In Nice, the "Convention Centre of the Future" takes shape

The activity congress will not escape the conquest of the West launched in Nice, while the issue of the Exhibition and Convention Centre is finally taking shape, in place of the Marché d'Intérêt National (MIN). " This is a project that has undergone a great deal of change, particularly over the last year, in response to the major trends in business tourism and conferences. "Denis Zanon, Managing Director of the Nice Cote d'Azur Metropolitan Tourist Office, told us last September. Covid came along, and the project had to be readjusted to take account of the new situation. new market trendsThe project has not been scaled back. The project is not being scaled back, but there are technical and construction constraints... The project is very well located, but it is constrained by the existing road network, the neighbouring airport, the railway line, etc. We have to recreate a road network specific to this type of infrastructure... For the time being, the opening date is set for 2010. For the time being, the opening date has been set at 2025 ".

6th October, Christian Estrosi has further clarified the contours of the project, and its ambitions in a market turned upside down by the crisis. Referring to a " Convention centre of the future "the Mayor of Nice describes " state-of-the-art equipment that is greener, more digital and fully connected ". Among the project's guidelines, two main themes stand out in the post-Covid context. Christian Estrosi refers to a palace " hybrid and alive "This is a new approach, integrating different uses: "Incubators, urban agriculture, auditoriums, urban sports and temporary exhibitions are just some of the activities that convention professionals are now incorporating into new facilities to generate business even when there are no events. ". In addition, he claims that his project is " competitive in terms of surface area, including in relation to existing facilities in the department, even if the crisis is leading us to give priority to "technological m²" rather than the race for large volumes ".

Nice's MICE sector is therefore moving away - slightly - from the city centre, where it has until now been embodied in theAcropolis. " Acropolis is set to disappear "Denis Zanon confided in us last September, reminding us: " When it was inaugurated, it was the most beautiful and innovative convention centre in Europe. The building was extremely well designed and highly functional, but it is now at the end of its useful life. ". For his part, Christian Estrosi plans: " from 2023, to take over immediately and without disrupting activity, the creation of a modern and functional temporary facility that will prefigure the future Exhibition and Convention Centre, and which will take over from the existing one. the Palais Acropolis relay. It will be set up next to the ephemeral theatre within the NikaïaA building that is already in existence and has all the necessary reception features. This has the advantage of requiring very little work, and also benefits from excellent public transport links to both the airport and the city. The congress activity will enable us to continue to host shows and concerts, taking care to ensure that the programming crosses over, since the new equipment that will be installed there will be modular. ".