Overheard on the Showfloor

"So we need a GovSec."

—Brussels (Belgium) Mayor Freddy Thielemans noting that the first edition of the security show GovSec Europe had recently been held at Brussels Expo, and commenting on the threat of fire or terrorism to the tapestries on the walls of the 600-year-old Hotel de Ville (city hall), during a reception there for participants of the Doing Business in the European Union conference (Oct. 2–4, Brussels, Belgium)

"We've got both GONGOS and BONGOS."

—Keller Europe Vice President Rachel Barlow, on the wide number of non-governmental organizations based in Brussels representing both those, in fact, involved with governments (GONGOS) and those involved with business (BONGOS), during Doing Business in the European Union

"I'm delighted to be able to speak English again."

—Messe Duesseldorf Managing Director Joachim Schafer, who spent 33 years in the United States before returning to his native Germany in 2005, on talking with participants of Doing Business in the European Union

"We're not Las Vegas. We don't have a Caesars or a Paris. But we've got history, culture. We know a few things."

—Thielemans, on Brussels' potential as a tradeshow location, during Doing Business in the European Union

"We're the capital of Europe. That's our unique selling proposition."

—Brussels Expo Director David Boone, during Doing Business in the European Union

"For some reason, the other nationalities in Europe don't hate us."

—Boone