From 18 to 20 May 2024, as part of an initiative to promote Brussels craftsmanship supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, visit.brussels helped promote Brussels internationally, highlighting its gastronomic artisans.

In this context, the MIAM Festival in Lausanne chose to invite Brussels as its guest of honour for the 2024 event. The event showcased the attractions of the Belgian capital and included presentations of Brussels gastronomic specialities and a Brussels Farmers market. The event attracted 50,000 visitors and helped forge special links between the capital of the Vaud and our capital.

The I Love Science Festival (ILSF) has established itself as a flagship event for science communication in Brussels. Held from 11 to 13 October at Tour & Taxis, it attracted over 15,000 visitors, confirming the public's enthusiasm for science and innovation.

This sixth event featured 60 exhibitors, 77 interactive stands divided into 7 themed villages and 160 events over a surface area of 11,500 m². Highlights included science shows, a conference on artificial intelligence and a travelling performance with animated dinosaurs. An area dedicated to toddlers was new this year, encouraging scientific awareness from an early age.

There was a strong response from schools, with 2,700 pupils registered for Friday activities and a full fill rate for the time slots. The event received a 96% satisfaction rate from teachers for its organisation and 87% positive feedback on the programme.

In terms of communication, the festival enjoyed high media visibility, generating 1.4 million impressions on RTBF, 132,912 views on BX1 and over 75,000 on Bruzz. A digital campaign reached 60,903 users on Instagram, boosting its profile.

The 2024 event attracted 67% of new visitors, mostly from Brussels and scored a rating of 8.34/10 in recommendations. The exhibitors were unanimous: 100% said that they were satisfied with the organisation and the link between science and the programme.

With its immersive format and educational impact, the ILSF continues to inspire younger generations and strengthen Brussels's position as a capital of scientific innovation.

In 2024, the Brussels-Capital Region reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable construction, renovation and housing by actively participating in Batibouw, Belgium's largest trade fair dedicated to the sector. This unmissable event, which attracted 150,000 visitors this year, is an essential platform for informing homeowners, tenants and future residents about the grants, loans, public projects and housing solutions offered by the Region.

The Region's stand welcomed more than 1,000 visitors, offering personalised advice and detailed information on the various forms of assistance available. With the presence of numerous partners and public-interest organisations, visitors were able to get clear answers to their questions and learn about schemes that support access to housing in Brussels.

The 2024 Batibouw event enhanced the visibility of regional initiatives, while fostering dialogue between citizens and housing stakeholders. The partners who attended expressed great satisfaction with the collaboration and the impact of their participation, underlining the importance of this annual meeting to offer better support to the people of Brussels in their real estate projects.

The BIP Meeting Centre, home of the Brussels-Capital Region is ideally located on Place Royale, in the heart of the historic centre of Brussels. It provides an exceptional setting where local and international associations and companies can hold events and meetings.

In 2024, this prestigious venue for hire experienced remarkable success, holding 150 events and marking the impact of a new commercial approach implemented by visit.brussels. This strategy led to a 14% rise in sales, due in particular to an increase in bookings by private companies.

As part of an environmental responsibility approach, visit.brussels is proud to have renewed its Green Key label for a further three years, confirming the BIP Meeting Centre's commitment to sustainable, eco-responsible event management.

In 2024, visit.brussels improved its promotion of Brussels' gastronomic crafts through the EAT Festival. This event brought together over 40 chefs, 8 cheese makers, 8 pastry chefs and some twenty local producers. The event's success is evident in its particularly glowing results:  16,000 dishes tasted, 12,000 drinks served and an 83% visitor retention rate.

The Farmers' Market and the partnership with BxlBeerFest showcased local expertise, notably through 8 craft breweries. Satisfaction was high, with an overall partner rating of 8.2/10. The festival therefore confirms its key role in promoting Brussels' culinary heritage and enhancing the city's appeal.

In 2024, to celebrate the centenary of Surrealism, visit.brussels implemented an ambitious strategy to promote this iconic cultural heritage, both in Brussels and internationally. Through communication campaigns, museum collaborations and cultural events, the Belgian capital affirmed its central role in the history of Surrealism.

A digital and media campaign targeting France and Spain generated 19.5 million impressions, 13,300 clicks and 4,700 visits to the dedicated webpage. Audience analysis revealed a strong interest in the museum and heritage offer from the 35 and over age group, particularly those aged 55 and over

Visit.brussels brought together major institutions such as the Magritte Museum, Bozar and KBR and launched an immersive online tour entitled "Surrealist Brussels, a way of life". A press trip attracted 41 international journalists, generating 77 articles and media coverage valued at €958,424.

Thanks to this global approach, Brussels has strengthened its international cultural positioning and laid the foundations for a sustainable strategy to promote its surrealist heritage.

In line with its objective of decentralising tourism in the Brussels Region, visit.brussels signed an agreement to help the municipality of Ganshoren establish a tourism and cultural action plan for 2025-2028 period. The municipality wants to develop local tourism and its offer by implementing a strategic action plan for the coming years.

Indirectly, it aims to improve its position in the tourism market, develop employment and transform its image from a mere stopping-off place into a destination in its own right.

This support was part of a co-constructive approach, through the active involvement and validation of local stakeholders, the municipality and neighbouring municipalities, guaranteeing genuine support. 

As a result, a detailed action plan, flexible in terms of actions, timetable and funding, has been produced and submitted. In the short term, this will promote Art Deco and the Basilica through the swift launch of a cooperation initiative among the municipalities to the north-west of the capital. In the medium and long term, initiatives focusing on modernism, castles and garden districts will evolve, while the green network will gradually be expanded.

A total of 24 actions are proposed, with effective cost control possible. The business model is also based on partnerships, pay-what-you-can initiatives and voluntary contributions. The financial impact, estimated at between €1,300 and €200,000 per action, means that investments can be adapted. The approach favours sustainable actions rather than one-off events.

This initiative has created a real dynamic between the municipalities of Brussels, inspiring other potential projects. It illustrates visit.brussels' key role in the development of integrated, sustainable tourism (beneficial to visitors, residents, shopkeepers and the environment), while helping to limit over tourism in the very centre of the city.