FLANDERS UNVEILS ITS NEW MEETING & CONVENTION CENTRE

“Proceeds from every event go towards operating the parks and the Centre for Research and Conservation”

A Room with a ZOO in Antwerp

The Flanders Meetings & Conventions Centre (FMCCA) has announced the official opening of its new convention centre in Antwerp and A ROOM WITH A ZOO. Located within one of the world’s best preserved & award winning 19th century zoo, the Centre provides the Meetings Industry sector with a new venue for the 21st century.

FMCCA was officially opened this weekend by Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

Describing Europe’s latest conference and meeting venue, Ms. Anja Stas, Chief Commercial Officer FMCCA said; ‘H.M. the Queen Mathilde of Belgium officially opened the FMCCA on 27th November. Combining history with the very latest technology, in a city often described as small but with a larger than life attitude for culture and business, this brand new Centre is set within one of the founding ZOO’s in the world. With meeting and conference rooms in historical surroundings and facilities that will provide a truly unique attitude and creativity to meetings and events – we have a living and breathing historic monument now accessible to the world of meetings and events‘.

The proceeds of all commercial activities – including those of every event – will go entirely to operating the parks and the Centre for Research and Conservation.

‘The focus is on offering something really different for our clients and delegates which could an early morning run through the ZOO surrounded by the elephants and giraffes, or a tea-break with networking, watched over by gorillas. Breakfast with penguins, a yoga stretch by the flamingo pool or a nightly stroll through the sleeping ZOO, are all possible but we have so many options, the combination is endless. Our team will be happy to provide a customized programme, it’s all about the client’s choice‘ added Anja Stas.

With easy access from Europe and the world, both Brussels & Antwerp International airports are close by and the main railway station located next door, the FMCCA will provide a low environmental impact, sustainable and low energy consumption venue with the latest technical facilities and equipment. Antwerp itself offers over 4,600 hotel rooms within walking distance from FMCCA.

The legacy of the 19th Century Great Hall, the Marble Hall, The Winter Garden, Darwin Hall and the Verlat Hall are now all available as part of the conference centre, plus 20-30 meeting rooms with over 25,000m2 and a capacity to hold events for up to 2,700 delegates. The venue provides flexible open space areas and venues for banquets and dinners including the Aquarium which houses one of Europe’s largest reef aquarium. Dinner@ ZOO also provides options to hold garden parties, Galas Dinners and networking events in the ZOO when it is closed to the public – providing a “truly VIP experience”; added Stas.

Antwerp ZOO was opened in 1843, and is one of the founding zoos in the world with some 7000 animals and 550 species. It has an award winning reputation for global preservation and breeding programmes.

So take your convention, meeting or your own visit to Belgian , explore the capital Brussels, the country’s beaches, landscapes and forests, the historical monuments and sites and of course sample some of the thousands of restaurants and hundreds of beers which made Belgium a hotspot of European cuisine – and as the icing of the cake let some of the world’s finest selection of pralines melt on your tongue.