On 3 and 4 June, Lyon will welcome nearly 50 French specialist business tourism exhibitors, including about 20 from the Rhône-Alpes, to the first “Rencontre Pro de l’Evénement en Rhône-Alpes”. Designed to attract the top buyers from Paris, the workshop is also open to regional buyers so that they can have an insight into this unique type of event.
In less than a month’s time, on 3 and 4 June to be precise, almost 50 business tourism specialists, largely from the Rhône-Alpes, will come to La Chapelle de la Trinité (Lyon) to take part in the first “Rencontre Pro de l’Evénement en Rhône-Alpes”. The event has been set up by Rencontre Pro, the firm which proved its mettle by organising the “Rhône-Alpes Business Class” workshop in Paris on 28 January.
Its objective is to bring together the very best of the region in order to appeal to around 50-70 top buyers from Paris, representing the largest companies, associations, professional organisations and conference and trade show organisers. A number of the buyers were already present at the January workshop in Paris, so their visit to Lyon will enable them to judge for themselves the quality of the region’s business tourism options – specifically during two post-show educationals for around twenty individuals in total. They have the choice of two destinations: Lyon and the Beaujolais, with a tour of the Château de Bagnols and the IWay, or Annecy and the Aravis mountains, with accommodation at the Impérial Palace.
The concept of this “Rencontre Pro de l’Evénement en Rhône-Alpes”, has been based on two similar events organised in Cannes and Le Touquet and will involve back to back meetings with pre-arranged appointments. This show will be different in that buyers from the Rhône-Alpes will also be invited to come along and experience the new concept as well as meet potential partners for future events. People interested in signing up for the show just need to register in advance on the website. “For us, the fact that we’re opening the show up to local buyers is a first,” confirms Nicolas Godard. “As soon as they’ve registered on our website, we’ll get in touch with them to explain how the event, organised in partnership with Rhône-Alpes Tourisme, will work”.
Nicolas Godard chose Lyon as the location for his new workshop because in his opinion it is a city that is “a genuine MICE destination (Meetings, Incentives, Congress, Events). What’s more the Rhône-Alpes region is especially lucky because it offers an amazing “play ground” for incentive business – the Alps. Our aim is to enable buyers to enjoy the experience for themselves!”
Supported by the MPI Association (Meeting Professionnals International) which boasts 24,000 members worldwide, the workshop will open at midday on 3 June in the Chapelle de la Trinité which will have been completely decked out by Lyon-based artist Fann on the theme of wine and hospitality. Following their schedule of appointments in the afternoon, participants will all meet up for a gala evening on La Plateforme, a boat that is moored on the left bank of the Rhône. The next day, exhibitors and buyers will get together once again to finalise potential contracts before some of the buyers set off on their post-workshop educationals.
Registrations
« Rencontre pro de l’événement en Rhône-Alpes »
www.rencontres-pro.com/rhonealpes
Tel.: 00 33 (0)1 46 10 99 62
Exhibitors : Rhône-Alpes Tourisme, Bureau des Congrès de Lyon, Sofitel, Château de Bagnols, Courchevel tourisme, Evian Royal Resort, Évian Tourist Office, Mondial Events, Hilton Lyon, Bureau des Congrès de Grenoble, World Trade Center de Grenoble, Diverty’Sport, Hôtel Beauregard in La Clusaz, La Clusaz Séminaires, Domaine de Divonne, Radisson Blu Lyon, La Plateforme barge, Iway, Bike and See, Aix-les-Bains Tourist Office, Axotel, Sibuet group, Philibert transports, Pierre & Vacances, Center Parcs, Paris Tourist Office, Plaza Futuroscope, Options, Novelty, Partance, Biarritz Tourist Office, etc.
