Twelve months from the opening of its new exhibitions and convention centre, Toulouse showcases the dynamism amd diversity of its offer.
We are in the home straight for the opening of the new Exhibitions and Convention Centre of Toulouse. One year away from hosting its very first major event, MEETT is already part of the landscape of Toulouse. The ambitious silhouette of its vast buildings dominates the site and this facility further bolsters the incredibly varied offer of the Ville Rose. Innovation, heritage, economic dynamism, extensive hotel capacity and gastronomy: advantages upon which Toulouse has focused in order to make MEETT the next great venue for all professionals and for the meetings industry in general.
Toulouse: A rich past sparkling focused on science and innovation
Knowledgeable, joyful, effervescent: Toulouse, the 4th largest city in France, is a European city that is innovative and attractive. The Ville Rose is rooted in 2000 years of history and allies the good life with undeniable architectural and cultural treasures. Young and forward looking, it is home to the most innovative companies whilst also using its experience to showcase cultural, scientific and economic events that enhance its reputation. For several years now it has featured on the list of leading destinations of excellence in terms of hosting scientific congresses, a fact that is confirmed by its position as the 4th French city on the ICCA1 rankings.
Toulouse is also the global capital of aeronautics and the Space industry, as well as the leader in France for R&D. The quality and variety of its universities and research laboratories attracts 120,000 students and nearly 20,000 researchers every year from across the world. This renowned scientific dynamism contributes to its economic and industrial attractiveness. Toulouse-Blagnac International Airport, France’s 3rd largest regional airport, welcomes 9.6 million passengers per year. The wider urban area offers an extensive range of accommodation that can host up to 42,000 guests.
MEETT sees the big pricture
This multi-functional and modular venue, designed by architect Rem Koolhaas (OMA), boasts serious advantages in terms of capacity, accessibility and adaptability. Its facilities, with an architecture that is resolutely modern, offer an array of tailor-made services that allow major events to be hosted, as well as meeting the needs of even the most demanding organisers.
MEETT is:
- A Convention Centre of 15,000 sqm that can host events for up to 10,000 participants thanks to the following spaces: a modular plenary hall with up to 3, 400 seats, a multi-purpose area of 9,000 sqm and 12 modular meeting rooms.
- A covered Central Street of 14,000 sqm, offering plenty of settings for shows events and exhibitions as well as direct access to the Exhibition and Convention Centre.
- An Exhibitions Park with a total surface area of 40,000 sqm that can be split into 7 halls, rounded off with 2 mezzanines
- An outdoor exhibitions area of 25,000 sqm dedicated to demonstrations, large installations or open-air events.
- 5,000 parking spaces at the heart of the site
- Quick and easy access to the site by tramway: Airport in 15 minutes and city centre in 35 minutes
Designed and built to meet the highest efficiency standards, MEETT is strongly committed to sustainable development. HQE certified, a scheme that looks to limit the environmental impact of buildings in the short and long term, it also boasts the LEED© NC label. This focus on reducing the environmental impact of the site extends to all areas of the project: cutting light pollution, alternative transport solutions, water economy, waste management, recycled materials, etc.
The Metropole de Toulouse and all its partners (Occitanie Region / Pyrenees-Mediterranee, HauteGaronne Department, Tisseo), along with their delegated management company Toulouse Evenements/GL Events, work together to make MEETT a showcase of the economic dynamism of the wider area.
A First major event at MEETT
Upon its opening in June 2020, the new Exhibitions and Convention Centre of Toulouse, MEETT, will host a major worldwilde fair for the Space industry. From 17th to 19th June 2020, the world’s biggest actors in this sector will gather for this brand new rendezvous that will be held on alternate years to the Le Bourget Fair.
Christened the "Global Space in Toulouse by Toulouse Space Show", and under the High Patronage of the President of the French Republic, this event will tackle the very broad subject of the contribution made by the Space industry to global challenges. The approach of this event is to deal with the different associated fields in which the impact of the Space industry will be a determining factor in the years to come. CNES and GL events, in conjunction with Toulouse Metropole, the Occitanie Region and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Toulouse, will invite everyone connected to Space technologies to this rendezvous.
The Convention Bureau: Specialists at the service of event organisers
With their team made up of six specialists from the meetings industry, the convention bureau, a department of the Development Agency, accompanies professional event organisers in order to "make the city easy for them". They provide tailor-made support: establishing bids for international congresses; liaison with private and public bodies related to projects; sourcing a range of suppliers; identifying the ideal venues for events…Their objective is to provide a comprehensive offer for the destination and contribute to the success of every project.
The Development Agency works closely alongside the Club Hotelier de Toulouse Metropole. This hotel club brings together more than 100 member hotels that account for around 7,000 rooms across the wider area. This joint approach ensures that congress and event organisers have high-quality accommodation solutions that meet all the challenges they face in this area.
Toulouse Evenements – GL events
A major player in the field of events in Occitanie, Toulouse Evenements – the local subsidiary of the events leader GL events – is established in its position as a major economic force in the city and the wider region. By managing its 3 sites (the Pierre Baudis Congress Centre, Espaces Vanel, Exhibitions Park) and more than 250 events per year, Toulouse Evenements ensures that this destination enjoys a genuine economic impact far beyond its borders. Thanks to the many investments it has carried out, the savoir-faire of its teams in the field of hosting national and international events and this current ongoing project for the forthcoming exhibitions park and convention centre, Toulouse Evenements offers great potential for development to the Toulouse destination by constantly improving its
competitive edge.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
