MICE

Out of the Saint-Nazaire shipyards, the MSC Grandiosa is the new flagship of the Italian-Swiss company, capable of carrying up to 6,300 passengers in its 2,440 cabins, including 95 suites for the luxury MSC Yacht Club. As far as corporate events are concerned, this giant of the seas offers a host of spaces that can be made private with its...

The management of urban transport can sometimes be chaotic - even during strike weeks - and the problems are of course proportional to the number of passengers... In other words, when it comes to transporting dozens or hundreds of participants to a corporate event, it's best to turn to a specialist, and if possible...

What is a learning expedition (Lex)? The approach consists of sending employees or stakeholders to meet other companies and organisations, other ecosystems, other economic, technological or human realities, in order to obtain information, enrich their knowledge and provide food for thought. Learning expeditions have been around for a long time, and we've all been "Mr Jourdain" ....

While there are many studies devoted to the MICE market - and not all of them true - this new report on "the weight and economic impact of corporate events" is a guaranteed success. Signed by players such as Atout France, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau (OTCP), and the French General Directorate of Tourism, the report...

According to Coach Omnium, there were no fewer than 118 convention centres in operation in France in 2018, with a further fifteen or so scheduled to open between now and 2025. This highly varied offering is scattered across the country, with centres of concentration varying in strength from region to region. Unsurprisingly, the Île-de-France region is...

52 million euros: this is the record amount of investment planned by the Puy du Fou for 2020. This financial windfall is aimed in particular at attracting corporate customers, by equipping itself with new ad hoc infrastructures. For example, a convention centre will be built on the Vendée site. Called the Théâtre Molière,...

The partnership between MSC Crociere and Air France is gaining momentum with the announcement of two privatised rotations to Venice and Hamburg departing from Orly airport next year. As part of MICE operations, the first flight will carry passengers from May to October 2020...

The news came down on 10 July: five years after its creation, BizMeeting has been acquired by its competitor Privateaser. "I had the feeling that BizMeeting had reached a key moment in its history," says Loïc Passemard, founder of BizMeeting and its new BtoB Vice-President. "In just a few years, we have built up a...

Sodexo's Lieux et Événements Prestige brand is expanding its offering for business customers. After inheriting the marketing of the Restaurants de la Tour Eiffel - including the Salon Gustave Eiffel on the first floor - Sodexo is this month inaugurating two new addresses for business clients. On 13 June, the Kluster...

78 % of meeting organisers in Europe continue to prefer large cities What are the main trends highlighted by your survey? Ian Cummings - Although safety and security remain a priority when planning any meetings and events activity, it seems that the terrorist attacks in the UK, the USA and Canada have all contributed to...

How did the partnership between Paris and London on MICE come about? Corinne Menegaux - London and Paris have a lot in common, a lot of shared values. So we met with the London teams and decided to run a joint campaign. We started with a...

At a time when the online booking of meetings is still one of the grails sought after by the hotel world, Accor and meetago, one of the largest providers of booking solutions for the MICE segment in Central Europe and supported by HRS, have announced a strategic partnership at the IMEX trade fair in Frankfurt....

Established in Spetses since 1914, the Poseidonion Grand Hotel has acquired a unique status over the years, acting as a lighthouse or bell tower for an island that is entirely dedicated to this national monument. Admittedly, the constraints associated with its special status have complicated the extensive renovation work begun in 2004, but they do guarantee...

Thanks to the combination of the Eurostar and Virgin Trains rail networks, organisers can now book multi-stop journeys from continental Europe to the heart of Great Britain on a single platform. The aim is to make it easier for cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham, which are currently overshadowed by London in this market, to become more accessible. For...

Over and above the competition between two of the world's most visited destinations, and despite all the uncertainties surrounding Brexit, Paris and London have decided to make common cause. The two tourist boards recently signed an agreement enabling them to offer "two-in-one incentive trips", targeting North American buyers in particular. The...

Chicago continues to attract more and more international travellers, both for leisure and for business and conferences. The destination's mayor, Rahm Emanuel, has just announced record results: more than 57.6 million visitors recorded for 2018, a figure that represents growth of 4.3% compared to the previous...

"They share experiences and unforgettable memories. No pollution, no cars; the calm, the cold and the winter sun... All this means that the participants are really relaxed," says Fanny Dunand, MICE sales manager for Hôtels d'en haut, a group which runs four establishments at altitude: the Alpaga in Megève, the...

One new resort a year What are Club Med's plans for the mountains? Véronique Bertrand - The mountains account for 40 % of our sales and our ambition is to open one resort a year over the next decade. This may involve new openings such as Les Arcs Panorama this year...

An exceptional vector of communication Is sport still a safe bet when it comes to communication? Marc Mingoia - Sport is booming! As proof of this, Eurosport, when it started out some thirty years ago, was broadcast in just one language, compared with 31 today! Countries, particularly those in the Gulf, are making...