14 Oct 2014
For the second year, VISITFLANDERS will be participating World Travel Market 2014 as Premier Partner sponsor. The eye-catching VISITFLANDERS stand will also host 30 partners, including the tourist offices of the region's cities, leading hotel groups and visitor attractions (plus a number of new ones), incoming tour operators and transport carriers.
Its primary focus will again be on the commemoration programme for the Great War Centenary, with a special press conference on Tuesday 4th November at WTM. In addition a special edition of the Flanders Field Post will also be published for visitors to collect from the stand at the show.
Early on in the week, VISITFLANDERS be hosting a Belgian Beer tasting event on Monday 3rd November. Flanders will be showcased as the ultimate festival destination during the late night opening on Wednesday 5th November, with a “mini-taster”. A more comprehensive roundup of what to expect at our appropriately named stand “EM14-18” is outlined below:
Belgian Beer Tutored Tasting on Monday 3rd November, 3.00 pm. -4.00 pm. : Premier Room I, South Galleries – first floor. (Poppy tiles with “VISITFLANDERS” guide the route from entrance S1 to the lift in the South galleries).
Belgian beers offer an unparalleled variety of styles and flavours, meaning there really is something for everyone and every occasion. Members of the press and travel trade are invited to the VISITFLANDERS tutored tasting session, where they can discover and learn why these quality beers are renowned worldwide. The host of this interesting event will be Luke Mears from Duvel-Moortgat (UK) and press and trade are invited to find out more. Visitors interested in attending are asked to confirm their attendance, if possible by registering in advance.
VISITFLANDERS drinks reception hosted by the Minister of Tourism of Flanders: Stand EM14-18 @ 5.30- 6.30 pm.
Join us for a drinks reception hosted by the Minister of Tourism, Ben Weyts. Minister Weyts joined the cabinet of the Government of Flanders earlier this year. Press are cordially invited to the reception, during which we'll be serving some popular Belgian beers and canapés. Please RSVP for your formal invitation.
“On & Behind the Western Front” - Press Conference: Tuesday 4th November in Platinum Suite 5, 11:00 am. – 12:00 pm.
With the centenary commemorations in Flanders continuing to attract major interest from Britain, the Commonwealth and around the world, 2015 looks set to be another eventful year. Still to come in 2014, we'll bring news of the Christmas Truce events taking place in Flanders between 18-22 December, which are inspired by the story of the 1914 Christmas Truce. A local football field in Messines has become the Flanders Peace Fields and will be the venue of a one-off concert by legendary musician John Cale, of Velvet Underground fame. Other events during the Christmas festivities will be revealed.
In 2015, the town of Ypres will host the 30,000th Last Post on the 9 July. This daily ceremony of remembrance, held every evening at 8pm since 1928, is one of the most moving and enduring experiences for many visitors to Flanders Fields.
Next year also marks the centenary of Talbot House, the “Every Man's Club” located in the town of Poperinge. Poperinge, or “Pops” as the British soldiers called it, was located behind the front line and provided a safe haven amid the horrors of war. Talbot House was established to offer alternative recreation for soldiers from the pubs and brothels and to welcome all soldiers, irrespective of their rank. Today, it is one of the region's best preserved and much admired attractions. Guest speaker Raf Craenhals, Manager of Talbot House, will introduce news about the programme of celebratory events running in December 2015.
Nearby Poperinge, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is located at the site of the biggest evacuation hospital of the era; the cemetery is the second biggest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery after Tyne Cot. A new visitor centre, opened in September 2012 includes a photo wall of many of those soldiers admitted to the hospital. It is the only Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery to have the grave of a woman – Nellie Spindler, a young 26 year old nurse from Yorkshire who perished as a result of an injury sustained during the bombing at the 3rd Battle of Ypres.
Flanders, the ultimate festival destination- Wednesday 5th November, 6.00pm – 8.00pm, VISITFLANDERS Stand EM1418
The extended hours at WTM on the Wednesday evening will be marked by VISITFLANDERS hosting a special Flanders festival experience for travel agents and tour operators on 5th November, visitors are invited to experience Festival Flanders!
Every year, Flanders offers the ultimate festival experience with a broad range of festivals, concerts and events. Some are huge, others smaller, and throughout the festival season there's something for a broad range of tastes. VISITFLANDERS will bring a unique and distinctly Flemish experience to its stand, EM14-18, on Wednesday November 5th, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. Visitors will be able to sample some of our exceptional Belgian beers together with delicious Belgian fries and speculoos flavoured ice cream! It will be a great opportunity to network with the VISITFLANDERS stand participants and dance the evening away to the sounds of DJs brought over from Flanders. The event is open to all WTM visitors upon registration with jan.degreve@toerismevlaanderen.be.
New Brochures to pick up:
The Great War Centenary Trade Brochure, is now in its third edition and has now been fully updated. This comprehensive guide will highlight key themes and dates for exhibitions and events taking place from 2015 to 2018, as well as museums, visitor centres, cemeteries and other sites of interest across the Flanders Fields.
Chocolate Experiences In Flanders & Brussels – An 80 page booklet which covers the main aspects of Belgian chocolate; how it is made, a brief history and chocolate experiences; where groups can participate in workshops, attend tastings, find speciality shops and a city guide on themed chocolate guided walks.
Belgian Beer Experiences - Find out about Belgian beer, the history, what makes them so special, as well as details about guided tours of breweries and beer museums throughout Flanders & Brussels. The guide also includes some interesting facts and figures about one of Belgium's most famous exports, as well as the dates of the main Belgian beer events in Flanders.
Discover everything about Cycling in Flanders isa 20 page booklet highlighting “10 reasons to choose Flanders as your next cycling holiday”. With keen spectator and participative interest from across the UK, cycling has gained a big interest in recent years. The Flemish are huge enthusiasts themselves, and Flanders boasts a proud cycling heritage and tradition. The new guide includes the main cycle races which take place in the region plus details about visiting its dedicated Cycling Museum. It also highlights the many signposted routes, ranging from indoor tracks to outdoor cycle routes (with the opportunity to stop off en-route for a quick beer)!
New Openings :
The new Chocolate Village opened its doors in Brussels on 20 September 2014. It is one of the largest museums devoted to chocolate in Europe and is housed in the former Victoria chocolate and biscuit factory in the Koekelburg district. Features include a unique tropical greenhouse growing cocoa trees and a chocolate workshop kitchen for groups and demonstrations. www.belgianchocolatevillage.be
The new WWI Visitor Centre in Nieuwpoort opens to the public on 17 October 2014 with a range of permanent displays and temporary exhibitions. Its first exhibition showcases the experiences and bravery of the second daughter of Warwickshire Earl of Denbigh, Dorothie Fielding, who held a relatively unique role during the war, as a driver for the French and Belgian armies. She was also the first woman to be awarded the Military Medal.
VISITFLANDERS E-Learning Programme FLANDERSMaster
During WTM, operators and agents can learn more about Flanders and become a FLANDERSMaster by logging onto our e-learning platform www.FlandersMaster.com With three straightforward and informative modules, agents can effortlessly learn about the destinations, and having successfully completed a short test at the end of each module, become an accredited agent. The e-learning platform also hosts a range of information documents useful for selling Flanders, such as Christmas markets and other notable events, plus notifications about familiarisation trips and competitions.
14th October 2014
-Ends-
Notes for Editors:
Visitors to the stand will be able to meet, with both the VISITFLANDERS team and the following suppliers: For timed appointments to meet one of the VISITFLANDERS team during the 4 days of WTM, please email a request to trade@visitflanders.co.uk
Carriers:
BMI Regional,
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle,
P&O Ferries,
Thalys International,
Eurostar
Museums, Attractions & Events:
Choco-Story – Bruges,
De Koninck Beer Experience Centre, Antwerp City Brewery
GoneWest - Province of West Flanders
Historium - Bruges
In Flanders Fields Museum - Ypres
Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917
P & J - The Chocolate Factory
The Great War Centenary 2014 – 2018
Hotels - Hotel representations:
Accor Hotels Belgium & Luxembourg
Best Western Hotels Belgium
Ghent Hotels
Historic Hotels Ghent
Ibis Styles Zeebruges - Ibis De Panne
Interstate Hotels Benelux
Martin's Hotels
Sandton Grand Hotel Reylof - Sandton Hotels
3 Stars Hotels
Van der Val Hotel Brussels Airport
Ypres Hospitality
Holiday Villages - Holiday Parks
Reposo
Incoming Agencies - DMC - Event organisers
Focus Flanders / Omnia Travel DMC - Incoming Agency Belgium
For images of Flanders and themed sets eg:chocolate/beer etc please feel free to use our flickr account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitflanders :
Album Set for chocolate: https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitflanders/sets/72157625236887828/ ,
Album Set for Beer: https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitflanders/sets/72157628088884326/
Album Set for cycling: https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitflanders/sets/72157632070363243/
Album set for WW1/Flanders Fields: https://www.flickr.com/photos/visitflanders/sets/72157625168448934/
Press Enquires:
Anita Rampall
Press Manager
Visit Flanders
Tel: 020 7307 7741
Twitter: @AnitaRampall
