When unique venues steal the show

Spectacular events does not always mean grand budgets – M&C Asia’s roundup of unique venues show the way.

Many iconic sites in Paris were the backdrop for games during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Many iconic sites in Paris were the backdrop for games during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Photo Credit: Adobestock/psychoshadow

What can the events industry learn from the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, the world’s largest sporting event? A series of firsts breathed fresh air into Paris 2024’s playbook, offering takeaways that MICE professionals can emulate.

Paris 2024 was hailed as a “lean” Olympics, with nearly 9 billion euros (US$10 billion) in spending – significantly below the budgets of recent Games in Tokyo, Rio, London, and Beijing. Prioritising sustainability, Paris set a carbon budget for the event and decided against building new infrastructure, instead utilising existing stadiums and arenas, and a variety of temporary facilities.

The “greener” approach also showcased some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks – the Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, and Château De Versailles – proving that a spectacular event doesn’t always require new construction.

Event planners across the Asia Pacific can draw inspiration from Paris 2024, where the use of historic venues highlighted how tradition and innovation can come together to create unforgettable experiences.

Our cover story in the latest July-September 2024 issue of M&C Asia dives into some of the most unique venues across the Asia Pacific. Click here to read the story.