On Monday 25 February, the De Baronie Tourism Business Association organised its annual members’ meeting at the Van der Valk Hotel Gilze-Tilburg. Attendance was good and the atmosphere was friendly. The meeting consisted of two parts. A formal part (2018 annual report, board elections and 2019 annual plan) and an informal workshop entitled ‘Collaboration starts with willingness’, led by Gabrina Kikkert, events editor at Omroep Brabant.

2018 Annual Report ‘Full steam ahead’
A great deal was achieved last year, of which we can be proud. Toerisme De Baronie has become more visible in the region, the first rest stop has opened, inspiring meetings have been held and the merger with Toerisme Alphen-Chaam is in the pipeline. We are also collaborating more and more at a regional level.

2019 Annual Plan ‘Cooperation and Connection’
Collaboration and connection – with other organisations, but above all amongst our members – are the key priorities for 2019. Getting to know one another better is the foundation of any collaboration. Together, we are stronger and can offer tourists more. “See each other as colleagues and recommend each other to tourists,” says Theo Donkers, secretary of Toerisme De Baronie. Together, you make a difference.

Workshop: ‘Collaboration starts with a willingness to work together’
The second part consisted of an inspiring workshop, in which Gabrina Kikkert challenged our members to take part in speed dating. Before the speed dating began, Carlo van Engelen, owner of the café and party venue ’t Engeltje, spoke about the successful business collaboration in Molenschot. The Toerisme De Baronie speed-dating session consisted of two rounds. Round one: find someone you already know, get to know them and explore how you can work together; and round two: the same as round one, but with someone you don’t yet know. The members sought each other out and made some surprising connections, a number of which were shared with the group. This has left everyone wanting more. Gabrina: “If you want something, almost anything is possible.”