The Regional Tourism Committee (RTC) Provence-Alpes-Cรดte d’Azur and Linkeus have officially announced their merger. This integration aims to consolidate the organization of business tourism in the region while ensuring the continuity of ongoing actions. A new governance, clearer and more collaborative, is being established.
Last month, the RTC Provence-Alpes-Cรดte d’Azur announced the merger by absorption of Linkeus. This decision concludes six months of consultation between the two entities. The goal: to pool resources, maintain ongoing projects, and offer business tourism professionals a clearer organization.
A business tourism board has been set up within the RTC. It ensures the representation of sector players and the continuity of actions previously led by Linkeus. A specific budget has been established to ensure the funding of projects. No jobs have been cut. All employees and administrators from Linkeus have joined the new structure.
For Franรงois de Canson, President of the RTC and Vice President of the Southern Region, this merger addresses a dual logic: pooling resources and maintaining an approach tailored to the specifics of business tourism. “We decided, along with the governance of Linkeus, to bring our structures closer together to create new synergies between leisure tourism and business tourism development.” He also emphasizes the economic impact of the sector, estimated at three billion euros in annual revenue.
The two co-presidents of Linkeus, Fabrice Lavergne and Maxime Tissot, become co-vice presidents of the RTC. Their mission: to ensure the place of MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) in the new governance. “This merger is also an opportunity to expand our capacity for action. As future vice presidents of the RTC, we are committed to advocating for MICE professionals,” they state.
A Sector with Significant Economic Impact
Business tourism represents 15% of off-season visitor traffic in the PACA region. It contributes to local economic dynamism outside of peak tourist periods, generating an average expenditure far higher than that of leisure tourism.
One of the major challenges of this reorganization is thus to strengthen the existing resources without diluting the sectorโs specifics. The merger allows for the coordination of promotional strategies while maintaining a differentiated offering.
The Nice Cรดte dโAzur metropolitan area illustrates this positioning. With an international airport, the inauguration of the new conference center named Oceania, and a dedicated organization, it plays a leading role in hosting professional events. The Convention Bureau structures the offering and supports organizers.
By integrating Linkeus, the RTC strengthens its strategy around sustainable, structured, and better-represented business tourism. The new organization intends to continue existing commitments, such as the European BEFuture program and the goal of ISO 20121 certification, all within a framework of enhanced cooperation.
