Sun, Sea, and ROI: LBB’s Guide to Cannes 2023
Another year and another Cannes Lions festival. Except it’s only the second in-person one after the pandemic hiatus. With that in mind, some things have changed and some things have stayed the same. You can still expect a week of insights and great parties on the French Riviera, complete with a rosé or two. Seasoned attendees already know all the best spots to get work done during the day, the tastiest lunch spots, and the right parties to attend come sundown. For first-timers, the untested waters may be causing a little bit of Cannes-xiety, which is what LBB is more than happy to help with.
We will once again return to the Plage Croisette Beach - which has been LBB’s home since 2010 - on Tuesday, June 20th, through to Friday, June 23rd. We have an exciting programme of talks, themed 'Creativity in 2023: Better Together', sponsored by MCA, which you can view here.
One of the biggest focuses for anyone attending the festival this year will be on getting the best ROI from the trip, since travel and accommodation don’t come cheap during this time. Plus, it’s far too easy to get swept up in the energy and slew of party invitations, returning back to your team with nothing to show for it bar a hangover and sunburn to boot.
With that in mind, LBB’s own Alex Reeves, EMEA editor and deputy editor, and Addison Capper, Americas editor, alongside a few anonymous LBB insiders, present you with the ultimate guides to all things Cannes Lions 2023. Bookmark it now and thank us as you arrive on the La Croisette next week.
WORK
Best places / activities to get ROI on your trip?
Alex Reeves, LBB’s EMEA editor and deputy editor> Cannes Lions is the perfect opportunity to make sure that you’re up to speed with the most important changes affecting the industry right now. To make sure you come back with ROI for your company, you should talk to – and more importantly listen to – the unparalleled range of professionals from marketing and advertising that are gathered on the Croisette.
Go to the Little Black Book & Friends Beach (of course) and introduce yourself to whoever looks like they have time for a chat. Ask them the big questions about what they’re finding challenging and what’s proving fruitful for their business. Listen to the panel sessions on the beach (or in the Palais if you’re a delegate) and ask people about how the sessions’ themes are impacting on their work. You can do the same into the wee hours on the Carlton terrace or even outside the infamous Gutter Bar. Don’t talk too much shop – people are trying to have a good time while they’re networking – but everyone is there to understand the bigger picture and speaking to a broad range of people in the industry will help you to see that picture more clearly.
Addison Capper, LBB’s Americas editor> There is so much going on during Cannes that it can very quickly and expensively slip by. So, the most important thing is to define what ROI on your trip looks like before you get anywhere near to the city. Whether it's new business, creative inspiration, meeting folk from faraway places, or something else, once you've got a clear picture of what you'd like to achieve, you can set about planning activities to make it happen.
Planning: definitely do some. Don't turn up with an empty diary. Some concrete plans will give some structure to your week so you don't end up wandering up and down the Croisette trying to look busy all week. That said, leaving some free time to be a bit more spontaneous is also a good idea. You never know what invites might crop up or who you might bump into during a spare hour at the LBB Beach, for example.
Tips for presenting back to the team post-event?
Addison Capper> This goes for any business trip, not just Cannes: write a few short notes after every meeting. Come the end of the week, you won't have to rack your brain trying to remember who you met and what you discussed. It'll make following up with people you met AND presenting back to the team much easier and more worthwhile.
Alex Reeves> If you’re sitting in panel sessions, take notes. Make sure they’re concise or you’ll probably never look at them again. But make sure to note down people’s names, roles and companies most importantly.
If a particular topic comes up two or three times, it’s probably worth summarising the various views you heard on it and working out what the questions are that your company needs to answer. Try to work out what your company would be saying if you were on that stage.
Try not to rub it in that the weather was beautiful and the food was delicious. Your colleagues who weren’t lucky enough to go to Cannes will be jealous. If you go to a nice lunch or party, focus on the work-relevant conversations you had there.
Best places for client meetings in the day?
Alex Reeves> All of the hotel lobbies along the Croisette are comfortable, air conditioned spots to have a quiet meeting in the day. If you’re not having food, those would be my recommendations.
Addison Capper> I am biased but the LBB & Friends Beach is naturally a great spot. Failing that, the newly renovated restaurant / café at the Marriott served me well as an air conditioned, welcome respite from the heat last year.
Best restaurants for client / supplier dinners and lunches?
Alex Reeves> I’m a big fan of the club sandwich at the Little Black Book & Friends Beach for a casual bite in the sun.
Italian food in Cannes is really good, being so close to the border. Da Laura is no secret to Cannes Lions regulars, but it’s popular for a reason. It’s classy and reliable.
Pizza Cresci overlooking the marina is hard to beat. Try the pizzaladière – a Provencal speciality style of pizza with anchovies and onions generally slathered on it. Apply chilli oil with reckless abandon and enjoy.
Levantine and North African food is also a big deal in Cannes so you can’t go far wrong with a bit of shawarma or mezze. There’s one Lebanese restaurant that you’re likely to spot LBBers in, but I’m not going to name it here in case you all blow up our spot.
On the luxury end of the spectrum, venture east of Cannes Bay to Palm Beach to find a wildly decadent restaurant called La Petite Maison. It’s high end and over-the-top, but heaps of fun.
Salama is also a good laugh. I find that all the high-end places are full of ostentatious Succession-istas, so if your company card can take the weight of the bill, it makes for good people-watching.
Addison Capper> The food at the LBB Beach is great. Al Charq for the best Lebanese food (and general good vibes) in Cannes. Da Laura for ravioli. If you want to splash out (and have a bit of a ridiculous but amusing evening), head to La Petite Maison. It's anything but the quaint restaurant its name suggests.
Best day spots for networking?
LBB> The Carlton Terrace, the LBB & Friends beach, and the Palais.
Best places / events to get inspired?
LBB> MCA and LBB are running a programme specifically aimed at how brands, agencies and production can achieve more with their campaigns and what we can do to work better together. Find the programme here or head down to The LBB & Friends beach.
How to get around (walk, taxi, boat, helicopter)?!
LBB> Local taxis tend to stripe up their prices for Cannes Lions, they know it’s a business event and they know budgets are high. Don‘t get ripped off and agree to a price in advance. La Croisette can also be stacked with traffic, sometimes it's quicker to walk! Wear comfy shoes in the day
How to follow big Cannes Lions news as it happens (LBB, trade media, social media)?
LBB> Obviously, LBB! We’re free to read and will be sharing news from the festival as it happens. Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram - follow your clients, Cannes Lions and trade media accounts and journalists to make sure you get all the most up to date alerts.
Best place to celebrate award wins?
Alex Reeves, LBB> Don’t overthink it. Just take your Lions down to the Gutter Bar and pass them around. I’ve never won a Lion myself but I’ve lifted a few of them at 3am.
If you can get to a villa party up in the hills, you could be in for a night that will make you really hate yourself and the industry you’re in the next day.
Addison Capper, LBB> I unfortunately do not have much experience in celebrating award wins but there are few better places to flex some freshly minted metal than the Carlton Terrace.
Unmissable parties?
LBB> Massive Music x Media Monks is one of the toughest parties to get tickets for every year. In general the music companies tend to throw the best Cannes bash - look out for Spotify, Ninja Tune and Sizzer events in Cannes.
Best bars?
LBB> The infamous Gutter Bar (the name says it all) is where many head after a night of partying. You can find it at 72 Boulevard La Croisette (not far from the LBB & Friends Beach and next to Le Hotel Martinez).
Best shopping?
LBB> You have a lot of shopping options - don’t forget that anyone from outside the EU can get a tax rebate too.
- Rue D’Antibes: a mix of boutiques and designer shops.
- La Croisette: designer and luxury stores, including many flagships.
- Rue Hoche: a more relaxed but equally trendy alternative to Rue D’Antibes, complete with good cafes too.
- Rue du Marechal Foch: worth a visit for the stunning department store, Galleries Lafayette.
Best supermarkets?
LBB> All large supermarkets are set back from La Croisette and are situated at points along the Boulevarde de la Première Division Française Libre - search Casino Supermarche, Monoprix and Carrefour to find which is closest to your location
Best places to spend free time?
LBB> Hike to La Croix-des-Gardes. Visit the beach, nothing feels better than a dip in the French Riviera after a long week. Treat yourself to a boat trip to lles de Lerins and the Abbaye de Lerins.
PLANNING & TRAVEL
Where / how to sign up for parties and events?
LBB> You almost always need to sign up for parties in advance of arriving. Most organise their guestlist on eventbrite and you can find open events to sign up to there. Keep an eye on your email inbox for invites or ask whoever is taking you to put you on the guestlist for events.
What’s essential to pack?
LBB> Sun cream (don’t forget to reapply frequently), a portable battery (you will leave your phone behind the bar otherwise), sun glasses and a sun hat (as chic as they are necessary).
Tips for doing Cannes sustainably?
LBB> Consider taking the train to the festival rather than flying, it's a beautiful journey all the way through France - but watch out for rail strikes
Yacht etiquette?
LBB> There’s no shoes on the yachts - make sure your feet look presentable and your outfit works barefoot.
How to plan my day?
LBB> Don’t make the mistake of booking meetings and events in disparate locations. Cannes is big. There are four main areas: the yachts (all moored to the east of the Palais), the Palais (the official Cannes Lions activities which require a delegates pass), the beaches (over 1 km in length and can take up to 20 minutes to walk from the Palais to the end of the Croisette in the hot sunshine), and the villas in the hills (usually a taxi ride away, be prepared to cut out half a day of your schedule minimum if heading into the hills).
