According to various international rankings, France is one of the world's leading conference destinations. According to the 2011 rankings of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), France is fifth in the world and fourth in Europe, while the other leading publication, the Union of International Associations (UIA), puts it in fourth place worldwide. "France in general - and certain cities in particular - is recognised as a benchmark destination for hosting conferences, says Christian Mantei, CEO of Atout France. Especially as the turnout is always higher than average.
However, in order to stay at the forefront and keep up with the opening of new convention centres equipped with the latest technology all over the world, France needs to renew its offer. Most French venues were built between 1980 and 2000, and more than 40 of them were built before 1989. As a result, many players in the sector have invested heavily to regain their competitive edge. In 2011, according to Atout France, "220 million has been invested in exhibition centres, convention centres and multifunctional facilities, representing an increase in investment of more than 136 % in ten years"..
Work in progress
This is particularly true of the Atlantia conference centre in La Baule. Built in 1987, the site will close its doors at the end of the year for nearly 15 months of renovation work. "It will undergo a major refurbishment, with facades given a makeover, interiors revamped in terms of materials and colours, an extension to the main auditorium and the roofing of a terrace...".says general manager Paule Raederstoerffer. With these new features, the Atlantia exhibition centre, which focuses on the medical and financial sectors, is also hoping to attract smaller regional trade shows.
Another example is in Strasbourg, where the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, located in the European district of Wacken, is also getting a facelift. The works, scheduled for completion in 2016, include the creation of a new 8,000 m² space dedicated to congresses and exhibitions.
The Rhône-Alpes region has also been caught up in this trend for several years. Opened in 1995, the Lyon Convention Centre, part of the Cité Internationale, a service, cultural and tourist centre designed by architect Renzo Piano, stretches for almost a kilometre along the Rhône, combining clean contemporary lines with green spaces. To remain attractive, the site's facilities are constantly being improved. In 2006, for example, a new 3,000-seat amphitheatre was built to accommodate a variety of events, including meetings, shows and concerts. Then in 2010, work was carried out to ensure that all information flows (voice, data, video, sound, lighting, technical building management, access control and video surveillance) are routed via the IT network. In the same vein, the convention centre has increased its WiFi coverage to meet the high demand for connections.
Worldwide
On the Atlantic side, La Cité, Nantes' convention centre, is celebrating its twentieth anniversary and, a sign of the times, has embarked on a sustainable approach, rewarded by ISO 9001 certification. Since last May, following a comprehensive audit, La Cité has been awarded the "or" Nantes joins a select group of 19 cities around the world - including Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur, Quebec City, San Diego and Vancouver - that can boast a meeting venue that meets the quality standards set by the International Association of Congress Centres.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary in style, the Arcachon Convention Centre has given itself a complete facelift! Located right in the town centre with sea views, the interior has been completely redesigned. Architect Frédéric Escoubet's watchwords were to prioritise functionality and modernise the spaces, while harmonising them with the existing structure. He chose to play with contemporary materials such as wood, brushed stainless steel and synthetic resin. A counter combining waxed concrete and Landes pine, designer lighting coordinated with a natural floor in sandy tones, a nod to the beaches of the coast... everything is designed to appeal to events of up to 700 people!
When it opened in 1994, the Lille Grand Palais also opted for modernity and modularity from the outset. Architect Rem Koolhaas designed three interconnected complexes in the heart of the city: a congress centre, an exhibition centre and a concert hall with a capacity of 5,000 people. As a result, Lille Grand Palais can host nearly 300 events of all sizes every year. To maintain the appeal of the venue, almost a million euros is regularly invested in the facilities, while a 10,000 m² extension to the exhibition area is currently under consideration.
Of the same generation as Lille, the Pierre Baudis Convention Centre in Toulouse has not aged a day. The building - two cubes that look as if they are nested inside each other - allows plenty of natural light through its three-storey glass façades. The glass roofs overlook one of the most remarkable Japanese gardens in France. Inside, the combination of marble and concrete gives the building a timelessly modern feel. "We are constantly reviewing our technical equipment and studying new applications".says Patrice Vassal, director of the Palais des Congrès. An indoor geolocation system is currently being tested. In the near future, organisers will be able to take advantage of smartphone applications that will allow them to view the entire exhibition, or to plan a route based on the stands...
Investments of this kind are being made just about everywhere in France. As we have seen, some are renovating or expanding, while others are adding a partner to their project to complete their offering. One of the latter, due to open in 2014-2015 at Roissy, is an integrated conference and business complex - the World Trade Centre - with 20,000 m² of office space, a 3,000-seat conference hall, a 10,000 m² showroom, 75 meeting rooms, two exhibition halls totalling 30,000 m² and five hotels, including a five-star hotel. Cost of the works: 650 million euros, creating one of the largest centres in Europe.
More modest but just as inventive, in 2010 Montpellier opened the Park & Suites Arena, a state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue that can hold 14,000 people! Built on the site of the exhibition centre, it is entirely modular and removable, enabling it to be used as a sports hall, a show venue and a conference centre. Another of its qualities is its exemplary sustainable development credentials. Its roof is equipped with a photovoltaic energy production system, the materials used are HQE-certified, and water and electricity consumption is controlled. The Park & Suites group of hotel residences is a partner in this modern-day arena, offering a comprehensive range of services.
New wave
The Cannes Convention Centre, home of the Cannes Film Festival, is no exception to the rejuvenation trend, with an investment of €57 million between 2009 and 2013 to become the first in Europe to obtain triple Quality-Safety-Environment certification (ISO 9001 and 14001 - OSHAS 18001). A necessary refresh, according to architect Jean-Paul Viguier? "it no longer lives up to its worldwide reputation. Its accessibility is difficult, its rooms cramped, its functionality limited. It's a reflection of these ageing conference venues, no longer in tune with today's needs".. Now more than ever, today's convention centres need to be functional, easily accessible and equipped with high-performance facilities in an attractive environment.
Jean Paul Viguier, who lived part of his life in Chicago, points out that French convention centres should, like their American counterparts, reflect their city. Or at least the local culture. "They must not be standard spaces. As soon as they enter, delegates need to know that they are in Marseille, Paris or Rennes! The future Antibes-Juan-les-Pins Convention Centre is a perfect illustration of this new generation. It will be built on the site of the old infrastructure, right in the centre of Juan-les-Pins. "We wanted it to be a real place to live, not just a site for professionals".says Philippe Baute, Director of the Antibes-Juan-les-Pins Tourist Office. The whole complex will cover 14,000 m², including 6,500 m² occupied by the convention centre and 7,500 m² of retail space.
In symbiosis with the bay
Designed by architect Jean-Jacques Ory, the new building, all glass and steel, is topped by an ovoid canopy that will house the plenary hall. "The architecture is in symbiosis with the local and urban environment, linking the Pinède Gould to the Square Sidney Bechet via a green corridor. The building is no more than 21 metres high, and its glass façade allows maximum use of natural light. And, from the convention centre, participants have an unbeatable view of the bay of Juan-les-Pins!says Philippe Baute. Scheduled to open in September 2013, the building will cater for conferences of up to 500 people. The new complex will also feature a relaxation area with spa and a gourmet restaurant on the roof, opening onto a panoramic terrace. At the same time, the Business Club intends to bring together all the local players in order to meet all the needs of delegates from A to Z, offering, for example, to put up posters in the town's shops in the colours of their event. A loyalty card system for delegates is also being studied.
A completely different project is underway in Rennes. The Breton city has decided to build a convention centre to consolidate its position as regional capital. "We had to renovate the Jacobins Convent, a listed historic monument, and at the same time meet a demand for a hall from the Brittany Symphony Orchestra".explains Jean-François Kerroc'h, project manager for the future convention centre, due to open at the end of 2016. The choice of site was an obvious one: the Jacobins convent, a historic and cultural landmark in the city centre, will be converted into meeting and performance venues. The site, which has a total usable area of almost 11,400 m², was a real headache, as it had to respect the site and its environment while meeting the contemporary requirements of event organisers.
The chosen project is that of Breton architect Jean Guervilly, who has chosen to restore the entire complex - cloister, church and monastery buildings - open it up to the city and add a modern extension. The historic part will house around twenty modular meeting rooms, with a restaurant and exhibition space on the first floor, lit by a huge glass roof. The church will become a 300-seat auditorium, and the large terrace that runs along both sides of the former convent will serve as a link between the pedestrianised Place Sainte-Anne and the convention centre. As for the modern part, it will be built in the west and north courtyards and will include a 1,000-seat auditorium 14 metres underground! Large skylights will provide light for the auditorium and a vast exhibition hall. Finally, above the square, a luminous bell tower will extend the convention centre, reminding everyone that Rennes is the capital of new technologies. The former Jacobins convent will be the perfect illustration of this, with the most innovative equipment on the market.
New and attractive locations
Reflecting the image of its city or region is also the approach taken for the future Angers convention centre, due to open in 2018. The new site will incorporate the "green in its architecture, reminding visitors of the city's leadership in plant innovation. In practical terms, it will have a 600-seat hall, an auditorium with a capacity of 1,600 people, and a four-star hotel with 120 rooms.
With the trend towards refocusing events in France and organisers looking for new, attractive, accessible and efficient venues, there is real economic potential opening up for each of these towns. It's up to them to position themselves to offer facilities that match demand and their own capacity to host events. It's a challenge that many are taking up.
