• July 24, 2023

Accor GME 2023: highlights & pictures

Accor GME 2023: highlights & pictures

Accor GME 2023: highlights & pictures 1024 683 micebook.

Accor held its annual Global Meetings Exchange (GME) event in the French capital last week, bringing together more than 300 event profs from around the globe for content sessions, meetings, networking and memorable Parisian experiences.

Buyers from the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Latin America, India, Australia, Middle East and Asia gathered at the Pullman Paris Montparnasse to meet and network with representatives from Accor’s portfolio of 40+ hotel brands and 5,000 properties.

Guests heard from Accor’s leaders on the group’s sustainability and wellness strategies, including CEO Sébastien Bazin, who spoke candidly about the challenges of becoming a more sustainable business, and the importance of designing hotels for the local community and not just for travellers.

Alex Schellenberger, CMO, Premium, Midscale & Economy brands at Accor shared insights on the hotel of the future and an overview of Pullman’s new brand vision, reimagining MICE with local community at heart, with flexible and transformative spaces that incorporate biophilic design using plants and greenery.

Highlights of the plenary sessions included an interview with Paralympian and former professional wheelchair tennis player Michael Jeremiasz, and an unforgettable presentation by Mark Adams, chief innovation officer at Vice Media and global keynote speaker on consumer trends and the future of MICE – from which we’ll be sharing some key takeaways soon.

Other highlights of the three-day programme included an evening cruise on the Seine, aboard the Boreas, which features the largest sailing rooftop in Paris, a reception at The Bonnie Club & Bar at SO/Paris, and a final night red-themed “Pullman Revelations” dinner and entertainment at the host hotel. Guests were also invited to experience Paris with several offsite tours and activities on offer, from chilling at the Hotel Molitor Paris-MGallery, to exploring Montmarte, visiting Versailles, as well as fashion, food and luxury experiences – all those things Paris is famed for.

It was the fourth GME I have personally attended, but the first since Accor took over FRHI, which launched the event, and my first representing micebook). It was as slick as I remember, and with some great insightful content blended seamlessly with brand updates and unique experiences, its easy to see GME its firmly cemented its position as a must-attend event in many senior industry leaders’ calendars.

 

 

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