Welcoming better, and together, to make Dijon a benchmark MICE destination: to attract major business events, the capital of Burgundy is counting on more than just its assets. These include, among others, optimum accessibility at the crossroads of motorways and railway lines, and high-quality infrastructures such as a 31,000m² Exhibition and Convention Centre and over 4,700 hotel rooms. The city is also pooling its energies to give substance to its ambitions.
Following on from last year's structuring of the Convention Bureau, the development of business tourism in the city has been given fresh impetus with the creation of a charter formalising the reciprocal commitments between the Convention Bureau and its MICE partners. The first of these partners, the Mercure Dijon Centre Clémenceau hotel, signed the charter on 12 November, and the list of partners is set to be extended in the coming weeks to all service providers in the area. All signatories will be listed on the congres.destinationdijon.com website and in the Dijon Bourgogne Tourisme & Congrès Business Guide.
The charter, which was drawn up in consultation with players in the sector as part of a co-construction process, is based on three pillars: quality in the hosting and organisation of professional events, local cooperation and collective visibility, and lastly, a long-term commitment involving, in particular, the promotion of Dijon's expertise. " This charter provides a clear framework for a shared ambitionsaid Sladana Zivkovic, President of Dijon Bourgogne Tourisme & Congrès. We fully share this vision of collaborative and demanding business tourism. "
Preferential rates and a dedicated contact person
By signing this commitment charter, MICE partners undertake to respond to requests from the Convention Bureau within 48 hours, to take part in the various initiatives on offer - working groups, short courses, surveys - and to appoint a dedicated contact person to welcome events. More specifically, the charter requires restaurants to offer menus tailored to MICE groups, giving priority to local and seasonal products, and hoteliers to offer a rate 10% lower than the public rate when MICE groups are approached by Dijon Bourgogne Tourisme & Congrès. All of this is combined with the promotion of the destination's tourist activities and support for the CSR initiatives undertaken by the tourist office.
Dijon Bourgogne Tourisme & Congrès is continuing to work with this local network of committed players to structure their collaboration so as to guarantee the best possible experience for organisers and visitors alike. And the introduction of this charter will consolidate the system by making Dijon's MICE players the driving force behind the region's economic and events influence.
Situated at the heart of a strategic triangle between Paris, Lyon and Strasbourg, and easily accessible by TGV from Geneva, Zurich or Luxembourg, Burgundy has established itself over the last few years as a rising destination for business tourism, closely linked to its areas of excellence such as health, agri-food, digital technology and energy transition.
Acknowledged by the Arthur Lloyd barometer as France's leading metropolis in terms of attractiveness, Dijon stands out as much for its economic dynamism as for its quality of life. And, of course, its rich cultural and gastronomic heritage, which contributes to the city's international reputation. To build on this momentum, the new Business Tourism Commitment Charter adds new ingredients to make Dijon a key MICE destination.
