Business as usual.
Ten years ago, on 20th July 2000, Prince Rainier III officially opened Monaco's conference and exhibition centre, which has been hosting business and cultural events in the Principality ever since. But if you're expecting a big birthday party, you might be disappointed. The Grimaldi Forum prefers to concentrate on the future rather than the past. A redesigned website and business brochure, both officially launched last week are part of its continuing communications strategy with the slogan Challenging your imagination. Looking forward to 2011, there are plans to improve the signage and redecorate the flexible, 35,000 sq m interior:
- two 4000 sq m exhibition halls
- three auditoriums, with 400, 800 and 1800 seats
- 11 committee rooms that can be divided into 22 meeting rooms
- two restaurants, and a tapas bar with 220 sq m terrace
It employs a team of 150, can accommodate up to 3,000 people, and hosts around 100 events per year, attracting large numbers of both business and cultural visitors. Last year's summer exhibition featured Russia's last royal family, the Romanovs and attracted 65,000 visitors. This year the Kyoto to Tokyo, Samurai to Mangas exhibition starts on 14th July, and for the Grimaldi Forum, it marks business as usual for the next 10 years.
