Cannes
is France’s second most important destination, after Paris,
for business travellers. In terms of attendance, the city is second
worldwide, after Hong Kong, for congresses. Cannes’ economy
relies almost entirely on the combined revenue of business and leisure
tourism.
The only other significant industry is the space industry. With
the exception of the headquarters of the space industry branch of
Alcatel, the small town of Cannes does not host
major international companies. These are instead based nearby at
Csophia Antipolis, Europe’s ‘Silicone
Valley’, located between Cannes and Antibes and includes the
high profile top French Schools (Grande Ecoles),
Air France and the Nice Academy.
The surrounding department’s level of unemployment fixed at
10.4 per cent for the Alpes-Maritime is slightly in excess of the
national level at 9 per cent but nonetheless offers the lowest level
in the Provence-Cotes d’Azur region, which stands at 12.04
per cent. The region as a whole shows a year-on-year decrease in
unemployment levels.
The key business venue is, of course, the Palais des Festivals
et des Congrès, within easy walking distance of
the major hotels, which welcomes the major international markets.
The exhibition area, the 24,000 sq metres (258,000 sq ft) Espace
Riviera, is situated on a triangular site to the south
of the Palais des Festivals, overlooking the sea.
The building comprises a rotunda, suited for gala dinners, cocktails
and shows, and a large exhibition hall. With this new development
in place, Cannes has ensured its standing as one
of the three largest conference and exhibition centres located in
Europe. The whole town is geared towards receiving business visitors,
with restaurants, 19th-century villas, yachts and even beaches adapted
for corporate entertainment.
Business
Etiquette
Business in Cannes is a formal affair. It is customary to address
colleagues by their surname, although locals used to the international
business community are not offended, only slightly embarrassed,
if addressed by their first name. Business cards
are vital and even leisurely southern France expects colleagues
to arrive promptly. Due to (sometimes) good-natured rivalry, praise
of the capital, unless one’s colleague is from Paris, should
be avoided. However, it usually pays to praise the benefits of the
Côte d’Azur. Business attire tends
to be smart and chic – light suits are a must for the hot
summer months.
Standard business hours are 0830-1200
and 1430-1800.
Lunch meetings are common. Socialising after work does
not take place all that often or readily in the Cannes business
community. |
