Destination Focus
The French reconnection
VIPARIS RECENTLY HOSTED THE EUROPEAN HUB OF THE 2021 ICCA CONGRESS AT ITS PALAIS DES CONGRES D ’ ISSY . MARTA GOMES , DEPUTY DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL DIVISION OF VIPARIS , TELLS CMW HOW THE COMPANY HAS WEATHERED THE PANDEMIC AND OFFERS SOME INSIGHTS INTO HOW VIPARIS IS PLACED FOR THE RESUMPTION OF BUSINESS
W e suffered a severe impact on our activity for both 2020 and most of 2021 , with venue closures and lockdowns , which meant a loss of turnover of over 75 %. Many events were cancelled or postponed to future years . There was some government support in the form of furloughs , which allowed us to keep our staff over this period of inactivity .
Our first priority in preparing for reopening was to ensure the safety of our visitors , exhibitors and organisers . Our Safe V sanitary protocol , audited by Bureau Veritas , was introduced over nine venues in the summer . Events have been authorised since 9 June and our first was for the French Society of Intensive Care Medicine , a strong message to government about the importance of in-person events to educate doctors and nurses on the most recent treatments .
The combination of high levels of vaccination and the Health Pass have meant that events were able to take place again quickly and safely .
During the second semester of 2021 , Viparis will have hosted almost as many trade fairs ( 100 ) and conferences ( 40 ) as in the same period of 2019 , with an average of 30 % fewer visitors . We foresee a gradual ramp-up throughout 2022 and the Paris Olympics will have positive repercussions in 2023 24 .
We are emerging into a very different market . How do you see the challenges ahead for international business ?
We won ’ t be going back to business as usual – the experience of virtual events for most organisers has affected how they are planning their future events . We aim to help in this transformation period , to make their events more hybrid , engaging and more sustainable .
We built recording studios in five of our downtown venues . These spaces are now being converted into hybrid rooms , where we can capture content while hosting a live audience simultaneously . We have different packages for different budgets : from simple , mobile solutions to full-service facilities including green screens or extended reality options .
We have continued to invest to make our venues places where people can have a memorable and authentic experience . Places with interesting architecture , where we eat and sleep well , and where we can connect with nature will become essential .
A perfect example of this is the new Pavilion 6 of Porte de Versailles which opened in November 2019 . It offers 16,000sqm of flexible pillar free space to host all types of events . The spectacular entrance is designed by French Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel and is composed of luminous streamers that can be personalised for each event . On the roof is Europe ’ s largest urban farm . Another is Cnit Forest , a venue opening in Spring 2023 . Designed by François Schuiten , it is a space which will combine technology and nature in the form of digital trees .
Above : Marta Gomes Below : Paris Convention Centre
How is your relationship with your organiser partners now ? Virtual and hybrid events were new for everyone , and we published a Hybrid Events Guide in summer 2021 , to help our customers think of all the necessary steps , and including case studies and best practices from events we have hosted .
We use our innovation accelerator , French Event Booster , as a source of inspiration , connecting clients with start ups .
With the COP26 conference focusing attention on sustainability issues , how is Viparis approaching this issue ? We are the city of the Paris Climate Change agreement signed at Le Bourget , a Viparis venue , in 2015 . All of our venues have been certified ISO20121 since then and Viparis is committed to sustainable events through its Better Events 2030 policy . Viparis aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 % on all of its assets and 33 % on freight by 2030 .
What are the enduring attractions / strongsuits for Paris as a conference destination ? The great asset of Paris is its ability to mobilise a large audience . Paris is not only a city with incomparable heritage and art de vivre , it is also a city of innovation and leading the way in terms of sustainability .
34 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 115