Mice Insights

By Viviane Vaz

(Brussels, 25 June 2025, MICE INSIGHTS) The Moroccan National Tourist Office (MNTO) organised a walking dinner in Brussels, Belgium, on June 24 to introduce 12 MICE partners, including incentive agencies, DMCs, hotels and airlines.

“It was set to be an inspiring evening full of Moroccan flair, fresh ideas and great conversations to discover Morocco’s potential for group and incentive travel,” said Sara Van Der Gucht from Diva events, the Belgian event agency chosen to organise the networking evening.

Cultural exchange

The dinner was also a time to learn about Moroccan culture. In addition to introducing Time Travel agency from Morocco, Marouane Noussari explained the best definition for the indigenous peoples of North Africa. Although many people still use the term “Berber,” derived from Latin and now considered pejorative due to its association with “barbarian,” Amazigh (singular) and Imazighen (plural) are the preferred terms. Elhiate translated what Amazigh means. Check it out:

Special venue chosen

The event took place in a relaxed setting at Hotel Amigo, a five-star luxury hotel in Brussels, with a rich history rooted in the city’s past.

Originally, the building served as a prison in the 16th century. The name “Amigo” is said to have originated from a misunderstanding by Spanish soldiers who, upon seeing the Flemish word “vrunt” (prison), mistakenly thought it meant “friend” or “amigo” in Spanish.

In 1957, the Blaton family transformed the building into a hotel, which opened in time for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Rocco Forte Hotels acquired the property in 2000 and renovated it, restoring its former glory and emphasizing its artistic heritage. Last year, the hotel opened a bar dedicated to Belgian surrealist artist René Magritte, in celebration of what would have been the artist’s 125th birthday. The vibrant colors follow Magritte’s palette.