The convention of EDV Île-de-France will take place from November 12 to 16, 2026, in Bénin. This event is part of the regional congresses of Entreprises du Voyage, which will start in the Southwest from October 2 to 5 and end with the event organized by Lionel Rabiet in Bénin.
Lionel Rabiet, the president of EDV Île-de-France, chose Bénin as the destination for the convention to introduce participants to a lesser-known country. “Bénin is an incredibly welcoming country, and it’s a great opportunity for us to discover its rich culture,” he said.
Bénin has a unique culture, with a strong emphasis on vodou, a religion that originated in the country. The convention will include visits to places related to the history of the slave trade, as well as the discovery of the cité lacustre of Ganvié, the largest lake village in Africa.
They will have the opportunity to visit the capital city of Cotonou, where they will reside, and discover the surrounding areas, including the lake village of Ganvié, according to Lionel Rabiet. He explained that Bénin has a lot to offer, from its unique nature to its rich cultural heritage.
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Bénin has been investing heavily in tourism development since 2017, under the impulsion of President Patrice Talon. The goal is to increase the number of international visitors from 300,000 to 400,000 today to nearly 2 million per year by 2030.
Claude Blanc, the commercial director of the Bénin Tourism Office, explained that the country has a three-year plan to develop its tourism industry, starting with adventure tourism and then cultural tourism. It is expected that the opening of a Club Med resort will take place next year.
The convention will take place at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa, a 5-star hotel that opened in September 2024. The program will include two main themes: IA and restructuration d’entreprise. Nicolas François will speak about the second revolution of IA.
Jacques Masson, a manager of transition, will speak about how to restructure a company, reduce costs, and rethink its strategy. The convention will also include moments of reflection and discovery of the destination, making it an exceptional experience, according to Lionel Rabiet.