Companions Agenda 2026

Travel information

10:35 a.m. Departure of the Frankfurt delegation

Departure from the main station (Hauptbahnhof) on ICE 16. Stanislaw Rahm, CIOmove editor and your team captain, will meet you at the reserved seats in carriage 28.

11:04 a.m. Departure of the London delegation

Departure of the London delegation from St. Pancras Station on Eurostar service ES9126. Professor Art Langer, your team captain, will meet the group at 10:00 a.m. at the Eurostar security gates and assist with security and immigration before boarding.

11:43 a.m. Departure of the Cologne delegation

Departure from the main station on ICE 16, which continues from Frankfurt. Stanislaw Rahm is also your team captain on ICE 16. He will wait for you at the reserved seats in carriage 29.

11:55 a.m. Departure of the Paris delegation

Departure from Gare du Nord on Eurostar service ER9435. Ursula Soritsch-Renier, CDIO of Saint-Gobain and your team captain, will join you on board with her husband, James, and coordinate the group during the journey.

Schedule for Thursday

Until 2:00 p.m. Individual check-in Hotel Amigo (Rue de l’Amigo 1, 1000 Brussels)

3:00 p.m. Guided tour of the European Parliament A behind-the-scenes look at how Europe’s legislative heart operates. (Participants and companions)

8:00 p.m. Welcome reception – Networking evening Brasserie Surréaliste (Place Du Nouveau Marché Aux Grains, 23, 1000 Brussels)

9:00 a.m. City Tour & Chocolate and waffle tasting.

We’ll start the day right at the Hotel Amigo with the exclusive ‘Îlot Sucré’ city tour. Discover the highlights of the Belgian capital and enjoy traditional waffle and chocolate tastings. Hotel Amigo (Rue de l’Amigo 1, 1000 Brussels)

12:40 p.m. Joint trip to Paris

A comfortable transfer for the entire delegation from Brussels to Paris. Gare du midi

3:00 p.m. The ‘Venice of the North’ in Paris

An absolute highlight awaits you: an exclusive boat trip along the Canal Saint-Martin. With its charming locks, this waterway is somewhat reminiscent of Amsterdam and offers a very special, leisurely perspective on the city. Musée d’Orsay (Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris)

7:30 p.m. Evening program

Group evening program in Paris after checking in at the hotel. Tour de Saint-Gobain (12 Place de l’Iris, 92400 Courbevoie)

10:05 a.m. Leisure time

For example, you could relax with a stroll through the Tuileries Gardens or enjoy a café au lait in the Palais Royal gardens before we meet again at 11:00 sharp in front of the Fondation Cartier to continue the group program. Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre

11:00 a.m. Fondation Cartier: A Journey Through the Present

Unlike the Louvre, which preserves European and religious history, the Fondation Cartier offers a modern approach to storytelling. The building itself has a history and houses an impressive array of art from around the world, including pieces from South America, Africa, and Korea.
a) Reflection: Experience an inspiring tour that combines fashion and art and poses questions such as: Who are we now? Where do we stand as human beings?
b) Inclusion: An exhibition that brings diversity to life for everyone and reflects the human condition.
We will split the group into two. The first group will start the guided tour at 11.00 a.m., and the second at around 11.30 a.m.                    Fondation Cartier (2 Pl. du Palais Royal, 75001 Paris)

12:30 p.m. Lunch

Lunch together at a selected restaurant in the trendy Le Marais district. Le Marais

2:30 p.m. Shopping & Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges

Why not take the time to enjoy some personal shopping in the boutiques of the Marais, or join us for a visit to the ‘Marché des Enfants Rouges’, the city’s oldest and most charming market. Le Marais // Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges

6:00 p.m. Group evening program in Paris.

Columbia University (4 Rue de Chevreuse, 75006 Paris)

7:00 a.m. Morning activities

Guests can choose between an optional yoga session at the hotel or a running session in Paris. Hotel Mélia La Défense / Paris

7:30 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel before departure preparations begin.

9:00 a.m. Luggage collection and transfer.

9:30 a.m. Hotel check-out & meeting point

Check-out and gathering point in front of the hotel / in the lobby before the group departs.

9:30 a.m. Special experience

Guests choose between three different Paris experiences: a vintage 2CV tour, the “Tour de CIO’s” by bike or e-bike, or a relaxed tuk-tuk tour. All routes lead to Les Invalides. Departure from Hotel Mélia La Défense

11:30 a.m. Pétanque in the park

A friendly outdoor pétanque session at Les Invalides, offering a distinctly French group activity. Les Invalides

12:30 p.m. Lunch in the park

Picnic-style lunch in the park before departure. Les Invalides

2:00 p.m. End of event & departure       

Guests collect their luggage and depart.