His love of the sea. Georges Pernoud shared his love of the sea with millions of French people through his television programme Thalassa for decades, until his death in 2021. La Rochelle Tourisme & Événements is paying tribute to this emblematic figure of France's maritime heritage by renaming one of its meeting places, the Forum des Pertuis, as the Forum des Pertuis. Georges-Pernoud conference centre.
Set in the heart of the marina, a stone's throw from the Minimes beach, the place obviously had a strong link with the ocean, so much highlighted by the cult TV programme hosted by Georges Pernoud. But the new name also salutesr the completion of a renovation phase over the course of a year.
Reopened at the beginning of the year, redesigned to increase exhibition space The Georges Pernoud Convention Centre has undergone a facelift, making it more flexible to accommodate a wider range of events. La Rochelle Tourisme & Événements has been awarded ISO 20121 certification and the Sustainable Innovative Destination label since 2024.
The Georges Pernoud Convention Centre is part of a strong commitment to responsible events, and today offers 2,100 m² of modular space capable of accommodating up to 1,100 participants. There is a 410-seat amphitheatre, a 700 m² exhibition area and six meeting rooms, the largest of which, the 345 m² Lighthouse Room, is extended by a large panoramic terrace overlooking the sea.
Every year, La Rochelle hosts over 200 events at its two major MICE venues, the largest of which is the 7500 m² convention centre, l'Espace Encanwill also embark on a phase of upgrading its equipment next year.
