At the helm of Grand Pavois Organisation since 1992, Christophe Vieux has handed over the reins of the association that organizes the La Rochelle boat show to Anaïs Lheureux. The new General Commissioner of the Grand Pavois explains to BoatIndustry the conditions of her arrival, her plans for the event in La Rochelle and the association, and her vision of the nautical event industry.
How did you come to take on the role of General Commissioner of the Grand Pavois and what is your role in this position?
The General Commissioner is in fact the Managing Director of Grand Pavois Organisation, and is responsible for management and strategy, working closely with the association's President, Alain Pochon.
I joined GPO 5 and a half years ago. I was in charge of partnerships and public relations. In this role, I already had a lot of contact with institutional partners in particular. When Christophe announced his intention to retire, I was interested in taking over from him, and these links were already useful. There's a long-term handover, and Christophe provides support as he takes over.
How do you take over from someone who has spent more than 30 years in this position? What changes would you like to make?
There's no desire for revolution. The show and the association are working well. Obviously, there's a generation difference, and probably a different management and operational approach, but there will be continuity. Christophe has worked hard to ensure diversity in the Grand Pavois, and he initiated the themed areas. These are things I want to keep.
I think it's important to get people out on the water again, with equipment trials. That's what we want to initiate with the Grand Pavois Beach. Light sailing is the beginning of sailing. We want to revitalize the beach, now Grand Pavois Beach, as we did with Grand Pavois Fishing. By shortening the duration of Grand Pavois Beach, the space will always be alive, with something going on: trials, conferences, concerts.
The eco-responsible area is increasingly popular. It will be visible from the entrance to the show. I also want to instill a stronger CSR approach within GPO.
Grand Pavois Fishing goes one step further, with this year's Live Day featuring on-board cameras. There will also be a multihull area afloat.
It's important to continue to be a key event, the last international show of the year in France. We'll be continuing to develop our communications with customers in Brittany and Paris. We have also set up a sales tour to meet exhibitors.
How do you see the boat show industry evolving? How should we position ourselves in relation to private brand events?
Being an association allows us to offer aggressive pricing conditions. That's important and sets us apart. I see trade shows as a tool for promoting the profession and developing practice. We need to showcase new products to encourage people to practice.
Outdoor trade shows are a good tool for this. It allows you to see the whole sector at once, which is not the case with private shows. Today, I think it's important to provide visitors with an experience, something they don't get in a concession. Visitors will find conferences and themes such as long-distance travel that will win over new enthusiasts.
What role does Grand Pavois Organisation play in the international arena?
Projects like those in China and Brazil are sources of diversification. It's a way of maintaining our expertise in events, and in boating more generally. It's also the case for organizing events such as races and rallies. You have to know what's going on, and keep abreast of the boating industry and its dynamics around the world.
