H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> Provence C\u00f4te d'Azur Events (PCE) is the regional Convention Bureau, an association that brings together more than 200 professionals<\/strong> throughout the region, from Avignon to Menton. All the different professions are represented: event venues such as convention centres and exhibition centres, but also museums and castles, as well as accommodation, agencies, DMCs, providers of activities such as team building, caterers, photographers and audiovisual professionals. Our members also include all those responsible for promoting tourism at regional level, including the Comit\u00e9 R\u00e9gional du Tourisme, tourist offices, convention centres, etc.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> This is an initiative taken by Provence C\u00f4te d'Azur Events to working on innovation and the transformation of the events sector<\/strong>. All our members have noted that the sector is facing a number of challenges. profound changes<\/strong>We have to focus on recovery, digital and environmental transformation. So we need to focus on recovery, digital and environmental transformation, because everything has accelerated in recent months. So we've been looking at how we can best support our members in coping with these changes at regional level, and help them enter a new phase of development. innovation ecosystem<\/strong>. 4Event is a major change management platform<\/strong>launched in September 2020<\/strong>The first activities will be developed from January 2021. But we had already been thinking about this for some time: we already wanted to be part of innovation platforms for events. Provence Travel Innovation (PTI) was the initiator of the Challenge TravelCamp Sud, and we joined this effective and innovative scheme, because it's smarter to work together at a regional level.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand - <\/strong>In terms of start-up recruitment, we're working with PTI, and we're thinking about offering joint support for companies that have very specific requirements in the events sector and that would be supported by PTI, because sometimes start-ups are launched with a business model based on leisure activities, and gradually realise that they could move into the events sector. In such cases, it can be useful for PCE to be involved as a testing ground. So we are already working together. That's also how, at regional level, we came up with the idea of working with PTI on the recruitment of TravelCamp South<\/strong>PTI set up this challenge last year for the first time. We've decided to work together on recruitment, and we'll have a promotion from March 2022<\/strong> with the PACA Est incubator. It was more interesting to source together than to undertake initiatives on our own. It's more constructive and more interesting to do something together at regional level.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> TravelCamp South<\/strong> is aimed at anyone with an innovative project in the tourism and events sector, whether it involves technological innovations, products or services. An initial selection process will run until 12 December to identify the nuggets. These nuggets will be invited to workshops<\/strong> challenge throughout January. This is what's innovative in terms of the process: for the first time, start-ups joining incubators, whether PTI or 4Event, will have the opportunity to test their solution with socio-professionals prior to incubation. There will be three workshops spread across the region, plus a final, which will enable us to visit the four main departments: Vaucluse, Bouches-du-Rh\u00f4ne, Var and Alpes-Maritimes. During these workshops, we invite all the tourism, leisure and events professionals to challenge the projects and give them any advice they may need. At the end of these workshops, we will determine which start-ups have made the most progress, which will also enable us to identify the most promising projects.identify entrepreneurial profiles, not just solutions<\/strong>. When we work with a company, it's not just the degree of innovation that counts, although that's important of course. It's also about seeing what the the project owner's ability to adapt to his environment<\/strong>. This is also what is tested during these workshops, to ensure the quality of the start-ups. And the start-ups will be able to immediately test the appetite of professionals for their solutions, as in a super beta-test to already identify a market, potential obstacles and therefore priorities.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> According to PTI's feedback, it was a very good sourcing method. There were some surprises: start-ups that had been shortlisted turned out to be real nuggets during the challenge, which showed the project leaders' ability to adapt and their real motivation. This is also a crucial point in the support we provide, because it's not easy to launch a business: you need a lot of energy and motivation.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> Start-ups will be able to join one of the two incubators. They will be allocated according to theme. 4Event aims to support start-ups in the events sector, while PTI focuses on travel. The other big advantage for the selected start-ups is that they will have access to a scheme that will enable them to finance their incubation, which is virtually paid for by the FIRST fund (Regional Innovation Fund for Tourism Services). I don't think there's any other scheme of this type in the region.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> There are solutions that have clearly emerged from the crisis, in particular for all the start-ups offering budget optimisation, systems to boost sales or working on hybrids.<\/p>\n H\u00e9li\u00e9na Br\u00e9gand -<\/strong> Hybrids are a trend, but there isn't really any extraordinary enthusiasm in the sector. From the organisers' point of view, hybrids are expensive and require completely rethink the economic model of an event to make it profitable<\/strong>. The shift needs to be well thought through. There are other obstacles too: at destination level, events have a direct economic impact on the region. If hybrid events attract fewer local participants, the destinations are not the winners. Today, hybrid is still a temporary solution<\/strong> for many companies, enabling them to organise events in a safe environment given the current health conditions. There is a market to be found, and we need to think about the economic model. But I'm convinced thatwe need to turn this corner<\/strong>It's a major advantage in terms of competitiveness, visibility and market share.<\/p>\n What about 4EVENT?<\/h3>\n
How is this collaboration working, particularly with start-ups?<\/h3>\n
What is the TravelCamp Sud Challenge?<\/h3>\n
What was the outcome of the first edition?<\/h3>\n
What will happen to these start-ups in the future?<\/h3>\n
Has the crisis had an impact on the positioning of the start-ups you study?<\/h3>\n
How are you positioning yourself in the hybrid market?<\/h3>\n