Trade Shows and Conferences Return to Viparis Venues

Magazine:
23rd Jun, 2021
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The congress of the French Intensive Care Society, at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, and VivaTech at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, will be the major events to debut the Parisian season in June.

On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, France and Viparis will take the next big step towards getting back to business. Large events can now be held: until June 30, however, they will be limited to 5,000 people, and visitors will be required to show a Health Passport until 30 September. After a hiatus of nearly 15 months, Viparis's venues are gearing up to reopen their doors.

Visitors to Espace Champerret, Espace Grande Arche, Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, Les Salles du Carrousel, Palais des Congrès d’Issy, Palais des Congrès de Paris, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Paris Le Bourget and Paris Nord Villepinte will be welcomed under optimal health and safety conditions.

“Viparis is delighted to see the return of the trade show and convention business. This will enable our entire community to get back on its feet. Our guests, from SME and VSEs to major corporations, will be able to rediscover the benefits of in-person meetings, which are key drivers of economic recovery as well as scientific and medical research,” says Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti, CEO of Viparis.

Two symbolic events in June

On 9 June, the Palais des Congrès de Paris will host the French Intensive Care Society (Société de réanimation de langue française – SRLF). For over a year, intensive care physicians and paramedics have been at the forefront of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, this medical community has decided to come together to share, communicate and discuss best practices in their field, and thereby stimulate continual improvement in patient care. Nearly 1500 participants are expected.

“Our congress provides a forum where the entire intensive care community can exchange, present papers, give workshops and discuss best practices. This is all the more essential after the period we have just lived through. The medical stakes are high and they reflect the SRLF's commitment to continuous improvement of daily operations and patient care. The SRLF's members have a profound need to share their experiences, which can be more effectively addressed via an in-person congress,” said Professor Eric Maury, President of the French Intensive Care Society.

“The medical sector accounts for 80% of congresses held in Paris, which was the world's top destination in this field in 2019. These large-scale gatherings allow participants to discuss new treatments and define best practices. For France's very first congress organised in 2021, we are extremely pleased to welcome nearly 1,500 intensive care physicians, and to enable them to share their knowledge and scientific expertise,” said Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti.

From 16 to 19 June, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles will be home to the fifth edition of VivaTech, which this year will be a hybrid event with both in-person and online attendees. Given the current capacity restrictions, this will allow the maximum number of people to participate.

"After a year like no other, VivaTech has reinvented itself in order to bring its community together and harness innovation in the service of the economy. We have developed an outstanding hybrid system that will enable us to feature leading speakers along with cutting-edge innovations, start-ups and tech networks on an international scale. From 16 to 19 June, VivaTech will take place in person at the Porte de Versailles exhibition complex – in strict compliance with French health regulations – as well as on a unique digital platform that will be accessible worldwide," says Julie Ranty, Managing Director, VivaTech.

A strong finish to 2021: a 90% confirmation rate for events

The closing months of 2021 will herald the return of a number of major events, including Maison&Objet, which is scheduled to take place from 9 to 13 September at Paris Nord Villepinte. Once the French government announced its plans to reopen events, 1,500 exhibitors and 93% of pre-registered visitors confirmed their intention to attend. “During the period from September to December 2021, 90% of the organisers of scheduled trade shows and conferences have confirmed that they will go ahead,” notes Pablo Nakhlé Cerruti. 

Ensuring optimal health and safety conditions

Viparis will strictly apply the regulations in force for all public events. During the period 9 to 29 June, these are as follows:

  • Congresses and corporate seminars: they will be configured for seated events only. Capacity will be set at 65% of the normal limit, with no more than 5,000 visitors per venue admitted at any one time. A “Health Passport” (Pass sanitaire) will be required when there are more than 1,000 visitors.
  • Trade shows and exhibitions: capacity will be set at 50% of the normal limit, with no more than 5,000 visitors per exhibition hall admitted at any one time. A “Health Passport” (Pass sanitaire) will be required when there are more than 1,000 visitors.

At the same time, Viparis will comply with criteria that were jointly defined in spring 2020 with Bureau Veritas as part of the SAFE V certification process, designed to ensure an optimal level of health safety. Certification includes the designation of a Covid contact person for each site, in-depth cleaning procedures that identify various points of contact, training for Viparis staff and specifically adapted procedures for event organisers, exhibitors, service providers, and so on.

An expanded range of customised services

To help event organisers adapt as easily as possible to the new sanitary restrictions, Viparis has designed and developed new services, including:

  • A video system that automatically counts visitors, making it easy to comply with maximum capacity limits;
  • A facial recognition camera that verifies whether visitors are wearing masks. If someone’s mask is missing or badly positioned, security and reception personnel are informed in real time;
  • Thermal cameras for measuring body temperatures. if a visitor’s temperature is above 38°C, an alert is sent to the security and reception personnel;
  • The possibility of setting up a fully-staffed and furnished screening facility to conduct antigen testing;
  • SAFE V events: in keeping with our SAFE V label, which certifies venues' safety, Viparis, in collaboration with Bureau Véritas, has developed a set of guidelines to ensure compliance with event-related health safety protocols. This certification can be used as part of organisers’ communication strategies, helping them to reassure their visitors, exhibitors and partners;
  • A turnkey TV studio package for planning and producing hybrid events that involve in-person attendees and digital audiences;
  • Outdoor spaces that are ideal for corporate seminars, and that also provide a relaxing environment where trade show and conference attendees can spend more time together. 

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