Don't Overlook Ghent For Business And Leisure

Don’t overlook Belgium’s convivial city for business and leisure.

- Ron Bernthal

Famous for its beer, artisanal chocolatiers, scenic canals and cyclists clattering over cobblestone streets, the Belgian city of Ghent resembles Amsterdam in many ways. Even the language spoken here is Dutch … specifically, Flemish Dutch.

But Ghent (Gent in Dutch), located in the Flanders region of Belgium, just 35 minutes by train from French-speaking Brussels, offers visitors a more relaxed and serene atmosphere than Amsterdam, with less-crowded bike paths and waterways and non-existent lines at museums and popular restaurants.

Many business travelers wake up on their first morning in the city at Hotel NH Gent Belford. Located just two minutes’ walk from Sint-Baafsplein, one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe, this 174-room hotel also lies within walking distance of Het Pand Congress Center and 10 minutes by taxi from Gent International Convention Center.

For the business traveler wishing to host colleagues for a morning breakfast meeting, NH Gent Belford offers two boardrooms (up to 12 persons each) or the outdoor patio during summer months for catered meals. It also features a private, vaulted cellar for entertaining clients and business associates. Traffic noise is never an issue, as the main entrance is located in the city’s pedestrian zone.

Additional deluxe hotel accommodations include the 143-room Ghent Marriott Hotel, located along the canal-like Leie River, within walking distance of many of Ghent’s popular meeting venues and historic attractions. The property offers nine event rooms suitable for small to mid-sized conferences and board meetings, as well as the Midtown Grill steak restaurant for lunch or dinner.