#DiningForBrussels
Let’s raise knife and fork for restaurants in Brussels.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016 — The recent terrorist attacks have brought Brussels’ hospitality industry to a virtual standstill. The restaurants, bars and cafés that used to be the pride of the city are all empty now. Over the past month alone, up to 600 restaurant businesses filed bankruptcy compared to 40 normally in April. And at least half of all Brussels’ establishments are on the brink of going under. Which is why business newspapers De Tijd and L’Echo, in collaboration with the Brussels employers’ association Beci and creative agency FAMOUS, have launched the initiative #DiningForBrussels. The campaign calls upon Belgians massively go and eat out. Companies are being encouraged to abandon the meeting room in favour of lunch meetings out in town. And when they’ve finished dessert, restaurant goers can share their commitment to the cause via social media by using the hashtag #DiningForBrussels, illustrated with a photo of their finished plate together with their knife, fork and spoon positioned in the form of a peace sign.
Sharing is caring
#DiningForBrussels was launched on Wednesday via ads in De Tijd and L’Echo. However, the organisers are not only calling on people to dine out but also and above all to massively share the message. For company directors encouraging their employees to schedule lunch meetings, fans of Brussels, committed restaurant goers, bloggers and politicians with a soft spot for the Belgian capital, the message is simple: dine in Brussels and spread the word! Fight back, with knife and fork!
Anyone and everyone who loves Brussels and/or Brussels restaurants, bars and cafés can visit www.diningforbrussels.be for more information and visuals, videos and other promo material.
Isabel Albers, Editor in chief, De Tijd:
“As a business newspaper, we have been in constant contact over the past few months with businesses that are suffering from the aftermath of the attacks. We do believe, however, that terrorism should not be allowed to triumph over our values, our lifestyle or our economy. And we refuse to stand idly by but instead hope to mobilise as many Belgians as possible with #DiningForBrussels to get them dining out in our nation’s capital. And in doing so, together with Beci, FAMOUS and anyone else who refuses to lie down and take it, reverse the negative impact on Brussels’ economy the way we know best. Bon appétit!”
http://diningforbrussels.be/