As someone who has been visiting MIPIM for well over a decade, variously as registered and unregistered, visitor and exhibitor, having driven there a few times, including via Vienna, flown to Marseille and various other means including the train – a few tips to ensure you survive and prosper from the experience.
Note: The following opinions are those of the author and in no way reflect those of anyone he has ever worked for or with, and are certainly not those in any way of the MIPIM organisers Reed Midem. i.e. they are free!
- Pace yourself, it’s a marathon not a sprint – it is not remotely normal in a working day to kick off with champagne breakfasts followed by mid morning aperitifs, wine at lunchtime, mid afternoon cocktails, early evening beers, champagne reception, supper with wine, and then wind down beers with your new best friends (well not outside of the nationalised banks anyway), – keep your H2O levels up, you are not questioning your masculinity by swapping grape or grain for some water!
- Business Card Recycling – rather than just throwing away the cards of people you have been polite enough to accept, but have no interest or reason in contacting again – simply keep the less interesting ones in a different pocket and give them out to others who you don’t want to hear from in future, and statistically speaking you might just join two lucky organisations together!
- Mini Kit – Alka Seltzer, Nurofen, Dioralyte, Berroca, Sun Block, Phone Charger, Continental Plug Adaptor, Chewing Gum, Extra Business Cards.
- Sensible Shoes – unless you wish to develop “cankles”, wear something comfortable. Apart from wandering around the bunker looking impressed and getting lost, you will be standing at various events throughout the day, walking the length of the Croisette at least twice a day having held the beautiful printed invitation to the party upside down and been given completely false directions by a local. Add to that standing outside Café Roma looking interested and interesting, and then finding your way back to where you reside eventually.
- Pack a small folding umbrella in your hold luggage – it does occasionally rain in Cannes and golf umbrellas have sharp tips and are considered dangerous weapons by customs officials!
- Avoid bringing tablets or laptops to do presentations on – you might think you look cool carrying the latest tool from Apple etc, but you are unlikely to use it. The low lying winter/early spring sun will mean viewing is impossible, anyway you might mislay it and then there will be only one tool!
- Casual Clothes – unless you have your own yacht or are arriving early / staying after, you will never wear them as all events are business attire, this also goes for swimwear!
- Language – although the waiters speak better English than many of the attendees from Britain, this is not always true of other staff such as taxi drivers, so make sure you know where you are staying. Be prepared with a few French phrases and remember as an ambassador for the UK to say “merci”
- Restaurants – just a short walk away from the Palais or the Croisette lie many little gems of coffee bars, restaurants and cafes, at a fraction of the cost of their expensive near neighbours. They also tend to be quieter for a business chat, remember you are often only paying for a view.
- Avoid the queues – arrive early, stay after. If you haven’t booked your flights yet, why not invite a loved one for a romantic weekend break, before or afterwards? Nip up to Isola 2000 for a spot of skiing it’s only about an hour and a half away, and car rental is very cheap. Driving a Renault Twingo up the switchback roads is very Top Gear plus the airport is on the way back. You can also nip over to Antibes and dine in one of the many wonderful eateries including Le Brulot, where you can have anything you want as long as it is duck breast cooked to perfection in the old baker’s oven.
In fact, rather than taking a cramped and extortionate flight on sleazy jet this year, I may drive – Anyone fancy car sharing?
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