Planning your next outdoor corporate event in France
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| France has five distinct climatic zones | Go for the freedom of a yacht cruise | Enjoy great locations for outdoor buffets |
France is a great place to be any time of the year, as 80+ million visitors prove every year. Not only is it the world's No.1 tourist destination, but it's also a highly popular destination for corporate events. Philip Gombert, of Alcep Travel and Events, one of France's predominant DMCs, offers tips about using the great French outdoors to the maximum.
Enjoying the summer
There's a liberating feeling about organizing an outside event, whether it's on a hotel lawn, at a golf course, in the gardens of a stately home or by the side of a swimming pool. The open air, the views and the nice weather contribute towards making this a memorable day. However all this calls for special preparations.
Where's the best location?
The most important point to consider when planning for an outdoor corporate event is the geographic location and the intended time of year. Give your French Destination Management specialist as much information about your plans and expectations so that he/she can decide where, when and even if such an event should take place.
It's a complex decision to take and so it helps to understand the different climatic types that exist in France. These are all influenced by the balance of power between oceanic weather systems coming from the west and continental anticyclones coming from the east.
Typically, France is divided into five climatic types:
1. Oceanic - cool summers but slightly warmer than in Britain. Frequent rainfall, around 180 days a year.
2. Semi-oceanic - also called the intermediate area, has less rainfall than the oceanic zone, particularly in summerand is generally hotter.
3. Continental - generally drier and hotter than Western France. Summers are significantly hotter, with more stable weather.
4. Mountain - cooler summers with a tendency for a frequent and sudden onset of cloud towards midday.
5. Mediterranean - this type of climate is found in a zone about 20 to 60 km wide along the Mediterranean coast. It's characterized by hot, dry summers.
Summer temperatures and days of rain
The likelihood of good weather and the chance of sudden rain are key factors in determining the alternatives and suggesting the best regions for your corporate event. Notice where the following cities are located on the map:
Av. Temp °C Avg. Rainy Days
May July Sept May July Sept
Brest 12 16 14 12 10 10
Lille 13 18 15 9 8 9
Paris 15 20 17 2 11 13
Lyon 17 22 17 4 3 4
Nantes 14 19 16 9 7 8
Limoges 13 18 15 10 8 9
Bordeaux 16 21 17 10 8 9
Strasbourg 15 20 15 9 9 9
Marseille 18 24 19 5 2 4
Nice 17 23 20 5 2 5
Generally, the further South you go in France, the more you'll be assured of stable, sunny and rain-free Summer weather. A French DMC specialist such as Alcep can advise you.
Have a back-up plan
Since weather is the most unpredictable aspect of nature, you need to be prepared for too much heat or unexpected rain. If possible, arrange to have an adjacent indoor space available (ideal of course when using the gardens of some building). You may need to arrange having a portable pavilion that can provide instant protection for guests. Alcep Travel & Events is experienced in satisfying such requests. In some cases, having portable air conditioners instead of fans may be a wise idea. By the way, if the event is to be held on soft ground or grass, advise the ladies not to wear stiletto heels so that their shoes don't get stuck.
Does your French DMC know the place?
As a responsible French events management planner, Alcep Travel and Events always inspects a site before recommending it to clients. There are many decisions regarding electricity, lighting, shade, seating and general layout that need to be considered if the event is to pass off successfully.
Select your catering options well
Informal events such as barbecues, picnics, and staff appreciation days are valuable opportunities to come together and get to know one another on a more casual level. There's often less work involved as disposable flatware and silverware are easy to clean up and dispose. If you are having your outside event in a particular region of France, why not have a 'themed meal' with the starters, main courses and desserts for that region? One idea that Alcep has run very successfully is to organize a local Wine Tasting event together with a 'Petanque' game' (traditional French bowls game). It's a lot of fun!
Having a professional events management consultant by your side can help you avoid some basic mistakes when arranging the menu. Clients from various countries will tend to have certain preferences. For example, the 'no-no' list may include duck for Americans, all-vegetable dishes for Indians, pasta starters for Italians and snails and foie gras for the Chinese.
Some excellent places in France
Alcep Travel & Events proposes some excellent places around France to hold your outdoor corporate event. For example, in the North, having cocktails in the moat of the Dinan medieval castle in Brittany is an amazing experience. In the Paris region there's so much to do. Some suggestions are using the gardens of the Palace of Versailles; arranging evening cocktails in the garden facing the Vaux le Vicomte castle, illuminated with 1000 candles and having live musicians playing; or enjoying the beauty of the Monet Garden at Giverny. In the South of France, a favourite place for picnics is on Saint Marguerite Island that faces Cannes.
Running a corporate event in France is special. Including a unique 'outside day' will make it truly memorable. All it requires is to profit from the expertise and rich knowledge that a French destination management specialist like Alcep Travel and Events can offer you.
Philip Gombert
