The anniversary of the IFTM Top Resa trade show, scheduled for 25 to 28 September, should give a special flavour to this 2018 edition...
Frédéric Lorin - This is indeed the 40th edition this year. The first event was held in 1978 at the PLM Saint-Jacques hotel [now the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center]. We didn't know it at the time, but there was already a link with the hotel business and business travel!
Do you have any special events planned for this anniversary edition?
F. L. - We're currently working on organising a big 40th anniversary party, to which we'd like to invite between 1200 and 1500 guests to thank exhibitors for their loyalty over the years. The event will take place on Wednesday evening. The venue has yet to be decided, but we'd like it to be a spectacular one, worthy of such an anniversary.
Will this edition enable you to attract high-level government representatives?
F. L. - I hope that it won't just be the fortieth anniversary that motivates these guests to come. We've contacted the Quai d'Orsay, Bercy, the French Overseas Departments and Territories and the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organisation. I'm very hopeful that we'll get a good turnout. Every year, we point out that tourism accounts for 7% of GDP, and 2 million direct and indirect jobs. That's not a neutral figure! In spite of everything, we need to show conviction to attract these leaders every year, who are nonetheless there, it has to be said.
What is the common thread linking these four decades of trade shows?
F. L. - Some elements have remained after the moving from Deauville to ParisEven though there are still plenty of people who are nostalgic for Deauville! The show remains a meeting place for all the players in the tourism family. It's the only BtoB event on this scale that's recognised as a key event in the tourism sector. The other common thread has been built up over the years: the show's initial DNA was very much focused on leisure, and then along the way - and this is the show's stated strategy - the event became the exhaustive showcase for the market, covering not only leisure but also the tourism sector. business travelthe MICEgroup tourism and France.
What can be done to mobilise the business travel industry?
Frédéric Lorin – It's a strategic decision to represent every segment of the tourism industry. As well as expertise, there's also the need to spread the word. We have created the Business Club to welcome these exhibitors. We've done well: today, a quarter of visitors come for the business travel (24%) and 14% for the MICEThe work that has been done on this segment has therefore been a success. So the work we've done on this segment has been a success, and this is confirmed every year, since business travel is the fastest-growing sector at the show. We didn't completely fill up on this segment, unlike leisure, where we are a very mature show with 95% destinations, a lot of airlines, and so on. But the Business Club is making significant progress every year. We continue to be very satisfied with our collaboration with AFTMA dream partner with whom we are working hand in hand, and who will be presenting its major white paper at the show for the first time.
What's new for Club Affaires in 2018?
F. L. - The Business Club attracts newcomers. This year, for example, there's been an increase in the number of large hotel networksIn my opinion, this makes up for a small weakness, a box that wasn't sufficiently filled in the Business Club. The same goes for YES.SNCF is taking a stand specifically for business travel this year, in addition to their stand in the general area: this is a first. Business Table will also be present, as will Carbookr or Ectorand we are confident thatUber is also present. Uber wants to be very aggressive in business travel, and the fact that their presence at the show is part of this strategy is a very good sign for us. A number of exhibitors are also expanding their stands this year, including The Company. So the business club is growing, proving that business travel is a sector that is doing very well at the show.
More generally, could you give us some examples of what's new this year?
F. L. - For example, we are launching the village of the world's beautiful trainsWe're also trying to set up a medical tourism village. We're also trying to set up a medical tourism village, but it's a complex project because the market isn't very clear yet. There will also be an Influencers' Village this year, with 32 participants. Other new features include the launch of a Tech Zone With the growing success of the various technology players, we have decided to create a clearly identified space, whereas until now these exhibitors were scattered throughout the show. Finally, this year also marks the end of MapProwhich became Destination France.
Do you think you can achieve record performances this year?
F.L. – We had a very good show last year, both in terms of increased floor space and visitor numbers... But we're going to do our utmost to make further progress this year and today all the indicators are in the green for a good 2018 show, even if it's still a little early to give figures four months before the show.
The 2017 edition was marked by an increase in foreign visitors. Are you hoping for the same trend this year?
F. L. - Indeed, while international visitors generally number around 12%, last year the figure reached 18%. So there's been a big increase, and we're doing everything we can to ensure that it continues this year.
There are many events dedicated to business travel in Europe. How can you stand out from the crowd?
Frédéric Lorin - There are many trade fairs, such as WTM in London or ITB in Berlinwhich are very big events. But if we do our job well, we must not be seen simply as sellers of carpets and partitions, but rather as experts in putting people in touch with each other and staging an ecosystem, a market. That's why the customer experience is crucial, and why every year we try to incorporate new features at IFTM Top Resa.
Wi-Fi is often a sensitive issue at trade fairs. Can participants expect optimum connection this year?
F. L. - Wi-fi worked well last year, it must be said, after a catastrophic 2016... The works are now completely finished at Porte de Versailles, so we'll be enjoying a completely refurbished Hall 7, and we've been assured that everything will work well this year.
How do you see IFTM Top Resa for its 50th edition?
F. L. - I can't tell you where I'll be in ten years' time, but I do know that over the coming years I'll be working hard to take the event to the next level. That's my credo. If my mission was to copy and paste the previous edition, I wouldn't have signed up. I put a lot of energy into developing the show, and I want there to be something new every year so that the exhibitors are satisfied with the investment they have made to be here.
