The risk That major conferences are more returning to Paris

This year, the Office of tourism and the Congress of Paris courtisera, at the Salon Bedouk dedicated to business tourism, February 3 and 4 to Porte de Versailles, 160 invited buyers from around the world, by identifying areas of Congress home. End of January, he participated in Washington at the "workshop" "meet Europe 2010" organized by European Cities Marketing network. A way to conquer of international committees of the associations established in the US capital, who decide the major Congress.

The goal of this survey Attract some 200 international events more participating 1,000 turning each year in Europe or between the continents. Focus online: Brussels and Geneva, with their European seats of associations.

The challenge is to size for the Ile-de-France: economic benefits for conventions and exhibitions ranged from 4.5 to 5 billion euros per year. With a daily average budget of 321 euros, accommodation, of which 80 delegates spend twice more than tourists. "Since twenty years, Paris is located in the three cities receiving the most international Congress", said Renaud Hamaide, Director General of Viparis, federating the ten main home sites.

Inspired by the Olympic Games, the marketing fight is long and tight. An international Congress is gaining on a period of two to ten years. It demonstrate attractiveness, both through its image and cultural brand strategy offer.

In the international competition, private operators and public French hunt in Pack. "Fifteen hotel groups come to engage in a Charter of legible and predictable prices over several years in advance for reservations of at least 1,000 rooms", said Christian Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Paris, responsible for economic development and international attractiveness. In addition, the hotel capacity of Paris moves of 7,000 rooms by 2020.

An expensive city

In the meantime, the Habs capital receive in August 2011 event in its history: the European Cardiology Congress scheduled at Paris Nord Villepinte. The 30,000 participants of 125 nationalities should generate economic spin-offs EUR 90 million. But for this Congress signed before the implementation of the Charter of the hotels, Paris appears still expensive. "Parisian hotels have rates higher than Barcelona, Munich, Vienna, where we already have our European Congress, regrets Isabel Bardinet, Director General of the European society of Cardiology, scientific association responsible for this major event.". Or standards of French Chambers are not those of the European competition. "Paris, needed just 14 m2dans a trois-étoiles, from 16 to 24 m2dans an equivalent hotel in Barcelona, for example. The risk That major conferences are more returning to Paris.

A leading position is never gained. As far as to win events, cities such as Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart, Hannover or Barcelona leading aggressive marketing policy, offering even of square metres of exhibition, or even the hosting of the organizers. "While Singapore and Shanghai have already emerged in the landscape of the major conference destinations, other point on the horizon: Rio, Delhi or Bombay, and especially Macau", warns Frédéric Bedin, head of the Agency the Public System.

Paris is in need of a comprehensive offer including home sites, accommodation and transport. "To cope with foreign competition, it enhance our lobbying actions, by sit and French scientists in international offices of the major associations holding of the Congress", recommends Philippe Augier, President of France Congress and author of the report entitled "a winner of the major events policy." This activity to upswing.4 requires therefore a battle permanent.