France
Cannes extends its
events reach
annes claims to be the top
French destination for
business tourism, behind
only Paris. In 2020, the city
is aiming even higher, having invested
€61.2m in an extension at the Palais des
Festivals et des Congrès, the main driver
for large conferences in the city.
Palais des Festivals et des Congrès
hosts 52 professional events per year,
which generate an estimated €855m for
the local economy.
“Cannes is an economic driving force
for business tourism on the French
Riviera, with a unique skill-set in
professional events organisation. It is
therefore the chosen location for some of
the most well-known events in the world,”
says Mayor of Cannes David Lisard.
“The city’s aim is to host events that are
still in their growth phase, to generate
even more economic benefits, to create
employment and local small and medium
businesses. To that end, we are planning a
second extension near the Palais des
Festivals et des Congrès which will
contribute to the development and
welcome of new international events.”
And investments have not just been
made in the convention centre. Over the
past 10 years, almost €1bn has been
invested into Cannes’ hotel business, the
biggest luxury renovation project in
Europe.
€49.2m has also been invested into the
beaches of La Croisette, and phase two of
that project was completed in February
2020.
The signs are that major organisers are
responding to the investments.
The organiser of Tax Free, the
international event for the growing duty
free and travel retail industry, has
confirmed its presence in Cannes for the
next seven years. Reed Midem has been
coming to Cannes since 1965 and
renewed its historic partnership last
December, with the commitment to
organise six international events over the
next five years (Midem, Mipim, Miptv,
Mipcom, Mapic and eSports). The six
Reed MIDEM events generate 170,000
overnight hotel stays and an economic
return of €250m every year for the city.
WeYou is launching a new event, its 8th
in Cannes: Hotels & Restaurants
Meetings, the first edition of which will be
held in March 2020.
In January 2020, IPEM, the private
capital trade exhibition, also renewed for a
period of five years.
Cannes Town Hall and the Palais des
Festivals et des Congrès have also been
investing to make Cannes a connected
and smart destination.
The Whoosh! application means you
can pay for your city parking space and
extend the duration directly from your
smartphone. While the Cannes Sports
and Cannes Agenda applications are aids
to discover the city.
CardMap has been developed to
explore the destination using augmented
reality, based on blockchain technology.
Solar waste compactors have been
installed throughout the city and MOOC
distance-learning has been made available
to improve staff skills in the hospitality
business.
Left: Panorama
of Cannes, Cote
d’Azur, France
Below: You’re
never far from
a red carpet in
Cannes
Heavant awards
The Heavent Awards in Cannes are one
big MICE industry event that makes
Cannes its home this year, and this year
take place 22 April at the Palais des
Festivals de Cannes.
The awards recognise agencies that
have showcased their inspiring work to
international brand leaders from across
the creative marketing industry.
Jury President this year is
Jean-François Laforge, Group
Communication Director Michelin.
The awards are part of Heavent
Meetings, a MICE tradefair with targeted
meetings and attracting over 2,000
visitors.
ISO reliable
Cannes is the first city in France with a
congress centre that has obtained the
security management certification (ISO
18788) and Cannes’ leaders hopes the
security issue is helping it to differentiate
from its competitors.
Cannes is also the only city in the
South of France to implement the
government programme ‘Responsible
International Destinations’, and now aims
to obtain ISO 20121 certification by the
end of 2020.
Other city initiatives include campaigns
to prevent anti-social behaviour, illegal
dumping and to ensure clean beaches.
Since June 2019, the authorities have
banned the use of plastic dishes and
accessories from seaside kiosks, while the
Cruise Charter is a new initiative obliging
cruise ships to contribute to protect the
environment by reducing their levels of
pollution. Twenty-three cruise companies
have already signed up with the French
authorities.
Connected and smart
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
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