The 2013 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Report published in May asserts Paris’ leadership on the international association meetings market by ranking it the #1 destination of 2013.
This announcement comes as a validation of Viparis’ plan to invest in this strategic and dynamic sector as the Group prepares to open the largest Convention Centre in Europe in 2018 at Paris expo Porte de Versailles.
Paris gets number one
Paris lands the top position of the 2013 ICCA Report. This report covers meetings organised by international associations which take place on a regular basis, with at least 50 participants and a rotation between a minimum of 3 countries. In addition, the 50th-anniversary ICCA Report, A Modern History of International Association Meetings, also ranks Paris as a leading destination for the last 35 years.
More to come in 2014-2015
2014 and 2015 will also continue to set Paris as the number one destination and Viparis, the European leader of the meetings industry.
Over 20 international congresses are planned for 2014 and at least 20 more have already confirmed their choice of a Viparis site for 2015. Some of the largest congresses will gather up to 14,000 participants, like the European League Against Rheumatism’s Annual Congress (EULAR) that recently took place at Le Palais des Congrès de Paris June 11-14, 2014.
Viparis seeks to consistently improve welcoming services for organisers and delegates
At the beginning of 2014, Viparis enriched its welcoming services offer with the « Like a Parisian » City Guide developed in collaboration with world-renowned newspaper “Le Monde”. It provides inside information provided by the journalists and can be customized by event organisers to discover Paris “Like a Parisian”…
It comes in addition to the “Welcome Pack” supported by the Paris Regional Tourism Committee and the Paris Exhibitions Committee, whichincludes a number of services to make the stay of visitors, exhibitors and delegates of large events happening on a Viparis’ site as pleasant and easy as possible.
A brand new Convention centre for 2018
Viparis will open in 2018 the largest Convention Centre in Europe at Paris expo Porte de Versailles.
Its exceptional capacities and modularity make it one of the key elements of the Exhibition Centre’s modernisation project. It will complete and boost Paris’ hosting capabilities to welcome large national and international events that the existing venues could not host today.
Situated in the heart of Paris, the Convention Centre will offer an unbeatable view on the City and the Eiffel Tower, with:
· Europe’s largest plenary room with 5,200 seats
· Up to 40 meeting rooms of various sizes
· Connected exhibition spaces ranging from 7,000 to 25,000 sq. m depending on the configurations, with an additional 44,000 sq. m of exhibition space available on levels 1 and 2 of Pavilion 7.
“Paris deserves to be number one, it rewards the hard work accomplished by Viparis with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. We will continue to invest steadily in our infrastructures and services to keep leading the pack” says Renaud Hamaide, Managing Director of Viparis.
