Created in 1988, the FCB (French Convention Bureau) is one of Maison de la France’s oldest clubs. It has almost 160 members, including Rhône-Alpes Tourisme and Lyon’s Bureau des Congrès, notes Thierry Baudier, MD of Maison de la France. We commit the largest budget to this branch, which is pretty logical when you think that business tourism generates 25% of French tourism income. It’s also the only division that has dedicated personnel and specific departments in Germany, Belgium, Spain, the UK, Italy and

the US .

When you consider the importance of this sector, the French public bodies watch its development very carefully because, as Thierry Baudier points out, business tourism is at the very heart of a growth trend that France is not part of. Which is why Christine Lagarde, minister for the ‘Économie et des Finances, has put in place a national guidance campaign that is present at all the fairs, conferences and tradeshows. And we’re just about to launch a big marketing campaign on some of the major markets, such as China. A lot of money has been put into it, and it ranges from poster campaigns, brochure publication, websites and promotional films .

The FCB’s role is to improve the knowledge and understanding of foreign markets, to support the introduction of new products offered by members, and to help adapt availability to match demand. In 2008, one of its main events will be Événement France from 6 to 9 February in Paris. It will involve the hosting of 250 conference and incentive buyers invited from 22 countries, who are then divided into

11 delegations and invited to discover the various facilities available for conference organisers throughout

France’s regions.

Other events include the organisation of a workshop in Paris on 10/11 April, aimed at professional associations based in Paris, Geneva and London; participation at the EIBTM tradeshow in Barcelona (2 to 4 December); the IMEX tradeshow in Frankfurt (22 to 24 April), the Germany-Austria Roadshow, via Dà¼sseldorf, Hamburg, Berlin and Vienna (October); the EMIF tradeshow in Belgium (19 and 20 March); various tradeshows in the UK, including Confex (12-14 February); workshops in Italy; four tradeshows, a workshop and a roadshow in the USA…

In addition, the FCB is setting up tailor-made operations on behalf of, and at the request of, its members. In 2008, two workshops are planned for Rhône-Alpes Tourisme in Brussels and London, two of the Rhône-Alpes’ priority markets. The Belgians are very exacting clients, but it’s an absolute delight to work with them , confides Céline Maginel, Head of Maison de la France’s business tourism department. It’s one of France’s priority markets, along with the UK. But the English market is quite difficult, because there are some very big agencies, a number of which are located around London, who are all sought after by lots of other destinations. Which Is why we’re doing more and more joint marketing operations with other

European countries .

An experienced tourism professional, Céline Maginel considers that the Rhône-Alpes has a number of benefits to offer most notably the dynamism of Lyon and its winter sports. There’s Paris, the Côte d’Azur and then there’s the Rhône-Alpes which is home to one of the major players in the marketplace, GL Events, located right in the middle of France and close to Geneva. Lyon’s Centre des Congrès is extremely popular, and it’s important to look at working on Lyon’s young image and its energy to open a door into the rest of the region. I was in Peking just a few months ago, at the CIBRM convention, alongside Lyon’s Convention Bureau. And I was pleasantly surprised to know that Lyon is already well known by the Chinese! .