Flanders Expo contributes to the ‘The Loop Vision’ of the City of Ghent to transform it into a full-fledged station district where it is good to live, work, and stay.
On Tuesday, September 20, 2022, Easyfairs, operator of Flanders Expo, Antwerp Expo, Nekkerhal, and Namur Expo and organizer of various trade fairs and events at home and abroad, explained their vision for the future in the presence of business partners, politicians, and the press. They also premiered the new logo and new branding of Flanders Expo to those in attendance.
- Alain D’haese, COO and Head of Venues at Easyfairs Belgium, emphasizes the evolution that Easyfairs event locations have undergone in recent years to meet the highly diverse demand regarding events. For Flanders Expo, this already resulted a few years ago in a first phase of investments worth 4 million euros. At that time, the focus was mainly on the interior:
- The creation of the FLEX meeting center, with the launch of the blackbox FLEX XL, a facelift for the Foyer, and renovated meeting and congress rooms.
- Digital signage
- Renovated catering points
- Optimizations in energy consumption to further limit the environmental impact
A second phase of investments was delayed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, which had a huge impact on the event business, but it is now underway. This time, the focus is on the exterior and the outdoor environment. With these investments, Easyfairs wants to support the plan of the City of Ghent to turn The Loop into a full-fledged, livable station district. The total investment package allocated by Easyfairs for this purpose exceeds 6 million euros. It includes:
- A completely new facade cladding with a massive effect on the appearance of the building and its surroundings. A relief facade panel was chosen, creating a unique play of colors depending on the light or the position of the sun.
- The construction of the Expo Park at the rear of Flanders Expo. The outdated parking lot makes way for a renovated space where outdoor expos and outdoor events can take place. This space will also be used to efficiently handle build-up and break-down on the site itself.
- The installation of a covered bicycle shed is now a reality.
- More than 50 charging stations for electric cars will be operational in early October.
Kenneth Verheyden, CEO of Easyfairs Belgium, says: “With this significant investment in the look & feel of Flanders Expo, we want to contribute to more comfort and efficiency to keep existing organizers in Ghent while attracting new organizers to the city. I also want to emphasize the importance of this for employment. Not only for our key partners such as stand builders, catering companies, hostesses, and stewards, but also for local hospitality. With these major investments, Flanders Expo contributes to the economic fabric of Ghent and the surrounding area.”
After phase 3 of the works, Easyfairs will have invested a total of more than 15 million euros in its event locations to prepare them for the future and to accommodate all types of events. To mark this occasion, the new logo of Flanders Expo was unveiled by Mayor Mathias De Clercq. This rebranding also contributes to a refreshed, modern appearance for Flanders Expo in the area.
Mayor De Clercq adds: “I am very pleased that Easyfairs endorses our plans to turn The Loop into a full-fledged new city district. Flanders Expo is the oldest and largest player present here, with a major impact on our local economy and employment. Together, we are taking the step toward a new, sustainable future for this area.”
During the event on September 20, Easyfairs also explained its ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) strategy. At the end of November 2021, Easyfairs signed the ‘net zero carbon events pledge’, a promise to halve CO2 emissions from events by 2030 and to organize CO2-neutral events by 2050. This is a significant milestone to drastically reduce the ecological footprint of Easyfairs fairs, events, and venues. The focus is on 5 priorities: energy, travel and accommodation, transport and logistics, food, and waste processing.
For Easyfairs, ESG is a strategic choice and priority that will form the basis of all decisions. It is not a project but a mindset that every Easyfairs employee must embrace.
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