If we look back in the mirror 18 months , [ we see ] the sudden stop and the administrative lockdown of our activity plunged our venues into a paralysing situation . Nevertheless , we demonstrated our ability to adapt , to imagine new ways of working .

Faced with the almost permanent impossibility of meeting and gathering , virtual events , video conferences , webinars and other online content have surrounded our daily lives . To adapt to this new environment , we have developed a range of connected solutions to host and help organisers propose hybrid events .

As a network of venues , we can offer companies , institutions , and associations a digital extension of their physical event . State-ofthe-art equipment , advice from our technical teams , professional services and exceptional locations all combine to make for a successful event .

Corporate clients can organise a small or medium sized meeting or rent a TV Studio in one click via a new online booking solution .

What are the key learnings kept from a situation like this ? As we resumed in September , we saw the strength of face-toface

events as clients showed the pleasure they have in meeting and establishing business relationships .

Strict sanitary protocols deployed in all our venues , labelled with the Safe and Clean certificate by Apave , testified that event business can go on safely .

Nevertheless , the virtual world opened new possibilities . The digitalisation of our events must continue as long as it allows us to improve the customer experience , to widen the audience and to animate a community throughout the year with high added-value content .

Our venues are part of an ecosystem in which our audiences , as well as our clients , partners , and subcontractors , are all involved .

More than ever , the venues have a key role to play in the heart of the regions by attracting , hosting , and retaining events that raise the profile of the destination and contribute to regional economic and social development .

Many destinations have been creating alliances to attract large-scale events : Lyon , of which the Lyon Convention Centre is a member of the EU Convention Bureaux and The Hague , with the World Forum , is part of Hybrid City alliance . These collaborations can provide meeting professionals with access to knowledge , innovation , and tools to produce hybrid and multicity events .

We have ensured operational staff are being trained in topics such as digital services and sustainability . Developing new skills in areas including data privacy and data management is crucial .

Right : Christophe Cizeron

“ We have

developed

a range of

connected

solutions

to host

and help

organisers

propose

hybrid

events ”

What is the ambition of GL events Venues for the coming year ? Despite the situation remaining complicated in many countries and travel restrictions limiting attendance at major international events , there are many good signs .

First , our network is growing . We welcomed three new sites last year : Blue Med Convention Center in Santos , Brazil ; Anhembi in Sao Paulo , Brazil and Voyage Samaritaine , in Paris , France . The expansion continues with a venue in Chile , Nuevo Parque Vitacura in Santiago , and we have many projects to come .

We are also developing strategic partnerships , such as Oak View Group and Live Nation working with us to develop the world class indoor arena in Anhembi .

Despite the pandemic , refurbishments have been made in some venues , integrating environmental features and versatile spaces , including at Grande Halle d ’ Auvergne , Exhibition Centre in St Etienne , MEETT in Toulouse and Hungexpo . Together with our employees , we have built a strategic roadmap to 2024 focused on customer experience , well-being and career development for our staff .

We enjoyed being one of the primary signatories of the net zero carbon events pledge at COP 26 and are launching a CSR roadmap . GL events Venues has chosen ISO 20121 for all its venues and all of that gives us our energy to enter 2022 positively and more resolute than ever . EW