The e-news from BORDEAUX GIRONDE CONVENTION BUREAU
Nr 26 - June 2006
A new president at the Bordeaux Gironde Convention Bureau
Jean Michel Cazes, owner of Château Lynch Bages in Pauillac, was recently elected president of the association, succeeding Alain Coudenc.
Under Alain Coudenc's dynamic fifteen-year presidency, the Bordeaux Gironde Convention Bureau greatly contributed to attracting 500 conventions and meetings, including some 120,000 participants, to the city of Bordeaux and the Gironde department.
Due to a change in his job, Alain Coudenc felt he could no longer devote sufficient time as president of the BGCB, or oversee its development. He therefore decided to resign.
The new president, Jean Michel Cazes, is a well-known figure in the Bordeaux area. He owns the famous Château Lynch Bages, a great growth in the Pauillac appellation, and has welcomed visitors from around the world and helped them to discover the fine wines of Bordeaux for many years.
Jean Michel Cazes also owns several businesses in Pauillac and Bordeaux closely linked with business tourism: the hotel-restaurant Château Cordeillan Bages, the Ecole du Bordeaux wine school, the Chapon Fin restaurant, the Café Lavinal café-restaurant, and the Bordeaux Saveurs incoming agency.
Four new members join the Bordeaux Gironde Convention Bureau : Hotel La Réserve des Graves, The Gujan Mestras Casino, France Fleurs and the FRAC-Collection Aquitaine.
La Réserve is a superb Hotel/Restaurant set in 8 acres of private parkland where a warm and friendly welcome awaits you. Ideally located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan vineyards (Grave wine appellation) it is only 5 min from Mérignac airport, 3 min from the ring road, 10 min from the Convention Centre and the Exhibition Centre and 15 min from Bordeaux’s city centre. The hotel currently offers 22 spacious, air-conditioned, and comfortable rooms (50 rooms by the first semester of 2007), and the locally renowned gourmet restaurant is a definite highlight. La Réserve also offers 5 function rooms; all are fully equipped and air-conditioned. Located on the ground floor, they open out on to a terrace. With large windows, they provide views of the park and lake as well as nature light. Ideal for entertaining private groups. Free of charge car park (100 spaces), 24H service and reception, Wifi, direct phone lines, satellite.
30 minutes away from Bordeaux, at the beginning of the bassin d’Arcachon, the Gujan Mestras Casino with its colonial architecture and decoration makes you travel. “Le Lodge”, restaurant, bar lounge invites you to succumb to greediness by tasting its fine cuisine, and to relax throughout its thematic evenings.
The VIP room will allow to gather a little comity for your meetings and private diners.
The “Sir Winston” room, british and cosy, presents to you it’s gaming tables : English wheels, stud poker and black jack.
The slot machines room, with it’s “bodega” and it’s Spanish colours welcomes you to the sound of jackpots.
France Fleurs, wholesaler in cut flowers, house plants and flowered plants, is established on M.I.N (Marché d’Intérêt National) of Brienne, agro alimentary pole of Bordeaux located quai de Paludate, since 1993.
We market all the year cut flowers and foliages coming from the 4 corners of the world, with a strong rotation thus guaranteeing choice and freshness.
In the concern of answering all your types of requests, we propose a vast set of cut flowers or realize on request, your floral compositions and arrangements. Our team of florists will take care of the making of your orders.
Congress, seminars, receptions, business gifts … the occasions to use the cut flower do not miss. Also, we propose centers of table, decorations of dressers, reception rooms… from traditional to contemporary, from simple to more sophisticate.
The FRAC-AquitaineCollectionhas been located at an outstanding site, in Hangar G2, since February 11th 2005. This former industrial hangar belongs to the Bordeaux Port Authority. It was redesigned by the architectural firm of Brochet-Lajus-Pueyo and overlooks the wet dock. Hangar G2 is a unique venue with 1,000 m² featuring 925 works of modern art by 230 artists. The Frac also rents their facility to event organisers.
Congrès et Expositions de Bordeaux: an important economic player
2005 was a year full of major events, confirming Congrès et Expositions de Bordeaux's position as an important player in the local economy and one of the spearheads of France's 4th largest city in terms of business tourism. Congrès et Expositions de Bordeaux were thus totally justified in referring to their thriving business activity at their Annual General Meeting on Friday, May 12th 2006.
The Bordeaux Exhibition Centre: 85,000 m² of exhibition space
Thanks to the construction of the two new halls (3 and 4), the Exhibition Centre now offers the 5th largest covered exhibition area in France. Inaugurated in June 2005, Hall 3 is an ideal venue for all sorts of events. It features 12,000 m² under a single roof (without any pillars). In 2005, this hall was used for Vinexpo, Conforexpo, the Auto-Moto Show and, in 2006, the Bordeaux International Show Jumping Competition, featuring the world's best riders.
Business activity in 2005: a turnover of 24,300,000 euros Congrès et Expositions de Bordeaux's 3 sites – the Exhibition Centre, the Convention Centre, and Hangar 14 – offer a wide range of possibilities for all sorts of events such as the Salon du Tourisme (Tourism Exhibition) at Hangar 14, the large Congrès National de la Prévention (National Prevention Convention) at the Convention Centre, and several major events open to the general public in the Exhibition Centre. A total of 286 events throughout the year included over 9,800 exhibitors and more than a million visitors. Total turnover amounted to 24,300,000 euros (excluding VAT), representing an increase of nearly 40% compared to the previous 4-year average. The turnover for organisers of these various events and participating companies in 2005 was approximately 600 million euros.
Business tourism professionals from the Bordeaux area will be offering their venues and services, and reflecting new trends, on 3 000 m² at the second STEP exhibition on March 7th and 8th 2007.
Bordeaux now has infrastructures in keeping with its international image, and is clearly the regional leader in terms of business tourism thanks to facilities such as the Convention Centre, the Exhibition Centre, and many famous wine châteaux (the root of a booming wine tourism industry).
STEP is organised by Bordeaux Réunions, who publish guides such as Le Guide des Salles de Réunions (the Guide to Meeting Rooms) and the Guide des Traiteurs (Guide to Caterers), and also organise the perennially successful Salon du Mariage (Wedding Exhibition). STEP's aim is to provide a wide range of tailor-made opportunities to event organisers :
one hundred fifty exhibitors offering myriad venues and services throughout Southwest France
conferences and workshops centred on specific destinations (the Basque Country, the Charentes, etc.) and event management in order to share experiences and develop business.
pre-planned business meetings to discuss with the largest possible number of worthwhile contacts in the minimum amount of time.
The Hôtel Mercure Château Chartrons appointed Gwenaëlle Langlois as an Assistant Manager specialised in sales and communication in January 2006.
Gwenaëlle will be glad to examine all your requests and can be reached at + 33 (0) 556 694 089 (telephone), + 33 (0) 556 691 521 (fax), or gwenaellelanglois@wanadoo.fr (e-mail).
The Relais de Margaux Golf & Spa offer tailor-made stays based on the themes of wine, golf, and well-being. You can enjoy the great Bordeaux life style on weekend breaks or during the summer holidays starting at 192€ per room.
Jean Michel Cazes
The new president, Jean Michel Cazes, is a well-known figure in the Bordeaux area. He owns the famous Château Lynch Bages, a great growth in the Pauillac appellation, and has welcomed visitors from around the world and helped them to discover the fine wines of Bordeaux for many years. 
30 minutes away from Bordeaux, at the beginning of the bassin d’Arcachon, the 
The FRAC-Aquitaine Collection
