Packed-in at Parasitec 2012 in Paris

Organised by Pest Control Media – who also publish N&Pi, the excellent trade magazine covering the French professional pest control market – the event returned this year to Paris. Readers will remember that in alternate years the event moves to a location outside France.

Held over the three days of 14 to 16 November, the event had moved to an easy-to-reach, purpose-built but somewhat soulless new venue at the Espace Champerret. This was due to the fact that the previous venue at the Cite Des Sciences & de l”Industrie is now no longer available for exhibitions.

Air of jollity
Although, held entirely underground, once in the exhibition area you soon forgot about this subterranean existence! All the stands were bright and colourful and everyone seemed in buoyant mood – surprising really when you consider the gloomy news reports we face each and every day. However, this jollity may have had much to do with the convivial and unique approach adopted at these French events – as you were greeted on virtually every stand with offers of food and drink – much of it alcoholic!

Open for three days, visitors poured in. Each morning there was a considerable queue of people awaiting registration. As the event was open from 09.00 until 19.00 on two of the three days, some of the exhibitors did start to flag – dedicated as they might be, it’s a long time for predominately office-based people to stand on their own two feet discussing the merits of their products.

Although spread over three days (unlike the other European events which only run to two) the exhibition hall was bustling throughout. From the figures supplied by the organisers, Parasitec has claimed top spot for numbers of visitors. In total, over the three days, there were 2,108 visitors. This compares with 1,911 when last held in Paris in 2010. The opening day, Wednesday, proved the most popular with 967 visitors and 861 on Thursday.

Didn”t they do well…
This is an excellent result. Using the official figures supplied by the other established European event organisers, the Parasitec total exceeds that of Eurocido held in Germany in February this year with over 1,500 visitors, Disinfestando 2011, the Italian event with 1,100 visitors and PestEx 2011 with 1,632. Comparisons with ConExPest held in Poland in 2011 would be a little unfair as this event is still to get into its stride. However, they all fail to match the 3,300 who this year attended PestWorld in the USA. Just for the record, the Pest editorial team attended all of these events.

Being popular is great.
But early each day there was quite a
considerable queue awaiting registration

Once in the exhibition hall –
it was bright, lively and colourful

Helen Riby, Pest associate editor and
publisher, exchages notes with
event organiser and N&Pi publisher,
Pierre Kabouche 

Commenting on the attendance figures on behalf of the organisers, Pierre Kabouche said: “In previous years the second day (Thursday) has always proved the more popular, but a survey we undertook told us the popularity of the conference programme on day one attracted the crowds. Each of the individual seminars was well attended, with the audience ranging from 90 to 130 people. The practical demonstrations proved less popular – but we have ideas as to how these can be improved for 2014.

“Overall, Parasitec attracted 67 exhibitors, compared with 57 companies in 2010. We feel these figures confirm the vitality of the pest control market in Europe, despite the gloomy economic environment. We are confident that PestEx 2013 will confirm this direction toward a market dynamism of public health in Europe,” concluded Pierre.

Where next time?
So what of Parasitec 2013 when it once again plans to leave French soil? Although there is no official announcement yet, Morocco and Turkey are hotly tipped. Our vote would go to Turkey!