Annual report 2001 - GL events

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3-3-4 Venue management
This market is French, European and international. A
growing number of local communities are looking to
externalize the management of their convention centers
and exhibition halls and entrust it to specialized
outsiders. These sites are meant to host various events
such as congresses, conventions, seminars, exhibitions,….
As a result cities boost their image and multiply the
positive economic impact, especially in the hotel
business and tourism in general.
The activity of venue management offers the group
strong recurrence and guarantees of long-term visibility.
Moreover, this activity works in synergy with all the
other services offered by the group.
Already in Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Toulouse, Clermont-
Ferrand and Barcelona, Générale Location will pursue its
development in this activity and thus propose to its
clients a wider European offer.
Thanks to creation or renewal of concessions, venue
management should experience sustained growth.
3-3-5 Competitive environment
In France, the offer has become more structured and
professional.
Companies specialized in the activities of general installation
for exhibitions and rental of furniture have regrouped
themselves (in 2000 merger of part of the companies held by
the group Melrom with the company Créatif Exposition, a
company listed in the Second Marché of Paris Bourse since
the 7th of July 1998).
The main competitors identified by activity are the following :
Light and Sound : Broadcasting and image production :
● Groupe GTIE, ● LOCATEL, ● VPS,
● Entreprise Industrielle, ● UTRAM, ● LMA.
● Forclum.
● SOFT,
Venue Management :
● Unibail,
● Accor.
Furniture :
● Square,
● La Compagnie.
International :
● PICO (Asia),
● UNIPLAN (Germany),
● ICT GmbH (Germany),
● GES EXHIBIT GROUP (USA),
● DE BOER (Netherlands),
● VELDEMAN (Belgium),
● LOSBERGER (Germany),
● EVENSER (UK),
● NEPTUNUS (Netherlands),
● FREEMAN (USA),
● NOMURA (Japan),
● RODER (Germany)
3-3-6 Regulatory aspects
In France, Générale Location uses equipment and sets up
complex installations which are subject to strict
regulations dedicated to each type of activities of the
Group. These regulations demand that only officially
authorized material be used and that installations be in
compliance with the standards in force.
Furthermore, when installations are completed and
delivered to organizers of events, exhibitions and shows,
they must respect the regulations which relate to
installations meant to receive a public. This regulation
requires that a prior authorization granted by the safety
commission of the city or region concerned be obtained.
This commission verifies that standards are respected
both in relation with the site as well as with the
temporary installations and equipment.
In France, the regulation imposed on fairs and shows is
subject among others to the order of 11 September 1945,
a decree of 10 October 1969 modified by a decree dated
21 April 2000 and to the order of the Department of
Trade and Industry of 10 January 2001.
As a result the authorization and approval for all events
are mandatory : prior authorization given by the
regional town hall concerning all fairs and shows and
approval from the Secretary of State for Trade and
Industry for the acknowledgement of an economical or
international interest for all events.
The Secretary of State of Commerce with the help of the
Committee of Fairs and Shows, oversees all the requests
for authorization for commercial events, keeping in mind
the economic interest of such events on the national and
international levels.
Outside of France, Générale Location seeks the counsel
of independent offices to make sure that the material is
in compliance and to adjust its installations and
equipment if needed to fit the local standards and
regulations.