The festive season, launched officially by the Mayor of Brussels at the beginning of the month, is now in full swing.

Brussels Christmas market is hailed by British tour operators as 'Europe's most original Christmas market'.
...and the Times newspaper has just recommended Brussels in its list of Europe’s 20 Best Christmas Markets.

But it’s much more than just a Christmas market…it’s a real Festival of Winter Wonders. Still time for a spontaneous short Brussels break to wish yourself a Merry Christmas! It’s on until 28 December…
www.winterwonders.be

…AND WHAT A NEW YEAR!
We’re in for a busy Brussels 2009 with so much going on…

In January…it’s the New Year Sales starting the 3rd (six days before Paris!) and running for the whole month. Europe’s very best with incredible bargains to be had, both in the shops and the hotels… Download the brochure

In February…Brussels Comic Strip Year 2009 kicks off with a Balloon Day Parade on the 28th. www.brusselscomics.be
The big ‘From Van Dyck to Belloto’ exhibition opens at BOZAR on 20th.
www.bozar.be

In May…BOZAR launches a series of exciting modern art exhibitions with major artists like Sophie Calle, Jan De Cock… www.bozar.be

In June…the wonderful new Magritte Museum opens on the 2nd. As they write in the latest b.there flight magazine, published by Brussels Airlines, ‘This one is a BIG deal for Brussels’.
www.musee-magritte-museum.be

In September…at 20.09 on 20.09.2009 to be precise…the Square Meeting Centre at the very heart of the city reopens after extensive renovations… www.square-brussels.eu
And Brussels Grand Casino will be moving to its new home in the also completely renovated Anspach Centre. www.grandcasinobrussels.be

In October…Europalia China Festival takes off on a 5 month long journey showcasing China’s history and its contemporary arts scene… www.europalia.eu

Wow! That’s quite some year…!
…and these are just highlights. There’s all the usual array of events, exhibitions and festivals throughout the Brussels year.
For all the details of dates, times & places, take a look at the Events Calendar

…SO DON’T FORGET
…even in these difficult times we’re all going through, organizing a meeting or event in ‘easily-accessible’ Brussels still represents real value-for-money.
As you can see, there is so much going on and it’s great stage on which to produce your event at competitive prices.

And for a different take on Brussels, go to YouTube

The Sky Lodge in a former water tower is an original new venue for your small events at the top. It has a capacity for 40 guests.
www.theskylodge.be







Costermans is an antiques complex in the beautiful Sablon square. On the 1st & 2nd floors they have banqueting (up to 120) and meeting (up to 80) facilities. Why not meet or dine in this unusual environment?





Only-in-Brussels would you find an entire museum dedicated to a collection of everything plastic from the 1960s to the present day - the Plasticarium. Surreal, and yet a designer’s paradise…Take a personal tour with the ‘plastic-enthusiastic’ owner and organise a simple event for up to 50. By appointment only: + 32 2 344 98 21

B-19 is an attractive modern venue on the edge of the Soignes Forest in the south of the city. 320m² of event space with a capacity of 320 for meetings & 180 for dinners.
www.b-19.be

The Sequence, the latest outdoor creation-in-wood by artist Arne Quinze, links the Flemish Parliament to MPs’ offices in the form of a symbolic bridge between people & politics…
www.thesequence.be
www.arnequinze.tv

Brussels Airport recently received the AOG Airport Marketing Award in the European category at the 14th World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur. This prize is awarded in every region of the world by the airlines, and rewards initiatives undertaken by airports to attract new carriers & routes; innovations in marketing; and hard results.
Our congratulations to Brussels Airport!
www.brusselsairport.be

13 March sees the launch of the 4th Brussels Meetings Week. Politicians, media, European & international institutions, corporate decision-makers, job seekers… all have a big part to play in recognising the value and raising awareness of the Meetings & Motivation industry. It makes a vital contribution to the Brussels economy and employment.

The Brussels Meetings Week logo is brand new and a new website comes online in mid-January with all the latest info:
www.brusselsmeetingsweek.be

Brussels is also turning into a capital of medical congresses with all their different specialities. 4 big events are taking place here.

The Joint Congress of the European & International Societies for Sexual Medicine, 7-11 December, has just finished. It was one of their biggest-ever events with 3,000 participants. www.essm-issm-congress.org

29th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine traditionally meets in Brussels, 24-27 March, and will attract some 5,000.
www.intensive.org

The landmark annual meeting of the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID) will be held in Brussels on 9-13 June, and will host some 3,000 participants. www2.kenes.com

27th European Workshop - Gastroenterology and Endotherapy comes to Brussels on 22-24 June with 750 delegates from 60 countries.
www.live-endoscopy.com

And others are in the pipeline of negotiation. Watch this space…

A break, a brainstorming, a bite to eat and a bit of team fun to motivate people in these hard times…
Here are just a couple of ideas for small creative meetings in original venues.

For blue sky thinking above Brussels & Belgian food with a modern twist
@ the Atomium Restaurant.
www.atomium.be

Under water @ Nemo 33, the world’s deepest diving pool.
www.nemo33.com

In among the barrels @ the Café-Restaurant Wiels, the former brewery turned cultural & arts centre.
www.wiels.org

Up to your neck in chocolate! @ Zaabär, a new chocolate experience with its own Chocolate Academy!
www.zaabar.be

And it’s of course also possible to take over these venues for big events.

We recently took part in a short preview of Brussels new dining-in-the-dark experience, Only4Senses.

“The objective of this programme is two fold. Only4Senses not only provides a unique opportunity to share an extraordinary experience with members of your own team, but it also makes us all aware of the challenges of being blind or partially sighted.”
Kathleen Davisters (BI-TC)

“We experienced a completely new world where it was we who were handicapped. The best thing of all was the contact with our blind guides, thanks to the work done by the Belgian ‘Ligue Braille’ who has trained them. Great for team building, even with people you don’t know well, and it’s fun to sit in the bar afterwards over a quiet drink… in the semi-darkness…to exchange views and talk about all the many strange sensations.”
Bruce Taylor (BBT Online)

Just a reminder - the Only4Senses experience takes place on 6 evenings every month, from 4th to 9th, at Brussels-on-Stage underneath the Galeries Saint-Hubert.
www.only4senses.com

PS It’s important to ensure that no-one in your team suffers from severe claustrophobia.

We are the official Brussels Convention & Visitors Bureau - here to help you bring your meetings, events & tours to Brussels.
We work closely with Agencies & Tour Operators; Associations & Corporates; EU & International Institutions; the Brussels Incoming Industry & Hotels; and the Media.

We have up-to-the-minute information for you & your clients: www.brusselsinternational.be as well as a wide range of attractive & practical printed material to help you sell our city.

We are completely neutral & offer independent advice. We can put you in contact with DMCs, PCOs, hotels, venues & other suppliers, according to your own particular needs.

We look forward to welcoming you here in Brussels!

Who can I talk to?
Are you organising a meeting, an incentive, a site inspection or a group tour?
Are you an agency, an association, a company, a tour operator…?
Click here to find out who you need to talk to…

Brussels International – Tourism & Congress
Rue Royale 2
B- 1000 Brussels
Tel: +32 2 549 50 50
Fax: +32 2 549 50 59
mice@brusselsinternational.be
www.brusselsinternational.be