This summer Paris Nord Villepinte hosted the largest medical congress in Europe, the European Society of Cardiology’s Annual Congress (ESC Congress 2011) with over 32,000 delegates.
This experience has proved that Paris, and Paris Nord Villepinte, a Viparis’ venue, have the full capacity to host large scientific and professional events.
With a conference centre that has been completely updated and local partners fully involved, Paris maintains its position among the world's leading congress destinations.
The organisation of the ESC Congress 2011 has demonstrated that Paris Nord Villepinte, a Viparis’ venue, fully fits the specific needs of XXL conference organisers, their partners and their delegates, with a clear ability to manage large flows.
Paris Nord Villepinte offers a new possibility for Paris to host conferences with more than 10,000 delegates.
Its 8 interconnected halls, linked to a conference centre, set around a central esplanade allow congress organisers to plan very compact large events with good circulation flows around the congress areas.
The ESC Congress 2011 was organised around 3 main areas: 34 conference halls (from 120 to 3,200 seats, for a total capacity of 20,000 seats); an exhibition area covering 25,000sqm, as well as a large poster area.
Added to this were a large number of offices for the ESC staff and twenty meeting rooms for ESC constituent bodies, a registration area, a delegate’s lounge, a press centre, etc. This meant a total area of 130 000sqm, spread in 3 halls (5A, 6 and 7), all interconnected.
Entirely re-designed with the opening of the new hall 7 in 2010, Paris Nord Villepinte has just undergone major refurbishment with the new design of the public transport on site access, refurbishment of the services gallery, the creation of new restaurants and improvements to the esplanade.
These changes offer improved possibilities for medical congress organisers who face two particular challenges: to respond to the requirements of high added value scientific content, together with offering the best conditions to their trade partners. The Paris Nord Villepinte solution is based on two key elements - large-scale inter-connected halls linked with a conference centre, all on the same level.
Paris Nord Villepinte is directly linked to central Paris. The facility has a public transport station (RER) and a taxi station, all entirely dedicated to the on-site events. This public transport hub connects Paris Nord Villepinte directly to the centre of Paris (20 minutes to the European train station Gare du Nord) and to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport (8 minutes).
Quality is also a key factor. New trains have appeared on the line and in 2012, all the trains will be replaced by a new generation: their new design will offer more comfort for delegates and a greater capacity.
The meeting industry, and in particular, congresses and conventions, have a strategic importance for Paris. All the local partners in Paris and the region work together to offer to organisers a global approach: Public representatives, congress centre, Viparis, transport authorities, hotel industry, etc.
The Paris Convention Bureau set up an ad-hoc transport committee which, starting two years before the congress, brought together representatives from the City of Paris, Viparis, the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIP), the public transport (RATP), Transilien, SNCF, the National Association of taxi drivers, the Region’s transport union (STIF), the Region’s highways department (DIRIF), Aéroports de Paris (ADP) and the Police.
The results show how important this common work is: staff from the train and taxi companies were onsite at Paris Nord Villepinte to ensure that the delegate flow went smoothly, also with information boards and hostesses at the main metro stations and, at the initiative of the organizer, the printing of a transport map tailor-made for ESC delegates, etc. - all initiatives which showed how Paris was fully mobilised for the event.
Viparis added to these measures its own “Welcome Pack”. Launched in 2008, this specific Pack is offered to large international events in order to help organisers give the best welcome to their delegates and their partners.
Welcome services to delegates are reinforced by the presence of hosts and hostesses dedicated to the event at the airports and train stations. They guide the delegates towards the various transports available, including free shuttle buses to the conference centre at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
