Companions Agenda 2026

Travel information

10:43 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.

09:01 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.

11:34 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

11:00 a.m. – 07:00 p.m. Check-in at Hotel Amigo (Rue de l’Amigo 1, 1000 Brussels). The CIOmove team is expecting you at an extra counter.

Starting point 1 (most suitable for early birds):
2:00 p.m. Visit of the European Council

Starting point 2 (most suitable for those who arrive by train):
3:00 p.m. Visit of the European Parliament including interview with Horst Ellermann and Gregor Peter Schmitz, Editor-in-Chief of “Stern” magazine and former correspondent of “Spiegel” in Brussels

Starting point 3 (most suitable for late birds)
4:00 p.m. Walking tour through Brussels (starting at the hotel)

8:00 p.m. Welcome reception – Networking evening Brasserie Surréaliste (Place Du Nouveau Marché Aux Grains, 23, 1000 Brussels) – including opportunity to watch the World Cup match Germany – Ecuador.

7:00–8:00 a.m.Morning activities. Guests can choose between an optional yoga session at the hotel or a running session in Brussels.

9:00-9:30 a.m. Hotel Check Out

9:30 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)

11:45 a.m. Walk to Manneken Pis – Gare du midi

12:43 p.m. Eurostar · Brussels → Paris

Lunchbags will be provided on board.

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), Rooftop reception at the Saint-Gobain tower

7:00–8:00 a.m.Morning activities. Guests can choose between an optional yoga session at the hotel or a running session in Paris.

10:15 a.m. Meeting in the hotel lobby

10:20-10:40 a.m. Train ride to Fondation Cartier

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

5:00-6:00 p.m. Reunion with companions. Dinner&Networking@Columbia Garden Reception (Flying Buffet)

8:00 p.m. End the evening at Solera Bar (283 Rue Saint-Jacques, 75005 Paris) – a stylish cocktail bar in the heart of the Latin Quarter.

Bus Shuttles back to Melía Paris La Défense depart at the following times:

• 8:00 p.m. – from Columbia University
• 10:00 p.m. – from Solera Bar
• Midnight – from Solera Bar

7:30–8:00 a.m. Morning activities. Guests can choose between an optional yoga session at the hotel or a running session in Paris.

7:30–09:30 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel.

9:00–10:30 a.m. Check-out luggage collection(we offer to shuttle your luggage to our final destination. From there airports and stations can be reached easier than from La Defence).

10:30 a.m. Tour de CIOs: Guests choose between four different Paris experiences:

• By vintage 2CV cars,
• by bike,
• e-bike, or
  by a relaxed tuk-tuk tour. All routes lead to:

1:00 p.m.Lunch at PLAT/FORM, 14 Port de la Gare, 75013 Paris, Frankreich

2:00 p.m. End of event & departure. Guests collect their luggage and depart.