Congress: Paris rekindles the flame, the recovery gathers pace

The Office de Tourisme de Paris has just unveiled a study full of lessons to be learned. The Managing Director of Paris je t'aime makes the first observation in her opening sentence: " 2022 marks a return to a situation close to normal for conventions in the Paris Region "sums up Corinne Menegaux. The figures bear this out: last year, 715 events were held in the capital, bringing together a total of 866,317 delegates exactly. Convention activity therefore remains below pre-crisis levels - there were 1084 occurrences in 2019and even 1192 for the year record from 2018 - but the recovery gathers pace. The number of delegates has exploded compared to 2021 (+62%). This figure is now even higher than in 2017. Another interesting fact: average attendance remains well above pre-Covid levels. The average is 1212, compared with 851 in 2019, but down on the peak of 2021 (1614 delegates). It should be noted that the hybrid format is holding up well (225 events), unlike the virtual format (34 congresses).

The study unveiled by the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau also provides an overview of the importance attached to sustainable development. Both in terms of form and content. Pointing to a "virtuous organisation", the report notes that a large majority of delegates (66%) were accommodated in "sustainable" hotels. certified sites ISO 20121. The environment also made it into the top 10 sectors that generated the most conferences (21), ahead of culture. This ranking is logically dominated by the medical sector, comfortably in the lead with 271 conferences.

Another list that will be of particular interest to professionals in the sector is that of the spaces favoured by conference organisers. Visit Palais des Congrès dominates the Paris hierarchy (65 events), ahead of the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (44) and the Centre des Congrès de la Villette (32). The authors of the study also highlight the significant role played by the scientific venues in this ranking. In 2022, the latter even reached a level equivalent to that of the convention centres (235 and 236 events respectively).

Last but not least, the Paris je t'aime study also looked at another crucial factor: the economic spin-offs. Conventions are estimated to have generated nearly €1.233 billion in 2022. Here again, the trend is clearly upwards compared to 2021 (+60 %), but the pre-Covid levels are still a long way off: economic spin-offs from congresses reached 1.475 billion euros in 2019.

But Corinne Menegaux remains optimistic about the future. The Managing Director of Paris je t'aime is counting in particular on the capital's ability to reinvent itself, in an area that is part of Paris's "DNA": " After two years of upheaval, first with the total suspension of activity, then with the restrictions calling into question the very format of the congresses, they have reinvented themselves. Hybrid formats, environmentally-friendly organisation, topical issues... all signs that this activity is firmly rooted in the DNA of Paris, a capital that is constantly moving and renewing itself. "she assures us.