A round-trip from Brussels to London through Eurostar!

Connecting cities in several European countries, including the UK, with mainland Europe, Eurostar high-speed trains celebrated their 30th anniversary on Thursday 14th November. To mark the occasion, London & Partners and Visit.Brussels invited a select number of journalists to cover their best venues and MICE assets available to delegates travelling across the Channel. HQ was on both sides of the strait...

HQ Magazine Manager, Manuel Fernandes, reports...

It was on 14 November 1994 that the first railway carriages rolled through a tunnel for the first time, revolutionising European transport and the way Western Europe was connected. 30 years on, Eurostar Group - the new holding company resulting from the merger between its parent company and the now extinct Thalys - has already transported more than 380 million passengers with a six-fold increase, from 3 million in 1994/95 to 18.6 million in 2023. The main benefits for consumers will be better scheduling, ticketing and a common loyalty programme across the entire unified network.

The plan to merge Eurostar and Thalys was set to go ahead in 2019, but the sharp drop in passengers during the coronavirus pandemic forced the process to be postponed until 2023. With the merger of the two companies, Eurostar Group will now serve 28 destinations in five different countries with a renewed customer offer that includes new travel classes, the expansion of its premium lounges and a single operational control centre. This is what we witnessed at London's beautiful Saint Pancras station as we waited for our relaxing journey to Gare du Midi in Brussels. Moving forward, Eurostar aims to reach 30 million passengers by 2030 with greater investment to expand its fleet with 50 new trains, enhanced user experiences, and an upscaling of European hubs with new connections and multimodal trips.

It will also reflect an investment of ten million euros to facilitate the departure experience with multiple check-in areas, clear signage and a live digital map, dedicated staff and accessible kiosks, in addition to the aforementioned fleet expansion. A new terminal in Amsterdam is scheduled to open on 10 February 2024. This new strategic commitment highlights sustainable and customer-optimised accessibility advantages, with the aim of improving rail links across the continent and increasing the capacity of its route map, thus making rail transport a more attractive and time-saving alternative to air transport (with direct links to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, Amsterdam Schiphol airport and Düsseldorf airport).

During the company's 30th anniversary ceremony, hosted at the Radisson Collection Hotel, Grand Place Brussels, the group's CEO, Gwendoline Cazenave, doubled down on these plans and strategies: "For the past 30 years, Eurostar has been at the forefront of high-speed rail transport, revolutionising the way people travel between the UK and the continent. As we celebrate this landmark anniversary, we reflect on our Merger with Thalys, which now connects customers to France, the Netherlands, Brussels and Germany. Our success is testament to the hard work and dedication of our team across Europe.’
 

From Brussels to London…

Arriving at London's stunning St Pancras station, and after staying overnight at Andaz London on Sunday night, we began our tour in the upscale area of ​​Westminster. There we were welcomed to Church House, the headquarters of the Church of England next to Westminster Abbey, by sales executive Charlotte Brumby. With a long and rich heritage intertwined with connections to the royal family, Parliament and the tribulations of the 20th century, Church House Westminster pays tribute to UK history and offers period features in a space that can be adapted for events, fashion shows, workshops, product launches and more. This Grade II listed building in the centre boasts 19 meeting rooms of varying size and structure accommodating from 2 to 664 people, with a special emphasis on the circular Assembly Hall. Right next door, we head for Central Hall Westminster, one of the key venues for association and corporate events in central London. Opened in 1912 as a public meeting space for the Methodist Church, the current management has respected the functional heritage of the space with 23 rooms and varied spaces ranging from group meetings for up to 60 people to large congregations for 500 people. With more than 800 events every year (a graduation event for British students was taking place at the time), the business development team is currently putting a lot of emphasis on food of a sustainable and circular nature. We had a taste of this at our lunch with small dishes inspired by seasonal fruit and vegetables and the reuse of leftover products in the kitchen. To burn off the calories we climbed the largest self-supporting domed ceiling in Europe to enjoy the stunning views over London.

In the afternoon, we went to East London to visit the ExCeL international exhibition and convention centre in the Newham district. Situated on the north quay of the Royal Victoria Dock between Canary Wharf and London City Airport, this mega-development is a mandatory stop for large-scale events in London and is currently embarking on a programme to expand its facilities by pulling up to the east door in an existing structure of around 32,500 m2 to form an identifiable entrance to the 900-metre-long building. During an inspection visit, James Rees Executive Director of ExCeL London, explained to us how this private consortium wants to become the largest fully integrated conference and exhibition venue in Europe, with an additional convention centre, along with exhibition halls and conference rooms, as well as large reception areas and a foyer overlooking the Royal Docks. Phase II of the expansion will be ready in February 2025. Later in the evening we were hosted by the gracious Rachel Lajom, who took us on a quick tour of one of the city's most refined and complete hotels, The Ned London. An example of successful urban regeneration, this building designed as the headquarters of a Midlands bank has become one of the city's most exclusive hotels featuring a members' club, a dream wellness centre and countless bars and restaurants within its premises. The Ned has six Grade I-listed meeting rooms and two outdoor terraces available to hire on the historic and fully-restored sixth floor.

The following morning, we had the privilege of going on an exclusive tour of the National Gallery's collections, followed by a guided tour of the new spaces still under construction and available for events. Located in Trafalgar Square, this art gallery has a collection of more than 2,300 paintings, covering a vast historical period from the 13th to the 20th centuries. What's more, right next to the neo-classical building, an £85 million extension project is underway for the institution's bicentenary, which will include new opportunities for associations and corporates to hire space for events. HQ was delighted to take part in this tour of the new spaces which will open in May 2025 and will include a new mezzanine level with a circular bar, a fully accessible 322-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art AV facilities, a foyer for receptions and catering, and new event rooms. After lunch, we met up with Antony Robbins, better known as Mr Londoner, to get to know the corners of the former working-class Bankside neighbourhood. One of the capital's newest cultural centres, this lively creative quarter is home to Borough Market, one of the city's oldest, Shakespeare's Globe and the world's most visited art gallery, Tate Modern. Touring its secret streets, obscure corners and the cultural and historical highlights of a London hotspot, Mr Londoner lifted the veil on lost cemeteries, ruined churches and iconic buildings that explain the magic and backdrop of London in the 20th century.

Bankside is also home to the headquarters of London&Partners, the driver of strategies and new events for the City of London, such as London Tech Week and Ride London. There, Barbara Jamison-Woods, Head of Europe, Convention Bureau, and Suzanne Singleton, Head of Associations and Citywide Bids, welcomed us for a brief presentation of the organisation's new structure and focus on the value chain of business events and meetings industry as drivers of investment, jobs and growth. London&Partners was the result of three organisations working in silo and with different objectives (Visit London, Think London and Study London) coming together to become a wider and integrated promotional agency working collaboratively between knowledge sharing, network building and funding. Since they were founded in 2011, the agency has created significant growth with the addition of £3.1 billion to the London economy, 84,000 jobs created or supported, and more than 2,700 events attracted. “Our partners are fundamental to our activity as congress bidders, they increase our impact and generate the income we need to reinvest in our structures,” Barbara told us. “Among the different tasks of our organisation are business growth in high-growth sectors, micro-business support, capital attraction and, of course, destination branding.”

Several renovations of existing hotels are planned for 2025, in addition to openings such as the St. Regis London, the Chancery Rosewood, the Hyatt Regency London Olympia, among others. In addition, there are a series of business improvement districts investing in the rejuvenation of local ecosystems and knowledge quarters and betting on new event campuses and creative spaces for pop-up culture, namely Kings Cross, South Bank, East Bank and Battersea. Later, we stayed at a new hotel chain that aims to address the shortcomings for business travellers and delegates in cities such as London, Brussels or Frankfurt. We're talking about the nhow London, part of the NH Hotel Group, which in its building on Macclesfield Road, mixes the tradition of the monarchy with the kitsch irreverence of its brand to play up the lighter, more modern style of its hospitality service. The bold environment, designed by architect James Soane, includes modern rooms, a fitness area with an underground theme, a Guilty restaurant, a bar and a lounge area with a fireplace, and, inspired by this innovative spirit, three meeting ‘laboratories’ with the latest technological equipment and innovative design.
 

…And from London to Brussels!

On Wednesday 13th, we said goodbye to London and headed for Kings Cross St Pancras Station, where the train back to Brussels was waiting for us. There we were able to experience the comforts and benefits of a business trip between the two European capitals, whether it was the silence and privacy of working while travelling or the meals served on board.

Stepping out at the Gare du Midi at around two in the afternoon, we went to check in at the nhow branch in Brussels ahead of that day's visits. This beautiful hotel, located in the Botanique area of the city centre, is a gathering place for leisure, business and local travellers with artistic allusions to seminal Belgian artists. This new social centre has 305 rooms and suites all designed and decorated to reproduce the look of an art gallery, while the bathrooms mimic a photo lab. nhow Brussels Bloom has 12 different meeting and event spaces to suit a large conference, a small session or a cocktail party. The suite of meeting rooms can accommodate up to 350 delegates equipped with screens, projectors and Wi-Fi.

We then crossed the canal in the company of Kjell Materman from VisitBrussels to visit the massive Tour & Taxis. The venue for the Brussels International Association Forum 2023, this industrial heritage site made up of large brick and iron warehouses and commercial buildings has been converted into a large cultural and city rendezvous point in a perfect blend of history, culture, art and innovation. Once a central customs facility, this iconic Brussels site features everything from art exhibitions and flea markets to gastronomic festivals and cultural events in its impressive Gare Maritime. However, this large complex also has several pavilions and buildings that we had the opportunity to visit on this rainy day with event manager Jean Vandamme.

Starting at the Gare Maritime, we ended up in the ‘Sheds’, a large exhibition space with beautiful and functional architecture that has attracted several fairs and shows. Once a customs warehouse, the Sheds is now home to events such as Comic Con Brussels, Brussels Beer Fest and La Foire du Livre, to name but a few, providing accessible entrances and integrated catering. Right at the entrance to Picard Street, the Maison de La Poste is the heartbeat of events in what was once the âlfandega's centre of operations. Created as the post office for the multimodal transit and logistics centre that Tour & Taxis was in its industrial heyday, the Maison de la Poste features 15 event rooms, whether for a small meeting for 4 people, a product presentation in a cinema or a large conference for 600 guests. This impressive building has been revived as a major sustainable urbanisation project in tune with the interior aesthetics, the workability of the rooms, and the combination of options around it. A must-see in the centre of Brussels. Other notable venues are the Produits Dangereux - a venue more suited to small events - and the outdoor parks, Quai Aux Poissons and Place de La Musique, ideal for receptions and parties.

Before the big Eurostar ceremony that evening, we still had the chance to visit a hotel that is making headlines in the city for its mix of originality, luxury, art and cosiness. The Cardo Brussels, located right next to the Rogier Metro, has 486 rooms and 46 suites, a rooftop swimming pool with views of the city, a modern bar and two restaurants, most notably the Akai, a contemporary Asian Mediterranean fusion experience at the top of the building. It also has 15 large meeting spaces such as a ballroom capable of holding 700 guests.

The tour of the second (and last) day started early and just a few metres from the nhow Brussels where we spent the night. On Rue Royale, we crossed a restored façade to found the Hotel Astoria, which has been given a new lease of life under the management of the Corinthia Group. This bastion of Belgian hospitality, abandoned since 2007, reopened a few weeks after our visit under the new name Corinthia Grand Hotel Astoria Brussels, and we were able to witness the latest work inside what is probably the most luxurious five-star hotel in the Belgian capital. Built by royal decree for the Brussels International Exposition of 1910, this beautiful Belle Époque-style building classified as a protected monument has been refurbished to house 126 rooms, a total of 36 suites, with several signature restaurant and bar options in addition to the Corinthia Spa by Sisley and the Paul Tucker gym.

Further up the road, on the way to Gare Central, we come across an old meeting ground that has hosted several association forums in the European capital. Sparks Meeting is probably the most multifaceted and versatile space in the city centre with its 2,500 m² of meeting space and 12 themed rooms featuring a theatre and a reception hall ingeniously juxtaposed to provide a smooth and easy flow for ideas and to recreate the purposes of each meeting. In fact, Sparks' great asset lies in the functionality and diversity of configurations and meeting layouts that the 12 rooms can take on in different group environments. Whether in the context of a board meeting, presentation, brainstorming session, audience interaction or debate, Sparks can be adapted to specific objectives by drawing on an extensive ecosystem of services by media and field experts.

Finally, we visited one of the city's icons right in the centre of its commercial and tourist activity. Inside La Bourse, a superb neo-classical building imagined as Brussels' stock exchange, we can now find various commercial activities and leisure options for public use. After a period of renovation that saw its interior reused from its cellars to its roof terrace, La Bourse now boasts an archaeological site of a Franciscan convent, the Bruxella 1238, the Horeca Cafe and brasserie, and the country's largest interactive beer-experience centre at Belgian Beer World. In addition, coworking spaces and meeting, conference and seminar rooms are available for group privatisation, as well as the icing on the cake: the amazing rooftop bar, Beerlab, which offers a 360º view of the city centre and will delight your guests in a more relaxed moment with an endless list of beers on tap.