Establishment of Antwerp & Partners Convention Bureau
Congresses and events have been driving engines for the Antwerp economy for some time now. VOKA, Antwerp Hotel Association, A Room with a ZOO (KMDA vzw) and Easyfairs therefore decided to set up the vzw Antwerp & Partners Convention Bureau (A&PCB), with financial support from the city of Antwerp. A&PCB will be given the unique responsibility to strengthen Antwerp’s position as a destination for business events with broad support.
In recent years, the landscape of conferences and events in Antwerp has evolved enormously. This is largely due to the many investments in the city. Just think of the top notch conference infrastructure of the Flanders Meeting and Convention Center Antwerp (FMCCA – A Room with a ZOO) and unique locations for events such as the Handelsbeurs.
And with the recent reopening of the KMSKA, the city has gained another iconic experience spot and event location.
The aim of A&PCB is to position Antwerp even better as a business city and as a destination for (inter)national conferences, business events and trade fairs. That is why the non-profit organization will pursue a thorough marketing policy and proactively approach organizers. A&PCB primarily wants to focus on attracting events that generate a positive impact on residents, entrepreneurs and visitors to the city. Events that leave a lasting legacy because they strengthen local and regional policy and have a link with the strong economic clusters, knowledge institutions or centers of expertise present.
The founders and initiators of the non-profit organization sit on the new Board of Directors: Didier Boehlen for Antwerp Hotel Association, Dries Herpoelaert for A Room with a ZOO (KMDA vzw), Dirk Van Roy for Easyfairs Belgium, and Luc Luwel for VOKA Antwerpen-Waasland .
Ruben Verhoeven, senior partner emeritus at management consultancy McKinsey & Company and active as a board member and advisor to both companies and social initiatives, will be the chairman of the new non-profit organization. He emphasizes once again the importance of a strong network: “Business events are the economic connection between many sectors that can strengthen each other internationally. The network of Antwerp’s business and scientific sectors is underused and by mapping and supporting these ‘ambassadors’ we can convince many conference organizers to come to Antwerp. Antwerp must become ‘top-of-mind’.”
In consultation with the City of Antwerp and Tourism Flanders, the Board of Directors has mapped out the strategic lines, which will be converted into a concrete plan of approach by the general director of A&PCB, who has yet to be appointed.
Alderman for tourism Koen Kennis: ‘I strongly believe in the potential of business tourism in Antwerp. This concerns visitors who often stay overnight, who spend above average, and who give rise to repeat visits. Thanks to the new functioning of the A&PCB, Antwerp will be ready to respond to the latest trends in that market.”
For more information:
Contact A&PCB via – info@antwerpconventionbureau.be or telephone number +32 477 53 67 22 (Ruben Verhoeven, chairman)
