Belgian Travel Blog Awards in Ostend

Thuys: ‘Every year, we go in search of a unique location. This is no easy feat, considering that travel bloggers have, by definition, already visited just about every popular destination. It is also more than just a festive gathering. We start with inspirational activities for our partners, followed by a speed-dating session for influencers and various partners in the travel industry. The awards are presented during an extensive dinner, and the event does, of course, conclude with a party.’ Thuys laughs, ‘We have plenty to celebrate!’

‘Ostend was a logical choice for us. The city has always been highly progressive when it comes to travel marketing. Just look at such groundbreaking concepts as the Ensor Year, The Crystal Ship and the Podcast Festival. We like to arrange a few activities for the travel bloggers during the day, and that makes Ostend a real treat. There’s more than enough here to tickle the fancies of culture vultures, nature lovers and foodies alike. We could also pull out all the stops in our choice of hotels, thanks to venues like the Andromeda, Les Cabanes and Upstairs.’

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Finally in Ostend

Travel blogger and award collector Tjoolaard was among the attendees: ‘I’m finally in Ostend! Born and bred on the coast, I’m a big fan of the City by the Sea. That’s largely due to its rebellious flair. People from Ostend are the greatest. So, it’s hardly surprising that this was one of the Awards’ very best editions. The bravura atmosphere of the Kursaal, the elegance of Brassi and the… erm… uniqueness of Langestraat. I’m grateful for the copious breakfast at Upstairs that helped me get through my hangover!’

THx.agency inspired guests with workshops at Hotel Andromeda during the day, before moving on to the evening’s festivities at the Kursaal. The dinner, presentation of the awards and the party afterwards all took place at Brassi Rooftop. Afterwards, the real party animals could go on to enjoy Ostend’s amazing nightlife.

‘Finding three venues to host our event may not be the most obvious solution,’ says Jo Thuys. ‘The combination of Kursaal, Brassi Rooftop and Hotel Andromeda worked extremely well for us, though. Also, our collaboration with the people from Visit Ostend and Meet in Oostende was highly professional and very pleasant. You can tell straight away that they have a solid grasp of what they are doing and that their staff know the city through and through. We were free to tweak the arrangements to suit our preferences, while also being able to count on the support of these agencies and their suppliers. They are all such nice people!’

Jo Thuys concludes with a few well-chosen words: ‘The 2024 Belgian Travel Blog Awards will go down in history as a highly successful edition, with a record number of attendees and many happy faces. In terms of organisation, the event ran as smoothly as you could wish for, and that is definitely partly due to the professional efforts of both the people in charge of the venues and the staff at Visit Ostend and Meet in Oostende. Highly recommended!’