Competition & Chaos: Navigating Relocation and the Paris 2024 Summer Games
Corporate Global Mobility, Human Resources, and Business Managers should prepare for potential challenges that employees and businesses will face both before and during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games held in and around Paris, France.
The Roar of the Crowd
• The Olympic Games run 26 July – 11 August 2024.
• The Paralympic Games run 28 August – 8 September 2024.
• The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in nearly three dozen sites in and around Paris.
Weeks before the games start, over 15,000+ athletes, 30,000+ volunteers, and 6,000+ members of media will descend on the Paris area. During the games, an estimated 13 million spectators will attend.
Paris is already one of Europe’s busiest tourist destinations. In fact, the city was so overcrowded in the summer of 2023 that the French Tourism Minister requested visitors stay away from popular tourist attractions in the city and check out other areas of the country.
In addition to the surge in pre-games preparation and ongoing games activity, intense security will also be a factor. Business Travelers and Employees on assignment in Paris will face significant challenges leading up to and during the games. These could include finding temporary or permanent accommodations, longer commute times while navigating crowded public transportation, and delays in simply conducting business.
Go for the Gold in Relocation Guidance
Proactive planning, open communication, setting expectations, and flexibility in work arrangements can help mitigate these challenges and ensure a smooth transition during this hectic, exciting time.
NEI’s service partner, Dwellworks, and their local experts in France recently provided sound “What to Expect” guidance about how to secure accommodations and navigate travel/traffic issues around the Paris Summer Games:
What to Expect:
Booking Well in Advance
Several providers have acted early in removing their inventory from Global Distribution Systems (GDS) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a way to control their inventory and maximize booking opportunities during this time.
Inflexibility
Clients should be aware of the risk of block bookings as sales are often final, with providers historically being unwilling to negotiate terms for unused inventory, cancellations, deposits, etc.
Stay Requirements
It is expected that minimum/maximum stay requirements will likely be enforced during this time period. It is highly recommended to secure your Games accommodation sooner rather than later.
Stringent Cancellation Terms
Cancellation terms will likely be far more stringent and are expected to include increased cancellation periods, as well as non-refundable terms, both before and during the Olympics/Paralympics Games period to avoid speculative reservations and to maximize opportunity for providers.
Higher Deposit Requirements
Down-payment/deposit requirements are expected for all parties; it is highly likely that group/block bookings will be required to pay a deposit at a premium rate. Booking rates are expected to increase by 120%, lower rates will return before and after the Games.
Increased Traffic
Residents and visitors can expect every hour to be similar to rush hour during the Paris 2024 Games. The anticipation of several million tourists travelling to Paris during the Games most likely will cause traffic congestion and overcrowded public transportation as well as limit the availability of ride-sharing apps. It is recommended to travel via bike or walk when possible.
Global Relocation & The Olympics
Mark Spitz, an American swimmer and 9-time Olympic medalist, famously said: “If you fail to prepare, you’ve prepared to fail.”
To avoid delays, we encourage clients to prepare and plan accordingly with both their business units and relocating employees.
Please reach out to NEI in advance of employees relocating to or from any part of France in the spring or summer of 2024. Proactively, NEI and our partners can look at each unique situation and conduct advance research to determine potential challenges and find alternative options.
NEI will continue to provide clients with updated information about how the Paris Summer Games might impact global mobility in and out of France and how to manage employee expectations accordingly.
If you would like to discuss this situation further, please reach out to your NEI representative or NEI’s VP of International Services, Mollie Ivancic.
The text above is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your tax, legal, immigration or accounting advisors before making any decisions or transactions.
Competition & Chaos: Navigating Relocation and the Paris 2024 Summer Games
Corporate Global Mobility, Human Resources, and Business Managers should prepare for potential challenges that employees and businesses will face both before and during the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games held in and around Paris, France.
The Roar of the Crowd
• The Olympic Games run 26 July – 11 August 2024.
• The Paralympic Games run 28 August – 8 September 2024.
• The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in nearly three dozen sites in and around Paris.
Weeks before the games start, over 15,000+ athletes, 30,000+ volunteers, and 6,000+ members of media will descend on the Paris area. During the games, an estimated 13 million spectators will attend.
Paris is already one of Europe’s busiest tourist destinations. In fact, the city was so overcrowded in the summer of 2023 that the French Tourism Minister requested visitors stay away from popular tourist attractions in the city and check out other areas of the country.
In addition to the surge in pre-games preparation and ongoing games activity, intense security will also be a factor. Business Travelers and Employees on assignment in Paris will face significant challenges leading up to and during the games. These could include finding temporary or permanent accommodations, longer commute times while navigating crowded public transportation, and delays in simply conducting business.
Go for the Gold in Relocation Guidance
Proactive planning, open communication, setting expectations, and flexibility in work arrangements can help mitigate these challenges and ensure a smooth transition during this hectic, exciting time.
NEI’s service partner, Dwellworks, and their local experts in France recently provided sound “What to Expect” guidance about how to secure accommodations and navigate travel/traffic issues around the Paris Summer Games:
What to Expect:
Booking Well in Advance
Several providers have acted early in removing their inventory from Global Distribution Systems (GDS) during the Olympic and Paralympic Games as a way to control their inventory and maximize booking opportunities during this time.
Inflexibility
Clients should be aware of the risk of block bookings as sales are often final, with providers historically being unwilling to negotiate terms for unused inventory, cancellations, deposits, etc.
Stay Requirements
It is expected that minimum/maximum stay requirements will likely be enforced during this time period. It is highly recommended to secure your Games accommodation sooner rather than later.
Stringent Cancellation Terms
Cancellation terms will likely be far more stringent and are expected to include increased cancellation periods, as well as non-refundable terms, both before and during the Olympics/Paralympics Games period to avoid speculative reservations and to maximize opportunity for providers.
Higher Deposit Requirements
Down-payment/deposit requirements are expected for all parties; it is highly likely that group/block bookings will be required to pay a deposit at a premium rate. Booking rates are expected to increase by 120%, lower rates will return before and after the Games.
Increased Traffic
Residents and visitors can expect every hour to be similar to rush hour during the Paris 2024 Games. The anticipation of several million tourists travelling to Paris during the Games most likely will cause traffic congestion and overcrowded public transportation as well as limit the availability of ride-sharing apps. It is recommended to travel via bike or walk when possible.
Global Relocation & The Olympics
Mark Spitz, an American swimmer and 9-time Olympic medalist, famously said: “If you fail to prepare, you’ve prepared to fail.”
To avoid delays, we encourage clients to prepare and plan accordingly with both their business units and relocating employees.
Please reach out to NEI in advance of employees relocating to or from any part of France in the spring or summer of 2024. Proactively, NEI and our partners can look at each unique situation and conduct advance research to determine potential challenges and find alternative options.
NEI will continue to provide clients with updated information about how the Paris Summer Games might impact global mobility in and out of France and how to manage employee expectations accordingly.
If you would like to discuss this situation further, please reach out to your NEI representative or NEI’s VP of International Services, Mollie Ivancic.
The text above is provided for informational purposes only. Please consult your tax, legal, immigration or accounting advisors before making any decisions or transactions.
