The document summarizes plans for the 3rd edition of Best of France, which will take place September 26-27, 2015 in Times Square, New York City. The event aims to promote the image of France through showcasing French expertise, culture, food, wine and more. Key plans include hosting 500,000 visitors, 250 exhibitors, a VIP opening event, areas dedicated to fashion, technology, food, wine and culture. The event will be inaugurated by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and held in Times Square to take advantage of its status as the most visited site in the world, with over 460,000 daily visitors.

1. SEPTEMBER 26 & 27 2015
www.BestofFrance.org
Times Square & broadway
New York City
www.BestofFrance.org

2. Under the High Patronage and in the presence of
Mr. LAURENT FABIUS
French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development
BEST OF FRANCE is a non for profit and Socially Responsible organization
whose objective is to promote the Franco-American friendship.
It also supports many charitable and environmental efforts
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015
Presented by

3. BEST OF FRANCE 2015 – NEW YORK – PRELIMINARY- SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION
What is Best of France®
• BEST OF FRANCE® (Formerly Taste of France) is a non-profit organization whose
purpose is to promote the image of France abroad, through major events which
highlight the expertise and “savoir-faire” of France, as well as to celebrate the
Franco-American friendship.
• The steering committee of BEST OF FRANCE® consists of representatives from the
French Embassy, as well as from the major French organizations and
associations in the United States.
Click to view
the video
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

4. STEERING COMMITTEE
ELSA BERRY
President, French American Chamber
of Commerce in New York
ROD & SANDRINE KUKURUDZ
Co-Presidents, French Touch Events
ARNAUD LERETOUR
President, UBIFRANCE USA-Canada
CHRISTOPHE MALVEZIN
Agricultural Attaché,
French Embassy in the United States
PAULINE OUDIN
Managing Director, SOPEXA USA
MARIE MONIQUE STECKEL
President, French Institute Alliance Française
ANNE-LAURE TUNCER
Director, ATOUT FRANCE USA
PHILIPPE YVERGNIAUX
President, Invest in France Agency
HONORARY CHAIRMAN
GERARD ARAUD
Ambassador of France in the US
CHAIRMAN & CEO
PAUL BENSABAT
President, Foreign Trade Advisors of France
(North American Committee)
VICE CHAIR
ARIANE DAGUIN
CEO d’Artagnan
JEAN-LOUIS DUMONET
President, Les Maitres Cuisiniers de France
(U.S./Canada)
JEAN-LOUIS GERIN
President, Académie Culinaire de France (U.S.A.)
ENRIQUE GONZALEZ
President, French Media Events
BERTRAND LORTHOLARY
Consul General of France in New York
PHILIPPE BOUYOUX
Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs
French Embassy in the United States
ANTONIN BAUDRY
Cultural Attaché, French Embassy in the United States
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

5. 3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015
2013: unprecedented & spectacular results
• Over 100,000 visitors in 2 days in Bryant Park
• 120 sponsors and exhibitors: institutions and French companies who greatly benefited from the impact of the event
• Tremendous impact, recognized as “THE LARGEST EVENT PROMOTING THE IMAGE OF FRANCE EVER
PRODUCED ABROAD”
• An exceptional Wine Tasting with 20 of the greatest sommeliers in the United States and 100 wines from various
regions of France (over 3,600 bottles!)

6. 2013: unprecedented & spectacular results
• A talented and dedicated team of Maitres Cuisiniers de France and Académie Culinaire de France chefs,
who produced over 20,000 gourmet servings and catered for the event’s VIP receptions, producing a quality
of food rarely experienced in an outdoor event of this magnitude
• Cooking demonstrations on stage by great French chefs
• A spectacular hot air balloon flying in the Manhattan sky
• Artisanal demonstrations and display of French know-how and technology such as an important presence
of the major French regions, the presentation of a Boeing/Airbus engine, the live creation of a Taste of France
Fragrance...
• Great performances and Grand Finale by artists from the Metropolitan Opera
• Over 250 million visual impacts in the American media (a value of several million dollars)
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

7. New name, new logo
• More than ever, the goal is to present to the American
public all the talents, skills and strengths France has to
offer.
• Therefore, for this 3rd Edition, we decided to change the
name to be perfectly in phase with the reality of the
event.
• A unifying name, that well describes the ambitions of this
new and enhanced edition.
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

8. 2015 EVENT OBJECTIVES
Propel the 2013 success to a much higher level
• 500,000 visitors expected in 2 days
• 250 exhibitors
• An impressive lineup of prestigious sponsors
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

9. 2015 EVENT OBJECTIVES
A UNIQUE LOCATION: TIMES SQUARE
The Most Visited Site in the World!
In the heart of Manhattan: 46th Street
continuing on Broadway toward 55th Street
(Currently being finalized)
40 million visitors per year
82% are … Americans, of which
half are from all over the U.S.
Dates: Saturday, September 26
Sunday, September 27, 2015
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

10. 3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015
2015 EVENT OBJECTIVES
• Inauguration by Mr Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development (confirmed)
• VIP Opening Event (Friday evening, September 25)
• An even more exceptional Grand Wine Tasting
• A dedicated VIP area for sponsors and partners
• The presence of a new industries:
• Le French Tech Village
• Fashion, in a spectacular space with a central giant Runway with Fashion Shows during the whole event
• A stronger presence of other industries, such as Technology or Lifestyle
• A much larger Arts & Culture space: Multiple books signing, art exhibition by French artists, a stage with prestigious
guests ...

11. BEST OF FRANCE 2015 – NEW YORK – PRELIMINARY- SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION
over 460,000 visitors per day
On the busiest days
- In only 0.1% of New York City’s total land area, Times
Square generates 11% of the city’s economic output
and 10% of the city’s jobs.
- Economic output surpasses that of mid-sized
American cities such as Portland and Pittsburgh.
- District economic activity : $110 billion in 2012 (up 22%
since 2007), outpacing city growth of 9% during the same
period.
- The vast majority of out-of-area visitors come to the area
for leisure activity
82% of Times Square visitors are American (half from
NYC, the other half from the rest of the US) & 18%
international
- Visitors to Times Square proactively absorb the
environment around them: they are not in a rush to go
anywhere
- For 74% of respondents, Times Square is the main or 1
of several destinations, as opposed to just passing
through
- 57% of respondents in Times Square share their
experience or thoughts through at least one social
media outlet (as measured onsite)
- 47% of those continue to share on social media after
their visit
The demographic composition of the Times Square
audience is educated and young
 59% have a Bachelor’s degree or higher
 58% are under the age of 35
 57% have a household income of $60,000 or higher
Times square facts & figures*
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015
*Source: Times Square Alliance

12. Attractive themes French Elegance: Fashion & Beauty
• Giant runway, Fashion Shows
 Rendezvous I n France
• Regions of France with Atout France
 French “Savoir-Fai re”
• Demonstrations – Crafts
 French technology
 French Art & Culture
• Education – Literature – Art
 Lyfestyle
 Le French tech village
 French Gastronomy
• With the talented chefs from Maitres Cuisiniers de France and
Académie Culinaire de France
• exclusive wines, bistro spaces
• Cooking Demonstrations on dedicated stage
 Le Marché de France
 A spectacular stage
• With numerous performances during the 2 days
 A dedicated VI P Area
 A kids-friendly area
Attractive themes
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

13. Scenography
(Subject to modifications – Designs being finalized)
BY renowned
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECT
Jean-Pierre heim
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

14. BEST OF FRANCE 2015 – NEW YORK – PRELIMINARY- SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015

15. BEST OF FRANCE 2015 – NEW YORK – PRELIMINARY- SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION

16. contacts
CHAIRMAN & CEO
Paul BENSABAT
President, Foreign Trade Advisors, of France
North American Committee
Co-Founder & CEO, SaveurFood, LLC
Pbensabat@SaveurFood.com - Ph.: +1.917.544.3444
VICE-CHAIRMAN
Ariane DAGUIN
CEO D’Artagnan
Ariane@Dartagnan.com - Ph.: +1.973.344.0565
EXECUTIVE EVENT PRODUCERS
Sandrine & Rod KUKURUDZ
Co-Presidents, French Touch Events
Rod@CitizenEvents.com -
Ph.: +1.305.613.1250
3rd edition
Times square
September 26-27, 2015