The surrounding event

Join us at the SCAE COFFEE FIESTA in Antwerp, May 18-20, 2007

A CELEBRATION OF QUALITY COFFEE:
Competitions, Workshops, Educational Seminars and Tabletop Displays

Posted by ms on 02 March 2007

This is a new type of event, one which is smaller and more intimate, but still just as exciting and informative. There is something for everyone!:

- World Championship finals;
- Skill-Building Workshops;
- Top Quality Presentations;
- The SCAE Awards for Excellence;
- The Results of the New Web-Based Competition for Coffee Photography;
- Internal SCAE members meetings;
- Tabletop Exhibition; and
- Social events, which provide great networking opportunities in an informal setting.

As always, the SCAE strives to be different and to push the boundaries, with the emphasis on the recognition and promotion of quality at every stage throughout the coffee chain.

The venue

The magnificent HILTON HOTEL ANTWERP, Groenplaats, 2000 Antwerp.

What better place to hold such an event than in the Coffee Capital of Belgium and in such a prestigious venue—the Hilton hotel right in the centre of the city. (Scroll down this page for details of how to book specially discounted accommodation for the Fiesta!)

The competitions

Three World Championships – These competitions go from strength to strength, testing the national champions who have battled it out at home before progressing to this – the world stage. The competition among the participants is always going to be fierce; these are, after all, the best in the world, fighting it out for those three separate prestigious World Champion crowns:

– the World Cup Tasters Championship;
– the World Latte-Art Championship; and
– the World Coffee-in-Good-Spirits Championship

Skill building workshops

There will be two different workshop tracks:

- FILTER BREWING AND CUP TASTING TRACK and
- ESPRESSO AND BARISTA TRACK

Both tracks follow and incorporate elements of our successful educational programme, giving participants the opportunity to obtain a qualification under either the SCAE Gold Cup Programme or the Barista Certification programme. However, all the workshops offered during the event will concentrate on helping all those involved in the industry increase their knowledge and skills—and there is no need to take the examinations if you do not want to! Participants will have the opportunity to meet and learn from the world’s leading coffee experts.

To download a PDF of the full Antwerp programme, click here.

The early bird price of participating in each track for all three days is €100 for members or €150 for non-members. Daily tickets will also be available at €50 for members and €75 for non-members. Places are limited so they will be allocated on a strictly first-come, first-served basis and participants must also have a valid entry ticket to the whole event.

Presentations

There is only a limited amount of time available for presentations, so we have made sure that they are on subjects which will be of interest to everyone in the Speciality Coffee industry. The first, by well known and prominent analysts, will concentrate on the Outlook for Speciality Coffee Prices over the next five years; while the second will be on that all-important topic »What you need to know about Traceability«. Entry to these presentations is included in the price of your admission fee.

This will be an excellent opportunity to expand your coffee horizons as well as to explore a host of different coffee business opportunities.

Awards for coffee excellence / Gala dinner

The SCAE Awards for Coffee Excellence Programme will be run again in 2007. This unique programme sets out to recognise achievement. It is not designed to reward “the best”, but rather to acknowledge those who have the courage, the imagination, or simply that special ‘something’ that has enabled them both to excel in the search for coffee excellence, and to make a difference in the world coffee community, regardless of their rank or place.

Nominations are invited from any SCAE member, and the winners (selected by an independent panel) will receive their awards at a special ceremony to be held in Antwerp on the evening of Saturday, May 19th 2007 at the SCAE Awards for Coffee Excellence Gala Dinner. This event will be held at the world famous Horta Restaurant, an iconic modern building in the centre of Antwerp, which incorporates the iron framework of the 18th century Maison du Peuple, a building designed by the famed Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta. It is a fantastic venue, which will leave you spellbound. The price of the dinner is €85, which includes wine and beer through to midnight. It will be a great night, so make sure that you are there!

Welcome cocktail

Join us for a welcome cocktail in the magnificent Antwerp Town Hall on the evening of Friday 18th May 2007. This building is the in the historic Grote Markt (town square), one of the oldest Renaissance buildings in the Benelux Countries. Unfortunately space is limited and although entry will be free, we will need to issue tickets in order to restrict numbers. Tickets will be issued on a strictly first come first served basis.

New web-based Coffee Photography Competition

A new initiative, to be launched later in 2006, is the Coffee Photography Competition. SCAE members will be invited to submit a single photograph based on a coffee theme of their choice. An independent panel will choose the top three, who will receive an award that recognises their achievement during the SCAE Awards for Coffee Excellence Gala Dinner to be held on the evening of Saturday, May 21st 2007. Details of the competition will be circulated to all members later in 2006 and will also appear both on the website and in Café Europa. The winning three photographs will also be published in the September 2007 edition of Café Europa and providing space exists, all photos will be displayed at the event itself.

Internal meetings

There will be a series of meetings open to members only on various topics and subjects; these will include:

- Roasters Forum Meeting;
- SCAE Authorised Trainers Meeting; and
- SCAE National Coordinators Meeting

Tabletop exhibition

Take this opportunity to display your products and distribute your company brochures in a busy area adjacent to the competitions and workshops. Included with each exhibit stand will be:

- One 1.5 x 0.75m covered table
- 2 Chairs
- Electrical connection
- Company name card
- 2 staff passes for exhibition
- Free entry to Welcome Cocktail Reception
- Bottled filtered water available by arrangement

30 Tabletops are available and applications will be dealt with on a ‘first come/first served’ basis. Cost will be €650 for SCAE members and €1,000 for non-members.

To download a PDF of the Floor Plan of the Tabletops at the Hilton, click here.

To reserve your space or for further information contact:
Betty Attwood, SCAE Marketing, Tel :+44 1306 743524, Fax:+44 1306 743527, marketing@scae.com

Sponsorship opportunities

Throughout the event there will be a number of exciting opportunities to place your company or product in the limelight, or to be at the centre of events as they unfold. Please contact either Betty Attwood (marketing@scae.com) or Jens Henrik Thomsen (jh.thomsen@scae.com) for further details. Learn more …

Book now

Online booking will be available shortly, but you can book right now by clicking here to download the reservation form. Simply print it and then fax or post it to the SCAE – contact details are on the form. A reservation form was also included in the brochure sent to all SCAE members in mid-November.

Hotel accomodation

The SCAE recommends the following hotels, and has negotiated specially discounted rates for attendees:

The Hilton Hotel

Groenplaats, Antwerpen, Belgium 2000
Headquarters hotel (pictured at the top of this page), in the centre of Antwerp. €165 per night (single/double) including breakfast; book before 1 April 2007.
Click here to download the Hilton Hotel booking form. Please complete it and fax it to the hotel; the contact details are on the form.
Click here for the hotel website.

The Plaza Hotel

Charlottalei 49, Antwerpen, Belgium
Only a few minutes away from the Hilton by tram. €114 per night (single/double) including breakfast; book before 1 April 2007.
Click here to download the Plaza Hotel booking form. Please complete it and fax it to the hotel; the contact details are on the form.
Click here for the hotel website.

For those on a limited budget we recommend the following hotels:

Hotel Bristol

Mortsel (6 km from Antwerp)
Single room (incl. breakfast) € 49, Double room (incl. breakfast) € 56
Phone +32 3 449 80 49, bristol.hotel@belgacom.net

Hotel Basiliek

Edegem (8km from the centre)
Single room (incl. breakfast) € 58, Double room (incl. breakfast) € 75
Phone +32 3 457 00 17

Hotel Etap

Lange Kievitstraat 145, Antwerp (next to Antwerp central station and not far from Hilton)
€ 50 per night (max 3 persons per room), breakfast € 5 per person
tel. +32 3 202 50 20, h6192@accor.com

New International Youth Hotel

Provinciestraat 256, 2018 Antwerpen
Phone +32 3 230 05 22, info@youthhotel.be, www.youthhotel.be
Prices – single room € 34, double room € 49 (with shower & toilet € 61)
Special price for "under 26 years" (bring your own sleeping bag or sheets – Euros 15).
Breakfast is included with every room.