Building business in France

RX France is the name behind some of the biggest international markets serving the world of entertainment, property, yachting, interior decor, construction, the environment, and more. We were formed in 2021 from the merger of Reed Midem and Reed Expositions France, and with CEO, Michel Filzi at the helm, we’re a combined force to be reckoned with! Read on to find out how our face to face events and digital platforms are accelerating growth, driving innovation, reducing waste, championing inclusion, and adding more value than ever for our customers.

A strong start to the year

2023 was a bumper year for business building at RX France as many events returned to pre-pandemic levels of participation. And 2024 is on course to be even busier!

A freezing cold start to the year couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of participants at the 30^th anniversary edition of Maison&Objet* our international interior décor fair in Paris – in fact the snow added a touch of magic! Among the 70,000 buyers and specifiers attending were big delegations from the US, Asia, Japan, India and China. They came to discover the latest collections and curated displays from 2,516 leading brands, designers and trend setters, with a focus on ‘What’s New’ in interior décor, hospitality and retail. The event returns to Paris in September where the anniversary celebrations and connections continue as part of Paris Design Week.

MIPIM, the global urban festival, brought investors, civic leaders, and real estate professionals together in Cannes in March for four days of game-changing insights, innovation, and collaboration, focused on the built environment. Officially opened by former Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, the international property market attracted over 20,000 delegates from 90 countries, including investors managing over €4 trillion of assets.

Meanwhile, Sandwich & Snack Show and Parizza 2024 enjoyed a record-breaking turnout with super positive feedback from exhibitors, visitors and food experts. More than 13,600 restaurant and food service professionals attended the Paris events over two days (up 26% on 2023), where they discovered the latest fast food and Italian restaurant trends from 350 exhibitors. Next year the show moves halls at the Porte de Versailles, increasing capacity by 30% to accommodate exhibitors on the waiting list and exciting new content.

Dynamic events, new horizons

Successful trade shows don’t remain static. They adapt and grow with their markets. It’s our job at RX to show our customers what the future looks like – and where we see a critical gap, to fill it.

Advances in AI have been dazzling in recent years and it is vital for RX, our markets, and our customers, to stay up to date. Last year, RX France became a big player in the Big Data arena, when RX acquired Big Data & AI Paris and World AI Cannes Festival (organised on behalf of the City of Cannes). Both events join  Big Data LDN and the inaugural Data Universe, New York City, in our fast growing big data and AI event portfolio.

Climate change, pollution and bio-diversity erosion wait for no one. Which is why we are augmenting Pollutec, Lyon, our leading international solutions show for industry, cities and regions, with a new biennial Paris edition. With its accessible location, and compact two day format, Pollutec Paris 2024 will accelerate global discussion and innovation, and provide a more regular opportunity for all environmental stakeholders to meet, network, and keep up to speed with regulatory changes and new developments.

In April 2024 we bid farewell to MIPTV Cannes after six remarkable decades of content showcasing, networking and deal facilitation. Building on its success, and in direct response to changing market trends and demands, we announced the launch of MIP LONDON in the heart of London’s West End, to meet the thirst for a global content market in the first half of the year. Taking place from 24-27 February 2025 at the iconic Savoy Hotel, with a pre-opening on Sunday 23 February, MIP LONDON will run simultaneously with the 2025 London TV Screenings, providing complimentary opportunities for international distributors, studios, and buyers to engage.

Transformative digital event tools

Technology is transforming the way we generate business at RX, and RX France’s customers are reaping the benefits.

We are supercharging our face to face events with Business Builder, an impressive suite of digital tools that capture, manage and boost sales leads, and provide exhibitors with unique data insights to improve their event performance and ROI.

RX France is at the forefront of rolling out RX’s proprietary global registration system which makes it as easy as possible for our customers to register for, enter, and do business at our events. 90% of our events in France now have access to its intuitive, mobile-friendly forms, print-at-home badges, and QR Code recognition for swift on-site entry and lead capture, with more events to follow this year.

For selected events, such as Maison&Objet, our bi-annual exhibition dedicated to the world of decoration, we have developed digital communities to complement our face to face events, allowing products to be bought and sold 365 days a year. Today, MOM (Maison&Objet and More) boasts 6,196 brands, 480,000 international members, 300,000 European buyers and 3 million visits per year.

Reducing our environmental impact

RX is a signatory of the Net Zero Carbon Events pledge, and the Climate Pledge which commits us to reach net zero no later than 2040. In line with the RX Roadmap to Net Zero, RX France is committed to making our events more sustainable, and to using our event platforms to engage and influence the industries we serve.

Waste reduction is a priority. In 2023, MIPIM reduced its waste by 32% compared to 2022, despite an increase in the number of visitors, and we aim to continue this reduction by some 10% each year. At Pollutec 2023, we took the bold decision to eliminate carpets from all stands and aisles, amongst many other new initiatives. By working in partnership with three waste management stakeholders, and creatively educating and engaging exhibitors in more sustainable practices, we reduced the total amount of waste generated by 9% compared to the previous edition, despite the event being 25% bigger. At the Sandwich & Snack Show and Parizza in 2024, 0.8 tonnes of biowaste and 80 litres of used oil were collected for composting or recycling.

Looking to the future, and leading by example, we were also excited to launch RENODAYS (12-13 September 2023, Paris), the first RX France show conceived and designed to be a fully eco-responsible event. By eliminating carpets, specifying eco-responsible stand building materials, and introducing responsible waste management, we limited waste to just 4.6 tons, of which 2.9 tons was recycled, equating to a recovery rate of 63%. For the 2025 edition, our recycling target is 80%!

Supporting inclusion and diversity

At RX France, we are proud to be part of an organisation with an authentic culture of inclusion and belonging in which ‘Everyone Belongs.’

Across our event communities, we are working hard to promote and defend diversity and inclusion in all its forms. For example, The Elles x Paris Photo programme, initiated at Paris Photo in 2018, has helped the representation of women photographers at the fair to increase from 20% to 36% in five years. Now in their 7^th edition, the MIPCOM Diversify TV Excellence Awards amplify and honour the most compelling creators, characters and stories promoting diversity and inclusion on all screens.

At RX France, our Women Connected Employee Resource Group (ERG) brings together men and women for conversation, education and networking, to help maximise the potential of RX women. We are also a signatory of the StOpE initiative to combat everyday sexism at work. As a first step, every member of our leadership team will undergo training in harassment and gender-based behaviour. And we are excited to help promote the place of women in events through our support of the "French Chapter of Women In Exhibitions" and “Femmes des événements” (Women in Events) network.

Earlier this year RX France also began a funding partnership with Rev’Elles, as part of RX’s five year, $1 million commitment to support non-profit partners around the world who are working to improve inclusivity and diversity in their local communities. RX funding is enabling 180 of France’s most disadvantaged and ethnically diverse young women of 14 and 20 to benefit from Rev’Elles flagship ‘RVL Your Potential’ mentoring programme in 2024.

With 30 industry-leading events across 15 business sectors in France, Hong Kong, Mexico and Italy, RX France is building business for customers from all over the world.

For the latest news on our upcoming events, visit our website.

*Organised by SAFI, a subsidiary of RX France and Ateliers d’Art de France.