At Beam, client requests with less than four months’ lead time are managed by Tiphaine Payen-Normand, Account Manager dedicated to short-term projects. Her mission: to deliver a fast, structured response and coordinate turnkey solutions tailored to the specific needs of each event.
Could you tell us about your role within the Beam team?
I am the single point of contact for event organizers working with a timeline of less than four months, unlike other colleagues who handle long-term projects. I oversee everything from A to Z, from contract signing to event execution, right through to final invoicing. I identify the spaces that best match the event’s needs and then coordinate various service providers to offer additional solutions, from signage to furniture rental, from hosting staff to catering. I take charge of the entire logistics process while considering the client’s requirements so they can fully focus on the content of their event.
Beyond this support, we also act as a source of ideas and recommendations to meet our clients’ needs and desires, which can sometimes be very specific—whether it’s creating a particular atmosphere or, for example, installing a basketball court in the middle of a cocktail area! We do everything we can to ensure a successful experience. Our goal is to offer truly bespoke support, dedicated to client satisfaction.
What are the needs and expectations of event organizers today?
The organizers’ primary need remains very pragmatic: quickly finding a venue and date for their event. We are used to working under tight deadlines : by mid-November, we are able to propose a venue and structure the entire project for an event scheduled for early December.
Organizers also expect a personalized, tailor-made offer. This is also highlighted by the 2024 Business Tourism Observatory: to continue attracting events, you must be able to adapt to market developments… This reinforces the importance of close, attentive support.
We are also seeing new expectations emerging in briefs, particularly concerning CSR. Since this approach is fully integrated at Beam, with an organization and venues certified ISO 20121, our team is well equipped to respond effectively: all suppliers we work with, from logistics to catering, are local and committed to sustainable practices.
In your opinion, what strengths enable Beam to effectively meet today’s business tourism challenges?
Our first major strength clearly lies in the diversity of our five venues, which can host extremely varied capacities, from 20 to 50,000 attendees. Thanks to their flexibility, modularity, and accessibility, we can adapt to all types of requests.
Given the nature of the events I manage, from meetings of around thirty people to conferences of up to 600 participants, I work particularly with the Palais des Congrès, which is fully modular and highly appreciated for gala evenings, and the Centre des Congrès Cité Mondiale. The latter, located in the heart of the city and directly connected to the Hotel Indigo, a partner of ours, is ideal for workshops, seminars, annual general meetings, and team-building events.
Each venue offers unique advantages that allow Beam to stand out. In the Bordeaux-Lac district, the Parc des Expositions (our “XXL site”) is ideal for large-scale events such as national and international congresses, fairs, and cultural or sporting events. It is connected to the Palais 2 l’Atlantique, inaugurated in 2019, easily accessible by tram, and perfectly suited for trade shows, congresses, symposiums, and performances. Along the riverside, Hangar 14 offers a raw architectural space, perfect for receptions and convivial gatherings.
The modularity of our five event venues allows us to seamlessly switch between sites to accommodate each event’s schedule and specific requirements.
