Early on it became obvious how seamlessly all partners worked together. The Bureau is the convener, but the legacy vision belongs to everyone: the region ensures infrastructure and accessibility, clusters offer scientific depth, venues provide the space for exchange, and social actors guarantee inclusivity.
As Corinne Menegaux, Managing Director of Paris je t’aime – Tourist Office, explained, “The Convention Bureau plays a major role in helping conferences create lasting, meaningful impact by aligning their programs with local innovation and legacy initiatives. We connect event organisers with key stakeholders, support the implementation of impactful projects, and encourage collective commitment through our Hospitality Manifesto.”
The Hospitality Manifesto is a city-wide pledge, spearheaded by Paris je t’aime – Office de Tourisme together with City Hall, tourism federations and professionals, to ensure that major events in Paris are hosted responsibly and sustainably. It focuses on training, a warm welcome, and a shared commitment to sustainability across the tourism industry, strengthening both the appeal of the destination and the positive impact on residents.
Science and Care as Anchors
The programme highlighted how Paris offers access to its research and care infrastructure. At Broussais Hospital, the Prim3D platform demonstrated how additive manufacturing is transforming medical training and practice across 38 hospitals. Anatomical models and simulators are being used to train specialists, reduce animal testing, and even provide evidence in sensitive court cases. The project marries cutting-edge science with pressing societal needs, creating valuable links for associations.
Equally impactful was the visit to the Maison de la Ligue contre le cancer (pictured left), a new supportive care space in a vulnerable neighbourhood that also forms part of the Olympic legacy zone. Its activities – from physiotherapy and art therapy to culinary workshops – bring patients, caregivers and researchers together. With an auditorium for oncologists and plans to double the 1,000 patients it already serves, it illustrates how healthcare congresses can leave behind visible, meaningful benefits for local communities. The venue was designed with respect to the patients that are cared for.
The city’s scientific ambition was further embodied at PariSanté Campus, a hub for digital health research in the 15th arrondissement. Menegaux gave the example of a recent sports science congress where the Bureau partnered with INSEP to host a city-wide race promoting active living, illustrating how associations can link their events directly to the city’s innovation hubs and wider societal goals.
Bringing together institutions such as Inserm, Inria, Université PSL and the Health Data Hub alongside start-ups, it combines laboratories, incubation spaces and training facilities in one place. The design encourages constant exchange between researchers and entrepreneurs, ensuring discoveries move quickly into practice. During the visit, what stood out was how the campus positions itself as the national reference point for digital health, concentrating expertise that until recently was dispersed across the region.
As Samira Bekhti, secrétaire générale de PariSanté Campus, explained, “The strongest legacy a conference can leave within our unique public-private ecosystem dedicated to innovating in healthcare lies in the high quality of the encounters and interactions it enables. Spontaneous exchanges, cross-disciplinary meetings and unexpected synergies often give rise to lasting collaborations.”
Eurostar for Business
Eurostar transported us to Paris for this programme, a reminder of the sustainable and convenient connections that make the city accessible for international delegates. For associations and organisers, Eurostar also offers dedicated conference fares. These allow event attendees and their companions to benefit from up to 15% off tickets, with flexibility to travel up to seven days before or after the conference. Organisers can manage bookings through a free online portal, ensuring smooth coordination for groups.
Find out more: Eurostar for Business – Conference Fares
Civic Policy & Evidence-Based Decisions
A morning at Hôtel de Ville shifted the focus from science to governance. In the gilded salons, filled with history, the city presented its strategy. With 3,000 research centres producing more than half of French scientific output, Paris is a true knowledge capital. It was fascinating to hear how political decisions increasingly rely on this scientific base, whether in environmental policies, student accommodation, or infrastructure. The Olympics left behind more than stadiums – they created opportunities for research, improved mobility, and opened new public spaces. Conferences are expected to align with this trajectory, reinforcing science, education, and sustainability.
Here, the CLEO impact calculator was presented as a crucial tool. Developed in partnership with Unimev and Choose Paris Region, CLEO goes beyond measuring carbon footprints. It allows organisers to assess three dimensions: environmental impact (from energy, transport, waste), economic benefits (direct and indirect spending in the region), and legacy (infrastructure, knowledge transfer, social impact). Results can be exported in different formats and used to engage with stakeholders.
Mobility as Legacy
No legacy strategy can ignore infrastructure. At La Fabrique du Métro (pictured right), participants explored the Grand Paris Express project, the largest in Europe, which will add 200 kilometres of automated metro lines and extend Line 14 to Orly Airport. Designed for full accessibility, the network will connect airports, campuses, peripheral districts and congress centres in ways previously impossible.
The project is meant to shorten travel times and integrate underserved neighbourhoods into the city’s economic and social life. For international conferences, this means new possibilities for venues and easier, greener mobility for delegates.
This infrastructure naturally strengthens established conference venues such as the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche Hotel & Conference Center, which combines over 750 rooms with one of the largest dedicated meeting facilities in the capital. By linking such hotels seamlessly to the expanded metro system, Paris is ensuring that large congresses remain both accessible and sustainable.
Throughout the two days, partners such as Viparis, Choose Paris Region and venue representatives showed how legacy ambitions are being translated into practice. The Convention Bureau is a strategic ally, helping associations align their goals with the city’s broader agenda. By situating a medical congress near a healthcare hub, or linking an educational society to student initiatives, Paris ensures that conferences leave a trace that is social, scientific and sustainable.
Get in touch with Paris je t’aime – Convention Bureau if you want your next event to leave a meaningful legacy.