The grand opening of Brussels’ Viage entertainment center turned out to be a three-day celebration of the latest project from Casinos Austria International.
The festivities kicked off with champagne and cocktails for 800 guests and 130 journalists in a marquee, or large tent, erected for the weekend on the Place de la Monnaie. Participants then walked across the square to see Brussels Mayor Freddy Thielemans cut the ribbon and declare Viage open.
The 14,000-square-meter entertainment center has a casino with 36 tables, 360 gaming machines and 100 bingo seats. A dedicated poker room and the luxurious Oak Room salon privé, with seven gaming tables for VIP guests, round out the gaming.
But the focus of Viage is on entertainment, and the grand opening sought to give guests the broadest picture of what that means. The evening’s entertainment contained excerpts from the Viage Musical Dinner Show, which features Belgium’s top performers in a musical revue being offered in the facility’s 1,000-seat Viage Theater every Thursday.
Viage’s own big band, Los Banditos de Viage, also performed, and will be a regular feature in the Viage Theater. The band gave a live performance at the event, which was broadcast on a huge screen on the Place de la Monnaie.
General Manager Andrew Webb said of the concert screening, “We wanted to make sure that everyone in Brussels had the chance to enjoy our opening weekend and see for themselves some of the many entertainment options we have to offer.”
Viage replaces the Grand Casino Brussels, which was Casinos Austria International’s temporary facility while the new center was being created.
