Award Ceremony Brussels rewards great initiatives... In 2009, the Awards’ ceremony was held in true Oscar style at one of Brussels latest high tech venues, AA Dock’s, in the presence of Aziz Albishari, attache of minister Evelyne Huytebroeck (Tourism), Benoît Cerexhe, minister of Economy and BI-TC President, Philippe Close.                 These special awards highlight outstanding contributions to the Meetings & Tourism Industries and the most dynamic initiatives of 2008. Over 1.000 industry professionals took part in the voting for these awards to recognize talented innovation in Brussels. In the category “New in 2008” in Brussels, Museum Night Fever carried of the prize. This new concept brings museums in the “in” sphere, featuring among the most original experiences, with thousands of young people in the museums to combine culture with night life – a means of bringing more than rejuvenated culture to a capital. The Zinneke Parade, this human, all too human show that features the colours and creativity of young and old in Brussels won the “Image of Brussels 2008” prize. The reputation of Brussels as a multicultural capital is in fact bolstered by the Zinneke concept. The exhibition It’s Our Earth! has won the prize for “Best Touristical Event 2008”. A superb exhibition dedicated to the ecological challenges of our planet that has no reason to be envious of Al Gore. In the category “Best Brussels Incentive Event 2008”, or best team building activity for the year in Brussels, the prize went to Only4Senses. A unique concept which offers an opportunity to experience a meal in total darkness in the vaulted cellars of Bruxelles en Scène in the Galeries Saint-Hubert. In the category “Best Brussels Incentive Travel 2008”, Brussels International Travel Service (BITS) carried off the prize. The company had developed, for the firm DTP Terrassement of Saint Quentin en Yvelines a 3-day visit of gastronomic, sensory and architecture discoveries in Brussels. The Walk-In Movies enabled 5000 film-lovers to enjoy the projection of films outdoors in the magical setting of the Cinquantenaire this summer. VO Event, which organised it, won the prize for the “Best Brussels B2C Event 2008”. The firm Verhulst Events also won the prize in the category “Best Brussels B2B Event 2008” for its event Julia Migenes & Le Cadre Noir de Saumur. The spellbinding voice of diva Julia Migenes accompanying the gait of the horses of the “Ecole Nationale d’Equitation du cadre Noir de Saumur” [Saumur National Horse Riding School] thrilled the halls of the Heysel Exhibition Centre. A masterwork of show and a restoration space organised with a master’s touch. The prize for “Best Brussels Special Venue 2008” went to the Museum of Natural Sciences for its dynamism in organising B2B events in Brussels. The Belgian Association of Congress Organisers, BAPCO, gave the 8th “Belgian Meetings Industry Award” (BMIA) to Emmanuel Van Innis, President of BECI and Member of the Management Committee of Suez Tractebel, for his commitment, through the BMR 2018 project, to make Brussels a real European capital and also for the commitment of Suez to the cultural development of our region, and more specifically the sponsorship of the Magritte Museum, which will undoubtedly constitute a major winning asset for our industry! BI-TC also wanted to thank the many partners that have facilitated its task of promoting Brussels. The exhibition Experience Brussels deserves special citation for this interactive, playful and original way to experience the Brussels Region, as do the Radisson SAS Hotel for its remarkable dynamism in organising educational tours by inviting many new customers to discover Brussels, and Added Value-Design 4 Rent which, in designing stands and design furniture continues to make Brussels shine at events such as Brussels Day in Berlin and the EMIF – BI-TC Brussels evening.