3 Tips for Planning a Trip to Cannes
Navigating Cannes 2019
In planning my first trip to Cannes, my first step was to consult PMG’s very own, Natalee Geldert who attended for the first time last year. While her advice was beneficial (check out her blog post here), every year brings new learnings!
Prep
With our input, PMG’s exceptional marketing team managed most of the meetings that were set up for the week. What made our meetings with partners more effective was prepping them beforehand. We set up each meeting with the intent to focus conversations on new opportunities, the partner’s roadmap ahead and how they can partner with PMG — all of which resulted in many exciting follow-ups.
Here are just a few of the partners we met with: Spotify, Warner Media, Pinterest, Twitch, Amazon, Twitter, Reddit, CBS Interactive, Hulu, FanDuel, Foursquare, Snap, TikTok, and VICE, along with many more.
If you’re able to arrive a day or two early, I highly recommend scoping out where each partner meeting will be. With many partners lined up along La Croisette, you may need to hustle from one end to the other. Trust me, knowing how long it takes to get from point A to point B will save you on the day of your meetings!
Learn
Knowing you’ll be meeting with multiple partners, do your research on who you’ll be meeting with and any recent news on the company. It never hurts to be prepared, and this can help spark conversation. When it came to partner meetings, I personally loved meeting at each partner’s space. A couple of favorites were Spotify and Pinterest. Both companies brought their brand to life and thought about all of the details… Spotify even gifted a monogrammed passport case!
When setting up meetings, don’t forget to carve out time for the various content sessions, panels, and Q&As that will be going on throughout the week. Many of the partners will host sessions in its designated meeting space so that you can surround yourself with quite a few of these opportunities. Additionally, you may stumble across a few when having a bite to eat or meeting with a partner.
All in all, take in the information (and take notes if necessary!), engage with those around you, and seek out content that appeals to you!
Network
Come ready to talk… and don’t forget to bring water! Aside from your meetings, you’ll likely attend various content sessions, dinners, and parties where you’ll surround yourself with strangers. My biggest takeaway — get out of your comfort zone and make the most of it. Have a few questions in your back pocket you want to ask industry leaders and come prepared with business cards so you can continue to foster new relationships. Another tip: don’t make it all work talk — make it personal. This will likely come naturally given you’re surrounded by clear water and sandy beaches, but it can go a long way in making an impression. And don’t forget to follow up with those you meet once you return home too!
All in all, while you’re here for work, be sure to meet new people, enjoy some rosé and take in the view!
Originally published at https://www.pmg.com on July 15, 2019.
