Le Palais des Festivals has become the first mission company among convention centers

Le Palais des Festivals, the 1st major convention center to opt for the status of “company with a mission”, deploys its raison d’être “Welcoming the world sustainably” around three objectives: Connect, Care, Reveal.

Published on 19 December 2022

Our goal

A lasting welcome to the world

On November 28, at the city council meeting, the Mairie approved the adoption of the status of “société à mission” for its Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, ratified by the SEMEC Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on December 12, 2022. This is in line with the framework of the 2019 Pacte law (Action Plan for the Growth and Transformation of Companies), which introduces the status of “mission-driven company” enabling a company to formalize its raison d’être and define its social and environmental objectives.

This is a major challenge for sustainable competitiveness. Le Palais des Festivals is the first convention center to become a “société à mission”.

The raison d’être of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès has been thought through with all employees and stakeholders of the destination Cannes during multiple workshops conducted from 2021. Its definition has been the subject of in-depth reflection by the company on its identity and the stakes involved in its actions. It aims to unite all Palais teams around a common, responsible and committed project: “The (he)art of sustainable hospitality”. A raison d’être broken down into three major objectives: “Connect“, “Take care” and “Reveal“.

David Lisnard

“Faced with the climate emergency and the importance of environmental challenges, the time is for action. The commitment of Cannes and its Palais des Festivals must be total. By becoming a “Palais à mission“, our flagship of Cannes’ tourism and events economy confirms its determination to work for a sustainable and responsible events business. I congratulate the SEMEC team, whose approach is in line with the actions implemented by the Mairie de Cannes in favor of environmental preservation, notably through massive investment in clean energies such as green hydrogen, biomass or solar […] in order to achieve our zero-carbon plan by 2050.”

Mayor of Cannes

Because in the face of climate emergencies, health crises and an ever-changing world, we believe it is vital to question our practices, our responsibility and the meaning we give to our professions.
Because at a time when global crises are driving us further apart, we are convinced that it is essential to preserve authentic, human contacts in a spirit of solidarity and to take advantage of new technologies to bring us closer together.
Because our history and the iconic status of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in the heart of Cannes force us to be ever more exemplary.
We sustainably welcome the world to the heart of our “global village”, our territory, our savoir-être and our savoir-faire.

We have chosen to affirm our commitment to the future and to all our stakeholders through three pillars, which form the foundation of our raison d’être: connecting #CANNES, caring for &CANNES and revealing αCANNES.

ISO 20121 certification

for le Palais des Festivals

Today, the Palais des Festivals holds ISO 20121 certification, an international standard for sustainable event management.

To pursue its commitment and fulfill its mission, le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes has already announced concrete objectives:

Launching and sustaining new international trade shows and festivals by promoting eco-design and responsible, sustainable operation.
Strongly reduce its environmental impact: manage waste sustainably, reduce energy consumption with, in particular, the use of 100% green electricity from 2023, measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions…
Train all staff in QSE – SD (quality safety environment – sustainable development)
Support associations and other local players in favor of the environment, including the Fondation Cannes and the PRIME project (*)
Use its media to publicize the talents and innovations revealed in the many annual events to professional and leisure audiences linked to the Cannes brand.

(*) The PRIME project (Posidonia Restoration Initiative for a resilient Mediterranean Ecosystem) supported by the Cannes Endowment Fund and the Cannes Foundation, is a project signed by NaturDive and BlueLeaf Conservation. It involves setting up environmental awareness and education initiatives, as well as deploying a monitoring tool to protect the seabed and restore Posidonia meadows.

Jean-Michel Arnaud

“As the city’s economic lung, le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès is affirming its social and environmental commitment by becoming a Palais à mission. In the heart of Cannes, we welcome the world for good! We connect people from all horizons in our “global village”, we take care of each other and the environment, we reveal talents from all over the world. “Sustainably welcoming the world” is more than ever the mission of the teams and partners of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes.”

President of le Palais des Festivals et des Congrès de Cannes

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