Wildtrails creates exclusive outdoor experiences
Creating unforgettable experiences for various types of groups: in a nutshell, that’s what Wildtrails does. Their eight locations in the Ardennes can be used both by companies to organise team-building activities, events and meetings as well as by private individuals for their weekends, adventure activities and celebrations. In addition, there is a wide choice of adventurous team-building and other activities, such as team assignments, adventure programmes, caving, downhill quad biking, outdoor laser shooting, rafting, etc. “Everything we do is tailor-made”, says owner Frank Descamps.
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What began in 1994 with the hiring of mountain bikes and mobile climbing walls for team-building activities and company sports days, has grown into a one-stop shop for all kinds of meetings and events. “From hotel facilities (with more than 130 rooms and over 330 beds) to meeting facilities, the organisation and guidance of teambuilding activities, as well as catering services: we offer everything under one roof”, Descamps says.
His company has eight locations in the Ardennes: La Grange Nicolas, Le Garde-Chasse, De Pastorie, Porte de Cielle, Petit Clément, Les Pieds dans l’eau, Jeanne de Jupille and the Wildtrails Basecamp. The last-mentioned location, with its own outdoor centre, is spread over a massive area of 26 hectares. Regardless of whether your group consists of five people or a few 100, exclusivity is guaranteed at each site. “Each building has its own meeting room, terrace, bar, bedrooms and bathrooms, which you do not have to share with anyone else. So you have the whole place to yourselves, as a group. It’s totally different from a hotel”, he says.
“Clients appreciate being able to work in the midst of nature and in total seclusion. Many groups return year after year; in fact, they only want to come here for their meetings and no longer want to go to a hotel”, he says. Wildtrails can boast impressive client testimonials from large companies and organisations, such as Microsoft, Tommorowland, Google, the European Commission, NATO, etc. But smaller companies, such as the Willy Naessens Group, G&V and Unilin Flooring, are also frequent guests here.
Multiple benefits
Another strong USP is the green surroundings of the country estates. “All our activities take place in the nature. So, naturally, we want to take good care of it”, Frank explains. This is why Wildtrails is the only entity in the sector with its own nature reserves, where it engages in nature management and protection activities in consultation with experts. “We also organise CSR activities here for companies, such as clean-up campaigns and events where we plant native trees and shrubs, place nesting boxes, etc. In other words, customisation with respect for nature.”
Wildtrails is also committed to green energy and, as far as possible, works with products with a short food supply chain in its catering services. With sustainability in mind, it also made the switch from plastic and glass bottles to tap water coolers. “By the end of 2022, we had installed seven AQUALEX appliances dispensing both still and sparkling water. As a result, we could avoid carbon emissions from the transportation and refrigeration of bottled water. We are also reducing the amount of waste we generate because, thanks to these drinking water systems, we can save on 67,000 plastic bottles a year. In addition to the ecological motivation, there are also major advantages in terms of logistics: we no longer have to transport bottles, we need fewer fridges and therefore consume less energy. We have extremely pure water here in the Ardennes, which is once again filtered in the AQUALEX taps: water never tasted so good!”
As a West-Flanders entrepreneur, Frank was familiar with the AQUALEX brand via his network. So the trust was there to start with. However, there was an additional reason for choosing AQUALEX. “CEO Alexander also happens to be a client of ours. If we can return the favour, why not?”
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