Herculean Chronicles: the comeback – There were moments during the pandemic when I truly wondered if Hercules Trophy would ever return.

Some people ask me, ‘Why are you still talking about the pandemic?’ They have no idea. COVID hit us hard. Events vanished overnight with zero support from the government that charges the highest taxes in the world. Our business model—built on bringing people together outdoor to make them move—was suddenly the exact thing no one could do. However, what followed was even more challenging: the aftermath. Long after the lockdowns ended, the world hesitated, and budgets were frozen.

At the same time, something else shifted: employees got used to working from home. Employers noticed that engagement and well-being dropped while employee expectations—sometimes accompanied by a sense of entitlement—soared to unrealistic levels. Many realised too late that culture and connection don’t just happen behind screens. You need real moments, real energy, and shared experiences to reignite that spark.

When you’re in that space as an entrepreneur, watching something you’ve built over decades fall into silence and there’s nothing you can do about it—it messes with your head. You think: Maybe this is it. Maybe it was a good run. Just let it go.

And then, on top of that, there’s the part no one tells you about: the people who enjoy kicking you while you’re down. The whispers. The subtle digs from those who are always secretly hoping you’d fall. The cowardly attacks. But here’s what I’ve learned: your haters are often your biggest fans—they just haven’t figured it out yet.

We lost a lot of money.

Still, in the middle of all that turmoil, the fire never went out, and I felt that we would rise again, like a Phoenix.

Because Hercules Trophy was never just an event. It’s a movement. A belief that work should feel human again. Teams need to connect in genuine ways—not just over Zoom or during a casual pizza and bowling night that no one wants to attend. And that purpose and play go hand in hand.

So we rebuilt. Slowly. Patiently. With the right people. From scratch, on solid foundations.

Dubai gave us a new horizon. Belgium survived. Our loyal customers and partners continued to believe—even when it was hard for us to believe in ourselves. The people closest to me—like Kris Talboom, Ronald Everaert, Inge Van Belle, and my kids—never stopped encouraging me to keep going.

And this season?

This season, I know why I never gave up.

Three epic days in Belgium. A tsunami of kind messages, pictures, and reels capturing moments of real joy, pride, and community. Thousands of B2B hearts touched. Teams that took time—despite a world in turmoil—to invest in each other.

And we’re just getting started again.

2026 is around the corner, and we’re not slowing down. Dates have been announced, and companies are booking teams at early bird discounts of 30% before July 31st. Positive dissatisfaction is our middle name. We listen to our core team and our fans, innovate within the format to lead the way, and deliver an epic B2B experience in June, during the World Cup season. You can expect a “cozy sports beachbar theme” on top of the existing concept.

Next to Hercules Trophy, the entire ecosystem is growing again: Bravos, WorkBeats, Pink Ladies Games, Tornea, and Inge’s bestseller. We’re doing it with soul. And yes, my kids are now part of it too. I’m so proud of them. That’s legacy.

To our customers: thank you for choosing connection. To our partners: thank you for your patience and for building with us. To everyone who doubted: we look forward to seeing you again in 2026.

Because every season, somewhere in the middle of the cheering, the music, the sweat, and the laughter… I look around and think:

This is why.

#employeeengagement #teambuilding #corporatechallenge #belgium

Disclaimer

The Herculean Chronicles are my personal interpretation of 26 years of the Hercules Trophy. I’m writing at least 12 stories from a place of love and gratefulness, even for the ones who don’t like me. This was chapter 7. Read the previous chapter here. All the names are real, and it’s my way of thanking everyone and bringing the community together around untold stories. It’s also a way to explain the journey to my kids so they won’t make the same mistakes again and remember their roots. As it’s impossible to remember everything, please contact me and send me your stories to enrich the legacy.