HQ REPORT: Paris, Queen of Reinvention

With public authorities constantly wanting to move forward, Paris is reinventing itself all the time: there is always something happening in the city, new venues opening or being refurbished and expanded, innovative activities to experience. Whether your meeting will be held at Paris Event Center or the renewed Expo Porte de Versailles, the French capital, with its efficient network system, may perfectly cater to association congresses.

Dedicated new venues
Paris expo Porte de Versailles (picture) is currently one of the largest event venues, covering an area around 220,000m² and hosting around 200 national and international events annually. With a big renovation and extension project in the pipeline, it is set to retain its leading position in the years to come.

Indeed, ambitious modernisation works began in May this year. The project will last ten years (2015-2024) and be carried out in phases, to allow the venue to remain open throughout the period for emblematic events like the Paris Motor Show, the press center of the European football championships in 2016, and the EAGE conference in June 2017.

The project will see the work of four world-renowned French architects, including two Pritzker winners, come to life. Dominique Perrault has redesigned the facade of Pavilion 1, Christian de Portzamparc of Pavilions 2 and 3, while Jean Nouvel has created Pavilion 6, and Valode & Pistre Pavilion 7 and its new extra-large conference centre. Set to open in January 2018, the new convention centre will also benefit from all the advantages brought by the completion of the first phase of the renovation: a completely redesigned entrance with a central plaza including a 50m-diameter digital signage ring, new cafés and restaurants, a pedestrian central court with moving walkways and new gardens.

Worth noting is that Paris expo Porte de Versailles is bringing about an environmental revolution in line with Paris' new climate and biodiversity policies: 52,000m² of green roofs, integration and strengthened ties with neighbouring urban areas, energy-efficient pavilions and emphasis placed on walking, cycling and public transportation. The comfort of exhibitors, visitors and local residents will be enhanced by facilities including cafés and terraces, a gourmet restaurant by Guy Martin, an on-site 400-room hotel (2-3*) and tennis courts.

Located in up-and-coming Porte de la Villette, the Paris Event Center is a huge flexible venue with a large auditorum seating up to 6,000 people. Easily accessible by public transport, it is managed by the Jaulin Group, a leader in the meeting industry – the Paris Event Center opened in March 2015.

Paris gets academic
Meeting in research and academic institutes is also a must in Paris. Some venues are also testament to a glorious past, adding that extra je-ne-sais-quoi to your event. The congress centre of the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie provides a remarkably unique, fun and cultural setting for up to 1,100 people. A outstanding place combining the charm of the 18th century with the simplicity of the 1930s, the Maison de la Chimie can hold any type of events in its Amphithéâtre Lavoisier (854 seats), Petit Amphithéâtre (220 seats), 18 bright and naturally-lit conference rooms, and private garden. As to the Institut Pasteur, it welcomes numerous scientific and medical symposiums every year as well as professional events and meetings. The famous Grand Amphitéâtre de La Sorbonne is also an option, with its 1,000-people capacity, while the Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, in the heart of Paris’ left bank, a stone’s throw from the Eiffel Tower, hosts up to 200 participants in its auditorium.

Offsite original places
For congresses, Paris also has many assets up its sleeves. La Cité de la Mode et du Design is, for instance, an upcoming venue sitting on the banks of the Seine. Some of Paris’ most illustrious sites even double as meetings venues: the Eiffel Tower’s can host up to 350 people for dinner, and the Carrousel du Louvre up to 1,600 for a conference. The nave of Le Grand Palais accommodates up to 6,300 in outstanding surroundings.

Original venues also include the Palais Brongiart, managed by GL Events, which provides 3,000m² of event space in surroundings of great prestige, the Philharmonie de Paris, with its appearance of a mound or hillock that one could walk over, which accommodates up to 3,600 people, the Frank Gehry’s Louis Vuitton Fondation, a public museum of contemporary art standing proud like like a sailboat frozen in an ice storm, and even the Restaurant Les Ombres within the Musée du Quai Branly, for exclusive gatherings of up to 110 guests.

More info: convention.parisinfo.com