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Monaco’s biggest events centre looks ahead to 2023

by: Cassandra Tanti
12/01/2023

In revealing the results of a year still marked by Covid, the Grimaldi Forum’s General Director Sylvie Biancheri has presented an exciting schedule of events for Monaco’s largest culture and congress centre in 2023.

In front of 500 guests gathered for the annual Galette des Rois celebration in the entrance hall of the Grimaldi Forum Monaco on Tuesday evening, General Director Sylvie Biancheri presented the results of a “good, but not great” 2022 year, which was still notably impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The culture and congress centre hosted more than 100 events, compared to 82 in 2021, and noted the return of international clients and visitors. Some of its best performing events were Luxe Pack, which drew 9,500 visitors, an increase of 9% on the exceptional year of 2019, while Les Assises saw 3,000 participants and 9,400 B2B meetings.

According to Grimaldi Forum Chairman Henri Fissore, “2022 was overall very satisfactory and 2023 looks to be heading in the same direction, although we are never safe from a relapse,” he cautioned.

To return to the GF’s most successful years of 2018-2019, the Grimaldi Forum is aiming to reach 120 events this year. “We are not sure we will get there, but we’re working hard on it,” said Sylvie Biancheri. “Remote conferences will never replace face-to-face events.”

The main congresses this year include MAGIC in February, the Salon du Livre in April, Top Marques in June and the Festival de Television de Monte-Carlo also in June.

Humour features heavily on the GF’s 2023 schedule, with many French comedians taking to the stage, including Paul Mirabel who is first up this week with his sold-out performance. Others include Olivier de Benoist, Jérémy Ferrari, Baptiste Lecaplain, and Roman Frayssinet.

Thursday Live Sessions will continue with live music performances as well as a show by French singer Véronique Poupaud.

But the highlight of the year is the summer exhibition, which in 2023 is titled ‘Monet: In Full Light’. After the very unique Christian Louboutin: L’exhibition(iste) in 2022 featuring the extraordinary designs and wild imagination of the famous shoe designer Christian Louboutin, ‘Monet: In Full Light’ marks a return to the Masters for the Grimaldi Forum.

In looking ahead at the exciting expansion of the Grimaldi Forum as part of the new Maraterra district, Sylvie Biancheri also revealed that the marketing of the Grimaldi Forum’s new spaces has begun, for events to commence in 2025. The extpansion, mostly underground, is part of the new Mareterra district under development and will add an extra 50% exhibition space, equivalent to 6,000 sqm, which guests on Tuesday evening were able to experience in 3D.

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SEE ALSO:

CMB RENEWS GRIMALDI FORUM SPONSORSHIP, PAVING WAY FOR ‘MONET IN FULL LIGHT’ EXHIBITION

Photo credit: C Vinaj for the Grimaldi Forum

 

310 homes to hit the rental market, easing Monaco’s housing shortage

by: Stephanie Horsman
12/01/2023

A record 310 new properties will become available this month, with Monaco working hard to fulfil a mandate set out in 2019 by Prince Albert II to provide 1,500 new homes by the mid-2030s.  

Ahead of Monaco’s elections on 5th February, National Council President Brigitte Boccone-Pagès and her Union List party are doling out good news to the populace to try and secure their continued place on the national stage.   

To do so, they have been holding a series of meetings with Monegasques to listen and to refine their agenda, as well as to speak about the accomplishments being made under this regime. On Monday, Boccone-Pagès was able to announce one such success, notably the allocation of 310 new state housing flats that will be ready to rent out by the end of the month.  

State housing has been “the priority of priorities” for the National Council’s leadership since the days of former president Stephane Valeri, so this victory is not insignificant.   

Franck Lobono, the president of the Housing Commission and a candidate in the next election, expounded on the situation, saying, “State housing will soon exceed 3,700 apartments [in total], after the deliveries of the Testimonio II tower, the Honoria Palace and the Ida. Our record is historic. At the Commission on 25th January, 310 housing units will be allocated: a record! This mandate will have succeeded in putting an end to the shortage.”  

The option of living in state housing is one of the perks of being Monegasque. The government subsidises up to 50% of rent for citizens and intervenes in other areas when needed. But in recent years, demand has outstripped supply, spurring the government and elected officials to come up with solutions, namely building huge numbers of new flats.  

While this new crop of apartments is welcome news, there are still some worries about delivering what has been promised.  

“The two Bel Air and Les Lierres/Nathalie projects have had a lot of delays,” Lobono explained. “It takes between three and four years to build a building. We can therefore predict that they will not be delivered before 2026. My hopes lie in the idea that the recoveries obtained following the allocations of 2023 and 2024 will make it possible to satisfy part of the future requests in 2025.” 

For now, though, there will be 310 happy families who will soon be in a new place to call home.  

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

Strength in numbers at AS Monaco

by: Luke Entwistle
12/01/2023

AS Monaco’s abrupt Coupe de France run may have the unintentional consequence of thinning the club’s schedule, but Philippe Clement is still hoping to retain depth within his squad.

While the opening of the transfer window entails the diffusion of a myriad of rumours about impending departures, Clement seems uncompromising in his desire to not lose further players. Benoît Badiashile has already left the Principality club to join Chelsea for a fee of around €40m, and Jean Lucas, who has struggled for game-time this season, has also been linked with a move.

Asked about the Brazilian’s future by Monaco Life, Clement said, ” Some players could interest certain clubs, but the transfer window is short and so it’s difficult to talk about.”

The fear of losing a player, without having the capacity to replace them clearly weighs on Clement’s mind.

Photo of Jean Lucas by Monaco Life

The Belgian manager later admitted that Lucas may not make the group for Wednesday’s match against FC Lorient “because there are lots of players in midfield”. However, it is a problem that Clement likes to have. One of his most frequently expressed maxims is that “everyone is in the story”, and given that the former Club Brugge manager is renowned for his player management, it is clear that he has no issue in dealing with a large squad. Judging by his latest comments, it may even be his preference.

Clement also gave reasons for optimism for Monaco’s bit-part midfielders. Youssouf Fofana and Mohamed Camara have looked displaceable in the pivot, while Soungoutou Magassa, Lucas, Eliot Matazo have all started in the heart of the Monaco team, but have struggled to consistently earn minutes.

Monday’s comments allude to the fact that Clement is still experimenting, still tinkering, to find the right formula.

“It is about finding a balance [in midfield]. It is different this year compared to the last and what we had with Aurélien [Tchouaméni] who could attack and defend at almost the same time, and who was also the best ball-recoverer in the division. Mo[hamed Camara] does lots of good things, but he is a different profile. Sometimes we need another player in the midfield to keep our balance,” said Clement.

Photo of Soungoutou Magassa by Monaco Life

While Eliesse Ben Seghir has been the main benefactor of these alterations to the midfield, there equally exists an opportunity for all of those in that area of the pitch that can bring a different balance. Should Monaco fail to find consistency in performance, those opportunities will only multiply. It will be up to the players to take the chance when it comes, as Magassa did against Rodez, despite the defeat.

Clement is equally keen to retain his options in the offensive areas. Due to a combination of injuries and a quick adaptation on the part of Breel Embolo, Mryon Boadu has been restricted to just two Ligue 1 appearances this campaign.

The Dutch striker struggled in his debut season, but built up momentum towards the end of the campaign. A foot injury hampered his start to this season, and despite making a scoring return to the side, niggles have repeatedly forced him onto the sidelines since, with only a handful of minutes accrued.

However, Clement is, for now, unwilling to let Boadu leave on loan.

“For the time being we aren’t speaking about [a loan]. It is one of the positions where there is the biggest competition (Wissam Ben Yedder, Kevin Volland, Breel Embolo), but Myron has been able to train normally these past weeks and it is up to him to push. There are lots of matches to come,” he said.

While Monaco are out of the Coupe de France, they are still less than halfway through the Ligue 1 season, and still have a two-legged Europa League tie in February. In this World Cup-compressed season, squad players will have a bigger role to play than ever, and how they respond when called upon could be pivotal. This facet of what is an unprecedented season is clearly not lost on Clement, who is determined to retain as many options at his disposal.

 

Photo by Monaco Life

 

 

 

SNCF to phase out paper tickets

by: Elsa Carpenter
11/01/2023
train nice ter

Digitalisation is the mot du jour at the moment, and even France’s national rail service, the SNCF, is getting on board, with a plan to retire a vast number of their ubiquitous yellow ticketing machines.

The days of the hole punched or stamped train ticket are coming to end.

Last week, an SNCF spokesperson spoke to BFMTV about the group’s plans to, by the end of 2023, decommission at least 3,000 ticketing machines, citing the maintenance burdens and associated costs of the aging boxes. Couple that with a significant drop in the purchase of paper tickets and the days of the old-fashioned kiosks are now numbered.

“More than 99% of TGV and Intercité train tickets are now digital. On the TER (regional train services), only 4% of tickets still need to be stamped,” SNCF told the channel.

There will be a removal of 2,468 machines at TER stations and 725 for TGV and Intercité trains. In addition, the rail company will start the phase out of paper tickets altogether.

This does not mean paper tickets are not welcome, however. The new scheme only affects passengers with tickets that need to be stamped. Those who purchase digital tickets and wish to print them out and use them will be able to do so. For the remaining few customers who still want to buy the paper tickets and those who do not have access to e-tickets, these passengers will still be able to continue do as they always have, though they will now have to present their tickets to the conductor for validation when entering the train.

The company’s new policy is in line with France’s overall shift to more ecological ways of doing business. They are not alone in making this kind of move. The Paris Metro began their move to digital in October 2022, with the end of the sale of 10-ticket booklets.

SNCF will be informing the public of the changes by putting informational posters on the kiosks, starting this month, to try and eliminate as much confusion as possible.

 

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Photo by Monaco Life

CMB renews Grimaldi Forum sponsorship, paving way for ‘Monet in Full Light’ exhibition

by: Cassandra Tanti
11/01/2023

CMB Monaco has renewed for the 19th year as principal sponsor of the Grimaldi Forum, guaranteeing another 12 months of world-class cultural events including the highly anticipated summer exhibition and a new Social Responsibility pilot project.

The sponsorship agreement was signed during a special ceremony on Tuesday 10th January by CMB Monaco Chairman Etienne Franzi and CEO Francesco Grosoli, together with Grimaldi Forum Chairman Henri Fissore and Managing Director Sylvie Biancheri. The agreement covers the Grimaldi Forum’s cultural program in the Principality as well as all its business tourism activities, and marks the 19thpartnership between the two entities.

“This commitment to the Grimaldi Forum, which dates back to 2005, symbolises the confidence we have in this company and our desire to promote culture in the Principality and beyond,” said Etienne Franzi.

Primarily, the sponsorship allows for the Grimaldi Forum’s major summer exhibition, which this year is titled ‘Monet in Full Light’ (Monet en Pleine Lumière), marking the 140th anniversary of Claude Monet’s first stopover in Monaco and the Riviera. It will feature works of the local landscape, some from private collections never before seen by the public.

CMB Monaco and the Grimaldi Forum have also joined forces to promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) values, announcing the launch of a joint pilot project for 2023 for the benefit of the association Les Enfants de Frankie. Led by CMB Monaco and Les Enfants de Frankie, groups of underprivileged children will be invited this summer to discover the Grimaldi Forum’s major exhibition through guided tours and a special welcome.

In its commitment to CSR, CMB Monaco follows a program called ToDEI, which encourages diversity, equity and inclusion, and fights against discrimination in remuneration and career development. Recently certified by the global quality control body SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance), CMB Monaco, which has 51% female employees, has obtained the Fair On Pay certificate, which distinguishes the private bank as a fair employer and underlines its sustainable commitment to equal pay. As Francesco Grosoli explained, “the banking industry has two main elements: technological capital on the one hand, but also and above all human capital”.

Galette des Rois at the Grimaldi Forum, photo by Monaco Life

Following the official signing, the Grimaldi Forum hosted its annual Galette des Rois celebration in the entrance hall, the first time in two-years, welcoming partners and guests to enjoy this traditional dessert with champagne. It was accompanied by a presentation on the GF’s schedule of events for the year ahead, its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals and a presentation on the future expansion of the Grimaldi Forum, which guests could experience for the first time in 3D.

The Grimaldi Forum’s CSR goals for 2023 include the achievement of further ISO certifications, to realise its pilot project for the eco-design of major summer exhibitions, to encourage remote work one day a week for employees whose functions allow it, and encourage one day of work time per employee who wishes to support a local association that benefits the community.

Monaco Life Editor in Chief Cassandra Tanti trying the 3D tour of the Grimaldi Forum extension, photo credit JC Vinaj for the Grimaldi Forum

The 3D tour of the new Grimaldi Forum extensions was well received by guests. The technology allows a person to position themselves within the new exhibition and outdoor spaces, which will increase the size of Monaco’s main exhibition centre by 50% and allow the Grimaldi Forum to cater to a much larger audience, host a greater number of events simultaneously, and facilitate more original and creative events.

The 3D technology was first presented at the recent IBTM business travel expo in Barcelona. It is now being taken to various cities across the globe to show potential exhibitors what the Grimaldi Forum has to offer, without having to step a foot in the Principality.

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Photo above: CMB Monaco CEO Francesco Grosoli and Chairman Etienne Franzi, with Grimaldi Forum Chairman Henri Fissore and Managing Director Sylvie Biancheri. Credit: JC Vinaj for the Grimaldi Forum

 

 

Artcurial’s winter events bring sparkle to the season

by: Stephanie Horsman
11/01/2023

Prestige auction house Artcurial will be hosting four events in January, featuring watches, jewellery and high-end handbags from the likes of Hermès, Patek Philippe and Bulgari.

A bit of retail therapy is just the thing for the winter blues, and with the upcoming Artcurial auctions at the Hôtel Hermitage, even the pickiest of consumers are bound to find temptations that can’t be resisted.

On 16th and 17th January, fine jewellery goes under the gavel. Auctioneer Stephane Aubert will be offering up a selection of beautiful pieces, including a 3-carat Art Deco ruby ring set in platinum with diamonds valued at €45,000 to €55,000, a pair of stunning emerald and diamond drop earrings estimated to go for between €25,000 and €35,000, and an Egyptian-inspired diamond, sapphire, antique coin and 18-carat white gold necklace by Bulgari with an expected sale price of €25,000 to €30,000.

On 16th and 18th, elegant timepieces for both men and women will also be up for grabs. The 16th is all about the boys, with an 18-carat rose gold Patek Philippe from the early 1960s that is anticipated to go for between €40,000 and €80,000, and a 1984 Rolex Cosmograph with a 18-carat yellow gold manual winding chronograph and yellow gold bracelet estimated at €100,000 to €150,000. For the ladies, a white gold diamond and black sapphire Rolex GMT Master II with a black face can be had for an anticipated sale price of €80,000 to €120,000, and a complete set of 14 Rolex Oyster Perpetual steel bracelet watches with different coloured faces estimated to be sold for €250,000 to €350,000.

Hermès is in the spotlight on 17th January when the luxury handbag sale is on. A huge selection of hard-to-find items will be on the block – mostly Birkin and Kelly bags – but also a smattering of Dior, Louis Vuitton and Chanel. A spare €28,000 to €38,000 will get a gorgeous indigo blue alligator skin Birkin 35 with silver hardware or a crocodile Birkin 30 in Brighton Blue, which is estimated at €30,000 to €40,000.

For full listing of all items as well as auction and exhibition times, click here.

 

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Photo source: Artcurial