An event that holds up
The boat show in La Rochelle will have lieu?! The organisation has confirmed the dates - the Grand Pavois will be held from Tuesday 29th September to Sunday 4th October 2020 - following its board meeting on 17th June 2020.
"The fact that the Grand Pavois La Rochelle is very late this year (editor's note: it will take place from Tuesday 29 September to Sunday 4 October) is clearly an advantage over many other events. Finally, I would like to remind you that we are an outdoor event with 60?000 square metres of exhibition space on land and 100?000 square metres with space afloat. We would have been an indoor event, the problem would have been totally different. As for its format, it remains over 6 days, from Tuesday to Sunday, with unchanged opening hours, from 10 am to 7 pm" details Alain Pochon, President of Grand Pavois Organisation.
Health measures to be defined
If the dates are confirmed, the organization of the exhibition is still unclear. Indeed, for the moment, the government has not specified the sanitary measures imposed on events bringing together more than 5?000 people from the start of the new school year.
Direction of traffic imposé?? Measurements from distanciation?? Wearing of the mask obligatoire?? Disinfection of stands and products after the passage of visiteurs?? " We don't know more yet. We are waiting "explains Pierrick Garenne, Deputy Director and Head of Communications. However, the organization has already worked on a protocol that will have to be adapted to the evolution of the health crisis.
An exhibition that adapts to the regulations
If the schedule remains unchanged, the show may be a little different, as Alain Pochon explains: "The Grand Pavois La Rochelle is a flagship event in the calendar of international boat shows afloat. We want it to stay that way and will do our utmost to ensure that it takes place in the best possible conditions. It will perhaps be a little different from previous editions with fewer events for the general public, but it must remain a major meeting place for yachting professionals and enthusiasts who come to discover the innovations of tomorrow, re-equip their boats, discover new practices ... This year we will focus on eco-responsibility, the right behaviour, the products of tomorrow, the presentation of a port of the future ... Thinking about tomorrow is today the responsibility of all and the Grand Pavois wishes to raise awareness among its public at cela?!"
Probably fewer exhibitors
In spite of the respect of the imposed sanitary instructions, the organization expects a decrease in the number of visitors but also in the number of exhibitors. " We will see a drop of around 20 to 30% due to the Covid-19 crisis and especially to the economic consequences it has had. In any case, it should be a fine edition, as our event is eagerly awaited by the profession and many new boats and equipment have already been announced. It should be remembered that all the spring boat shows have been cancelled and yachting professionals must show their know-how, their products and their new products", concludes Alain Pochon.
For the moment, Pierrick Garenne assures us that he has not received any cancellations from exhibitors. "We have guaranteed the reimbursement of the down payments made by the professionals in the event that the show is cancelled due to Covid-19. I think that has reassured them, and so far we have no cancellations."
