Junior Chamber International (JCI) gathered 1,400 participants from across Europe in Bruges for the the European Conference of JCI worldwide. In cooperation with City of Bruges, Concertgebouw Brugge (Concert Hall) and the brand new Bruges Meeting and Convention Centre (BMCC), the event focused on four pillars: (1) sustainable food chain, (2) nutrition, (3) gastronomy, (4) heritage (of food).
Alderman for Tourism Mieke Hoste said: “I am delighted that the JCI chose Bruges as the location for the conference. The Concertgebouw and the new Bruges Meeting & Convention Centre are centrally located in the heart of the city. Conference participants enjoyed all the delights our UNESCO World Heritage City has to offer. Thanks to the expertise of the Visit Bruges Convention Bureau, Bruges is being put on the international map as a MICE destination. Organisers, such as these, can always turn to this body for free professional advice, support in finding suitable venues and introductions to the right contacts.”
To maximise the impact of the conference, City of Bruges and its project partner in the EU project Food Wave offered a sustainability audit, a separate programme on sustainable food and financial support. During the 4 days of the conference, 35 young people from Bruges were given a ticket so they could follow the activities on sustainable food.