Snowy Symposia for 1200 - Paris

Eclipse recently completed one of its more complex events for a pharmaceutical client who opted to run to two back to back symposia in Paris this March.

The venue for the two-day event was the Espace Grande Arche at La Defense. This flexible and purpose-built meeting space was transformed into an auditorium for 1200 attendees and was also able to offer a sit-down 3-course lunch on both days.

The client could have chosen several venues in Paris, but they felt this worked best as it was slightly out of the city centre and meant they could contain all attendees in one venue, without losing them to some of the capitals other attractions!

Over 1200 doctors and regional staff from 30 different countries worldwide attended for two days during some of the worst weather the city has seen in recent times.

Hostesses were on standby at both Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and worked until the wee small hours to welcome each and every delegate, most of whom were re-routed or delayed. At times like this, it pays to have a reliable and flexible transfer company!

Not fazed by airport closures, traffic jams, potential strikes and icy roads, Eclipse hospitality staff welcomed the delegates with a warm smile at the four conference hotels; the Le Meridien Etoile, the Concorde La Fayette, the Hilton Arc de Triomphe and the Sheraton Prince de Galles (designated VIP hotel).

Upon check-in delegates received their event pass (badge and agenda in one) and conference pack as well as their room key and departure information. Plasma screens in the hospitality area also relayed general event information, keeping them up to speed with the event programme.

Each day delegates were bussed to and from their hotels to the symposium venue and in the afternoon, they enjoyed a panoramic tour of the city.

Special arrangements for tours, lunches and dinners were co-ordinated by Eclipse for the different regional subsidiaries in addition to the event programme. A variety of different excursions including private tours of the Jacquemart-Andre Museum, walking tours of Montmartre and day trips to Fontainbleau, were a great success, despite temperatures of -1.

A whole host of different restaurants were used across the city for lunches and dinners including Le Coupe Chou near the Sorbonne, Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower and La Taverne.

All registrations, dinners and excursions were booked via a specially-designed website for the event which also provided subsidiaries with on-line reporting features.


Whilst the weather threw up some unexpected challenges, the client was over the moon with the feedback received from the participants and as ever, Paris was a resounding success.