Speaking to DI yesterday, Deglise said: “We must make the Bordeaux show more glamorous. When it comes to hospitality, we must improve. We should modernise.”
Deglise said under his leadership Vinexpo will “listen to customers” in future. “Things are changing,” he said. “I was an exhibitor at Vinexpo before I became the CEO so I know what is needed from an outside perspective.”
Previous CEO Robert Beynat was criticised for failing to recognise the threat of rival shows such as ProWein and for not listening to complaints about Bordeaux’s transport links and the food and toilet facilities within the show.
Deglise distanced himself from Beynat, who will now not take on a planned role with Vinexpo Asia-Pacific and instead will retire.
Deglise – who brings with him extensive experience of China from his time with Laurent-Perrier – said he did not share the same “goals” as Beynat and that a continuation of his role would have been “complicated”. “We decided to step back,” he said.
The new CEO said transport links to the 2015 show would improve thanks to a new tramway that will run direct to the show.
Deglise vowed to improve Vinexpo Bordeaux’s infamous toilets too. Deglise said poor cleanliness “would not be accepted” and if standards were not met, site toilets would be closed for the show.
New features
A new emphasis will be placed on spirits at future shows, Deglise said. “The bigger players don’t come to Vinexpo [to meet distributors] because they have their own regional subsidiaries.
"But the spirits business is changing fast and for the smaller companies Vinexpo Asia-Pacific and Bordeaux is a great opportunity. To attract the bigger players we need to develop new opportunities for them.”
There will also be an enhanced conference and seminar programme at Vinexpo 2015. “Vinexpo should not just be about booths and visitors it should be a new experience. We need to talk about market intelligence, latest trends in wine styles and the emerging markets that will be the next destinations for our customers."
Vinexpo Asia-Pacific
The Hong Kong show, which takes place May 27-29, will be expand by 50% this year from 10,000m2 to 15,000m2 and will be held over two floors.
Deglise said France will remain the dominant exhibiting country at the show, followed by Italy and Spain, but the likes of Greece and some Baltic states will also be in attendance.
