Costa del Sol Convention Bureau: ‘back on our feet!’

“After a difficult time for all of us, the sky looks a lot brighter. Is the south of Spain ready to be back in business. O yes. Or ‘Si’, we mean!‘ Have we mentioned that the MICE sector is back up on its feet again?

Well, it is. Keep reading to discover six factors that have contributed to the return of the sector.

1) Postponed events have been rescheduled The first phenomenon that explains the growth of the MICE sector in 2022 is that events that were cancelled in 2020 have been rescheduled. According to the latest report by the Spain Convention Bureau (SCB), the Spanish MICE sector is facing a new reality: 26% of events that were cancelled in 2020 have been rescheduled for 2022.

2) Venues have been revamped Though the pandemic left a trail of havoc in its wake, it also offered large-scale event and conference venues a window of opportunity. Indeed, the convention centres in the Costa del Sol - and there are many of them - made the most of the break to modernise their facilities.

3) Safety protocols are in place Prevention is key when it comes to stopping the spread of the virus.

Vaccination programmes have enabled activities to return in MICE destinations.

4) Innovation and technology are in the limelight The much-discussed metaverse has finally arrived in the MICE sector. Enriching your event by experimenting with the latest technologies has pretty much become a must.

5) New event formats have created new opportunities Hybrid events are a new and popular reality. Increasing numbers of events, trade fairs and conventions combine the inperson with the virtual, making them much easier to schedule.

6) MICE destinations aren’t seasonal Lastly, a key factor in the uptick of the sector is that destinations are not tied to the seasons. (source and info Costa del Sol: visitcostadelsol.com)

Meetings made in Germany!

Maritim Hotels offer more than 50 years of experience in managing small, medium and large European or global conferences in around 37 hotels in Germany and all over the world.

Plan your tailor made conference with Maritim, the most significant private supplier of conference and congress provisions: our professional team will be on hand. With Maritim’s slogan of “meetings and accommodation under one roof”, the centrally located hotels are the ideal choice for business travellers and holidaymakers alike.

Maritim Sales Office Belgium, Netherlands & France info.vkbenl@maritim.com · www.maritim.com Maritim Hotels · Business premises of Maritim Hotelgesellschaft mbH · Herforder Strasse 2 · 32105 Bad Salzuflen · Germany

Image 4c 185 136 VKI Travelmedia Mice Magazin 2.22_en.indd 1

17.02.22 11:18

- 55 -

SPOTLIGHT

INTERVIEW

Venue report: Zoku Amsterdam A (work) place to call your second home

By Tijn Kramer

What is Zoku? It is fresh, new, and flexible, and the start of something new. Hotel, workspace, event centre, a place to meet and so much more. Now in Copenhagen, Vienna, it started in Amsterdam. Let’s have a closer look at the future of the workspace…

The first Zoku opened in the heart of Amsterdam’s eastern Canal District on May 2016, transforming an existing office building into a thriving neighborhood.

Located on Weesperstraat, an arterial road and part of Amsterdam’s Knowledge Mile, Zoku is easily accessible by car and is only a 3-minute walk away from public transport hubs (metro, tram and bus).

Zoku shares the otherwise bland looking building with WeWork and High Studios (fitness studio). But once you exit the elevator, you are in a fun and creative place, to say the least: rooftop social spaces, living kitchen, coworking, meeting rooms and event space.

Facilitating global living and working, Zoku is a new category in the hotel

industry: a home-office hybrid - also suitable for long stays - with the services of a hotel and the social buzz of a thriving neighborhood. It’s a place to call your second home from your first visit and is optimally suited for people living and working in a city for a few days to several months. Zoku offers the international traveling professional – the digital nomad – a home base with both a smart Zoku Loft (private areas) and Social Spaces (communal areas) to work, sleep, play, meet and live in. Moving far beyond putting heads in beds, the bold concept has won numerous awards, received rave reviews and is celebrated for its lively Social Spaces and vibrant community structure that facilitates genuine connections.

Change Personal and professional lifestyles are changing. Boundaries between work and leisure are fading. Blurring borders have made people more mobile than ever. Driven by advanced technologies and better infrastructure, people from

- 56 -

a variety of backgrounds, nationalities and disciplines are joining the growing collaborative traveling business movement. Whether they work for a company or independently, these ‘digital nomads’ work across time zones, and are members of networks with like-minded professionals from different businesses, cultures and backgrounds. They travel light and are extremely passionate about what they do. While demand is rising, the hospitality industry was not offering a home tailored for these traveling professionals. Traditional hotels and serviced apartments can be pretty lonely, often serving as nothing more than a shelter. Instead of more of the same, the world desperately needed smarter solutions for this growing demand: A business/living environment that feels like home, and which can be adapted to personal needs, rather than the other way around. Topped with professional services, great fun and a social structure, this space gives digital nomads and locals a safe home, inspiration and a social life.

Zoku’s concept is based on three pre-

conditions: value innovation, guest centric design and limiting waste (resources, energy, space, time and money).

Target audience Zoku’s target audience is a uniquely balanced mix of 50% men and 50% women, between ages 25 and 45, from all across the globe, who live and work in a city for a period between 5 days and 3 months. Think project managers, consultants, sales executives, art directors, entire project teams or marketing directors for example, mostly representing techand creative industries. They value being able to work efficiently at any time of the day. They blend work and leisure into an interesting mix where work becomes play and play becomes work. They find fast and reliable WiFi to be a hotel’s most important asset and get annoyed when good working conditions are disturbed or not provided for.

fuel connections, spark ideas and drive productivity. The spaces are flooded with natural light and enjoy an amazing view over the city. Zoku does everything to facilitate the most creative and efficient meeting, with plenty of whiteboards to doodle onto and lightning-fast Wi- Fi. There are a range of Meeting Rooms for any and every meeting; be it a free-wheeling brainstorm, an intensive planning session, or for teams needing a change of scenery to get their creative energies flowing. For meetings up to 8 people, there are a number of comfortable and well equipped meeting rooms available – differing in design,

Owners The owners are known names in the Benelux industry. Hans Meyer is one of the Co-founders and Managing Directors at Zoku. A firm believer of value creation and innovation for the international hospitality industry, Hans is the initial creator and previous founding partner of the citizenM hotel concept and held senior corporate positions in operations and development for NH Hotels and Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts. Experiencing life first-hand as a digital nomad, Hans lived and worked remotely throughout Europe, Africa, The Middle-East and Central America. His companion, Marc Jongerius is also one of the Co-founders and Managing Directors at Zoku. Realizing his passion for unlocking value potential of companies, Marc was one of the private equity partners for a Netherlands based buy-out fund and previously worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as an auditor and M&A transaction services consultant for many large international enterprises. He has been active in the private equity sector for more than 10 years. Being passionate about impact investing.

Meetings As for meetings? Zoku’s meeting and event spaces have been designed to

- 57 -

they are all equipped with an HD TV, a stationery box with everything a meeting could require, dimmable lighting and comfortable seating. For a small 1-4 person breakaway, Zoku’s WorkLoft is ideal for some focus time away from the busy Social Spaces. The WorkLoft utilizes unused capacity: unoccupied Lofts become space for quick, informal meetings or as quiet, cozy focus spaces - for taking calls, or crunching through an assignment. It has everything needed to work comfortably: a large kitchen table, an office toolbox, mini projector, sketching roll and coffee & tea facilities all while the bed is hidden and tucked out of sight.

BRUSSELS

INTERVIEW

Let’s meet in Brussels It’s time, once again, to meet face-to-face and Brussels has all the assets for enhancing professional contacts and creating long-term business opportunities, as well as enjoying cultural and culinary experiences.

By Bart Matthijs

The multinational character of its inhabitants and companies, the wide network of international associations, leisure spots and lively city districts make Brussels the perfect destination, whatever the season. All of this, in addition to its central location and the fact that it is so easily accessible make Brussels a great destination for your conference.

Diversity of places Brussels is the perfect setting, with stateof-the-art venues, an unparalleled richness of architecture mixed with cutting-edge services and endless opportunities for teambuilding, dining and leisure. Over 200 venues and 20,000 accommodation options offer you wide-ranging possibilities for any concept or event you may wish to organize.

- 58 -

New in 2022 While obviously it has been a very difficult year for the whole MICE sector, still Brussels could welcome the opening of some new interesting venues.

• In the EU district, Stam Europa opened its doors for smaller meetings with connections to the European institutions, and closed business club Cercle de Lorraine

was spectacularly renovated into the social club The Merode, which can be rented by its members for exclusive events.

• Silversquare, which provides coworking spaces as well as meeting rooms designed by a different artist for each of their six locations, will soon open their seventh location in Brussels’ North district.

• The biggest news for Brussels’ MICE sector in 2022 is the opening of Cardo

Brussels Hotel, Autograph Collection in Rogier with no less than 530 rooms, 13 meeting rooms, a rooftop bar, a Spanish food court, and a Japanese restaurant on the 30th floor.

• The Hoxton will open their first hotel close to the Botanique in between Brussels’ North district and the city centre. It’ll boast a rooftop terrace, 198 rooms and co-working spaces. It’s good to see that Brussels’ North

- 59 -

district is evolving and becoming more and more of a draw for international visitors.

As for the venues, we’ll have to wait until 2023 for the grand opening of the Belgian Beer Palace, with its rooftop, large main room and of course, museum about Belgium’s speciality. In Kanal Centre Pompidou, they’re busy renovating for the big opening in 2024. As of May this year,

BRUSSELS

INTERVIEW

Decision-making hub 48.000 EU officials, diplomats, international business workers and press correspondents.

Brussels has the highest concentration of decision makers that shape the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The city hosts all the major EU institutions and is home to a huge diplomatic corps, journalist community and countless lobby groups.

But Brussels is of course also about business: 1,700 international corporations operate Europe-wide from their base here, spawning a diverse business services sector. Hosting 2,250 headquarters, Brussels is home to more international associations than any other city.

you do have the possibility to rent the smaller space Key One by Kanal.

The works at La Cambre Abbey are ongoing.

‘Brussels is the centre of Europe’s densest high-speed train networks’

Brussels Health Safety Label A health safety label has been launched by the Brussels-Capital Region and visit. brussels in 2020. It aims at providing national and international visitors with reassurance around the quality and safety of Brussels’ tourist infrastructure.

The objectives for the label are to inform about the measures being taken by the venues and sites and ensure that the mandatory general rules are being applied within the tourism and other sectors. After its launch in 2020, more than 150 hotels, venues and attractions in Brussels have obtained the Brussels Health Safety Label.

It applies to: attractions and museums, tourist accommodation, guided tours, restaurants and bars, venues, events and fairs.

Hybrid Events The ongoing digital transformation is also

spreading across Brussels meeting places. Numerous venues propose in-house or audiovisual partner options for a hybrid event.

Brussels can be considered as a real hybrid hub with no less than 40 venues and hotels that have their own in-house studio and technical set-up for hybrid events, not to mention a lot more venues that have their fixed technical partner.

Why Brussels?

60 million Europeans live within 2 hours of Brussels by train.

Brussels has a strategic location. It is easy to reach by air, international and national rail and road. Brussels is the centre of Europe’s densest high-speed train networks: 60 million Europeans live within 2 hours of Brussels by train. Brussels’ great central location means that you can go anywhere in the capital very quickly. It’s also incredibly easy to move around in this compact city: many event venues, hotels, museums and iconic places are within walking distance, or a short ride away by tram, bus or metro.

- 60 -

Always greener Brussels has 8,000 hectares of green spaces, meaning 28 m² of green space per inhabitant. Brussels is not only of the greenest cities in Europe. The city has ambitious plans when it comes to climate adaptation, green mobility and urban liveability. The city is already investing in renewable energy sources and strict demands are set for new buildings in the city. Moreover, a wide range of significant projects and ambitious ideas contribute to making Brussels the city of tomorrow: urban circular economy, local employment creation and a global food strategy.

Brussels is in the top 10 destinations for sustainability policy (World GDS-Index 2020). In 2020, the city’s sustainable practices in the business tourism and

events industries have been recognized thanks to the destination’s social and environmental sustainability strategies, policies and performances. Sustainability has a long tradition in Brussels!

Venues Whatever your choice of venue in Brussels, you can be sure that it will meet your delegates’ requirements and is within walking distance of the accommodation.

Conference hotels and event venues can be found on nearly every square in the city centre and are within easy reach of exceptional historical venues for social events and dinner parties. Six events districts with venues of all sizes and styles offer a wide range of accommodation. Each district has its own distinctive character, but they all provide easy city-wide access:

20+ event venues for large events above 1,000 participants • Autoworld • Koekelberg Basilica • Birmingham Palace • BOZAR • BRUSSELS EXPO • Brussels Kart Expo • Cirque Royal – Koninklijk Circus • Docks Dome • Event Hall 10 • Forest National – Vorst Nationaal • La Monnaie/De Munt – Opera House • Palais 12 • Royal Museum of The Army and Military History

• Grand-Place events district History, hidden gems and UNESCO heritage.

• Rogier events district Bustling downtown business, shopping hub and numerous sustainable venues.

• Louise events district Uptown chic, prestigious mansions and sophisticated entertainment.

• European Quarter events district Political nerve centre, exciting eclectic and lively atmosphere.

• Midi events district Vibrant, multicultural and high-speed connections.

• Heyzel events district From Expo 58 to large-scale gatherings.

- 61 -

• Sant-Michel Theatre • SILO Brussels • Skyhall (Brussels Airport) • Square-Brussels Convention Centre • Tour & Taxis venues • The Arena • ULB – Université Libre de Bruxelles Large Event venues opening • Belgian Beer Palace in 2023 • Kanal Centre Pompidou in 2024 Source: visit.brussels

HOTELNEWS

7 ways the pandemic has changed hotels forever Hotel powerhouse Hilton has shared interesting content on how the pandemic has changed hotels forever.

Innovation is the keyword it seems.

Or in the words the CEO Chris Nassetta: “…In the last year, the pandemic has accelerated our innovation engine – we’ve thought of it as a decade of change in just 12 months.’ And as for MICE? ‘The power and importance of in-person events, and the subsequent connections that arise from them, is undeniable

As the company that introduced the world to travel standards such as room service, the minibar and a central reservations system, Hilton was quick to adapt and innovate when the pandemic struck. Now Hilton’s experts offer their predictions for which temporary adjustments will become permanent and the impact of the pandemic on hotel stays in the future.

The report, in the view of MICE Benelux, a very interesting must-read: ‘After more than a year of canceling family vacations, postponing bucket-list trips or attending virtual conferences, travelers are looking forward to packing their suitcases and making new memories with family and friends. In fact, Hilton’s recent To New Memories campaign revealed that 94% of Americans surveyed plan on doing just that once travel restrictions lift, and that 91% of those who travel say that their hotel experiences are a memorable part of their trip.

1. Evolving Hotel Design – When You Step Foot in the Hotel Lobby “First impressions are critical, and our lobbies are not only the heart of our hotels, but they are the first place our guests are welcomed and assured that they have made the right choice in where they will stay. Everyone traveling today has a heightened sense of awareness of their own personal space and the cleanliness of their environments, and they will require additional assurances of their safety while staying with us. How do we deliver on these expectations while ensuring the welcome experience remains welcoming? That’s the challenge.”, says Larry Traxler, senior vice president, global design.

But how has the pandemic changed that hotel experience? And what can travellers expect as they hit the road now and in years to come?

- 62 -

On a parallel design track, we are working hard with engineers and scientists to identify solutions to purify the air, ensure a variety of clean surface solutions and introduce biophilia.

2. Contactless Guest Experience – From Check-In to Check-Out As consumer expectations shift, so does Hilton’s approach to providing the best guest experience possible – and this means that future travelers will experience a digital transformation in hotels.

Before even stepping foot on property, guests are quickly embracing and opting for a contactless experience with the ability to check-in and choose their rooms from the palm of their hand using the Hilton Honors app.

When a guest uses the Hilton Honors mobile app to check-in online, they can also request a Digital Key on their smartphone to access their hotel room, fitness center, pool and other hotel areas requiring a key. After a long day of travel, Honors members can digitally check-in and swiftly bypass the Front Desk to head straight to their room, using Digital Key to unlock their door.

Lobbies have historically been designed to encourage social interactions, but the pandemic has changed these expectations, and as people venture out of their homes, crowded spaces may deliver a sense of anxiety. But balance that with the basics of human nature: People ultimately will want to gather and engage with one another again. These human and cultural interactions are often one of the main reasons why people love to travel!

That’s why the future of our hotel public space design will gracefully embrace social distancing, enable contactless guest journeys, and deliver innovative new ways of blurring the lines between indoors and out. Now, more than ever, spaces will be designed to give people the choice to socialize or not, to curate the

landscape of their own experience, and to feel safe as they venture back outside of their isolated home cocoons.

Bar For example, the lobby bar is often the epicenter of energy within our hotels, where people anticipate and seek out denser occupancy. By introducing the amenity of flexible and adaptable spaces, our guests will have the choice of personalizing their environment to deliver more connections or seek out protective comfort. The thoughtful introduction of architectural screens activated with biophilia and art will be coupled with smaller scale movable dividers and creative seating designs to allow for a more adaptable and customizable space for evolving guest needs.

Since its 2015 launch, Hilton’s industryleading Digital Key technology has expanded rapidly. It is now available to guests in 80% of Hilton’s more than 6,400 hotels in 45 countries around the world and has been used to electronically open more than 111 million doors.

The contactless options don’t stop there.

Three years ago, Hilton announced the launch of its proprietary, first-of-its-kind, high-tech guest room that enables guests to personalize and control every aspect of their stay from their mobile device. This technology also helps to reduce contact with some of those high-touch areas such as light switches, thermostats and TV remotes, providing guests with extra peace of mind, particularly given the current circumstances.

3. Emphasis on Cleanliness – In Your Room Away from Home Guests will find that their future travel experiences will include more

HOTELNEWS

transparency regarding cleaning standards. In the past, cleaning was something that the industry tried to accomplish behind-the-scenes when few guests would be around to see it happen. Now, in a significant shift, guests find it reassuring to see housekeeping teams around the hotel as they carry out our more rigorous cleaning regimes as part of Hilton CleanStay – and this mindset is here to stay.

These new standards aim to provide yet another level of reassurance to hotel guests and will continue to evolve based on their needs

away. They will continue to enhance our overall food and beverage programs, but as part of a much larger and enriching in-person experience.”

– Adam Crocini, vice president and global head, food & beverage brands

‘ The power and importance of in-person events, and the subsequent connections that arise from them, is undeniable ’

4. Creativity at Play – Reimagining Dining “The pandemic has pushed us to rethink and reimagine how we provide our guests with the services and experiences that they are looking for – resulting in high-end, to-go cocktails, expanded grab-n-go markets and personalized plating for meetings and events. When life returns to a more normal state, these new offerings won’t completely go

Pandemic or not, humans have an innate need to connect with each other – and a passion for doing so with food or drinks.

The hospitality and restaurant industries saw the extreme lengths that people will take to do so despite the current challenges, especially during the winter months as friends and families gathered outside in igloos or in parkas huddled around outdoor heaters.

Throughout this unique time, Hilton Team Members have employed some ingenious strategies to deliver exceptional food, drink and service. As an example, for events, Conrad DC used to regularly use buffet-style meal sets.

Now, event attendees are presented with individually

- 64 -

portioned food, properly presented and artfully as well as thoughtfully displayed.

This evolved experience maintains the luxury standards while incorporating Hilton EventReady with CleanStay best practices.

protocols and new approaches to fitness centers and dining. Even the marketing campaign, To New Memories, is designed to remind people of what they love about travel and reassure them that Hilton is ready now for their return.

While moments like virtual wine tastings may fade, new products such as to-go cocktail pouches and grab-and-go meal sets are expected to have a place in the hotel experience as an add-on to a guest’s stay or event offerings.

Additionally, the pandemic has changed the way the world works out. From Shanghai to New York, in just a year, people dramatically adjusted their daily exercise routines and creatively reimagined their living spaces to make room for stationary bikes, yoga mats or just a place to take a deep breath from time-to-time – uninterrupted.

5. Trusted Brands Become Home Base for “Comfort Travel” “After a year without travel, people are excited to get moving, but they are out of practice. Many will be seeking out ‘Comfort Travel,’ with a return to familiar places and brands. Checking into a familiar, friendly hotel for a night’s sleep during a road trip or re-visiting a favorite resort backed by the reassurance of a trusted brand will help people regain their travel savvy.”

– Matt Schuyler – chief brand officer Recent surveys from around the world show that people are eager to travel – and are already planning their trips. The biggest motivator? Reconnection with the people and places they love.

Stepping out into the world again will require courage for some, however, and they will look to brands like those in the Hilton portfolio to ease them back into travel – hotels that allow them to maintain the routines that have brought them comfort over the past year. Will the hotel be clean and disinfected? Is the staff ready to welcome visitors back? Can they go contactless with their check-in and use their phone as their room key? What if they need to change or cancel their trip? Can they maintain their fitness and wellness routines while on the road?

6. Flexible Offerings – Attending a Meeting or an Event “When it comes to Hilton EventReady, we’re in it for the long haul. Event planners are looking for hybrid solutions, and our new suite of offerings continues to gain a lot of traction. Our plan is to continue to expand the EventReady Playbook to address our customers’ evolving needs.”

– Kelly Knowlen, executive director, sales engagement & special events Over the course of the year, people around the world have truly embraced a new-found sense of flexibility, growing increasingly comfortable with meeting using online video and gathering

Hilton has placed an emphasis on programs such as its Digital Key and contactless check-in, enhanced booking flexibility, additional training for Team Members on the latest health and safety

- 65 -

attendees from home offices across the globe. And, while the convenience of turning on your computer five minutes before a meeting has, at times, been appreciated, the power and importance of in-person events, and the subsequent connections that arise from them, is undeniable.

As the world emerges, the current untethered office is going to start to merge more with in-person events – making the ability to successfully deliver truly hybrid events even more critical.

Already, event planners are looking for spaces that allow a combination of on-site and expanded on-screen attendees, as well as seeking expert support to help them execute the events.

7. Exclusive Perks and Ongoing Support for Loyalty Members – When Booking a Stay and Beyond.

The pandemic provided an opportunity for loyalty programs to prove their value and commitment to their members. Time and again, Hilton was among the first to offer reassurance that the company was on the side of travelers, even when they couldn’t travel. Some of these modifications include automatically extending Point expiration dates and status, and rolling out 2021 program changes to provide greater flexibility for Hilton Honors members.

TRAVEL GADGETS

Stylish Omega Speedmaster Omega kicks off 2022 with the release of a new Speedmaster caliber 321, complete with vintage details and a stunning design in 18k Canopus GoldTM. When this legendary collection was first released in 1957, it changed the image of chronographs in the watch industry forever. Specially designed for professional

Relaxed but connected Sony presents a new way to enjoy music anytime, anywhere. The fully wireless LinkBuds have an open ring design that keeps the user connected to the environment at all times. The earplugs guarantee a clear sound in a very compact design.

They have a perfect fit and offer crystal clear quality for phone calls and music. LinkBuds provide spacious sound and a unique sound experience for gaming, working from home, navigation and quick access to music via Spotify. LinkBuds are equipped with innovative sensor technology. This provides tap control via bone conduction.

Various new smart listening functions have also been integrated for optimal ease of use. The LinkBuds will be available (in anthracite/grey and white) in the Benelux from February 2022 for € 180.

racing drivers, the watch is user-friendly and easy to read. It was also the world’s first watch to have a tachymeter scale on the bezels instead of the dial. This tachymeter scale was ideal for measuring average speed on the racetrack and beautifully complemented the watch’s sturdy, refined and water-resistant design.

New high-flyer Motorola Motorola adds the latest edge device to the premium family: the motorola edge 30 pro. Featuring a groundbreaking mobile platform, a super advanced camera system and an incredible display, this edge is a true game changer. The new edge features the Snapdragon® 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform, Qualcomm Technologies’ most advanced mobile platform, supporting advanced 5G, AI, gaming, camera, WiFi and Bluetooth® technologies. The new motorola edge 30 pro is available s from today in two colors: Cosmos Blue and Stardust White*, at the suggested retail price of €799.

Essentiel Antwerp meets Estée Lauder Fashion label Essentiel Antwerp and beauty brand Estée Lauder have joined forces for a flirty collaboration with a Limited Edition pencil case designed by Essentiel Antwerp filled with a trio of Estée Lauder lip products printed with a custom design

by Essentiel Antwerp. Essentiel Antwerp brings you energetic, fresh and surprising collections, with distinctive graphic and floral prints and bold color mixes that make you stand out from the crowd. Inge Onsea founded Essentiel Antwerp in 1999 together with Esfan Eghtessadi. Inge has a vintageloving mother, was a fashion model and spent five years in India, where she fell in love with the kaleidoscope colours, prints and unexpected fashion combinations she encountered there. As Creative Director and the face of the brand, she defines and maintains the creative vision for the collections and branding with her unstoppable positive energy.

ADVERTORIAL

REIMAGINING BUSINESS MEETINGS IN SINGAPORE Singapore is a leading Global-Asia Node for business and MICE and possesses a vibrant and innovative business environment. It stands out as a premier business events destination with a strong track record of delivering high-quality events. The city-state offers a wealth of possibilities – both at work and play – in a dynamic, innovative, and pro-business environment which offers excellent connectivity, security and a diversity of inspiring venues and experiences.

Singapore is the perfect place to combine business and leisure for meetings and incentive travel. Its world-class facilities, unique venues and wide range of entertainment options enable meeting planners to engage and empower their delegates with innovative ways of working, networking, and collaborating.

If you’re passionate about growth – for yourself, your delegates, and your business – this is where you can make it happen!

The new global In Singapore Incentives & Rewards (INSPIRE) 2.0 incentive programme serves up a wide range of specially designed experiences for MICE groups, catering to small and mid-size groups from all parts of the world. With the INSPIRE programme, you can treat your meeting guests to a series of activities around the city, from savouring local cuisine to hopping on exciting thematic tours. With a range of options to choose from, consider your meetings and conferences, reimagined.

Fun and Motivation Planners are looking beyond the smooth execution of a meeting and are considering factors such as unique locations, interaction and networking, content, and technology, to best engage participants. With a choice from over 70 unique complimentary experiences to enhance your business event, you can be sure you can achieve the optimal meeting outcome!

Your delegates can explore Asia’s only luxury Tallship, enjoy a unique yogawellness experience, discover the city’s heritage and cultural sites, taste local flavours, or even participate in an unforgettable ride on a Vespa sidecar!

From dining options to thematic tours and teambuilding activities, qualified groups can select a complementary program from a variety of different experiences. The programme is available for all groups between 20 to 250 foreign attendees that stay for a minimum of 2 nights in Singapore.

- 67 -

More information Visit www.VisitSingapore.com/MICE or email us at Brussels@stb.gov.sg.

Programme period runs from 1 Feb 2022 to 31 Jan 2026 (Please note travel must be completed by 31 Jan 2026).

Scandinavië ontdekken met je team begint bij Nordic