The Principality of Monaco and its Convention Bureau have always been known for their special attentiveness towards association needs when organizing a conference in the country. The slow rhythm and restrictions of the pandemic gave the opportunity to the Monegasque team not just to review their services, but also to demonstrate how the destination can bring additional benefits to any event that crosses their path.
Old Values Meet New
Each project is firstly treated with human interaction in mind, creating the right atmosphere and dedication that an association needs to feel in order to plan comfortably an event. Once this basis is set, a dedicated team of professionals makes sure to provide all the essential support and services to meet the unique needs of each association. Flexibility and responsiveness to unforeseen situations are key in achieving this, but the close cooperation of all business events players in the Principality has forged an ecosystem which provides just that.
These were elements that were already part of the value system of the destination. The new situation imposed by the health crisis brought about the practicality of the digital element for business events. Although Monaco can offer suitable solutions for hybrid events, the new focus is on raising and showcasing the value the destination puts forward during in-person conferences.
Monaco’s adaptability is portrayed through this new dimension of the industry. Already a year ago, the Principality had launched the #REENENT digital campaign, an initiative consisting of six visual slogans. Security, service, unity of place and action, and commitment to the environment are the main drivers of the Convention Bureau’s efforts to revive business events in the region.
Building on this campaign, the teams are currently looking into developing a business model that will be more content-based and will be able to leave a positive long-term mark to the local community. The idea is to be close and support the visiting association in identifying relevant legacy goals; this will create increased value of the conference for the delegates and, hence, value of the destination. The added value of an event’s contribution to the community during and long after the event guarantees its success; this is central to Monaco’s services.
Events Are Back…
In fact, Monaco always kept busy all through the pandemic. But since the reopening and the bureau’s rethought strategy, conference numbers are booming. Not to mention the recurrence rate relating to events taking place on Monegasque soil, which attests to the confidence organizers place in the Principality.
The year started in a dynamic way with Monaco hosting the ‘Biennial Monaco Oncology Conference’ (a French-speaking oncology event) on 26-29 January at Grimaldi Forum. The in-person conference was enriched with digital components for more accessibility; 82 hours of streaming and a great number of on-site discussions kept the over 1,000 participants (and another 210 online) interested and educated.
Spring 2022 is a busy one for Monaco, filled with live events. ‘One to One Retail Ecommerce’ took place mid-March gathering 1800 delegates. The three-day event included the second edition of Village Startups, staging up-and-coming companies with concrete solutions for the retail ecommerce, and was focused on the triptych: HUMANISM, COLLABORATION & CSR. Later the same month – from 31 March to 2 April, Grimaldi Forum hosted the 20th edition of the ‘Aesthetic & Anti-aging Medicine World Congress’ (AMWC), where over 8,000 participants enjoyed an in-person and live-stream program with opportunities to learn new skills and engage in pivotal scientific debates.
April and May are more IT focused. On 26-27 April, the ‘Data Cloud Global Congress’ and Data Cloud Global Awards will return to Monaco, welcoming on-site about 1,000 experts across the data center, cloud, edge, digital infrastructure, and AI industries. On the same tech note, the third edition of ‘Ready For IT’, will take place on 17-19 May. The flagship event for digital transition and security, will offer its 600 participants insights on data security and industrial patterns to tackle today’s challenges.
Setting the stage for all the conferences Monaco has lined up for the autumn months, the Rendez-Vous de Septembre (RVS) will be held on 10-14 September. After two years of waiting, players in the insurance and reinsurance market will have the chance to meet up and hold bilateral discussions ahead of the renewals.
…Welcomed With New Infrastructure
With Grimaldi Forum being so busy with business events, it was only natural that the surrounding area had to follow the success rate. The venue is expanding its exhibition capacity by 50%, with an additional surface of nearly 6,000m². The project, due for completion by 2025, will give Grimaldi Forum the possibility to combine more and larger-scale events, increasing its flexibility and uniqueness. This new space is part of a larger offshore construction of a six-hectare eco-district promoting sustainable development within Monaco.
Contact: conventionbureau@gouv.mc / www.letsreevent.com