Günter Verheugen's Award

Günter Verheugen is not just anybody, he is the European Commissioner for Trade and Industry and Vice-President of the European Commission, or simply put, the number two of José Manuel Barroso. Last year I had the honour and pleasure to interview him in his roomy office in the Berlaymont building in Brussels. I have to phrase it this way because it really isn't that simple to get into that building, leave alone to land into one of his armchairs. I asked him straight if he knew the meetings industry and he surprised me with his answer: 'We have a commissioner for tourism and meetings industry: I am the commissioner!' Now this man received the prestigious BAPCO Award (Belgian Association for Professional Congress Organizers) during the opening day of the Brussels Meetings Week on Monday February 12th. The Award is an Owl, made out of pure Val Saint Lambert crystal. In my opinion, BAPCO made a wise decision: Wisdom. And do you know that I have such an owl on the mantelpiece of my office?
If you are interested in reading the complete interview I had with Commissioner Verheugen, all you have to do, is send me an e-mail.

(photo: Bruce Taylor)