According to the latest Anaé-Bedouk survey of 650 French events agencies with sales in excess of €300 million, 71.5 % of the events they organise are held in France. This represents an increase of 1.5 % compared with 2009. 18 % of these were seminars, 13 % incentive trips, 11 % evening events and 6 % corporate events. While 84 % of the events were sponsored by French companies, the main issuing countries were the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom. Unsurprisingly, the majority of events take place in the Paris region (60 %). "The very fact of coming to Paris is a reward in itself", says Christine Gouvion Saint Cyr, Director of the Convention Bureau at the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Business tourism accounts for 44 % of tourism in Paris, and any excuse is good enough to choose this destination. Foreign companies use a business meeting as an excuse to discover the "most romantic city in the world". All the clichés are used: cabarets, bateaux-mouches, châteaux, museums, monuments, dinner with a Michelin-starred chef...
It's true that the capital is constantly renewing its offer. Seven thousand extra rooms planned, new venues, an unrivalled cultural programme...
From VIP incentive operations to more modest rewards, Paris and the surrounding region cater for all requests. These include cruises on the Seine, with dinner on board as an optional extra. "We offer a variety of packages, from the classic Christmas and Summer parties to themed 'art of living' packages: cookery classes, introduction to wine, discovery of Parisian architecture, museums on the water, relaxation therapy, etc." says Laurent Le Fur, Managing Director of Yachts de Paris. These cruises can be combined with private tours of prestigious landmarks such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Grand Palais and the Garnier and Bastille opera houses. The Mice business accounts for almost 30 % of the river company's sales.
But unlike French groups, foreign clients are fewer in number and have reduced the number of participants: they have gone from 400 people in sectors such as pharmaceuticals or the oil industry to between 50 and 100 guests. Likewise, their demand remains very traditional and focused on discovering Paris along the river. As for the French, they are increasingly demanding, especially when it comes to creativity.
The originality of the event is to be found just thirty minutes from the capital, at the famous Chantilly Polo Club. Here, participants can learn to play polo and, surprisingly, whether they are horse riders or just want to breathe in the sea air off the Normandy coast. "In business tourism, 70 % of our clientele comes from Paris and 25 % from the Grand Ouest", says Emmanuel Bequet, manager of the Hôtel l'Hermitage in La Baule (Lucien Barrière group). As well as thalassotherapy treatments and casino evenings, participants can discover the region by 2CV or bicycle, sail a yacht, picnic on a small island, go tree climbing, take cookery classes or visit the salt marshes.
HIGHLIGHTS: PARIS AND CÔTE D'AZUR
After Paris, companies chose PACA for 17 %, Rhône-Alpes for 7 %, Aquitaine for 6 %, and Midi-Pyrénées for 3%. The Côte d'Azur is still very popular, especially with foreign groups, some of whom combine a stay in Paris with one or two days on the French Riviera. Cannes, Nice, Antibes, Grasse, Menton... have a reputation that extends beyond the borders of France. Especially for Anglo-Saxon and Russian groups. All the more so as the holiday can include an excursion to Italy or Monaco. At the same time, "in 2009, with the crisis, companies rediscovered France. Today we really have the impression that they appreciate it", says Clarice Denis, Associate Director of the Denis & Co agency. Regions that were not making inroads into business tourism have taken advantage of this refocusing on France to equip themselves, communicate and showcase their assets. Especially as demand is moving away from bling-bling and sunshine and towards green, authentic and natural activities. This trend is also reflected in the choice of means of transport: customers are more likely to take the train than the plane. Clarice Denis cites the example of the South-West "which was difficult to sell because of accessibility issues. The region has made huge efforts to communicate its unspoilt character and highlight its incentive potential. And customers are ready to go there!
Among the emerging 2010 destinations, Rhône-Alpes and Aquitaine come top, followed by Alsace and Pays de la Loire, then Nord and Pas-de-Calais. Bordeaux, since its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and its renovation, has attracted unprecedented interest, as Hélène Fourquet, director of the convention bureau, points out: "The city is seen as a real new destination! Tours combine the discovery of the city's cultural heritage with a visit to a nearby vineyard. Requests from foreign companies are still very much focused on wine: a visit to a renowned winery, top-of-the-range tastings and cookery or blending courses, with the occasional interlude devoted to organic farming and viticulture. In Languedoc-Roussillon, for example, the hotel Les Jardins de Saint-Benoît, opened in May 2009, welcomes incentive groups. The resort is an integral part of a small wine-producing village in the Corbières, Saint Laurent de la Cabrerisse; the rooms are spread across 171 houses, 21 of which have a swimming pool. Nothing on the outside distinguishes them from the other houses in the village. "We've recreated a traditional local habitat, with antique furniture, olive and wine tones, Mediterranean gardens... We want guests to feel at home," explains Delfine Fabre, Groups and Seminars Sales Manager. Regional businesses as well as major corporations organise their events here. Particularly popular are the winegrowers' meals held in the village square with the participation of local producers. "We also have another establishment, located near Béziers, at the gateway to the Haut-Languedoc regional nature park: the Couvent d'Hérepian. It is housed in an authentic convent, has 13 suites and is perfectly suited to small groups, such as executive committees", explains Delfine Fabre. Originality can be simple. For example, the Egg agency organised a stay for 150 people in Carcasonne for a laboratory last January. The nights were spent in a holiday village, an ancient abbey was privatised for a lunch, the region was explored on quad bikes and buggies, and the gala evening had a bodega theme. Event Sucess took a telephony group of around forty people to the Hotel Dolce Frégate in Bandol, where a riddle awaited them. Aboard 2CVs, then boats, with tasting breaks here and there, they all set off on a treasure hunt.Still in the South, the P.O.Com agency in Avignon offers a wine and chocolate theme that is very popular with groups. "They set off from Avignon in a buggy, have a wine tasting in a cellar, then visit a chocolate factory and make their own chocolate", explains Isabelle Maridet, director. The agency has just launched a new product for incentives of around thirty participants: a night-time treasure hunt in the Popes' Palace.
GREEN ACTIVITIES IN AUVERGNE
Thanks to its central location, the Auvergne attracts groups from all over France, generally from 20 to 100 people. Of course, Vulcania is one of the main attractions, but it's also the range of green activities on offer that sets it apart from other destinations. Hot-air ballooning over volcanoes, canyoning, eco-responsible holidays, dog-sledding, lumberjacking, skiing, hockey, "Sémin'ères Nature" at Vulcania... flying with migratory birds... it's all possible in the Auvergne! To complete an environmentally-friendly holiday, companies can opt for Nattitude accommodation: 39 unusual establishments, away from any form of pollution and meeting specifications based on sustainable development. For example, in Saint-Nectaire, in the Sancy massif, the Bains romains hotel whose owner, a balloonist, offers first flights in a hot-air balloon. Such a rich offering shows companies that the grass is not necessarily greener elsewhere. Each of France's regions has its own strengths, opening up a wealth of possibilities for incentive activities, with the added advantage of being accessible to all budgets.
