This Friday, March 23, 2012 took place in the Uptown Geneva – Business & Arts Center the Spring of Geneva Tourism & Conventions. In focus, the challenges facing Geneva to maintain its position in the meetings industry.
Marcel A. Mr. Vissers, Editor-in-Chief HeadQuarters & MIM Europe magazine (Antwerp), Marc-Antoine Nissille, President of the Société des Hôteliers de Genève (SHG) and Philippe Vignon, Managing Director of Geneva Tourism & Conventions (GT&C) discussed on Geneva’s position in the world of the meetings industry.
In Geneva, the business tourism accounts for 75% of tourism. The economic impact of contracts led by GT&C in this sector is very important: in 2011, the turnover is CHF 57 million with 120,000 overnights. So far in 2012, the obtained contracts generate a turnover of CHF 55 million and 124,000 overnights. From 2012 to 2017, GT&C signed and confirmed 256’000 overnights for business tourism and the estimated turnover is CHF 122 million for the region.
“Geneva has an excellent reputation as a destination for conventions because it is a chic and rich city, it is the capital of diplomats and international conferences,” said Marcel Vissers.
“The City of Calvin must nevertheless face several challenges: it is expensive, less safe and its infrastructures age,” he said. To cope with the rise of competing destinations and adapt to future market in the tourism business, Geneva needs to modernize, remain innovative and attractive. “Tomorrow the meetings industry will be hybrid and expertly combine the virtual and the human” said Marcel Vissers.
For Marc-Antoine Nissille “Geneva strives to protect its interests and enjoys a high standard of facilities and a high efficiency of its hotels.” For the President of the SHG “the sector of business tourism is dynamic and existing infrastructures contribute to its success on an increasingly globalized market.”
It is to underline that in order to face the challenges of the future, the Convention Bureau of Geneva Tourism was created in 2007 to sell the destination as a whole and facilitate the organization of congresses and conferences in Geneva. An initiative from all the economic stakeholders of the tourism industry in Geneva.
Did you know?
The 6th Geneva International Montgolfiades will take place from April 13 to 15, 2012. Thirty hot air balloons, from nine countries, led by prestigious crews will animate the Geneva sky from Friday to Sunday. During the event, Geneva Tourism & Conventions will host the public Place du Molard. To learn about the confirmation, modification or cancellation of flights depending on the weather, call the number: +41 22 909 70 12.
