According to Coach Omnium, the France had no less than 118 convention centres in operation in 2018 with, in addition, a good fifteen or so openings scheduled between now and 2025. This highly varied offering is scattered across the country, with varying degrees of concentration depending on the region. Unsurprisingly, theÎle-de-France is the best equipped with 27 convention centresof which 13 in Paris. It is immediately followed by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region (25), then Nouvelle Aquitaine and Occitanie, ex aequo with 23 sites each. They are followed by the South of France (21), Brittany (19) and the East of France (18).
As a result, organisers are often spoilt for choice. Nevertheless, for a very large-scale event, it will undoubtedly be the Paris Convention CentreA venue that can accommodate up to 35,000 participants at any one time, and boasts a plenary hall, the largest in Europe, with seating for 5,200. Inaugurated in 2017, this 70,000 m² has been designed to host the biggest national and international events. It brings together in a single building exhibition halls, meeting and conference rooms, fixed and mobile catering units, an events room and a green terrace. It's hyper-modularity means it can be adapted to suit any event.
In 2018, Paris regained its leading position in the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association) rankings, overtaking Vienna by a margin of 40 events!
For example, in 2019, the ESC Congress of Cardiology will be one of the 19 congresses registered, with 35,000 guests from 150 countries attending the largest international congress ever held in Paris! And the success of the Paris Convention Centre is set to continue in the years to come, with 30 conventions already signed up to 2023for a total of 195,000 delegates. "We are capturing events that were not, or are no longer, held in Paris due to lack of space, such as the European Society for Medical Oncology, which will be held here in 2021 and will welcome 23,000 delegates."confirms Marta Gomez, Congress Director at Viparis. He added: "in November 2019, a 450-room hotel complex will open on the park, along with a new 15,000 m² with a 14,000 m urban farm on the roof.² and a restaurant: Le Perchoir. Then, between 2020 and 2024, we will inaugurate the pavilions 2 and 3 revisited by Christian de Portzamparc."
The sheer scale of the Paris Convention Centre is helping to make Paris a more attractive venue for international conferences. Visit 2018, the French capital has regained its leading position in the CICA classification (International Congress and Convention Association), ahead of Vienna by 40 events! But it's the Paris Region as a whole that can rely on new infrastructures to boost its appeal. In the area around the capital, for example, the brand new Paris-Saclay Convention Centre has hosted some thirty events since it opened in April 2018, including a full privatisation for one month. It has nine flexible seminar rooms with natural daylight, a 593-seat auditorium with a large stage, and a 985 m² exhibition space with seven-metre high ceilings.
International ambitions
France's second most popular destination for major events is Lyon It's a place that's in line with its position as France's second-largest economic centre, thanks to major business sectors such as biotechnology, chemicals, digital technology and textiles. Its central location in Europe and excellent rail and air links make it a popular destination for international events, backed up by top-of-the-range infrastructures such as the Eurexpo's new Hall 7inaugurated at the end of 2018.
This puts Lyon ahead of Montpellier, Toulouse and Marseille in the national rankings, Nantes and Nice. With its Promenade des Anglais and Baie des Anges, Nice is one of France's leading destinations for business tourism. Its conference centre, the Acropolis Palacelocated in the city centre, offers no fewer than five auditoriums, 50 meeting rooms and 26,000 m² of exhibition space. In 2018, it hosted 132 events, an increase of around 20 %. Bernard Carré, the site's director, points out that "medical and scientific conferences are among our main activities. But the Palais Acropolis also hosts numerous corporate conventions, particularly in the IT, banking and retail sectors, as well as trade fairs, seminars and major sporting, political and economic events.".
Still in the south, and also one of the 'big boys', Toulouse also aims to attract international conferences, particularly scientific ones, thanks to the future MEETTan exhibition and convention centre scheduled to open in 2020. It will cover an area of 15,000 m² spread over two floors, and will be able to accommodate up to 10,000 people, including 3,400 in plenary sessions. MEETT has already confirmed its appeal for large-scale events by announcing that it will be holding Global Space in Toulouse from 17 to 19 June 2020, a new international meeting place for players in the space sector and its ecosystem. The aim of the event is to become the "Bourget of the sector. It will bring together all the players in the sector, with some fifty countries represented.
MarseilleFrance's second largest city in terms of population, can naturally also host major conferences. Last year, the city of Marseille hosted 816 events and recorded 416,482 delegate days. "At the Palais du Pharo, we host an average of 160 events a year, with between 60 and 1,500 participants. Of these, 60 % are regional, 30 % national and 10 % international."says Samy Laboz, in charge of promoting the venue. Meanwhile, Parc Chanot, Marseille's other convention centre, which has just been awarded ISA 20 121 certification (responsible management system), is also attracting major events, even very major events. In 2020, for example, it will host the International Union for Conservation of Nature, one of the world's largest congresses, bringing together 10,000 people over ten days!
To the east, something new
The east of France is also playing in the big league. At the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès in StrasbourgIn June 2020, no fewer than 3,500 people are expected to take part in 36e national congress on occupational medicine and health. One of the city's major assets is its unity of location, with the 50,000 m²and the exhibition centre. "In 2021-2022, the complex will add a new adjoining 50,000 m² exhibition centre.We're looking forward to it," says Justine Debard, Marketing and Communications Assistant at the Strasbourg Convention & Exhibition Centre. Still in the Grand Est region, but less eagerly awaited than the Alsatian capital, another city is doing well: Metz. In September 2018, between the station and the Georges Pompidou Centre, the city opened the Metz Robert Schuman Congress. Located in the heart of the business district, the building designed by Willmotte et Associés is the only one in the region to boast a modular 1,200-seat auditorium. Ultra-modern, with 16 modular rooms and ISO 14 001 (environmental) certification, it has hosted some 200 events since it opened. "It allows us to capture more and more international events, such as the G7 Environment Summit held here last May."says Michel Coqué, general manager of the venue.
Alongside the centres of the major metropolises, smaller conferences can be held in charming destinations on a human scale.
Alongside these behemoths, smaller conferences can be found in charming destinations on a human scale, such as Tautavel, Cassis, Cognac, Gruissan, and also Pau where the Palais Beaumont is enthroned facing the Pyrenees, really facing the Pyrenees. Surrounded by a large park, it is housed in a winter palace built in the 1930s, whose former theatre has been replaced by a two-storey auditorium with 196 and 540 seats. The winter garden has been restored to its former glory, with an astonishing palm grove where conference delegates enjoy a break. The Palais Beaumont has 20 meeting rooms and can accommodate up to 800 people theatre-style and 900 for cocktails. Every year, it hosts 250 events, the majority of which are organised by companies with a regional presence, but of international importance such as Safran and Total. One of the major assets of this conference centre is that it offers 2,000 free simultaneous wifi connections. A service that is the envy of many major business venues! The Grasse Convention Centre has the same 'human scale' spirit and beautiful architecture. Inspired by the Belle Époque style, it has a capacity of 200 people and an exceptional view of the coastline and Grasse countryside. The great advantage of this pocket-sized town is that all you have to do to reach your hotel or restaurant is walk.
Another option for companies is to combine business with pleasure by opting for a seaside conference centre. The French coastline offers countless opportunities in this respect. Less than three hours from Paris and only 45 minutes from BordeauxThe Arcachon Convention Centre, located right in the town centre on the seafront, makes the most of its 'Années Folles' charm and exceptional location. With their feet practically in the sand, participants can enjoy evening events for up to 500 people on a private beach, as well as oyster-farming aperitifs in the convention centre itself. The auditorium, renovated in 2018, can accommodate up to 500 people. In 2018, 164 events representing 14,978 delegates were held on the site.
In a completely different genre, much more iodised, Saint-Malo is also an excellent option for lovers of the big blue. Located on the Sillons beach, its conference centre is due to complete its renovation work this September. It will feature a panoramic terrace of 150 m²a new rotunda of 405 m² The new building will be located above the two existing ones, and will have a total of 19 meeting rooms. Its director, Xavier Burban, declares that "its main target is medical and scientific conferences, trade unions and federations with more than 500 participants." Cradled by the invigorating Atlantic air, La Rochelle also has no shortage of assets. It has even built up a solid reputation in the nautical and agri-food sectors. Congresses can choose between two buildings right on the water, including the Espace Encan, located in the old tidal market opposite the Bassin des Grands Yachts, or the Forum des Pertuis, docked in the Minimes marina.
Water, then; water for bathing in the sea, but also water from the depths of the earth, so loved by the privileged at the beginning of the last century. And when it comes to style, two of the great stars of the Roaring Twenties automatically spring to mind: Vichy and Evian. While Vichy offers events at the Palais des Congrès-Opera, a listed building nestling in the heart of a city-centre park, Evian takes advantage of its idyllic location on the shores of Lake Geneva. The spa town offers two venues just a five-minute walk apart. Facing the lake, the Palais Lumière has a 375-seat auditorium, while in the city centre, the Palais des Festivités has 2,000 m² modular spaces, including a 450-person plenary room. As well as working sessions, groups can take advantage of water sports activities linked to the lake or more mountain activities with ski resorts just 12 kilometres away.
Gaining height
Companies looking for a change of scenery can opt for the French Alps, Val d'Isère or Tignes, for example. Tignes is both an indoor sports complex dedicated to top-level sport and a conference centre, TignEspace offers 1 500 m² spaces in which to meet. For Stephie Dijkman, Sales and Marketing Director of Tignes Developpement, "Located at an altitude of 2,100 metres, Tignes is a unique destination: quirky, cosmopolitan, sporty and innovative. In summer and winter alike, it offers groups a unique opportunity to experience the mountains in a different way, with a wide range of activities to choose from, the latest of which is a golf simulator.."
But the real glamour, a 'conference-on-glam' of sorts, is what conference organisers will be looking for in Deauville, Cannes, Biarritz and La Baule. And find it. Just two hours from Paris, Deauville owes its international renown to the many painters who have stayed here, including Monet, Corot and Manet, its typically Norman architecture and its famous beach promenade, Les Planches, with its multicoloured parasols and cabins immortalised by Claude Lelouch in "Un homme et une femme". Cinema is now an integral part of the seaside resort, and its American Film Festival has become a must-see event for film buffs in September, as well as for fans of photos of French and American stars. Held at the CID, the Deauville International CentreAs Philippe Durand, the venue's Communications and Marketing Director, explains: "It's an opportunity for companies to associate their congresses with this event.they can invite their PR people and clients to the festival with VIP passes. This year, when Catherine Deneuve was announced as president of the festival, many companies booked this type of pass.."
Cocooning on the beach
Just like Deauville, Cannes offers an infinitely glamorous setting, with its legendary Croisette and Palais des Festivals where delegates can climb the famous red-carpeted steps. À La BauleIt's the great beach that plays this role, the beach and its bay that is no less than listed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. "This invigorating, chic and authentic destination, nestled between land and sea in the heart of a protected pine forest, is less than 3 hours from Paris by direct TGV train, and 45 minutes from theNantes-Atlantique international airport. We welcome delegates to a 'cocooning' resort, with their feet in the sand... Hotels of all categories, a resolutely modern and connected conference centre of 3,500 m²and 100 modular %, local services... Everything is in place to make organising a conference as easy as possible and to offer participants the best possible experience."explains Louise Chaillou, Head of International Marketing and Promotion at Atlantia.
It's particularly trendy: companies concerned about the well-being of the planet can visit sites with eco-responsible labels, such as those in Nantes, Nancy or Rennes.
But if you're looking for romance and nostalgia, you'll find it a little further down the Atlantic, in the Basque country, with the elegant Biarritz which welcomes groups to three sites within walking distance of each other. While two of them face the ocean, all have preserved the Belle Epoque architecture that reminds us that the resort was once a holiday destination for the European aristocracy. Indeed, Biarritz has preserved that unique charm that made Victor Hugo say: "I can't think of any place more charming and magnificent than Biarritz". It's true that the city can host events from all sectors, even on a very large scale, as was the case this summer with the G7 summit. In this way, it reflects France's vast convention potential.
Finally, and this is particularly trendy, companies concerned about the well-being of the planet can visit sites that have been awarded the eco-responsible label. These include Nantes has made sustainable development its hobbyhorse. Voted Green Capital of Europe, it is the first French city to be listed in the "Global Destination Sustainability by the only watchdog organisation dedicated to the global sustainable events sector, while also being the leader in Europe in terms of the number of eco-certified hotels. As for its Convention centreIt is the only destination in France to have been awarded the Gold Quality Standard by the AIPC (Association Internationale des Palais des Congrès). What's more, along with nine other destinations, it is working towards ISO 20 121 Responsible International Destinations certification.
These include Nancy highlights its Prouvé conference centrelocated in the Nancy Grand Cœur eco-neighbourhood. In 2019, it hosted 123 MICE events, including 24 international ones. Rennes Métropole is also one of the pilot areas for the introduction of this standard. "At the Couvent des Jacobins, a number of initiatives have been taken: preference for soft mobility and walking, partnerships with committed service providers, application of a CSR policy on a number of levels, including carbon impact, the use of eco-labelled products, energy management and waste recovery, etc."says Karine Treguer, Director of Development at Destination Rennes. This involvement helped the city win the bid for the 2020 World Organic Agriculture Congress, which is expected to attract 2,500 delegates from all over the world. And yet, despite all these examples of how to choose a destination by theme, the real criteria when it comes to making the final choice are budget and accessibility. All in all, a very pragmatic approach.
