MICE BENELUX Winter edition

CENTRALLY SITUATED ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENT VENUE

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 venue? An enthusiastic team would love to show you around and show you the possibilities for your next business event.

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

YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT AT GOOILAND

- Event venue in the middle of the Netherlands;

- Modern, characteristic monument;

- For business events from 100 up to 1.500 guests;

- Ideal for (multi-day) conferences, trade fairs and business 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 | Business events | Product presentations | Seminars

A look at the future of travel MICE Market review

In this article we take a closer look at the Dutch market and speak to some key players. How has their year been? How do they look back, but especially ahead? What are their challenges, miracles and expectations? We are looking up…

Oh la la Leuven

There’s more to this small great city than meets the eye. Our Belgian team have done their best to warm you up for a wonderful trip to a destination that will not disappoint. Have a closer look and judge for yourself. We are sure you will be convinced…we were!

We all know that the travel DNA has changed since the pandemic. What can we expect trend wise for the future, for leisure, group and business travel. An enormous survey gives you insights to prepare yourself for the road ahead.

Editor-in-chief Tijn Kramer tijn.kramer@travmedia.nl

Editors Belgium & The Netherlands: Arjen Lutgendorff, Sharon Evers, Dylan Cinjee, Bart Matthijs, Jan Peeters, Theo de Reus, Rahanna van Stapele, Mariska Kesteloo (columnist).

Press relases and info: info@micebenelux.com

TRAVelMEDIA

MICE Benelux. Arendstraat 33A, 1223 RE, Hilversum. www.micebenelux.com

Design: Iris Beenen Publishers: Tom van Apeldoorn T.J. van Apeldoorn

Sales & Marketing: Sales and information about advertising, etc. danielle@travmedia.nl (0031-35-6728855), dennis.ebbers@travmedia.nl (0031-35-6728852),

MICE BENELUX is a TRAVelMEDIA publication. SUBSCRIPTION:: 29 euro per year

Year 17, issue 4

MICE is in our nature!

Similar in size to the Benelux region, Latvia is much less densely populated with just under two million inhabitants. Here, nature is always on your doorstep. A luxury best experienced deep in the pine scented woods, on the beaches of the Baltic Sea or even on a walk in a central Riga park. Latvia affords its people and visitors the space to breathe, rest and recharge. At the same time, it is a vibrant European Union member state with a buzzing startup industry, flourishing food scene, international achievements in science, sports and culture.

Combined with the largest conference hotel and congress center in the Baltics, these aspects have what it takes to make one fine meeting and events destination, further strengthened by state-of-the-art infrastructure, accessibility from across the globe, and multilingual staff well-versed in the latest technology.

Nature, tradition and an intertwined network inspire innovation Being so few in numbers, Latvians are an intertwined network. No one is more

than a couple of phone calls away, making cross-disciplinary partnerships a lot easier to realise. As a result, even the wildest ideas can come to life here. Coffee breaks in a glass cabin over a fast-moving river? A floating restaurant on a lake in rural Latvia? Both real examples. Imagine what still lies ahead!

Local DMCs and event agencies have set high standards for themselves, and the small market means healthy competition is always at play.

Multitude of venues with added value

While the green outdoors are an everpresent, flexible and affordable venue, Latvia also has its share of indoor facilities, both purpose-built and adapted. Buildings, which tell the story of Latvia, its complex past and comfortable present, balancing between modernity and tradition. Historical castles and manors turned into hotels. Rural guest houses with saunas for unwinding after a day of intense teamwork. Contemporary culture centres in smaller towns where everything is accessible on foot. Whether organising

a conference or incentive, Latvia will have options, especially for small to medium sized groups.

Latvia is closer than you think

At just over two hours’, routes from Amsterdam & Brussels are connected to Riga by airBaltic daily direct flights. Riga Airport is the biggest in the Baltics, connected to over hundred destinations in Europe. Located just 15 minutes from the city centre, the airport is also close to the coastal resort of Jurmala. However, nowhere in Latvia is really far. Will we see you on the beach, in the woods or the cobbled streets of Riga old town?

For more inspiration and contacts go to our webpage: meetlatvia.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: linkedin.com\showcase\meetlatvia

@untamednights @pancars.eu

Tijn Kramer, Editor-in-Chief MICE Benelux

Excited for 2023

‘Don’t call it a comeback’, hip hop legend LL Cool J once sung. ‘I’ve been here for years’. And that goes the same for our beloved industry, that now is taking off where it had to stop for a while in 2020. That makes me so incredibly happy. Once and for all we have the proof that live beats online, there is no replacement for real personal encounters, you cannot digitalize a handshake, you will not make memories talking behind your screen, you will not get the business, earn the business if you are not doing business in person. In a world where motivated loyal staff is of essence, group travel is the black truffle of the meal. Something that gives them something to talk about at home. I mention black truffle because I myself finally was out and about as well, to Bologna. And so was our team, to Leuven and even Jamaica. The travel buzz got us extra motivated to find you the cream of the crop in the world of MICE in 2023 as well. Happy reading and bon voyage!

Tijn Kramer

Finally: AIME Australia is on again

Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Event (AIME) has announced its return to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) from 13 – 15 February 2023 where the industry will come together to celebrate its 30th Anniversary. As the flagship trade event for the meetings and event industry in the Asia Pacific region, AIME connects the highest quality international and local buyers with the best exhibitors from around the world – making the tradeshow a must-attend event for industry players wanting to produce meaningful business outcomes. AIME will open its doors next year to 400 hosted buyers, 2,000 visitor buyers and over 300 exhibitors including our Asia Pacific neighbours and representatives from the Middle East, USA and Europe. Silke Calder, AIME Event Director is excited to welcome the business events community back to Melbourne. ‘Five months out from the show and AIME has already sold over 80 percent of its showfloor. We’re thrilled with the support

we’ve received from international destinations along with Australia’s convention bureaus - every state in Australia will be represented at AIME next year. It sets the scene for a wonderful 30-year celebration.’

The French put in the extra MICE-mile

Atout France launches a campaign to stimulate the return of business events. Recently, Atout France is launching its campaign: The French Way in Europe and the United States, as part of its efforts to relaunch France as a destination and to stimulate the return of business events. This initiative was unveiled in Las Vegas, at IMEX America, with the aim to target trans-Atlantic markets and take advantage of this major event for the sector. The year 2022 is the year of recovery for the

business event sector. Since March this year, congresses have seen their levels of activity return to pre-pandemic levels, professional trade shows are gradually gaining ground with the return of the general public, and corporate events are increasing in significant numbers across the country, as part of what is referred to as a “revenge event” trend. With its new campaign: The French Way, Atout France is looking to accelerate the momentum in its European and American markets.

Air Canada starts Brussels-Toronto

Air Canada has announced the strategic expansion of its international network for the summer of 2023, with new European flights to and from Brussels. It will also resume key Asian flights to Tokyo-Haneda and Osaka and restore frequencies to key destinations in the Atlantic, Pacific and South America. ‘Toronto-Brussels will complement our

current services from Montreal, while further expanding Air Canada’s reach to Europe and beyond through our Star Alliance partner Brussels Airlines, offering convenient connections across Europe and Africa,’ said Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President Network Planning and Revenue Management at Air Canada.

Tourism New Zeeland supports ICCASkills

Tourism New Zealand is supporting the sustainable future of New Zealand’s business events industry by supporting 10 new scholarships for the ICCASkills certification programme.

Tourism New Zealand announced the 10 new scholarships at this week’s BEIA (Business Events Industry Aotearoa) Annual Conference in Hawke’s Bay.

Established by ICCA (the International Congress & Convention Association), ICCASkills is the only globally recognised professional accreditation for every sector of the business events industry. The in-depth curriculum has been developed by industry experts, including business leaders, academics and ICCA members, and is delivered through on-site and online learning environments.

Tourism New Zealand General Manager NZ & Business Events Bjoern Spreitzer says: “New Zealand has invested in amazing new infrastructure and activities for the business events sector, and we need to recruit and retain the best talent to staff them.

Meetingselect, a leading marketplace for meetings & events, group bookings and workspaces, has taken over hospitality tech company Cyberdigma. With this acquisition, Meetingselect aims to take the MICE industry (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) to the next level. Meetingselect and Cyberdigma both have extensive experience in providing solutions and technologies to the meetings & hospitality industry. Over the years, their focus has always been on innovating the industry through technology, which enables businesses to offer an optimal customer experience. Cyberdigma, founded in 2001 by female founder Marielle Sijgers and hospitality tech entrepreneur Ronald van den Hoff, has been a pioneer in innovating the meetings and workspace industry.

Since 2007, Cyberdigma developed the software platform for Seats2meet.com, a disruptive meeting and coworking concept.

More recently, Meetingselect developed the innovative and disruptive new technology Instant Bookings. Customers can instantly book meeting rooms and workspaces online. Venues can use this technique as an easy deployable widget on their own website, brand it in their own style and at the same time serve their customers according to their own way of working. Venues using Instant Bookings save on staff costs and boost efficiency. Yielding is an integral part of Instant Bookings. Cyberdigma supported Meetingselect in the research and development of Instant Bookings.

Meetingselect acquires Cyberdigma Behave (or leave the plane)

the flight in question. This makes KLM and Transavia the first airlines in the world to share data on unruly passengers. The two airlines are also calling on politicians and policymakers in the Netherlands and abroad to make it possible to share such data with other airlines.

KLM and Transavia share data on passengers placed on the No Fly List for disruptive behaviour on board or on the ground. Both airlines will ban unruly passengers for five years, regardless of which airline operated

Extending a Transavia ban to KLM and vice versa widens the scope of the no-fly measure. It means that passengers on KLM or Transavia flights who are placed on the No Fly List are less likely to jeopardise flight safety on

flights operated by the other airlines. The aim is to improve flight safety, with the mutual ban also serving as a deterrent. There is an urgent need for this intervention. Safety on board is a top priority. Unruly passengers have a major impact on other passengers and our staff. Any form of physical violence towards crew or passengers is unacceptable. Such behaviour also leads to delays, which is very annoying for passengers and expensive for airlines.

Left to right: Martin Bergonje - Marielle Sijgers - Judith Huisman - Anouk RoohéWouter van Nigtevegt - Ronald van den Hoff

Gift idea: Korean wisdom in a book

What ‘Hygge’ is to Denmark and ‘Ikigai’ to Japan, ‘Haengbog’ is to South Korea. The Korean Wave cannot have escaped anyone’s attention; from literature, films and ceramics to restaurants and K-pop. South Korea is the country where people eat together, family is important, nature is embraced and beauty is a great asset. A place where people take time for each other and strive for haengbog, lasting happiness. Barbara J. Zitwer (author & literary agent for mainly Korean authors) fell in love with South Korea instantly and gives us a very personal look at the Koranic culture. She takes you from Seoul to Jindo Island and from tables full of traditional dishes to the tranquility of ancient temples. After each chapter you can dive into the kitchen yourself, with the Korean recipes. And she closes each chapter with concrete tips: the South Korean wisdom to become and stay happy. Add a touch of South Korea to your western life. Publisher Martine

Koelemeijer of mo’media developed the book concept together with Barbara and designer Jelle F. Post. Mo’media publishing house is the first publisher in the world to publish it. America, Canada, Great Britain and Italy will follow in May 2023 with 11 chapters including the themes: culture, family, food, nature, wellness, home, greetings and communication and lasting happiness. www.momedia.nl

Hoxton Hotels to open in Brussels and Amsterdam Lloyd

Hoxtons Hotels will expand in the Benelux. The expansion includes the brand’s fourth London hotel opening in December in Shepherd’s Bush, along with debuts in Brussels, Berlin, Edinburgh, Vienna and a second hotel in Amsterdam next year. These openings will be followed by the launch of a property in Dublin in 2024. The openings will include new features such as the third outpost of the co-working space Working From in Brussels, an events auditorium in Vienna and a nighttime music venue in Dublin.

The brand says:

‘The Hoxton’s upcoming expansion reflects the strong rebound it has seen since the challenges of the pandemic, with many of its operating properties reaching pre-pandemic levels and achieving record-breaking restaurant revenues, which is hugely positive as the travel industry slowly recovers.’

Group travel: today’s risks

Cancelled flights, staff shortages and poor accessibility. Every traveler can be affected, but how big are the risks for group travel organizers?

By Rahanna van Stapele

Marije Breuker (Motivation Travel) has been organizing (mostly incentive) group travel since 2004. At this moment, she experiences the organization of these European trips, with an average of fifty to a few hundred participants, as very problematic. “There are difficulties everywhere. Not just Schiphol Airport, which to me is just a piece of the puzzle. Our trips are very intense, often within a time frame of only three days, and a with a string of activities and a lot of logistics. That means you are dependent on an incredible number of parties in a very short period of time. When that chain gets disrupted, I don’t need to explain the effect it has.”

So the situation at Schiphol is ‘just’ a piece of the puzzle?

“Of course it is a big part of the issues on the table. I had a group this week where the flight was cancelled, and then you’re screwed. I tried to rebook, but given the large number of participants, it didn’t work out on such short notice and the whole trip just had to be cancelled. Right now it’s about getting up every day and hoping the booked flight will go through.”

After a cancellation, you are left with a big expense. Who pays for that?

“Right now I’m still settling. Formally, you would pass it on to Schiphol or the airline. But that’s where the trouble starts, because they point at each other. KLM says it only has a duty of transport, and then you end up back at Schiphol. In the end this could be insured and we did, but as long as there is no payment, there is no certainty whether the matter is covered. In accordance with policy conditions, yes, but you never know how an insurer really acts in the event of a claim.”

How is the contact with third parties, such as booked hotels?

“There is no more leeway, because we were already coming out of a pandemic. It’s hard to hear, but parties just can’t be accommodating anymore, no matter how much they want to be. The hotel, after a cancelled trip to Spain replied, ‘Sorry, but we can’t resell fifty rooms a day in advance.’ Extra painful, but I do understand them...”

What other problems, except for the airport, do you run into?

“Staffing problems; bus drivers, guides, activity centers dependent on instructors, everywhere really. Also, there have been a lot of staff changes, so you see a lot of newbies who don’t know everything yet. That’s also a serious problem. When I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I actually have to work 40% more myself to accomplish the same tasks. Because people are difficult to reach and you just can’t pass on that extra time to the customer. The effort you have to put in yourself has just increased enormously. We are still working on projects from before Covid.”

Do you see any slow improvement?

“It’s mixed. The business is making incredibly good money right now with everything going well. But it takes a lot of effort and I have to work with a lot more uncertainty and more effort.... It doesn’t come naturally anymore.”

Of all group travels this year, how many were without a hitch?

“In the end, I had one major loss because the flight didn’t go through. Everything else went okay in the end, but please don’t ask

me how things sometimes went behind the scenes. It’s just what you call trouble-free.. and worked out because I worked day and night, so to speak. Together with industry colleagues (including incentive agencies) we often consult. We support each other and recognize a lot in each other’s stories right now. For everyone it’s the same scenario right now.”

Do you yourself see a direct solution somewhere?

“No. Especially in southern Europe where we often work, you also had to deal with very long-term government support for companies, under the condition that there was barely any work being done in the companies. Our lead time, the preparation, takes six months. And for a long time some young employees where manning the desks, knowing nothing. The market recovering back to normal strength, I don’t see that happening any time soon. And we are also entering an energy crisis.”

Are the airlines not accommodating you, being an important customer?

“No. How KLM treats its agents is terrible. If Marjan Rintel (CEO KLM) criticizes Schiphol and the way they treat her, I think she really should look in the mirror first. If a flight is cancelled, we, or worse: our customers, know about it first through the media. While we have PNR’s, booking numbers. It would be very professional for them to inform us in advance so that we in turn can inform our customers. Secondly, Transavia: 90% of our business takes place during weekends, but the group department of Transavia is closed on weekends. If we call our PNR Transavia in an emergency situation, Transavia answers, if you get them on the phone at all, that they can’t help you. It’s crazy that this is still going on in 2022. And KLM currently knows very clearly which flights are going to be cancelled or not. For us, the consequences are enormous. If I know that my flight next week is going to be cancelled, I won’t make any more payments this week. We pay the price for all that’s happening.”

Do you think these kind of costs are actually going to be compensated by Schiphol in the end?

“Well, then you have to pay a lot of lawyer’s fees and have a lot of endurance. And nobody is willing to do that. You’ll get

yourself into an enormously complicated legal web. And that’s distressing. By the way, it makes for a point of attention here on a political level: running a 100 percent risk as a tour operator while the margin includes 10-20 percent is of course a disproportionate imbalance. The longerterm conversation should definitely be about this as well!”

“Poor communication is really a very big issue at KLM right now. Badly accessible, not accessible. One airline is slightly more accessible than the other, but if we look at our own fleet, Transavia and KLM, after all our main suppliers, there’s really enough to complain about. You just can’t do anything about it. Standing at the airport, the customer asks you to call Transavia, and all I can say is that they don’t pick up. So as a customer with a 100 people on a flight, having paid 30,000 euros to Transavia.. they can’t be reached because their groups department is just closed. The big companies and CEOs joining the

incentives, can’t even comprehend that something like this is really happening.’

“Yes, the pre-trip fun becomes pre-stress. Everyone sits tightly until they’re checked in and through security and then the trip kind of begins. The moment you’re going to do something fun together usually starts with a lot of excitement. We are already seeing customers who want to avoid flying. Paris and London are going to benefit from this. But hey, London and the Eurostar, another glaring example of poor to no communication. With much fanfare there was a campaign, and now no one knows when this train will run frequently. The great realization emerged that travel can also be very vulnerable. Many industry colleagues and myself as well work very hard to run all the trips in a busy season. When that’s behind us, I’ll start thinking about how much fun there is left in doing this job.”

are looking for a form of security.”

Anja van Overbeeke (Senior Sales Representative ANWB Reizen): “We see that the number of group bookings to faraway destinations is increasing again, but is not yet at 2019 levels. Our experience is that travelers who opt for a group trip, apart from sociability, also seek a certain form of security. These customers were still somewhat cautious. In recent weeks, however, we have seen significant growth in our group bookings to distant destinations. Confidence seems to be moving in the right direction again, which is positive.”

What are important destinations for group travel?

“ANWB offers group tours all over the world. Currently, our main destinations are South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam, Jordan, Morocco, United States, Costa Rica. For several years, however, we have also been offering group and single tours within Europe, with the top five being: Italy, Greece, Madeira, Ireland and Finnish Lapland.”

Did it happen often (before the pandemic) that trips couldn’t proceed due to problems surrounding airports or flights?

“In the past, of course, we have had to deal with problems surrounding airports. You have to think, for example, of difficulties following volcanic eruptions, such as in Iceland and Bali. We managed to solve these problems in cooperation with the airline company and the cooperation of our suppliers on site. The problems around Schiphol, as we have experienced in recent months, are of a completely different nature and have not occurred to us before.”

How has your experience of organizing group travel been this year?

“Due to our many years of experience in organizing and conducting group tours and our cooperation with reliable suppliers, we rarely experience challenges on site. The problems mainly concern the flight to and from the destination. Not all airlines have yet returned to the original frequency of pre-corona, making it sometimes a challenge to procure the desired flights.”

Is the client also dealing with difficulties?

“Travelers

Anja van Overbeeke

“The problems on distant group travel have been limited with us. The flights have usually always been operated by the airlines, with or without a changed departure or arrival time. With us, the guiding principle of the problems is rather the limited availability of flights and the many schedule changes our customers have had to deal with. Rebooking takes a lot of extra time and sometimes requires flexibility from both the customer and our team. On the Europe group product, trips have been cancelled here and there because of flight cancellations due to the problems at Schiphol Airport.”

Is it a big risk to organize group tours at the moment?

“The great uncertainty in export of flights due to cancellations and the many schedule changes often cause extra costs and a lot of extra work, which increases the pressure on the operational teams. In addition, the ongoing chaos at Schiphol creates a negative image regarding air

travel in general, which also affects our group travel business. It will undoubtedly discourage customers from booking such a trip now. It is good to see that in recent weeks we have seen an increase in the demand for long-haul group travel. It is precisely the uncertain situation of the problems around Schiphol Airport that makes customers decide to opt for certainty. And then, of course, they have come to the right place with ANWB.”

Who pays for it when a flight is cancelled?

“Due to flight cancellations and schedule changes, there can be additional costs for accommodation. With a date change, the stay may even have to be extended or shortened. In addition, we sometimes incur additional costs for domestic transportation. Extra costs that arise from this are borne by the tour operator.”

In such cases, how does contact with the carrier and accommodation work?

“Of course, we always try to work it out together. With the airline, we look for

alternatives that do not involve extra costs, or at least as little as possible. If the change affects the country package, we also try to come to an agreement with our suppliers. Experience shows, however, that extra costs are often paid by the tour operator anyway.”

Do you notice more concerns among participants about problems on the road?

“Customers who book a group trip from ANWB choose to be carefree on the road. They know they are in good hands with a reliable travel organization and that their group trip will be accompanied on site by an experienced tour guide. People choose precisely the security that ANWB offers: whatever could possibly happen on the road, we will solve it.”

“It’s an operationally challenging year”

Coby van Dongen (de Jong Intra Vakanties) says the tour operator was able to operate 376 group tours this summer, with the main destinations being Scotland, Norway, North Cape, Italy, Austria and Germany.

“This year was operationally challenging. Never before have we faced so many challenges in so many areas. Those challenges can be broken down into many forms. We went through sometimes unprecedented searches for the right driver, tour guide or the right coach. Or hotels reporting shortly before arrival that there was no cook or too few cleaners. Sometimes too few available rooms due to the intake of refugees. In addition, there are clients who tested positive for corona and were therefore in need to be quarantined. That demanded a lot of extra guidance from our team and for the driver or tour guides. So we have a lot of appreciation for them.”

Van Dongen: “There were also problems with the flights. An alternative that is three days later, for example, is not an alternative. Then a bus trip is long gone from the airport of arrival. We haven’t kept track of exactly how many problems are attributable to Schiphol.”

Who ultimately bears the burden of those problems?

“If there are extra costs or customers cancel, so far that loss is on the travel

How much of the problems are related to the chaos at Schiphol Airport?

Coby van Dongen

company. Incomprehensible! Contacts with bus carriers if there are problems are good. Getting in touch with airlines when problems arise is much more difficult.”

When asked if customers also worried a lot while traveling this year, Van Dongen let it be known that no particularly extra stress was noticed among participants at de Jong Intra. “Fortunately, customers are often unaware of the challenges we experience, because behind the scenes a lot is being solved. And that’s the way it should be. A customer should be able to enjoy carefree. However, a lot of phone calls are made in advance with the ‘what if’ question. Conversations that can easily last up to 40 minutes. Much appreciation for the colleagues who work on this all day long. And this year so much more than previous years has to be determined in advance.”

the situation at Schiphol Airport, possible return of Covid-19 and the fear of an economic crisis. Some of those issues are directly related to the problems at Schiphol, and for some others it plays into the mind while booking.”

Would you call organizing group travel risky right now?

“If you pick the right destinations and make a strong risk analysis, then no. We do not book flights for participants, so we do not carry any risk in this when traveling. Should the flight not go proceed, then we do help the customer with finding alternatives.”

Do you do things differently in the current market?

“Preferably we don’t leave from Schiphol now. Nepal does depart from Amsterdam, but a Spain trip in January was deliberately planned from Rotterdam Airport. I do see more often that people are worried, also about rising corona rates. People do not cancel right away, but I do receive concerned phone calls. It’s discouraging, but should you stop organizing trips then? I don’t want to let fear guide me.”

Do you notice any staff shortage?

Rik Brinks (Culture Road) has been organizing group tours since 2014. So far for 2022, they have 12 trips planned there, to faraway destinations such as Syria, Iraq and Venezuela.

Brink: “People do book, but we also see more tension among participants about

Mariëlle Broekman (Heart of Living) organizes group activities in the Netherlands and group trips to places like Andalusia and Glastonbury for people over the age of 50. In October, she leaves for Nepal with a new group. “I work a lot with third parties, including a lot with TUI incentives. And should trips or activities not take place for these kinds of reasons, people still get their money back or get a voucher.”

“Yes, I do. I’m having problems with Ryanair myself at this moment. I can’t get a hold of people, check-in doesn’t work, et cetera. And of course also flights with huge delays or that are almost missed. I almost missed one to Spain myself recently. And people are much more tense because of the situation at Schiphol. People don’t travel carefree anymore, that’s for sure. And neither do I.”

“Travelers experience more tension due to Schiphol chaos”

“Preferably we don’t fly from Schiphol.”

Leuven: much, much more than a student city

For Culture lovers, beer buffs and foodies

Leuven is one of the many Belgian jewels. It is of course a city where, Mondays to Fridays, students are very much present all over town. But many generations of students have chosen, after graduation, to build their lives in Leuven. This makes the city today a vibrant place, a city on a human scale, in the heart of Belgium and all its own.

By Jan Peeters

The century-old university town with its historic buildings and young dynamic radiates the 21st century. In the pedestrian streets and one the cozy squares, the students determine the rhythm and atmosphere, the shops, cafés and restaurants provide conviviality and gastronomy, the beer fizzes and the ideas bubble up. Surrounded and intertwined by green, and with its rich varied cultural offering, Leuven is worth a visit all year round.

The students create a young, vibrant atmosphere and a pleasant bustle in the venerable city centre. Thanks to the university, Leuven has been an innovative city of knowledge for centuries. The historic city centre’s beautiful monuments and rich heritage are a great showcase, as are the modern, urban renewal projects. Culture and creativity reign. Moreover, Leuven is home to Stella Artois, a hot spot for beer buffs and gourmands. Plus, it’s a shopping Mecca for demanding shoppers. In short, Leuven has all the advantages of a big city in a charming setting with a small-town feel.

University city: knowledge and innovation

The university has been defining the cityscape for almost six centuries. In 1425 the new university was housed in the clothmakers’ hall. The number of students and faculty grew steadily. The prestige of Leuven’s university was further emphasised by its famous students, like the humanist Erasmus, the cartographer Mercator, and the anatomist Vesalius. It was no surprise that Thomas More had his famous ‘Utopia’ printed here. Numerous colleges in a variety of architectural styles, decorate the city centre. KU Leuven grew into a famous university with a highly attractive appeal. It is one of the oldest universities in the world. Knowledge, innovation, and scientific research are central. Over 100 spin-off companies make Leuven a ground-breaking city in health, high tech, and creativity.

Historic and contemporary

The pride of Leuven is the impressive Gothic Town Hall, with its ornamental towers and 235 statues, making it one of the most famous town halls in the world. The Great Beguinage is a UNESCO

world heritage site and an oasis of peace, where the ambience of bygone times shimmers among the cobblestone streets and picturesque houses. These are now inhabited by professors and students. Peace and quiet also permeate Belgium’s oldest Botanical Garden. You will find many historic university-colleges and other buildings, like the former Cloth Hall and the Anatomical Amphitheatre, spread out around the city. The University Library with its carillon tower and impressive reading room stores over 1.5 million volumes. There are also many monumental churches and no less than four abbeys: Park Abbey, Keizersberg Abbey, Saint Gertrude’s Abbey, and Vlierbeek Abbey. For modern architecture head to the museum M Leuven (Stéphane Beel). Or to Vaartkom, the old industrial zone near the canal and harbour is undergoing a complete metamorphosis. Renovated factory buildings have been converted into shops, restaurants, apartments, and office spaces.

Compact, cozy, something for everyone

All of Leuven’s sightseeing stops are either within walking distance or cycling distance from each other. Renting a bicycle is a handy way to take also a ride around the green city periphery. The selection of restaurants and shops is wide and diverse. Head into the streets around the Grote and the Oude Markt for a tasty lunch or dinner. There are plenty of choices, from Leuven’s ‘haute dogs’ to vegetarian dishes, from traditional Flemish specialities to gastronomic cuisine. And you won’t want for a trendy coffee bar. Stroll through the shopping streets, lined with fashionable design shops, unique boutiques, larger chain stores, and any number of speciality shops. You can also come shop here till you drop every first Sunday of the month. Experience the delightfulness of this compact city together with Leuven locals.

For art lovers

Leuven is also a city for art enthusiasts. M Leuven brings together old and new in surprising ways. Leading Belgian architect Stéphane Beel integrated the historic properties and contemporary architecture into a single, sleek whole. The museum brings the visual culture of the past and present together under one roof. The combination of ancient masters and

contemporary art, presented throughout the permanent collection and the temporary exhibitions, makes M unique in Flanders. Just a little bit up the road, Saint Peter’s Church hides a great many art treasures. An absolute masterpiece is ‘The Last Supper’ by the Flemish Primitive Dieric Bouts. This triptych is still hanging in the chapel for which it was painted almost 600 years ago.

The home of Stella

While in Leuven, be sure to enjoy a refreshing pilsner or regional beer at a pleasant sidewalk café or in one of the many authentic pubs. The first Stella was brewed here in 1926, at De Hoorn brewery. Today, Stella Artois, now a part of AB Inbev, the world’s largest brewery concern, is still firmly rooted in its hometown Leuven. You can tour the brewery during the weekend while it’s in full operation. The contrast with home brewery Domus Brauhaus, where the beer flows straight from the brew-kettle to the tap, couldn’t be greater. You will find several artisanal breweries in the Leuven periphery that are also definitely

worth a visit. During the annual Leuven Beer Weekends in April, Leuven does its name as Belgian’s beer city even prouder. For three consecutive weekends, you can enjoy beer festivals, workshops, surprising tasting sessions, and interesting brewery tours. It’s a must for every beer buff.

Centrally located, easily accessible Leuven lies right in the centre of Belgium, around 30 km to the east of Brussels. Trains will bring you comfortably from the neighbouring countries straight to the heart of our city. There’s a regular train running from Brussels National Airport (Zaventem) that will bring you to Leuven in under 15 minutes. And no matter where you drive across the Belgian border, you’re always just a stone’s throw from Leuven. You can also quickly and easily travel from Leuven to other Flemish cities.

• 14 min by train from Brussels Airport less then 2 hrs from Rotterdam, Lille, Paris, Cologne less then 3 hrs from London, Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt

Town Hall

The town hall is Leuven’s pride and joy.

Moreover, it’s one of the best-known Gothic town halls worldwide. It took three architects and thirty years to build it. Leuven’s ‘Hall of Fame’ features 235 statues, which were only added to the façade after 1850. The Saint Peter’s Church is located directly opposite the Town Hall.These days the town hall merely has a ceremonial function after the city’s administrative services moved in 2009. But you are very welcome to take a guided tour and/or visit the tourist information center if you have questions (situated on the side of the town hall).

Oude Markt

Paying a visit to the Oude Markt is like pulling up a chair at the longest bar in Europe, because nowhere else can you find as many catering establishments in one place as on this unique square. No wonder the Oude Markt is Leuven’s meeting place par excellence, particularly in warm weather when the numerous terraces quickly fill up.

University Library & Tower

If you want to learn more about the

university library’s turbulent history and its impact on the city, you have to climb the five floors of the library tower. A photo exhibition takes you to five significant periods in the library’s history. After the fifth floor, you reach the balcony where you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the city.

Everybody knows the sound of the Liberty Bell, the bass bell that weighs seven metric tons and sounds the hour every day. But there are also 63 other bells. Discover the carillon concerts, tower visits and more.

Botanical Garden

Leuven’s botanical garden is the oldest one in Belgium. The university of Leuven created this garden for its students of medicine in 1738.

Botany enthusiasts can enjoy the diverse plant collections. The 450 m² greenhouse complex boasts countless herbaceous, medicinal, aquatic and potted plants as well as a variety of tropical and subtropical species. Exhibitions take place regularly in the orangery, the gatehouse and in the open air.

Great Beguinage

The beguinage dates from the 13th century. The community had about 360 beguines in its heyday in the 17th century. It consists of a series of alleys, courtyards, gardens and parks with dozens of houses and convents built from traditional sandstone. It is currently inhabited by students, foreign visiting professors and staff of the oldest Catholic university in Europe. The Great Beguinage was listed as UNESCO world heritage in 1998. You can

Why Leuven? 5 Things To Do Winter Season Leuven

visit it free of charge. Of course: it is a full part of the city!

The Perfect MICE decor

Leuven is the perfect background for an out-of-the-box mice event. Everything which we have described in this article, is within walking distance. There is plenty of accommodation, but you should be warned: Leuven is very popular with associations these days, and events should be booked well in advance. The hotel offer is very good, but hotels tend to fill up quickly. Capacity is growing, though.

New routes by the airlines

Winter season means new destinations, other planes and other news. We take a look at the news from the two major airports in the Benelux. What new incentive destinations are now available with a direct flight? This and much more…

By Tijn Kramer

Brussels Airport is booming. After a great and successful summer season, Brussels Airport is gradually shifting into winter mode with an equally interesting offer. From the end of October, holidaymakers, business travellers and people visiting relatives abroad will have numerous destinations to choose from. The choice from Brussels Airport is vast this winter. Besides classics like Madrid, Barcelona, Rome or Geneva, sunny destinations will be as popular as ever this winter. And the Canary Islands are once again likely to top the leader board. They are followed by Cape Verde, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Dubai, the Caribbean and Mexico. New destinations Johannesburg and Cape Town, added in September, are drawing in more and more passengers thanks to Air Belgium.

But winter sports destinations have not been forgotten either. In addition to Geneva, Innsbruck and Salzburg (a new destination) in Austria, Kittilä and Kuusamo in Finland have been added to their line up. Destinations that should attract many passengers from Belgium but also from the Netherlands following the flight limits at the Dutch airports. Passengers travelling with Lufthansa group (Brussels Airlines, Swiss and Austrian) can use the self-bag drop if they have checked in online beforehand. Foodies will be glad to learn that Le Pain Quotidien joined Brussels Airport a few

months ago in the Departure Hall. And shopping fans will be happy to see that several shops, including the Duty-Free Shop at Pier A, have been renovated or expanded.

The number one carrier at the airport has done very well as well. Brussels Airlines closed its third quarter of 2022 at 51 million euro, which is the highest quarterly result in its 20-year history. In addition, the airline will repay the state loan early, by the end of this year. The Belgian home-carrier welcomed almost 50% more passengers compared to the same period in 2021. During the third quarter of 2022, Brussels Airlines welcomed 2.28 million passengers on board its flights. This accounts for a rise of almost 50% compared to the same period last year.

Schiphol

Let’s look at it positively, shall we? Because things are getting better and hopefully soon this will be the airport again it once was. And there is plenty of good news! American Airlines will introduce new business class and premium economy cabins on all Airbus 321 XLR and Boeing 787-9 deliveries beginning in 2024. From Amsterdam, American is back on schedule, just like before Covid, but with B787 Dreamliners on both the routes to Philadelphia and Dallas Forth Worth.

ROUTES

New face Lufthansa

As of September 1, 2022, Victoria Bubmann (29) is the newly appointed General Manager Sales Netherlands, Lufthansa Group Airlines. Based in Amsterdam, Victoria Bubmann is responsible for the commercial and sales activities for all Lufthansa Group carriers in the market. She will report to Heinrich Lange, Senior Director Sales Northern Europe, Lufthansa Group. Bubmann succeeds Roberto Mamone, who previously held the position for five years and moved to Brussels Airlines as Senior Manager Business Development & Market Analysis.

WestJet

Canadian airline WestJet will return to Schiphol this fall with a direct flight to Calgary. The airline, represented by APG Air Agencies, WestJet will fly non-stop with the Dreamliner between Calgary and Amsterdam three times a week from November 14. No new routes at easyJet, but a restart of a number of destinations this winter: Innsbruck,

Salzburg, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Marrakesh.

KLM: 163 destinations

From the winter timetable (28 October 2022 to 25 March 2023), KLM’s network will comprise 163 destinations; 92 in Europe and 71 intercontinental.

Europe

KLM will add the destinations Nantes, Aarhus and Katowice to its European network. From 29 October 2022, Nantes will be served twice a day and Aarhus and Katowice once a day. Also new in the European network is Rovaniemi (Finland), where KLM flies once a week from December 3, 2022 to March 25, 2023. In addition, KLM will scale up the number of flights to Teeside, Humberside, Cardiff, Southampton (UK) and Graz (Austria). Finally, Naples (Italy) and Split (Croatia) will both be served daily. This is new in the winter but a continuation of the summer timetable. In total, KLM will fly to nineteen destinations in North America (Canada, US, Mexico) this winter,

accounting for 11 percent more seats compared to 2019. For example, KLM will fly to Los Angeles ten times a week this winter, which amounts to three extra flights a week compared to last winter. The Austin destination, which started in the summer, will continue. Cancún (Mexico) is a winter destination that KLM introduced in 2021 and will offer again this year.

Long haul

To the Caribbean (especially the Antilles), the number of seats has increased by more than 20% this winter compared to 2019. As in the winter of 2021, KLM will also offer flights to Bridgetown (Barbados) and Port of Spain this season. (Trinidad & Tobago). The number of available seats on flights to South America will increase by 6% this winter compared to last year. KLM flies daily to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Peru. Costa Rica is flown four times a week. KLM will operate five flights a week to Paramaribo, also with the Boeing 777300ER. KLM will also combine Buenos

Aires (Argentina) with Santiago de Chile (Chile) again.KLM is introducing three extra flights a week to Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to the daily day flight, customers can now also opt for a night flight three times a week. Passengers can also fly to Zanzibar in winter in combination with Dar es Salaam (both Tanzania). It is increasingly possible to book KLM’s new Premium Comfort class on flights to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. In the near future, KLM will equip more and more long-haul aircraft with this new product, starting with the Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The number of available seats to Asia has increased by no less than 50% compared to last year. KLM will continue to fly via a detour, because Russian airspace is closed. Flights to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), which continue to Jakarta (Indonesia), will also be direct this winter, instead of via Singapore. Last summer, KLM resumed flights to Bangalore (India). These flights will continue this winter. Flights to China remain limited for the time being. KLM will fly to Shanghai/Hangzhou three times a week this winter with a stopover in Seoul Incheon.

Aer Lingus goes Cleveland

Aer Lingus will fly to Cleveland, Ohio in 2023. The Irish airline will operate non-stop between Dublin and Cleveland from May 2023. It concerns four weekly flights on board an Airbus 321NEO. Of course, Aer Lingus also regularly flies between Amsterdam and Dublin, which makes the journey to Cleveland a lot easier for departing passengers from the Netherlands.

Korean Air

Korean currently flies between Amsterdam and Seoul with a B787900, but from October 28 the route will be operated with a B777-300, with more business class seats compared to the B787-900. Korea has lifted all covid restrictions since Sept 3, meaning passengers to Korea no longer need a PCR test.

Transavia

bookable early

Although not for the winter, it is possible to book tickets for the summer of 2023 from Wednesday 21 September. Transavia flies to more than 100 beautiful destinations, especially in Europe and

North Africa. The destination Bordeaux is back in the network.

EVA Air

EVA Air will start new routes from Taipei to Milan Malpensa from October 25 and Munich – Taipei from November 5, both with the B777. Flights between Taipei and Da Nang/Denpasar will also be resumed from 1 October 2022. It is important for the Netherlands that the B787-10 will be deployed on the route between Amsterdam-Bangkok-Taipei from 1 October.

Emirates and United United will return to Washington DC at the end of October. But the big news for both superpowers is the new collaboration. Emirates and United have announced a landmark agreement to expand the networks of both airlines.

Thanks to the new partnership, passengers will have access to hundreds of new destinations in the United States and around the world. From November, Emirates passengers to Chicago, San Francisco and Houston – three of the largest business hubs in the US – will travel conveniently to nearly 200 cities across America with United on a single ticket. The eight other US airports served by Emirates – Boston, Dallas, LA, Miami, JFK, Orlando, Seattle and Washington DC – have an interline agreement for both airlines.

Delta: back to Orlando Powerhouse Delta sees the return of the non-stop flight to Orlando. With this, Delta goes 14 times a day to nine gateways in the US. With a few exceptions, Delta Premium Select is available on all flights from Amsterdam! Delta One passengers on international flights out of Atlanta can now also choose meals prepared by Chef Mashama Bailey, winner of the James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding American Chef” award 2022, and Executive Chef of The Grey, the award-winning Southern restaurant in historic downtown Savannah , Georgia. To conclude all this: in present day aviation you shall understand: all updates are subject to last minute changes so please do double check. That above is all aviation in 2022. Have a good flight!

The very best of Bologna

Slow food & fast cars

In the vast beauty that Italy has to offer, Bologna remains one of the crown jewels. The real challenge when visiting this appetizing, historical and beautiful city is not to fall in love with it. I failed.

By Tijn Kramer

Places to eat Bologna

Finding a spot can be overwhelming. Here are some tips by pro’s, and do some homework online. If you find the one you want to visit, reservations are highly recommended.

RESTAURANT TIPS FROM VISIT BOLOGNA

• Osteria del Cappello

• Trattoria Da Me

• Ristorante Da Cesari

• Osteria Bottega

• Oltre.

• Ristorante Cesarina

• Sfoglia Rina

• Pasta Fresca Naldi

• Osteria del Sole

Bologna has many nicknames. Manhattan of the Middle Ages, referring to it’s many towers is a nice one I heard. But the classic ones are a three for one deal: La Dotta, la Rossa and la Grassa. La Dotta, ‘the learned one’ refers to its famous university, founded in 1088, which is one of the most ancient and prestigious of the world. La Rossa, the red one, is a reference to the red roofs and buildings of the historic centre; and la Grassa, “the fat one”. Well, you can guess that one, we’ll get back to it.

Background

Bologna is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants. Originally Etruscan, the city has been one of the most important urban centres for centuries, first under the Etruscans (who called it Felsina), then under the Celts as Bona, later under the Romans (Bonōnia), then again in the Middle Ages, as a free municipality, when it was among the largest European cities by population.

Famous for its towers, churches and lengthy porticoes (arcades), Bologna has a well-preserved historical centre, thanks to a careful restoration and conservation policy which began at the end of the

TIPS OF TASTE BOLOGNA

Classic Bolognese

• Trattoria Collegio di Spagna

• Osteria Bottega

• Trattoria da Me

• Vicolo Colombina

• Trattoria del Meloncello

Vegetarian

• Zenzero Bistrot

• La Svolta

1970s. Home to the oldest university in the Western world, the University of Bologna, established in AD 1088, the city has a large student population that gives it a cosmopolitan character. In 2021 UNESCO recognized the lengthy porticoes of the city as a World Heritage Site. Bologna is also one of the wealthiest cities in Italy, often ranking as one of the top cities in terms of quality of life in the country; in 2020, it ranked 1st out of 107 Italian provinces. (source Wikipedia) People seem to be very happy indeed, drinking their Aperols and Americanos as their aperativos and we can’t blame them. The city feels just very friendly.

Historical

Prepare to say wow a lot. Bologna has one of the most well-preserved medieval

historical centres, full of restaurants, taverns, theatres and shops. Home of many famous artists such as Giorgio Morandi, Guido Reni, the Carraccis, Guercino, Aspertini, its charm has also charmed notable people like Mozart, Carducci, Dante, Rossini and Guglielmo Marconi, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics. Rich in art and history, Bologna will amaze the visitor in all seasons, with its enjoyable and lively summer atmosphere or with the magic of Christmas illuminations. A first look at the city is from the beautiful Piazza Maggiore where medieval palaces look down upon an intense public life and economic

activity. It is the heart of the city. Among the symbols of Bologna there are the Neptune Fountain by Giambologna, and the medieval towers, particularly the magnificent Two Towers: Asinelli tower (98 m) and its neighbouring “twin” Garisenda (48 m, also mentioned in Dante’s Inferno). Alma Mater Studiorum is the oldest Western University. Its first prestigious seat was the Archiginnasio, whose walls are decorated with the coats of arms of the students. Here it is possible to visit the Anatomical Theatre, where practical lessons of cadaver dissection took place in the past. Walking along the ancient streets and the never-ending porticoes, canals are an unexpected surprise. They date back to the 12th century and can be visited underground too. A rich heritage of art

is housed in the numerous Museums and Galleries, as well as in the multitude of religious buildings. Among them, a special mention should be made to the complex of Santo Stefano, the one of San Domenico with the Saint’s marble tomb by Nicolò dall’Arca and decorated with Michelangelo’s sculptures, and the church of Santa Maria della Vita which houses another Nicolò dall’Arca’s masterpiece, the Pietà sculpture (Lamentation over the Dead Christ).

But in all fairness, it is impossible to describe the cultural wealth in one article. There is enough for not one, but many visits. So it is best to choose beforehand what you want to see. Because, let’s not forget, you also have to eat. Often, and quite a lot. This is Food Valhalla Italian style. Bologna is synonym for culinary pleasure, with many many classics! Let’s start with setting a wrong right: never ever ask for a ‘spaghetti Bolognese’. There is no such dish here. The pasta of choice is always tagliatelle, with “ragù alla

Bolognese”, sauce the Bolognese way. Now we know! Pasta made by ‘sfogline’ (women making handmade pastas) whose lessons are attended by visitors from every country in the world and are

in many TV shows. Colli Bolognesi DOC wines are famous too, like the typical white Pignoletto and some tasty reds, that are reminiscent of the nearby Tuscan wines. That means very good.

A must do activity therefor is a group food tour. Why? Because they’ll show you the real gems (as of course also here there are touristy places). But for experience I joined a tour by acclaimed Taste Bologna (www.tastebologna.it). A four hour walk with many tasty stops. We started the day with a gourmet coffee, at the best barista of Bologna.

Coffee in Italy is an art. Imagine Starbucks and forget it forever after you had a few coffees the way it should be in Bologna. I did not see a Starbucks in Bologna and was not surprised. And then there is pasta, cheese and meat. The very photogenic neighbourhood of Quadrilatero and Mercato delle Erbe are the foodie heart of Bologna. We learned about making pasta, the many qualities and particularities of the regions food. As in all of Emilia-Romagna, the province of Bologna, the production of cured pork meats such as prosciutto, mortadella and salumi is an important part of the local food industry. Well-regarded nearby vineyards include Pignoletto dei Colli Bolognesi, Lambrusco di Modena and Sangiovese di Romagna. Our guide of Taste Italy is knowledable and guides us around the best places in this foodie of all foodie towns. We have lunch in a must see osteria. The famous Osteria del Sole, founded in 1465 and they only serve wine. Yes, you read that well. So go shop, and bring your own delicacies and just buy the (very affordable) wine at this place that caters to locals as well. After the food tour, I must admit there is another tradition for some that seems to be in place which I really like. I take some time off, get back to the nice Hotel Roma that I stay in and take a nap after all that wonderful food.

Outside

Of course there is much more than just the city centre of this amazing town. A few minutes from the historical centre you will find a beautiful view of the city. Architectural and monumental jewels like villas, churches and monasteries are hidden there. This must be a privilege to live here. Probably quite expensive but one can dream. But of course there are many more wonderful excursions that one can do from Bologna. Now all the other cities deserve – I am sure- their

own visit for an article in the future, but one trip out of town had to be done. For a car aficionado like me anyway.

This part of Italy is Motor Valley, a region that is historically linked to the production of race cars and motorcycles. You want names? Ducati, Lamborghini and Maserati all have roots and factories in the region The track of Imola is known worldwide. And then there is, for me, the sweetest of all: Ferrari. ‘You can’t describe the passion, you can only experience it’, so said Enzo Ferrari. And to truly

experience it, Motor Valley offers visitors a series of unforgettable things to do in the most symbolic locations of the land of motors. So I headed to Maranello, the birthplace of the famed car brand, home of the factories and a nice museum. And of Push Start, a company that allows you to drive a Ferrari! Yes, you heard it.

I opt for the shortest tour, for just a taste of it, and to always be able to say that you drove a Ferrari. There are longer tours, up to two hours and a nice range of models (also Lamborghini). Some are

even on the racetracks. But just a taste is already car heaven.

With a friendly Push Start guide in the passenger seat I get to drive nine km on the streets of Maranello, it is a tour allowing people to get to know the most famous places around the Ferrari hometown. I get in a Ferrari Portofino, 600 hp, luxury and elegance. The Ferrari Portofino is a Grand Tourism sports car with cabrio-coupé bodywork and reaches 100 Km per hour in 3.5 seconds and exceeds the maximum speed of 320 Km per hour. Not that I get even near that speed, but that is absolutely

fine. Masterpieces come in many shapes and form and this was my moment in one. For nine kilometres.

‘Land of slow food and fast cars’ someone mentioned about the region of Bologna. I agree. In the evening I sit down for an Aperitivo, hoping to blend in a little bit with the quite well dressed Bolognesi. I order my Negroni, munch on the free crisps and olives on the ever so beautiful square of San Stefano. I watch people talk and discuss endlessly over their drinks, amidst historical buildings and the odd

street musician. Fair enough, the learned, the fat and the red. But I would choose the beautiful, the delicious, the addictive. (La bella, la deliziosa, la coinvolgenta?)

Information: www.bolognawelcome.com/en/ www.pushstart.it www.tastebologna.it www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it

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…

Save the date: MPI goes to Groningen

MPI Netherlands goes to the city of Groningen for an event on February 7, 2023. ‘Worldwide, we are on the eve of a new era. Society will look completely different in the coming years: more sustainable, healthier and more futureproof. And that is exactly the dot on the horizon that Groningen is working towards with great conviction. Themes that invite us as event professionals to reflect on our contribution and role in this and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 17 goals for a better world. Themes that stimulate us to take a critical look at our own processes and actions and that provide inspiration for the events of our clients, who in their own way are also increasingly concerned with the global compass to make the world a better place (the SDG’s) according top the press release.

As always there is room for knowledge and networking. ‘We take you on a journey through Groningen city. A journey bursting with inspiration. Vibrant and inviting. A city packed with young talent. Traditionally a place of innovative go-getters. With the fastest growing campus in the Netherlands and renowned knowledge and research

institutes that have the latest knowledge on 21st century issues. And of course we immerse ourselves in the hospitality of the Groningen hotels, venues and restaurants and there is plenty of room for networking and getting to know each other. This edition we offer a choice of 2 inspiring tracks: The Future of Energy and The Future of Health. We dive into a substantive program about the future of healthier ageing, about vitality, but also about sustainable energy transition and innovative applications of hydrogen, solar and wind energy.

Program February 7, 2023

09:30 - 10:00 Walk-in and registration, MartiniPlaza

10:00 - 11:00 Welcome & Keynote speaker

11:00 - 11:30 Transfer to lunch locations

11:30 - 13:30 Lunch carousel in the city center of Groningen

13:30 - 14:00 Transfer to the different tracks

14:00 - 16:30 Track 1 & 2, The Future of Energy and The Future Health

16:30 - 17:00 Transfer to DOT

17:00 - 19:00 Bites, drinks & more, DOT Groningen

SITE appoints Annette Gregg, CMM, MBA, as new CEO

Following an extensive global executive search, the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) has appointed Annette Gregg, CMM, MBA, as its new CEO, serving both SITE and SITE Foundation. Gregg takes over from Interim Executive Director Rebecca Wright, CIS, CITP, and joins SITE following her role as Chief Revenue Officer with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and a career-long legacy in the business events industry working across the full MICE spectrum, from corporate end user to destination marketing organizations.

Gregg will lead the association as our industry continues to rebound, facing a hopeful future with incentive travel firmly embedded as a driver of enterprise culture and an indispensable element in corporate

reward and recognition programs. Gregg said, ‘I’m grateful for a career that has allowed me to contribute to a variety of aspects of the business events industry, covering both the public and private sectors, corporates and associations, agencies and end users. My appointment as Chief Executive Officer at SITE will allow me to integrate my career experience to help move this legacy association to new heights. I have always been convinced of the transformative power of travel experiences for individuals, enterprises, communities and society at large.’

Gregg’s tenure as SITE and SITE Foundation’s CEO will commence on November 14.

Hotel Prices index 2023: challenges ahead

American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT) Global Business Consulting’s (GBC) has released an indicative forecast of hotel prices in 25 global business hubs. Business travel and meetings are returning at pace, putting the world on the pathway to renewed growth and prosperity.

As demand recovers, hotels face a combination of challenges. Talent is scarce, hindering the drive by hotels to re-scale operations and welcome back guests. Thanks to inflation, prices are increasing for key inputs including staff, energy, and food and beverage. GBC’s purpose is to go beyond travel, enabling companies to connect with customers and engage with colleagues.

Support

They have developed Hotel Prices 2023 to equip clients with insights that can support them through their planning and negotiations, helping them put in place an effective travel strategy to support business objectives. The Hotel Prices 2023 forecasts are based on extensive data modelling, using historic transaction data adjusted for today’s macroeconomic climate plus insight into the local factors shaping prices from GBC hotel experts around the world. Hotel Prices 2023 also features guidance on sourcing strategies

to help clients achieve the right rooms at the right price in the 2023 season. A report like Hotel Prices 2023 can only provide a snapshot on a complex and dynamic topic.

Forecasting hotel rates – after two years of significant travel disruption and with the volatility surrounding the return to travel – is daunting. The task is made more difficult by uncertainty over the global economy. To generate Hotel Prices 2023, the Amex GBT data science team combined historical transaction data from our vast data lake with macroeconomic factors using the Prophet algorithm for time series modelling. The model was optimized by considering the trend and seasonality. The data science team combined 2011-2016 Amex GBT data to create a forecast for 2017. The 2017 forecast was then validated against actual Amex GBT hotel transactions for 2017, which showed that the approach was more than 98% accurate in most destinations.

Incentive Travel Index: on the way back

The newly released 2022 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) reports that, overall, the incentive travel industry is strong. Recovery is progressing, program design is evolving and there is increased interest in new destinations. While industry-wide trends emerged, the study reflects variation by geography as well as by sector. The ITI enables incentive industry professionals to target the data they need to make decisions to meet their specific goals. The Incentive Travel Index is joint initiative of Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP), the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) and the Foundation of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE Foundation) and is undertaken in partnership with Oxford Economics.

Recovery

‘We see good signs of recovery, but these signs vary. While 67% of North American buyers reported they have resumed international incentive travel, only 50% of buyers from the rest of the world are back to travelling internationally’ said SITE Foundation’s President, Kevin Regan, MBA, CIS. ‘From a verticals perspective, the 2022 ITI study is forecasting positive growth over

2019 for the Finance & Insurance and ICT sectors, but Pharma, Auto and Direct Selling are forecasting static or negative growth.’

Evolve

‘Program design continues to evolve, and we can clearly see shifting preferences impacting program inclusions as a more diverse workforce become qualifiers. For example, we saw wellness emerge as a key program activity,’ said Incentive Research Foundation (IRF) President Stephanie Harris. ‘While activities that promote relationships was the top choice across the industry, we see some interesting differences across regions. A key difference is that sustainability and CSR opportunities were considered more important by industry professionals outside of North America.’

‘The desire to travel to new destinations has increased for North American buyers, while the rest of the world indicated they will select destinations closer to home,’ said Financial & Insurance Conference Professionals (FICP) Executive Director Steve Bova, CAE. ‘When it comes to destinations themselves, North American

respondents’ preference for domestic and Caribbean destinations are up, with most stating that they will use these destinations more in the coming year than they did in 2019.’

Business travelers expected to pay more for everything

Global travel prices are predicted to continue to increase in the remaining months of 2022 and throughout 2023, according to the 2023 Global Business Travel Forecast, published by CWT, the B2B4E travel management platform, and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry.

Rising fuel prices, labor shortages, and inflationary pressures in raw material costs are the primary drivers of the expected price growth, according to the report, which uses anonymized data generated by CWT and GBTA, with publicly available industry information, and econometric and statistical modeling developed by the Avrio Institute. ‘Demand for business travel and meetings is back with a vengeance, of that there is absolutely no doubt,” said Patrick Andersen, CWT’s Chief Executive Officer. “Labor shortages across the travel and hospitality industry, rising raw material prices, and greater awareness for responsible travel are all having an impact on services, but predicted pricing is, on the whole, on par with 2019.’

Forecast

‘What we are seeing now are multiple factors coming into play when corporate travel buyers and procurement officers model their travel programs. This eighth joint annual forecast marries statistical travel data and trend analysis with macroeconomic influences to provide a cornerstone reference point for their corporate business travel planning ahead,” said Suzanne Neufang, Chief Executive Officer of GBTA.’

Macroeconomic influences

The world economy shrank 3.4% in

2020 in one of the worst declines since World War II. Service sectors, including travel and hospitality, were hit especially hard, but the global economy recovered briskly, rising off the lows of 2020 and increasing 5.8% in 2021. Economic growth is moderating as the recovery lengthens, although another recession is a growing concern. The current base case scenario for 2022 is for 3% growth, followed by 2.8% growth in 2023.

Cautionary notes also highlighted in the 2023 Global Business Travel Forecast, highlight the three main forces exerting pressure on the economy and the business travel industry. These include Russia’s invasion of Ukraine coupled with other geopolitical uncertainties, inflationary pressures that are pushing costs higher, and the risk of further COVID outbreaks that could restrict business travel.

Conversely, with businesses ranking sustainability among their top priorities and reflecting the accelerated importance of combating climate change, the report highlights greater visibility at the point of sale for greener travel options, as well as carbon foot-printing, and environmental impact assessment is an opportunity for the travel industry to actively assist in responsible choice-making.

Meetings and Events

Prices have increased in all regions across most categories of spend, fueled by pent-up demand, a desire to build company culture and an uncertain economic outlook. The cost-per-attendee for meetings and events in 2022 is expected to be around 25% higher than in 2019, and it’s forecast to rise a further 7% in 2023.

Alongside pent-up demand, corporate events are now competing with many other types of events that were cancelled in 2020. And, with many companies having given up office space during the pandemic in favor of remote working, they are now booking meeting

spaces when staff gather in person, further fueling demand.

Shorter lead times for events, varying from one to three months versus 6 to 12 months, are also contributing to this perfect storm, perhaps underscored by corporate concerns that the situation they face today could change very rapidly. This is particularly noticeable within Asia Pacific, which has been slower than other regions to re-open post-pandemic, with ongoing restrictions in China prompting clients to make sure their events can go ahead, and as quickly as possible.

Air

Business travel airfares fell over 12% in 2020 from 2019 followed by an additional 26% decline in 2021. Economy ticket prices fell over 24% from 2019 to 2021, while premium tickets fell 33%. Prices are expected to rise 48.5% in 2022, but even with this steep price increase, prices are expected to remain below pre-pandemic levels until 2023. Following an increase of 48.5% in 2022, prices are expected to rise 8.4% in 2023.

Rising demand and continued price rises on

jet fuel, which have seen prices more than double in some markets to over $160/barrel according to S&P Global, are putting upward pressure on ticket prices.

Premium class tickets comprised over 7% of all tickets purchased in 2019. The share of premium class tickets fell to 6.5% in 2020 and to 4.5% in 2021 but have started to rise in 2022. Through the first half of the year, premium tickets made up 6.2% of all tickets purchased. A rising share of premium class tickets will result in higher average fares as average ticket price comprises economy and premium.

International and cross border bookings are recovering across most regions which will result in a higher share of international ticket bookings and a corresponding higher average ticket price despite uncertainties caused by the war in Ukraine. Following two years of minimal to no expenditure, business travelers are likely to be willing to spend more on tickets, especially as availability reduces due to labor shortages. This upward trend is largely due to widespread vaccine rollouts and border re-openings.

IBTM World 2022 Preview: Culture Creation

By Tijn Kramer

IBTM has announced the first details of IBTM World 2022 which will focus on ‘culture creation’ as the business events world adapts to a more disparate working environment post-pandemic. The organisers say the event, which will take place at the Fira Barcelona from the 29th of November to the 1st of December, will bring together attendees to discover how modern business challenges are creating opportunities across the industry, and explore the convergence of events and business culture. David Thompson, Event Director, IBTM World, comments: ‘Business events are back to fill the gap they left, but they have also stepped up to

fill the new gap that’s appeared: the place where business culture lives. This year, we’re looking at how the technology we are using, the experiences we are creating, and the destinations we are visiting create limitless cultures for businesses and incredible potential for events and deliver the opportunity for better business results.’

Roadshows

As part of its focus on creating culture, IBTM World 2022 will include the introduction of IBTM Cultural Roadshows. Designed to showcase different cultural destinations around the world, the Roadshows will explore how destinations

use their unique cultures to create huge potential for events. IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme will focus on the event’s core cultural theme and include session tracks on connections, business, careers, brands and experiences. IBTM Accelerate will showcase innovative ideas with a roster of speakers delivering inspirational short talks. IBTM World’s networking events will this year reflect the unique culture of different destinations, including the hugely popular Networking Hour on the show floor, Club Night, and the Welcome Reception on day one with food, live music and dancing.

As we slowly start preparing for IBTM World, our yearly business (ok, and fun) trip to sunny Barcelona, we happily bring you the latest update what to expect end of November.

London calling Barbara Jamison-Woods, Head of Europe, Convention Bureau at London & Partners, comments: ‘I am delighted that the theme for this year’s IBTM World is ‘Culture Creation’ as we are really lucky in London to have a such a diverse and accessible cultural offering with the greatest number of free museums and art galleries in the world. We are really looking forward to exhibiting with our sustainable hotel, venue and DMC partners at IBTM World on the London Convention Bureau Stand. We will be running several ‘What’s New’ and ‘How to Do London’ interactive presentations to not only inspire hosted buyers but to discuss how we and our partners can help them with practical and hands on support to fit all budgets and ROI objectives.’ Grant Caplan, President at Procurigence, comments: ‘Our mission to use gatherings of all sorts for culture creation is more important than ever for our clients. Large corporations who may have fewer offices post-pandemic are looking for ways to maintain their unique culture, something that face-to-face events can really help forge and maintain. Our mission for IBTM this year is to find great suppliers as always, as well as those who can help us deliver creative cultural experiences for our clients.’

To free up time in buyers’ schedules to allow them to attend educational sessions and meetings over the course of the event, this year the Corporate Buyer Programme and the Association Programme will take place the day before the official start of the event, on Monday 28 November.

First keynotes

IBTM has also announced Salesforce event lead Gareth Kelly as the first keynote speaker for IBTM World 2022, As head of Salesforce’s entire events and experiences portfolio across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Gareth Kelly is also responsible for overseeing EMEA at its legendary Dreamforce event. The 2022 event welcomed 150,000 attendees, either in person or on its digital platform Salesforce+, represented over 100 countries, and showcased innovations that turned its audience of attendees into fans. Gareth Kelly, Senior Director and Head of Strategic Events EMEA, will explore how Salesforce uses its empowering and

inspirational events to bring better business results and create meaningful cultural experiences for businesses.

Gareth Kelly comments: ‘This is an exciting time for our industry as we take the opportunity to rebuild, post-pandemic, in imaginative and innovative ways. Events don’t exist in isolation, they have the power to create far-reaching and positive change in business, culture, and society. It will be invigorating to share the knowledge and experience Salesforce has gained, particularly through our Dreamforce event, with so many interesting and like-minded people at IBTM World, and inspire them to continue building a legacy of visionary events which enhance and bring great benefit to today’s modern business landscape.”

Additional expert speakers confirmed for IBTM World include Tom Roach, VP Brand Strategy at Jellyfish, who will present a talk titled, ‘In a World of Change, what won’t? The 7 Principles of Effective BrandBuilding Creativity’. In his session, Tom will suggest that although marketers are fascinated with change and the technology that is driving it, there is something more important that never changes: the human brain – the hardware that all this new technology runs on.

Despoina Zachariadou, Lead Immersive UX Designer, Creative Technologist VR/ AR, and Creative Director at Jack Morton

Worldwide will give the lowdown on the metaverse and why it matters. Adolfo Pahissa Lopez, who leads the Experience Design team as Head of Creativity for technology trend forecasters at NTT DATA Europe & LATAM, will investigate why it is vital to adapt and meet the expectations of Gen Z in order to survive and thrive in today’s market.

On IBTM World’s Accelerate Stage, which showcases interactive discussion, new ideas and inspirational short talks, Grant Dudson, Influencer and Creative Director at Chorus, will discuss event technology past and future. As one of the leading creative voices in the industry, Grant will reflect on the journey of event technology through the eyes of a creative and speculate about what this means for the future for technology innovation at events.

David Thompson, Event Director, IBTM World, comments: “Our market-leading education programme has been designed around the theme of culture in all its forms, and the sessions on technology are no exception. Post-pandemic, we’ve all become that much more immersed in and open to the incredible potential of technology, and we’re delighted to share a host of wonderful sessions which dive into that theme. Gareth Kelly is a powerhouse of knowledge and experience, and his session will be inspirational for everyone looking to take their events to the next level.” More info on www.ibtmworld.com

ATPI: Sustainability in the DNA

Helen van Berkel is Managing Director

Benelux at travel and event organization ATPI. The business travel specialist has made the most of a turbulent time. Steady waters ahead so to say. About the market, sustainability, technology and exciting ocean races.

By Tijn Kramer

We come from an unprecedented period. How did ATPI do?

Fortunately, we got through the covid period very well. One of the most important elements in our services is Marine & Energy Travel. These include crew changes for ships, drilling platforms and this has almost always continued. It was difficult to find flights during the early period of 2020, but that was a challenge. But in the end we managed to organize the first period with charter flights. The travel market has slowly reopened since last summer. Since last autumn 2021, it has almost returned to ‘business almost as usual’ on the corporate travel side. In the field of Corporate Events you saw a little more restraint. Sports activation programs were planned. Corporate events such as business meetings and incentives took a little longer. But that was then, since March of this year it has really been ‘loose’ again.

Is it back to the old level of 2019?

Not yet, the travel policy differs per customer. Some corporates are still cautious, some still have a travel ban and

strict guidelines on what can be flown, others really want to go out again to get together live.

The prospects for travel recovery were not very good for a long time.

It will come back soon. A year ago I probably wouldn’t have thought that. Rather that it would be permanently different. But now we are quickly going back to old values

And the influence of Zoom and Teams?

I think that what can be virtual becomes and remains virtual. I can imagine that meeting one’s own colleagues is done less live. An internal meeting can often be virtual. But you can clearly see a return to live meetings when it comes to external contacts, new customers, sales channels, business partners... Everyone is really happy that this is possible again. There is also some catching up going on. Relatively speaking, we are still seeing a lot of applications before the end of this year.

Has your company changed recently?

We thought we were reasonably well prepared for unexpected situations. We have experienced many events in recent years. But nobody saw this coming. I think that has made us much more experienced in all the scenarios that can arise. The lead time to events is now shorter, we have become even faster in setting them up, even more tried and tested in everything we do.

Sustainability is the hot topic. What are you doing about it?

A lot. An example. We have developed the ATPI Halo platform in which we facilitate corporate organizations in measuring CO2 emissions. This is now mainly focused on travel. We clearly advise customers on how to reduce costs. This can also be, for example, in the field of travel policy. But also how you can reduce by compensating! We offer the customer various and diverse sustainable projects for this. For Corporate and Sports Events we are also investigating whether we can develop a tool to measure the emissions of a program. Right at the front so we can advise the customer on how to minimize the emissions of the

event. It is a two-way street: we are also in talks with customers to include their vision, requirements and wishes.

And how sustainable is ATPI itself?

At the highest level within our organization, people are very committed to strongly interweaving sustainability in all our activities. Just like you see a lot in the corporate world and we certainly do not deviate from that. Sustainability is a very solid objective that has been formulated within our organization. We also look internally, at our own travel policy, at our own energy consumption, water consumption and gas consumption, and what we can improve both internally and externally. That ambition is in every fiber of our company. In June 2022, ATPI was awarded a Silver EcoVadis Sustainability Rating, reflecting the progress ATPI has made with the ESG program over the past 12 months.

Are customers waiting for all those sustainable initiatives?

We notice with many customers that proactive thinking is very much appreciated. There is a lot of enthusiasm

for it. The importance of sustainability has always been recognized, but now there is real urgency in society.

Tools such as ATPI Halo are increasingly helping with this?

It is certainly part of being able to calculate and compensate your emissions in all kinds of ways. But ATPI has many more tools.

For example, we have Travelhub, where you can find your online booking tool, find your traveler profiles, monitor your travel policy and get management information from. But we are also innovating there: we are going to implement a new technique in our Tool Analytics. The customer not only sees what he has done, but also - based on the travel pattern conducted - an analysis.

The customer then sees predictions of the consequences of the same travel behaviour. And so what other choices would mean for emissions, expenditure or maximum savings. So it has a predictive module. And we have ‘Panarma’, a tool for events, to facilitate corporates in organizing an event. You can publish the event program, invite guests, manage registration and much more. But it also goes to a new level, a 2.0. version.

What other wishes does the customer have?

We speak to our customers regularly, we also conducted research among customers during covid. That doesn’t stop. And in addition to sustainability, there is and will always be the importance of the safety of the traveller. It already existed, but it has now taken on a new form. Also in the sense of the health of the traveller. Really hugely important. Also in the organization of where you can and cannot travel and under what conditions. Things are getting better now that the world is opening up again, but there are still parts with the necessary requirements. And then customers still want to fall back on the travel agent for extra confirmation that everything is in order. The added value of travel agents is no longer under discussion since covid. And it is very nice for us to be able to show your added value.

And finally, your well-known sporting side also has good news… Absolutely. We are the official hospitality agency of the Ocean Race that will start again in January. We work together with the race organization in Alicante. From that city, a large part of the world will be sailed in two sailing classes. The start is in Alicante in January 2023, after which the Race ends in Genoa at the beginning of July via Cape Town, Brazil, NewPort and the Danish Aarhus and The Hague. We provide the Hospitality programs for the partners of The Ocean Race organization and the sponsors of the boats in all those stop-over places. On land but also on the water, you really want to experience the start from the water.

For the non-sailors: how big is this? We are still a little before the start, but at the last race we received 10,000 guests in The Hague. We hope that this Race can be matched again. Of course we also do this for interested corporates who want to receive their guests at this wonderful event. And, not unimportant, a sustainable race. Ocean Race has its own team committed to making every facet of the race as sustainable as possible. It’s deep in the DNA.

Ocean Race and Sustainability

Since 1973, The Ocean Race has stood as one of the most beautiful, spectacular sailing races in the world. Two classes will compete in the 2022-23 edition of the race, the high-tech foiling IMOCA 60 class and the one-design VO65 fleet. Starting in Alicante, Spain, teams race across four continents for six months before arriving in Genoa. end. This edition features the longest Southern Ocean stage in the event’s 50 years history, an incredible 12,750 nautical mile marathon between Cape Town, South Africa to Itajaí, Brazil. ATPI Sports Events is the official hospitality agency of The Ocean Race and will provide tailor-made hospitality programs during all stopovers for The Ocean Race partners, sponsors and suppliers of the teams. The focus here is on sustainability.

BTMF 2022, the photo’s!

O what a day…! The 17th edition of the Business Traveller Mice Fair was a great live get together of many MICEspecialists who came for a multitude of diverse exhibitors, interesting speakers and great network opportunities. As many said: ‘Live is best’!

In Hotel Gooiland in Hilversum BTMF was combined with the third edition of TravDay, a trade day for travel agents and already a set day on the agenda of the travel trade. The combination made for an interesting cocktail of knowledge, network and business possibilities.

MICE Benelux, the team of TravMedia and all others involved would like to thank to all exhibitors, speakers and guests for this wonderful day. See you in 2023! Live really is better, isn’t it?

The guarantee scheme for the business market

SGRZ offers a guarantee against the insolvency of providers of group and incentive travel (MICE), school trips and business trips. The clients of these trips are companies, enterprises and groups. Our guarantee scheme is available to both the organizer and the seller/ intermediary of travel. Together with our participants, we take away the worries of the business customers of our partners in the travel industry.

Protect customers in the event of bankruptcy. This also prepares you for new legislation. Distinguish yourself from providers in the business market who offer no guarantees! SGRZ offers the guarantee worldwide SGRZ’s guarantee scheme also applies if you add services to the trip. SGRZ is SGR’s business sister.

Mariska Kesteloo, columnist

Milestone

No better compliment than from a complete stranger: ‘you look happy!’ It took me a long way to get here, so you can imagine my joy. I am over the moon and back.

For a few weeks I felt the difference. The fog is fading away in my body and head and I can truly enjoy my life again. They are simple things and I’m cherishing this special moment! What a long lasting impact a grieving process had on me, and it’s still going on.

What caused this milestone in my life? Of course a mix of reasons but the destination played a huge role in this process and definitely contributed to this turning point.

First of alI I couldn’t have done it alone. I still believe in the power of meeting people face to face. This was not possible online. How on earth can you experience living in a camper and meeting people from different countries? The people, their stories, and my adventures during my journey have definitely contributed. Bridging cultural differences and facing emotions and exchanging experiences. Montenegro gave me the right mix. Sometimes I believe it was meant to be. Nature is stunning and inspiring. The local people are very helpful and kind and pure food. The country really touched me, especially on a spiritual level. Montenegro is nourishing your body and soul, that’s the perfect summary. What a destination for incentives and retreats. Such a small country and it has so much to offer. This is no paid promo talk!!

PS I can’t stress enough to explore a new destination, feel the vibes and energy of the people before you bring a group over.

Next, I have met so many travellers during my journey all going to Albania, Greece, Turkey and Georgia, and some even further. I am impressed by the number of people travelling for a longer period of time, including families with children. I am definitely not the only crazy woman on the road :-)

And funny, I scared the hell out of a solo German traveller asking if he was ‘also’ travelling alone in German. I never saw someone folding up his chair so fast and jumping in his huge camper. Haven’t seen him again before my departure the next morning. Have I said something wrong?

This entire journey and process changed me and my business. I decided to create retreats for people who are going through a grieving process. It helped me to deal with my past, hopefully I can support others to find their joy in life again. And no better destination than Montenegro… Which means I am going back to my role as event planner and it feels damn good!

Seven predictions for travel in 2023

Exploring new places for more work productivity

Since the pandemic travel has changed in many ways. For better and also for worse. It is vital to stay in the know. A giant in the industry has come up with seven travel predictions for 2023 after their most extensive annual travel predictions research to date. For leisure and business.

By Tijn Kramer

To understand how travel will be reimagined in 2023, Booking.com commissioned extensive research with more than 24,000 travellers across 32 countries and territories, combining it with its insights as a leading digital travel platform to reveal seven emerging travel predictions.

At a time of general upheaval, where war, increased societal polarisation, rising inflation and urgent concerns about climate change are all continuing to radically change the world, people are finding themselves in a multi-directional tug-of-war, working to reconcile what is important to them with the demands of everyday life. The 2023 travel predictions reflect this sentiment, revealing that the needs of travellers are moving in a lot of different directions to adapt to changing times.

1. Preppers in Paradise

Camouflaged cabins, campfire cuisine

and compasses; going off-grid will never be more sought after than in 2023. A chaotic few years with natural disasters, political unrest and a global pandemic has seen some lose confidence in the world and the frivolous must-have comforts of our modern lives. A third (33%) of travellers want their travelling experiences to have a more back-to-basics feel and are looking for ‘off-grid’ style holidays to escape from reality (57%) and switch off and experience life with only the bare necessities (33%). Travellers are also keen to use travel in 2023 as an opportunity to learn survival skills (54%) including how to source clean water (37%), light a fire from scratch (36%), forage for food in the wild (30%) and even prep for an apocalypse (30%).

Expect to see more eco-friendly, earthly stays springing up to accommodate burnt-out city dwellers searching for simplicity, as well as accommodations offering guidance for guests on how to

be more self-sufficient, e.g. sourcing and preparing their own meals during their stay. An increase in wilderness survival schools where travellers will learn essential skills needed to live through a cataclysmic event are also predicted to pop up around the world.

‘Off-grid’ in 2023 won’t necessarily mean roughing it though. There is a common perception that this means giving up luxuries (61%), however there is a strong desire to combine the two with 50% of travellers only considering travelling ‘offgrid’ if it can be at a more indulgent stay. And how unplugged is off-grid really for the traveller of 2023? Over half (54%) of travelers will have a non-negotiable requirement: phone and internet connection at their destination is essential – so expect this cohort to be weathering the wilderness with 5G.

2. Virtual Voyagers

It used to be space travel that was

ambitious and ‘outer worldly’. But now that’s happened, what and where next? With 28% of travellers reporting that they will be turning to virtual reality next year to inspire their holiday choices, travel will enter the ever-evolving 3D virtual space of the Metaverse in earnest in 2023. With 27% of travellers keen to embark on a multi-day VR or AR travel experience, the Metaverse will be more than ‘try before you buy’; it will educate, entertain and inspire people, opening the door for infinite adventure. While the Metaverse will offer a new way to experience travel in the year ahead, it still won’t stop people from booking a ticket to their next destination, 73% of travellers believe that a virtual experience is not fulfilling enough to check it off the bucket list.

3. Delight in the Discomfort Zone

Whether it’s bottled-up energy, pentup frustration or a new lease on life, the world is ready to dive into other cultures and new experiences headfirst. 40% of

travellers want to experience complete culture shock in 2023 – be it travelling somewhere with completely different cultural experiences and languages (47%) or exploring lesser-known cities with hidden gems that aren’t already on the radar (24%).

Forget the usual favourites, in 2023 travellers will be seeking unique holidays that shock, surprise and delight. With over half (58%) of travellers looking forward to experiencing ‘out of comfort zone’ travel that pushes them to the limits, there will be an influx of niche experiences encouraging people to push their travel escapades to the extreme. 35% of travellers are on the hunt for the world’s most exotic delicacy such as the hottest

chilli pepper. Unsurprisingly, this ‘culture shook’ traveller is also partial to throwing caution to the wind, with 24% wanting to buy a one-way ticket in 2023 and follow their instinct wherever it takes them.

4. Glamourising the Good ol’ Days

Amid global instability and the desire for escapism, travellers intend to carve out experiences that harken back to simpler times, with nostalgic getaways (84%) that provide the thrill of reliving the glory days top of the wish list in 2023. There’s a desire – even for millennials and Gen-Zs who never lived it – to disappear into the romanticism of a pre-digital era, with 20% of travellers chasing experiences that evoke (faux) emotive memories of days gone past, such as visiting landmarks or

attractions featured in iconic retro films or opting for a bus as a primary mode of transport to live the group spirit of school trips.

Millennial travellers will be first to book emerging era-themed accommodation that transport them back to a time they hold close to their hearts, and will likely be doing so with family by their side (54%) with ‘family reunion’ multi-generational trips top of the travel agenda in 2023.

5. Peace and Pleasure Pilgrimages

Travel is set to take ‘mind, body and soul’ wellness to the next level in 2023 – a fully immersive, no-holds-barred approach to attaining peace and pleasure including less conventional ways to feel bliss. Seeking to recentre the mind, meditation and mindfulness getaways are ever popular with travellers (41%),

while two in five (29%) aim to find peace at a silent retreat and one third (33%) are keen to go on a health hiatus that focuses on mental health, transformative health or that helps with life milestones such as menopause or pregnancy. For those seeking enhanced spiritual experiences to stir the soul, alternative plant-based therapies will become a more mainstream offering, with 31% of Brits keen to try this kind of experimental wellness experience as part of their 2023 travels.

6. From Daily Grind to Great Company Escape

A step change from the ‘work from anywhere’ policies that are now almost as commonplace as annual leave, employees are increasingly keen to preserve holiday time for complete escapism. A significant amount of travellers (68%) want their trips to be strictly work free in 2023, and

‘Travel for business will be back in 2023’

while half (50%) are not interested in working while away, they would consider clocking in for a company retreat or trip. As such, travelling for business will be back on the agenda in 2023. But unlike the business trips BC (before COVID), employees are seeking more opportunities to build team camaraderie in real life –and away from the office – reflecting a growing demand to incorporate work travel with productive play. In fact, 32% of the UK workforce is looking forward to their employer planning a ‘real life’ work trip to bring people together and 40% would like to see their employer use the money saved from the shift to remote/ hybrid working models spent on corporate travel or retreats.

In response, 2023 will see a rise in destination business retreats where the focus will be on strengthening relationships and corporate recreation rather than work. Employers will gamify the retreat experience and immerse staff in a world where teamwork is the only option. Think ‘survivor’ themed trips at luxury cabins or country farmhouses complete with communal cooking and outdoor

adventure activities, or crime-centric escapes where spy school, detective courses or CSI simulations double as a sight-seeing scavenger hunt. Businesses stand to see benefits, too – almost half (49%) of workers believe exploring new places will inspire them to be more productive at work.

7. Saving to Splurge

With the background of global economic uncertainty, travellers in 2023 will continue to prioritise travel but will be more mindful over how to make the most of their travel budget and what takes precedence. People will still place carefree getaways at the top of their agenda, with 44% of travellers saying that investing in a holiday remains a top priority for them. But being budget conscious is key, with 62% of UK travellers continuing to spotlight travel while seeking more bang for their buck.

Within this context, many travellers are also surprisingly prepared to dial up their spend – and even splurge – on the components of their trip that mean the

most to them. 38% of travellers admit that they plan to be more indulgent in their spending habits while on holiday to make up for the lack of travel during the last couple of years, while 35% plan to spend lavishly to ensure they maximize their trip and every experience is worth it.

“If the last few years have taught us anything it’s that travel should not be taken for granted. This year’s travel predictions research shows the undercurrent of intentional paradoxical behaviours that will put us all more comfortably in the driving seat amid relentless instability. It also demonstrates a desire for travel to be a way to seek unapologetic moments of happiness and escapism to counteract the heavy realities of our news feeds. As such, at Booking. com our aim will continue to be to make it easier for everyone to seek their unique travel bliss in a more personalized and connected way in the year ahead and beyond.”

Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com comments:

23 hot tips for 2023

The incentive is on the fast track back! Clients all over the Benelux are eager to travel and always on the lookout for something new and wow. The MICE Benelux editors gladly would like to help the MICE-professionals with our elevator pitch: 23 hot tips for 2023.

By Tijn Kramer

1) The wine not! Europe is blessed with the best wineries in the world. Some are expensive, the most are more keen to go home with you. But either way, the experience in the wineries always make for great MICE-fun. Our tips for next year? The classics are of course the renewed Bordeaux region and the wonderful hills of Tuscany. Our ‘secret’ tip is the great city of Porto with it’s Port wines and the stunning Douro region behind it. Don’t want to fly? Try the amazing wines and wineries of Germany or Luxemburg. We really love those Spatburgunders of the Ahr!

2) The ice cold book early classic! Lapland, you know it, we know it, hot as ever! Well cold, but you get it. Finnish

Lapland has the best flights and we really recommend booking early for the best experience. Nordic Travel is a specialist for the Benelux. Let’s see some aurora borealis!

3) Polish Pleasures.

Yes we know very interesting Warsaw and Krakau is and will be the number one must see of the country. But airlift has really grown to this country, so many new places are easily reachable. Gdańsk, Katowice, Poznań and Wroclaw amongst others each have their own charm. And we love pierogi, Polish dumplings.

4) Take a chance on London. London is always on this list. It is the hippest trendiest and most vibrant city in

Europe, no doubt about it. Blink your eyes and 23 new bars and 12 restaurants have opened. Easily reachable by Eurostar there is always something new. We highly recommened the funky amazing Abba Voyage show, the Virtual Reality Masterpiece (abbavoyage.com). As the theatre is in the former Olympic Park, why not combine it with a fun visit to West Ham United, a real London football sleeping giant (and still affordable, see P1 travel for arrangements). Also a slide down the MittalOrb slide is in walking distance. Another very very hot ticket is Totoro the musical, a five star (The Guardian) rated stage adaption of the Studio Ghibli masterpiece in the Barbican Center. If you love Totoro just as much as we do, you are probably looking for

tickets as we speak. Stay tuned for a London report soon in our magazine. And take the Eurostar, the way to go to London, we think.

5) Türkiyes Delights. We think it is time for Türkiye again. Yes, we too have to get used to the new name, but the country is always a good idea. Istanbul is of course a great city for anything MICE and more affordable than ever. Or try the sunny coast when the usual tourists are at home. Five star luxury for a fair price. And we just love the food, the real kitchen that is. Great place.

6) The hidden capital. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, but somehow the beautiful city of Valletta is sometimes overlooked.

We love it, it is like walking on a movie set. Of course the rest of Malta has also lots to offer but we would be happy to go to Valetta for a few days alone. Great little island this!

7) Hungry for Bologna. Rome may be a bit too big, Venice too crowded and already been to Florence? Look no further, Italy has much more wonderful cities for MICE. We would like to visit Napoli for a Diego Maradona tour and pizza or discover the south of the country with Lecce and Brindisi. But first we are very hungry and go to one of the worlds culinary capitols: Bologna! Why, well don’t you read our story on page 26. It also involves Ferrari’s. Che bella!

8) Beautiful Baltics. Great airlift, affordable, friendly and professional. The Baltics are all that. Wherever you go, you will not be disappointed!

9) The big eh, that green fruit. Long haul MICE travel has taken a hit but is coming back with a vengeance. Oh we just can’t wait to go back to New York City. Many flights to a city that apparently, so we have been told, does not sleep. Bonus: SITE Annual Conference will be there in February 2023. Hopefully see you there!

10) All aboard. Cruises and MICE have long been a bit of a mystery. The product is obvious and wonderful: you keep everyone together, it is fun, it has

wow and more and more short trips are available, also from nearby ports. But somehow it did not yet take off completely. We think it is time for a change. Take your team onboard and discover why a cruise is great for business and pleasure. Last one of the lido deck has to sing a song.

11) Affordable destinations. Let’s face it. There may be pent up demand with some cash to spare but soon the budget will be a big issue again. Affordable is key. For that there are great destinations that combine an A-grade product with a fair price. We can not all go to Ibiza or Dubai. Some names that come to mind for great value for money are aforementioned Baltics, always beautiful Hungary, the yet to be discovered Albania, the beautiful coast of Montenegro and the great cities of Bucharest and Bratislava.

12) Swiss excellence. A regular guest on this list. The service level is just exceptionally high with the Swiss. We love how you can combine a conference in great city like Zurich with a stunning train ride to the mountains for an incentive. It just all feels very classy.

13) The Middle East or should we say… The Middle West? Of course we all know the attraction the Gulf states. Very popular indeed. The Louvre and Ferrari in Abu

Dhabi, some mega-skyscrapers in Dubai, you know the charm of the region. But let’s please not forget the historical heroes of the region. We always will salute to the charm of Jordan, one of our all time favourite MICE-destinations. Just go, take our word for it. Israel also has lots to offer, to put it mildly. And oh tasty wonderful and sometimes troubled Beirut, our thoughts are always with you and our bodies hopefully soon.

14) Direct and far. After a few years of not being able to go to Asia, the region is finally opening up. Not all countries but certainly a few really, really great ones. We know a direct flight is key, so our tips for a awesome trip: Bangkok as always,

Hong Kong and Singapore for that out of this world feel and Seoul and Taipei as stunning ‘discoveries’.

15) The Mother City. South Africa was the talk of the town for many years and then somehow kinda fell off the charts a bit. No need, it is affordable, it is non jetlag and above all the scenary is stunning and the people are still so friendly. Please bring some biltong back!

16) Scrums and hookers in France

Yes, we know how to get your attention, be it in the wrong way. But we need to tell you about the third biggest sporting event in the World after the World Cup Football and the Olympics. So please let

us convince you that you must go to the World Cup Rugby in France. It will be held in the fall, all over the country! Rugby is everything football should be sometimes: fun rivalry, fans from both teams having pre or post drinks together and just an amazing sport to watch. Get your tickets or hospitality arrangements now. Trust us, see one match and you’ll be hooked for life. Speaking of which: a ‘Hooker’ is one of the positions in a rugby team, Usually wearing jersey number 9, (see P1 Travel or rwc2023.com)

17) Cultural capitals.

There is always something going on in cities that are named Cultural Capital of Europe. For 2023 these are Elefsina

(Greece), Veszprém (Hungary) and Timisoara (Romania).

18) The Jackson 5 Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao. Hopefully there will be enough airlift, but these leisure classics are also making great progress as MICE-destinations. Check it out if you can resist the gorgeous beaches.

19) Smaller Airports aka Skiphol. Ok, Let’s face it, lots of people prefer to skip Schiphol (Skiphol?). Well not to worry, the smaller airports in the Benelux have great networks, Brussels airport is just awesome and across the border in Germany are also many options. Get well soon Schiphol and shine again!

20) The Faroer Islands. We have been a few years ago and it remains one of the most special MICE-destinations in Europe. Check it out. Case Closed.

21) Scotland. What a great country! Edinburg is fun and stunning, Glasgow has soul but the real star is perhaps the countryside, in all its many shapes and forms. Well, that aside from that brownish liquid they concoct there. Not sure if it will be a hit elsewhere.

22) Ireland. What a great country! Dublin is fun and almost as stunning as

Edinburgh, Cork has heart but the real star is perhaps the countryside, in all its many shapes and forms. Well, that aside from that black liquid they concoct there. Not sure if it will be a hit elsewhere.

23) Home sweet home. Yes of course, we will look often to all that is new in The Benelux. So much to do, so many things to discover. Keep reading our magazine, subscribe to our ezine or linkedin-group and find your updates often to stay ahead in the game.

Groups & incentives feel alrigth in Jamaica

Jamaica is the home of groovy reggae music, sizzling epicurean delights, and natural beauty beyond imagination. We’re known for white sandy beaches, sunset parties, and the ultimate in adventure. John Woolcock, Manager, Groups & Conventions, Jamaica Tourist Board: “Meeting planners and attendees can feel very secure about looking to Jamaica for their upcoming events. Since reopening in June 2020, we’ve hosted multiple largescale, prestigious industry events on island to much acclaim and with no resultant outbreaks of Covid.”

By Tijn Kramer

Large conferences, business events, corporate getaways, social retreats, and trade conventions enjoy professional meeting planning services, leading telecommunication infrastructure, and topnotch spaces with the latest audio-visual equipment for every type of presentation need. You’ll discover many reasons to meet in Jamaica and will appreciate the many wonderful amenities that will make your event a standout success.

Positive developments

“While all destinations across the world have experienced challenges as a result of the pandemic, we in Jamaica are deeply grateful for the success we have had and I am extremely optimistic about the future of Jamaica’s tourism industry,” said Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board, Donovan White. “Positive developments include new service from key markets by our airline partners and planned

investments in our destination remaining on track, so there has never been a better time to hold meetings and events in Jamaica.”

Best summer ever Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund has announced in October that Jamaica has earned USD $5.7 billion since reopening its borders in June 2020. The data also shows that the island welcomed over 5

million visitors over the same period. The announcement follows the destination’s strong tourism recovery efforts that resulted in its best summer ever according to arrivals figures. For the summer period, the island recorded over 224,000 stopover arrivals in June while 2019 June figures show 222,000 arrivals.

Disruptions

“These phenomenal earnings and arrivals

figures are truly a testament to the hard work of my Ministry, its public bodies and our many stakeholders and partners. Through our thought leadership, Jamaica was able to reopen its borders at the height of the pandemic and remain open to allow visitors to travel to the island safely and seamlessly. This strong recovery is happening even amidst the disruptions that the pandemic is causing in the airline industry with flight cancellations and

Event spaces

Jamaica boasts two large event spaces that cater uniquely to the variety of needs for your function. These spaces offer the convenience of having everything under one roof to welcome, meet, cater, and entertain your guests. Both offer customizable spaces perfect for trade

supply chain disruptions”, said Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett.

shows and exhibitions, large halls for group gatherings, and break-out rooms for intimate sessions.

Ample island entertainment

Business event planners will appreciate the facilities of the Jamaica Conference Centre, located in the downtown business hub of Kingston, the nation’s capital city. While it offers press galleries, multispeaker halls, and translation facilities, it’s not all business here as it is located on the waterfront surrounded by our endearing culture, glitzy nightlife, and outstanding artistic attractions providing ample island entertainment for your guests.

New rooms

In terms of accommodations,

approximately 8,000 new rooms are scheduled to be constructed within the next 2-5 years. These include a 2,000room Princess Hotel, the 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River resort and a third RIU hotel with 700 rooms, all providing additional meeting space. Further, groundbreaking is being planned for the 2,000-room Hard Rock Hotel along with several other properties and the renovations at Couples San Souci are on track for completion by December 2023.

A multi-billion dollar 4-year redevelopmen

In the capitol city of Kingston, a multibillion dollar 4-year redevelopment is underway at the Jamaica Conference Centre. Its lobby renovation is slated to

be complete in December 2022, the first milestone in the project. Set adjacent to the Conference Centre, the 168-room ROK Hotel Kingston, a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, opened in July 2022 featuring 6 meeting rooms and spacious public areas for events.

Suitable venues

The Montego Bay Convention Centre offers 57,000 feet of meeting space and is located close to the airport and many of our major resorts, beaches, and tourist attractions, making it the perfect choice for work and play. It is excellent for corporate retreats or large sports groups who will appreciate the ultra-modern amenities here while being in the heart of the tropical vibe. Around the island,

you’ll find a host of other suitable meeting venues perfect for a variety of meeting and convention needs.

Infrastructure

Jamaica has also been investing billions of dollars updating the country’s relevant infrastructure. Major projects planned or currently underway include the development of beach facilities, building and upgrading of piers, regeneration of heritage sites and the construction of a national highway network.

Top planners

Just this past summer, Jamaica served as the host destination for the International Board of Directors Meeting of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE)

Global. These top planners in the incentive travel business from countries around the world were able to experience the island’s tourism product. Praising the destination, President, SITE 2022, & Vice President, AIC Hotel Group, Kevin Edmunds, commented: “With its easy access, great infrastructure and undoubted all-round destination appeal, Jamaica is the perfect destination to deliver high levels of motivation and energy.”

Key driver

Since reopening in June 2020, the island has welcomed approximately 5,173,000 visitors including stopover arrivals and cruise passengers. “Tourism is a key driver in the overall economic recovery for Jamaica and these numbers augur well

for the economy, lives and livelihoods. To have already earned USD $5.7 billion is huge given the major disruption caused by the pandemic,” added Minister Bartlett. The island was one of the first destinations to reopen amidst the global coronavirus pandemic through its robust health and safety protocols and World Travel and Tourism Council approved resilient corridors. These innovative approaches allowed for the safe reopening of borders and travel and tourism activities. “These numbers validate the hard work of our team and prove that our ideas and innovations are successful. We will continue our efforts to recover stronger as we work to surpass our 2019 achievements”, said Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board.

Jan Peeters, columnist

Roll those MICE-dice!

These are weird times. CFO’s all around the Benelux are passing “please be careful” messages, warning their managers to be careful and to stick to the budgets because “a recession is looming”. This tends to create tension. We all feel the need to meet, to exchange ideas, and even to celebrate the fact that we’ve made it through tough times.

But, of course, the situation tends to be different for many companies. After the pandemic, some licked their wounds, others celebrated their good fortune. Roughly, 4 post-covid categories emerged.

First category: companies that have made more turnover and

profit than in any other period

Of course, the companies that produced, distributed, and stored the vaccines saw a sudden unlimited demand for their products and services. But also, supermarkets, producers and distributors of technical equipment and many IT companies thrived. These companies look back on good covid years and need ways to pass a memorable “thank you” message to their teams. Most of them probably must roll out new plans for the coming months and years.

Second category: Companies that were hardly touched, but grabbed the opportunity to downsize where necessary

Many companies saw during 2021 and 2022 that, with staff members working from home, others reducing working hours and some quitting, that it was high time to “cut the fat”, to reorganize their workflows and work way more efficiently. They came out of the covid years as more “lean and mean” companies than ever before. These companies have new organization structures, new teams, and new objectives to communicate.

Third category: Companies that suffered heavily because of corona

The companies that saw their turnover evaporate, that had to close for long periods and that struggled to keep their heads above the waters. Staff that spent many months at home, not sure about the future. Among others, the companies that today are ready and eager to organize your MICE initiatives, have seen tough times. The organizations that survived all this, want to celebrate their survival – and their pride.

Fourth category: Government Institutions and schools

Government organizations and schools were forced to work from a distance, and often had to cope with steep learning curves to be able to work, meet and teach online. Although most of the staff was financially safe, this situation came with a lot of stress and anxiety. The staff and the students accepted -and sometimes embraced- the new lifestyle, but there is a need to compensate the lack of human contact in the recent past.

Fifth category: Companies that used the corona period to reinvent themselves from A to Z

Quicky after the pandemic outbreak a “New Normal” was announced. This soon turned out to be more like a desire to “Go Back To The Old Normal in 2019” for many players. But some companies used the adagio “Never waste a good crisis” to reinvent themselves, offer different products and services and reach new target groups. Exciting times, but with a lot of stress for the staff.

All these categories have one thing in common: there is a need to get messages across, to bring people together and most of the times to celebrate. That’s where the MICE sector comes in. More than ever.

PLEASED TO MEET YOU

Are you are looking for the perfect urban getaway to host your next corporate event? Or maybe you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city to relax by the sea. Whichever destination you are looking for, Palladium Hotel Group has got the ideal hotel or resort to fit your needs.

Check out the wide variety of hotels and resorts offered by MICE by Palladium, from urban hotels in the most popular Spanish capital cities to tropical resorts in Europe, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Brazil. We provide the best facilities, the latest technology and a team of dedicated event coordinators to guarantee the success of every corporate event, as well as the best value for your money.

Plan your next corporate event at any of our spectacular destinations in Spain, Italy, Mexico, The Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Brazil.

MEETINGS WITH A DIFFERENT APPROACH

Large conventions, training programs, boards of directors or kick-off meetings. Palladium Hotel Group can offer you top facilities with the most dedicated event coordinators that will make your next meeting a success. State-of-the-art technology, excellent gastronomy and a comfortable environment filled with natural light and flexible set up options. Make your next meeting an outstanding one!

INCENTIVES THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD

Reward your employees or pamper your clients by taking them on a trip to remember. Escape from daily routine at the office and take a break from business duties so that you can refresh your mind. Palladium Hotel Group provides the ideal destinations for an unforgettable incentive trip. From exclusive getaways on exotic islands or paradisiac beaches to upscale urban escapes for the most cosmopolitan travelers. Let us plan your next incentive to give your employees the break they deserve.

CONFERENCES THAT COULD BE DIFFERENT

Escape from plain conferences, add a touch of personality and distinguish it from the ordinary world with our modern facilities and inspiring business settings. Large plenary rooms with lots of breakout spaces for team work and open spaces for inspiration will lead your meeting to the most successful experience

EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY

Showcase your product in a way that makes them stand out to clients. See how proud your employees are to be a part of your company. Our team will work together with you to make your brand the star of the event. Leave it in our hands.

HARD ROCK HOTEL TENERIFE

BLESS HOTEL IBIZA

LET’S MEET IN BRU SS ELS!