A two-day convention for a company such as Omega Pharma - A Perrigo Company in mid transformation, is not the kind of thing you organise in a community centre.

For this kind of event you rent the Hippodrome and the Thermae Palace in Ostend. And you don't let the 125 guests stay in a hotel, but in comfortable tents put up in the middle of the mythical race course. Bohemian chic style, casual atmosphere. The first day of the convention was taken up by sales meetings and plenary sessions, alternated with the necessary coffee and lunch breaks of course. In the evening, after freshening up, the atmosphere was more relaxed, with gin & tonic aperitifs, a smoky barbecue dinner and musical intermezzos by Billie Kawende, Cookies & Cream and DJ Eric Yamazawa. Day two started with breakfast at the tent and yoga on the race course followed by a day programme of sales meetings, and lunch and coffee.