Congresses in Paris 2020, by status

Paris is one of the leading cities worldwide to host MICE events each year. In 2019, the French capital recorded the second-highest number of participants at associations meetings globally. However, 2020 was a year unlike any other, as many congresses were delayed or canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. According to the source, most events were either “phygital” - including both in-person and digital experiences - or held by video conferencing in 2020. Many events tried to make the most of digital solutions, despite this, many could still not take place. In the end, 160 of these professional events were postponed and 157 were canceled in 2020.

A significant loss of business for the Parisian event industry

The organization of professional events in the Paris region did not have the same economic impact in 2020 as in other years. Many professionals in this sector saw activity slow down or even stop completely. As a result, spending losses were substantial. At the end of August 2020, spending losses linked to the organization of trade shows amounted to 2.5 billion euros, while those related to the organization of association meetings exceeded 700 million euros.

COVID-19’s impact on business travel in France

During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, traveling was limited to a bare minimum to reduce the spread of the virus. As a result, many countries experienced business travel revenue losses. In France, these losses were notably reflected in the significant drop in the monthly number of business overnight stays. Figures reached their lowest level in April 2020, in the middle of the first lockdown when only 800 thousand nights were spent in French accommodation for business or professional purposes, compared to nearly four million the previous year.