Alternative destinations in the Benelux

The benefits of holding meetings and events “in the provinces”

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Many companies are in the habit of staging their meetings and events in the capital or biggest city, such as Brussels, Amsterdam or Paris. It’s pretty much de rigueur, wouldn’t you say? But what if, just for once, you were to switch your event to smaller towns or more original locations in the provinces? The advantages are numerous …

Because dynamism also exists “in the sticks”…

Take Wavre for instance, a small town thirty kilometres outside Brussels. There are 350+ companies based within its Zoning Nord, employing upwards of 10,000 staff. Some leading international groups have chosen to base themselves there, which is a sure sign of economic dynamism… Clearly then, it’s a town ideally suited to hosting events, meetings, making contacts, etc. What’s more, it’s just a stone’s throw from Louvain-la-Neuve, home to numerous fast-developing companies and start-ups, not to mention a top-notch university boasting internationally renowned research facilities… 

Where to hold your event? at the ibis Wavre Brussels East 

Because you’ll be able to benefit from a verdant setting…

Big cities are synonymous with stress. So when you’re looking to arrange an event for your staff or clients, wouldn’t you prefer to offer them a pleasant, calm and relaxing time? So why not give the metropolis a miss and instead opt for a green haven like Canash, a small village in an exceptional natural setting, 20 kilometres outside Luxembourg. There’s even an 18-hole golf course where you can network amid nature’s splendour… Or there’s The Hague, the greenest city in Europe with 111,000 hectares of dunes, parks and scenic estates! Talk about the best of both worlds!

Where to hold your event? at the Mercure Kikuoka Golf Club, the Mercure Hotel Den Haag Centraal, the Novotel Den Haag City Centre or the Novotel Suites Den Haag City Centre (the latter doesn’t have a meeting room but is an ideal place to stay).

Because you’ll benefit from the human scale

Refocusing on the human aspect is becoming the driving force behind more and more companies. Organisations have begun to grasp the fact that placing their men & women and human relations at the heart of what they do creates real added value for collective projects. So why not apply this human management philosophy to meetings and events? And what better way to do it than by opting to hold them in more manageable locations? 
Where to hold your event? at the Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum or the Novotel Mechelen Centrum 

Because you can enjoy a historic and imposing setting

To complement your meeting or event, why not offer your guests a little cultural visit? Choose a town steeped in history, sprinkled with stunning architecture that highlights the area’s cultural heritage! Or go for one of the temples of economic history such as Bruges, the first city in the world to set up a stock exchange. 

Where to hold your event? at the Novotel Brugge Centrum, the Novotel Gent Centrum or the Novotel Leuven Centrum
Novotel Suites Den Haag City Centre © Abaca Corporate/Barbara Zonzin
Canach Golf Club © Stefan Kraus
Mercure Den Haag Central © Abaca Corporate/Annelore Van Herwijnen
Novotel Den Haag City Centre © Abaca Corporate/Barbara Zonzin
Mercure Hotel Tilburg Centrum © Camiel Donders
Mechlin
Novotel Mechelen Centrum © Abaca Corporate/Jeff Bauche
Bruges © Fotolia
Novotel Brugge Centrum © Abaca Corporate/Jeff Bauche
Ghent
Novotel Gent Centrum © Abaca Corporate/Jeff Bauche
Leuven © Fotolia
Novotel Leuven Centrum © Abaca Corporate/Jeff Bauche
Published by on 28/02/2018 Photo credit: © Istock photos

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