At the end of the pandemic a year ago, professionals in theevents have regained a near-normal activity as 2022 progresses, close to that recorded in 2019. This means that Palais des Festivals et des Congrès from Canneshost of this Heavent MeetingsThis year, the Paris Convention and Exhibition Centre expects to host 140 events, generating sales in excess of €43 million, with the Lions, Yachting Festival, Mipim, MIPTV and Midem among the biggest events. And let's not forget the Film Festival, with its 37,000 participants from the 7th art expected from 16 to 27 May. The venue dominating the Croisette will also be hosting congresses, particularly medical ones, following the demise of the palais des congrès de Nice.
There's also a busy schedule in the north of France for Lille Grand Palais thanks to the return of recurring events and the signing of new customers. " Visibility is good until the end of June "The centre is aiming to host 250 MICE events and around 100 shows this year. The Futuroscope has turned the page on Covid by 2022, hosting 150 events and around 60 seminars that generated sales of €3.4 million, compared with €3 million in 2019. Tornado Hunters, which won the "best attraction in the world" award, has undoubtedly boosted bookings, even though "only" 40% of seminars, meetings and other conferences take advantage of the Vienne leisure park's facilities.
Same satisfaction at Rennes where " meetings and events organised by subsidiaries of major groups based in Brittany are back again "This is the case of Sarah Ricci, in charge of convention development at the Couvent des Jacobins, the Rennes convention centre whose door was recently set on fire during a demonstration against pension reform. However, it still has slots available in the second half of the year, which should have filled up in 2021 if Covid hadn't brought the MICE sector to a standstill for several months. " Nevertheless, we hope to exceed the 150-event mark this year, and 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year following the large number of bookings we received last year. "she explains. Note that while major events such as congresses are widely anticipatedHowever, this no longer seems to be the case for smaller events.
June sold out in France
The MICE agencies have not been left behind in their efforts to benefit from this upturn in business, both in France and internationally. " 2023 will be a very good year, despite the strikes that are complicating business. "says Cyril Pires, Head of Partnerships at Magma Group. With a peak expected in June for all professionals. " We are still receiving requests, but everything is fully booked, including hotels, rooms, caterers, etc. And prices are high.says Alban Saby, Director of Operations at CWT Meetings & Events. We encourage customers who still wish to take a position in this month to postpone their transaction until the autumn. ". In the Lille area, Cité des Echanges in Marcq-en-Barœul is also reporting a full order book for June, as well as for October and November for events involving up to 800 participants. Confidence is also high at Magic Garden, as the economic outlook for France this year is better than expected. " We were a little worried at the end of 2022, but this quickly dissipated in the face of numerous calls for tender and requests for production. We're even starting to work on events linked to the Olympic Games It's all about the people," explains Brice Mourer, co-founder and CEO of this Paris-based agency - located on the roof of the Rex - which organises around a hundred events a year. La Rugby World Cup which will take place from 8 September to 28 October in nine French cities, is seen as a repeat of the Olympic Games, and should already generate a surge in business for many events agencies.
Last-minute events
However, the pandemic has changed companies' habits when it comes to organising events and the expectations they have of their employees. incentive activities. " The market has taken off again, as it did before Covid, but at a much faster pace, with customers thinking that a deal can be put together in a month. "Guillaume Paquet, Director of the Corporate Division at Paris-based agency Moma Event, laughs. " We may have requests for D-15 It's a real pleasure to be here," says Benoit Berteloot, Marketing and Sales Director of La Cité des Echanges. " Last minute business is growing in importance and will fill the second half of the year with no problem. "says CWT Meetings & Events. " Bookings are increasingly being made in the short term, even though the options put forward in October are being confirmed, requests are coming in for the end of the year and congresses are already being booked for 2024. "Danielle Castan, General Manager of the Futuroscope Convention Centre, also notes.
A return to face-to-face events
After the emphasis on hybrid or virtual events In the wake of the pandemic, professionals are also noting a return to face-to-face operations. " Only 5% of events planned at France's main convention centres will be held in hybrid or digital mode. according to a study by France Congrès & Evénements "said Pierre-Louis RoucariesCEO of Mandelieu Tourisme (and co-chairman of Unimev), whose Centre Expo Congrès has dismantled its Studio Azur for filming during the pandemic. " We are clearly seeing a post-covid catch-up, with more festive events and fewer and fewer hybrid events in favour of face-to-face events, with an average attendance of between 300 and 400 people. "adds Danielle Castan.
With a strong desire for nature on the coast, in the countryside or in the mountains, the activities sought by companies as part of an incentive have also evolved following Covid. " Customers are looking for something concrete, activities, such as team-building activities to encourage exchanges between participants, green activities with nature outings and, of course, activities as part of the CSR through actions in support of charities, for example "says Cyril Pires of Magma Group. Brice Mourer of Magic Garden agrees: " Companies want to recreate the bond between employees following the teleworking which was predominant during the pandemic and continues to be widespread in companies. They are also keen to see meaningful operations. Finally, some companies ask us to help them stand out from the crowd during recruitment sessions. original to attract new talent ". Environmental concerns are taking on greater importance, with the reduction of the carbon footprint at the forefront via a choice of accredited accommodation (Green KeyEcolabel, Green Globe...) and preferential travel by car. train in France or Europe. An appetite for more environmentally-friendly transport, confirmed by the Group Travel Department at SNCF which has been marketing more cars on its trains to companies and events agencies since the end of the pandemic. " These privatisations require a certain amount of forethought, especially when it comes to a complete train - 509 seats - that will have to be inserted into the TGV traffic flow. It's a great way to get to know our customers," says Valérie Celma-Chapot, marketing and digital manager in the rail company's group travel department. " Seminars abroad are also making a comeback "says Alban Saby of CWT Meetings & Events. As well as Europe, with new destinations on offer as a result of the opening of air services, groups are flying to Dubai, Oman and Marrakech, which are all making a comeback. " Leaving France is no longer taboo "admits Guillaume Paquet of Moma Events, an agency that has already organised trips to Spain, Jordan, the United States and Australia. Costa Ricathe Emirates and the United States.
Finally, it should be noted that at a time when companies are hoping to remain in a constrained budget for their events, they are nonetheless faced with a major challenge significant rise in the price of these operations due in particular to inflation, high hotel occupancy rates which are pushing up yield, and bottlenecks on certain dates... Between 2019 and 2022, the cost of a participant in an operation would have increased... by almost 25% !
