#MAJOR EVENTS: FRANCE, A HOST COUNTRY [1]
The major international event organizers are mostly looking for destinations that offer a complete experience and allow the travelers to quickly immerse in the local culture. This rapid integration depends on one’s ability to easily identify themselves, especially through the sharing of common values. What could be more relevant than an international event to convey these values?
FRANCE, WORLD LEADER IN HOSTING MAJOR EVENTS
Indeed, as the world's leading tourist destination with more than 89 million tourists in 2017 and forecasts to 100 million by 2020, France is also positioned as one of the world's leading sites for hosting major events (cultural, sports, business, etc).
France brings close to 700,000 rooms in approximately 18,500 hotels, 2,000 event spaces with a capacity of more than 200 persons, and 31 stadiums with more than 20,000 seats.
One of the first European countries in terms of infrastructure and a leading global player in terms of international congresses, France is preparing to host major international events in the coming years.
The prospect of this exceptional concentration of events is a unique opportunity that allows France create the standards of tomorrow.
THE EVENT, THE GLOBAL POLE OF CREATIVITY
Visitors are constantly looking for surprising and creative experiences that leading agencies and organizers can propose.
Research innovation is now one of the pillars that allow France to remain the leading country in the organization of international events of today and tomorrow.
New emerging industry professions, particularly related to data and design (space design, events), as well as customer experience (customer journey manager, customer officer, etc) put the participant in the heart of the process.
The expertise of the French event industry is now exported around major international exhibitions and popular creations such as the “Lights Festival” in Lyon or the “Fête de la Musique”.
THE EVENT, THE GLOBAL POLE OF INNOVATION
The outcomes of major sporting events can be experienced strongly in the urban, economic, environmental and tourist segments.
For events that only last a few weeks, preparations begin well in advance and they may require considerable investment expenditure. Such gatherings directly benefit different sectors like construction, distribution, tourism, event professionals and employment. They also create opportunities for development in IT and telecommunications, environment protection, sports, as well as other nascent sectors (Source: Ministry of the City, Youth and Sports, "The Key Figures of Sport").
Resolutely international, creator of wealth and generator of innovation, France possesses all the human, geographical, technological and cultural assets to ensure the success and the reception of major sporting, cultural and business events.
A unique international hub position
The Paris-Région, is an example of a most attractive area in terms of tourist accommodation (pleasure or business) and which benefits from important transportation infrastructures needed to manage the tourist flows and to answer any tourism needs.
As a result, the network of public transportation (including the bus/metro) is very dense and two new projects (Grand Paris Express automatic metro) help to complete this offering, proposing efficient connections between major tourist and business centers.
The Paris-Région receives more than 30 million visitors each year (40 million by 2020-2025) and is the number-one destination for trade fairs, visitors and exhibitors in Europe (3rd in the world). It is also one of the first 3 destinations (depending on the year) in terms of number of international congresses hosted.
THE EVENT, A GREAT VECTOR OF NATIONAL VALUES
These major events which generate significant economic spinoffs (several billion for congresses, trade fairs and exhibitions in 2017) value the know-how and the sectors of excellence.
Sport and gastronomy, two themes perfectly representative of the exchange and sharing of sought values.
If events are a great vector of social connectivity, they also give the population a strong sense of belonging to their territories.
France (which has just been awarded the organization of the Summer Olympic Games in 2024 in Paris) is also hosting other major international events such as the Ryder Cup in 2018, the World Cup of Women's Football in 2019, and the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
Even if the next decade seems to be a sports-heavy one, gastronomy remains one of the most attractive sectors for tourists, worldwide. Facing an ever-evolving competitiveness, the French art of table setting must continue to showcase its value.
Therefore, special attention is given to this precious sector of activity. One example is the now famous event “Gout de France” (previously known as “la fête de la gastronomie”) which has been held in France and worldwide since 2011.
MAJOR EVENTS & TRADE SHOWS IN FRANCE IN 2019
- 500 YEARS OF RENAISSANCE IN THE LOIRE VALLEY [2], 2019
- MAISON ET OBJET, INTERIOR DESIGN TRADE SHOW [3], January 18 to 22, 2019
- PARIS FASHION WEEK HAUTE COUTURE [4], January 21 to 24, 2019
- GUINNESS SIX NATIONS [5], February 1 and 23rd, 2019
- INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE SHOW [6], February 23 to March 3rd, 2019
- PARIS FASHION WEEK PRET A PORTER [4], February 25 to March 5, 2019
- SAUT HERMES SHOW JUMPING TRIALS (EQUESTRIAN EVENT) [7], March 22 to 24, 2019
- GOÛT DE FRANCE / GOOD FRANCE [8], March 21 to 24, 2019
- LYON INTERNATIONAL FAIR [9], March 29 to April 8, 2019
- PARIS INTERNATIONAL MARATHON [10], April 14, 2019
- CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL [11], May 14 to 25, 2019
- ROLAND GARROS [12], May 20 to June 9, 2019
- FORMULA ONE GRAND PRIX MONACO [13], May 23 to 26, 2019
- BORDEAUX INTERNATIONAL FAIR [14], June 1st to 10th, 2019
- MIDEM FESTIVAL [15], June 4 to 7, 2019
- ARMADA 2019 ROUEN [16], June 6 to 16, 2019
- FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP FRANCE 2019 [17], June 7 to July 7, 2019
- 24 HOURS OF LE MANS [18], June 15 to 16, 2019
- FRANCE FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX LE CASTELLET [19], June 21 to 23, 2019
- FÊTE DE LA MUSIQUE [20], June 21, 2019
- TOUR DE FRANCE [21], July 6 to 28, 2019
- NATIONAL HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS, July 14, 2019
- MAISON ET OBJET, INTERIOR DESIGN TRADE SHOW [3], September 6 to 10, 2019
- AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL DEAUVILLE [22], September 6 to 15, 2019
- EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS [23], September 21 to 22, 2019
- MARSEILLE INTERNATIONAL FAIR [24], September 20 to 30, 2019
- FIAC CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR PARIS [25], October 17 to 20, 2019
MAJOR CONGRESSES FOR 2019
• European Congress of endocrinology - ECE 2019; 5 000 delegates
May 2019, Lyon
• World Congress on Agroforestry; 1 600 delegates
May 2019, Montpellier
• Titanium World Congress; 1 000 delegates
June 2019, Nantes
• SOE 2019 - European Society of Ophthalmology; 3 000 delegates
June 2019, Nice
• Greensys 2019; 600 delegates
June 2019, Angers
• Ocean 2019; 1 200 delegates
June 2019, Marseille
• ESC Congress - European Society of Cardiology, 33 000 delegates
August-september 2019, Paris
• Annual Meeting of the European Society of Dermatological Research - ESDR 2019; 900 delegates
September 2019, Bordeaux