Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – About 160,000 visited Leuven for the European Running Championships. Mayor Ridouani praised it, but traders had mixed reactions; some gained, and others lost sales. Kevin Vanderauwera suggests Sunday events.
Some local business owners want the city to be careful about planning more big running events. Kevin Vanderauwera, who represents the hospitality industry in Leuven, said it’s important to talk to shopkeepers before planning these events. He thinks it would be better to hold the events on Sundays, when most shops are closed anyway.
He mentioned that the city could enjoy the excitement of the races without affecting businesses on weekdays or Saturdays. Vanderauwera said the hospitality industry likes these events because they bring more people to the city. But he thinks it’s important to make sure everyone benefits, not just some businesses. If the city wants to make these events a regular thing, it needs to find a way to make sure all businesses are happy.
Do big running events in Leuven benefit all businesses?
Not everyone in Leuven was happy with the Running Championships. Some shopkeepers didn’t make as much money as they usually do. Many visitors came to watch the races and didn’t shop much. Businesses that were far from the main event areas or busy streets had fewer customers. Some businesses even had lower sales because of the event.
The event made it hard to get around because of road closures, and some people didn’t come to shop because of that. Mr. Vanderauwera said the event helped some businesses more than others, depending on where they were located.
Leuven was busy last weekend because of the European Running Championships. About 160,000 people came to the city to watch the races. Everyone had a great time, and the city officials were happy with how well the event went. Cafes, restaurants, and bars were very busy.
Many businesses used the event to show off their products to a lot of different people. Kevin Vanderauwera, who works with businesses in Leuven, said the event was good for making money right away, but it will also help the city look good and attract more visitors in the future.
The mayor of Leuven, Mohamed Ridouani, wants to have more big running events in the city. He was very happy with how the European Running Championships went. The mayor thinks these events are important for Leuven.
