Interview with Roland Buffet
The next Mondial Spa & Beauté will be held on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March 2011 at the Palais des Congrès in Paris. Roland Buffet, General Commissioner of the trade fair, draws the outlines of the sixth edition that will be "more spa than ever".
- Mr. Buffet, first of all, what conclusions did you draw from the 2010 edition of Mondial Spa & Beauté?
- Roland Buffet: It was important for us to demonstrate that the spa and beauty markets could transcend the challenges that the global economy had been faced with for the previous eighteen months. The show, in this sense, cheered up those who were in doubt. Of course, we did slightly reduced the overall exhibition space, but we had exactly 163 exhibitors and 13,044 visitors (these figures are certified by Expocert, an organization accredited by the Ministry of Commerce), that means that attendance was slightly higher. The efforts we made to draw professionals were in fact successful. Above all, we had excellent feedback: the exhibitors did well, and our customer satisfaction surveys show that visitors also drew the benefits they expected from their participation in the event. On top of that, we noted a degree of stability (in terms of number) and a relative renewal (in terms of origin) of our foreign visitors: for example, we had fewer Americans and Asians, but more Russians and Eastern Europeans.
- Are there things that you would like to upgrade for the 2011 edition in terms of organization?
- Yes, absolutely. The image of Mondial Spa & Beauté is very positive. Professionals appreciate both the professionalism and friendliness of the show, but we are not looking to rest on our laurels. Instead, we want to improve whatever can be improved, precisely by staying tuned to the market forces. We want to deserve the trust that has been placed in us, and contribute in a major way to the development of the spa and beauty industries. That requires quite specific things...
- For example?
- For starters, the trade fair will be expanded: it will have its optimal surface since all of it will be located on the first floor of the Palais des Congrès. In addition, access management will be upgraded, giving more fluidity to the aisles, and much more proximity between visitors and exhibitors. Thematic conferences will to a large extent be renewed in order to cover all of the concerns of spa professionals on the one hand, and aesthetics professionals on the other. The differentiation of areas of activity will also be better supported, with spaces that are better defined and more identifiable based on sector (spa, cosmetics, beauty care, aesthetics, material and equipment, nails and make-up).
- Will the "Journées de l’Ongle et du Maquillage" (Nails and Make-up Days) be back?
- Yes, the Nails and Make-up Days are a "fair within a fair" and was a great success since its launch at the 2010 Mondial Spa & Beauté, so it will be showcased again. Demand is strong and our know-how has already attracted a lot of people this year. We will more than double the area devoted to the Nails and Make-up Days, but in keeping with the motto that I stated previously, that is - to make sure to not mix the different sectors. A hall will be dedicated to nail, make-up, and eyelash extensions professional, and another, bigger one will be especially devoted to the major cosmetic brands and a third will be for materials and equipment. However, I want the effort to be placed on our hall dedicated to the spa more than ever.
- What do you mean? Will the hall dedicated to the spa be expanded?
- It will be more spotlighted above all. The Mondial Spa & Beauté aims to be a real catalyst for the spa market, even more so given the urgent need in France. Spa professionals turn to us for support because they strongly feel the need for a major event that's devoted to their sector, similar to what's being done in other major countries. We have to meet this expectation.
- How you go about that?
- First, we want to work on both the issues concerning city spas and that of hotel spas. This means that very specific round tables and conferences will be dedicated to these issues. We want the hotels, and in particular upscale ones, to be more numerous in understanding the current issues in the spa market. Our different speakers and the exhibitors at the Mondial Spa & Beauté can help them understand as well. We will also work on the identity of our space dedicated to the spa. In using decor, ambience, lights, and olfactory design, we try to strive towards creating a world that encourages discovery, exchanges, and discussions that makes it possible to harmoniously mix business and pleasure, in addition to be able to work in pleasant conditions… In this sense, the Mondial Spa & Beauté 2011 wants to be "more spa than ever".
Conference programmes, list of exhibitors, registration requirements for visitors to the Mondial Spa & Beauté trade fair, practical information: www.msbparis.com
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