Anyone travelling to Rhodes or Crete this summer, and staying in one of the Atlantica Hotels mentioned below, will be able to savor a gastronomical menu, which is the result of a unique Belgian-Greek partnership.

Deluxe tour operator VIP Selection (a Belgian TUI Travel premium brand), the Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe and Atlantica Hotels & Resorts joint forces to export Belgian top gastronomy to the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes.

Two chefs of Atlantica Hotels & Resorts came to Belgium in January/March for three weeks of intensive brainstorming, creativity and collaboration with two Belgian topchefs of the international group of Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe. The goal was to enhance the skills of the chefs, to discover new techniques and to create an exclusive menu. Since last week, these menus are served in the a la carte restaurants of both Atlantica Hotels.

The two Belgian JRE-restaurants that shared their expertise:
- Restaurant A-Priori in Haaltert (near Aalst): chef Kristof Coppens, 1 Michelin star
- Restaurant Hostellerie Saint-Nicolas in Elverdinge (near Ypres): chef Franky Vanderhaeghe, 2 Michelin stars
- Hotel Atlantica Imperial Resort ***** Rhodes: chef Kotsi Athanasios
- Hotel Atlantica Sensatori Resort ***** Crete: chef Christos Karagiannakos.

VIP Selection is the Belgian premium tour operator brand of TUI Travel PLC. Premium holidays since 21 years: Mediterranean, Red Sea, Canary Islands, Caribbean, etc... Gastronomy is an important ingredient in the suggested holidays. With this new project, VIP Selection aims to enhance even more the culinary experience of its holidaymakers. VIP Selection is a brand of touroperator Jetair and TUI Belgium, the largest Belgian holiday group.

The Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe (JRE) are a group of young and ambitious European topchefs. 350 in Europe; 22 in Belgium. Since 2008 a JRE-chef creates the meals for the VIP-passengers aboard the Jetairfly aircraft. In 2008, Kristof Coppens was the first chef to face the challenge, followed by chef Franky Vanderhaeghe. Today -in its 6th season already- chef Christophe Van den Berghe of Michelin star restaurant Jardin Tropical in Knokke signs for the concept of these meals.

Atlantica Hotels & Resorts is a TUI hotel chain with 25 hotels, in Cyprus, on the Greek Islands and in Egypt. Thanks to their long tradition of hospitality, these 5 star hotels have a very good reputation with the Belgian holiday makers. These are especially tempted by the good value for money, the (also Belgian inspired) animation and the quality of food. The two hotels that participate in this project are part of the Atlantica Grand Collection.