TOP TEN TIPS FOR CANNES

So my favourite south of France business trip is only a few weeks away and I wanted to share a few tip and tricks, to help you get the best out of the event! Here’s my top ten guide to Cannes Lions 2017.

1.      Book in advance

Make a decision - if you are going to attend this year - book your flights and accommodation early. There’s nothing more frustrating that being a million miles away from the Croisette because you booked late, or paying 10 times more because you just kept putting off confirming your flights. It happened to me, never again. DO IT NOW!

2.  Be prepared Before you go! 

The place is teaming with people, and parties but if you don’t have an agenda planned.. you will end up wasting so much time trying to figure out what to do next, you will miss 50% of it.  Plus many parties you must be registered beforehand. Team up with someone from a different company and plan together sharing tips and places to get two different perspectives. This isn’t your standard, “hour sales pitch” type of meeting place. Try and get to places and meet people you can’t next week in your home country.

Don’t bother making any meetings before 12 noon, they won’t make it, you won’t make it and it's just pointless.

Make sure you plan how to get to and from your hotel and each meeting/party, preferably by foot, as the taxis are few and far between to book and SLOW because the roads are jammed full of all the taxis on the road.

3   WIFI

There is free wifi in many places, but in my experience, many of the hotspots are overused which means the connection is poor. Subscribe to a month’s roaming beforehand so you don’t get caught short or end up with a HUGE bill at the end of the month.  If you are speaking or presenting at any time, DO NOT rely on wifi to do live presentations!

This WILL fail. “oh don’t you just hate technology.. is not a poor/tired excuse”

4  Battery

Charge and bring a truckload of battery sticks, you will attempt to remember to charge them at the end of the night, you may have over-indulged and forget. Have more charged ones at the ready. Being without power on your mobile will ruin your plans totally. Be super careful with your phone. Every single year several people in my groups have either lost “had stolen” or been pickpocketed… No phone or no battery  - both pretty fatal mistakes out there.

5  Comfort Zone

Try to experience new things, meet new people, attend something you didn’t think would be relevant but just to learn something new. If you can explore the other side, whatever that might be for you.. creative, creative tech, the Palais is full of inspiration.  Mix at international events, this is a great opportunity to network outside your own country. Of course, bring a tonne of business cards. 

BE brave!

6  Sunscreen – It is hot there. Cannes is a great event where you literally can feel like you are on holiday and want to bask in the sun. I love it for this. HOWEVER, the sun can burn- don’t put any sunscreen on, and you're going to look pretty stupid with a bright red face, arm leg etc and it will hurt, ruining subsequent days.

7   Rose- love it- drink it- you can almost bathe in it there but, remembering its hot and that holiday feeling, can be dangerous! Remember to once in a while consume some water too or you will be remembered for your antics or spend the next day in bed/hospital.

You are there for at least a few nights, Marathon/sprint springs to mind…don’t get so plastered on the first night you wreck the rest of your week. Either, because you lose your phone, or all your money, because you spent it on the hundreds of hookers there, or a pickpocket took advantage- maybe worse still - you make such a fool of yourself you can’t bear to be seen the rest of the week!

8        Back up plans

For when all plans fail or the party ends- know where to go.. two most “afterparty” popular places are the Gutter bar and the Carlton Hotel. You will bump into a tonne of people of there but it will be sooo crowded. Be prepared for that and accept slow service and, being bumped into, standing room only, and you will, without a doubt find some people to drink till the sunrise.

9        Dress code- it's pretty relaxed- dress for the day and night. due to the taxi situation, hotel prices, you're unlikely to be going home to change every day before the evening activities. Put deodorant in your bag, some top-up makeup etc.  men pack shorts, ladies bring flats!

10    ENJOY !! Love it be happy, make new friends, be merry, meet new people, be inspired and rest when you get home!!

Want to meet up or share a rose or two? It would be great to share tips, parties or just have a chat!