Cannes Lions 2024 is on the horizon, and corporate advertising firms are gearing up to make a lasting impression at the largest and most significant international event for individuals working in branded communications.
Cannes Lions serves as a platform for networking, collaboration, and the showcasing of leading creative projects. The event offers a unique opportunity for corporate agencies and brands to elevate their brand presence and engage with influential brands on a global scale.
The Cannes Lions 2024 content programme covers everything from activities, seminars and workshops, to inspirational keynote speeches delivered by renowned professionals. This year, the content is broken up into five different categories:
- Trends and Insights
- Innovation Unwrapped
- The Creativity Toolbox
- Talent and Cultures
- Creative Impact.
Participating agencies, companies and creators include Amazon, Business Insider, Canva, Contagious, Criteo, Dentsu Group, iHeartMedia, Influential, LinkedIn, McLaren Racing, Meta, Microsoft, Mindshare, Mr Beast, Ogilvy, Publicis Groupe, Saatchi & Saatchi, Stagwell, Spotify, TikTok, WARC and X.
All agencies and brands will be looking to provide valuable discussions and insights into the latest trends, strategies, and best practices in advertising and creativity. Ultimately, the prestigious Cannes Lions awards will celebrate and recognise excellence across 30 Award categories, including a new award introduction for Luxury & Lifestyle Lions.
With predictions circulating about which campaigns will win Lions and who will have the best brand activation, this article aims to give an inside look at Cannes Lions 2024, focusing on the comparison of costs between renting a luxury yacht and a traditional venue in Cannes.
Cannes Lions Brand Activations
Cannes Lions is an excellent facilitator for brand building, closing deals and relationship building. From beaches to seafront hotels and superyachts, the festival is renowned for its forward-thinking brand activations and dynamic social scene.
Each year, Lions hosts numerous networking events, gatherings and parties, where delegates can forge connections and build relationships in a more relaxed setting. Delegates are keen to see who reigns supreme with brand activations: the best entertainment, the best parties, the most interesting speaker line up.
According to the Cannes Lions Sales Deck, advertising, branding and partnership opportunities can cost anywhere from €100,000 for a brunch to €3 million-plus for a big concert.
One option for the agencies and brands is to take over a beach restaurant – they get huge foot traffic and previous activations have been hosted by Meta, Pinterest, Spotify, Stagwell’s Sport Beach and WPP. However, it doesn’t come cheap with beach rental stretching into 7-figures upwards, especially if live music from headliners is on the schedule such as Spotify Beach’s gigs last year with A$AP Rocky, Disclosure, Florence & the Machine, Foo Fighters, Jack Harlow and will.i.am.
Luxury Yacht vs. Traditional Venue: Cost Comparison for Cannes Lions
Based on industry insights from Ad Age and cost analysis from Bespoke Yacht Charter, renting a luxury yacht for Cannes Lions may initially appear more expensive than a traditional venue, however, the unique branding opportunities and extended visibility provided by a luxury yacht can result in a higher return on investment (ROI) for corporate advertising firms.
This article aims to dive into the costs for a Traditional Venue at Cannes Lions (Beach, Restaurant, Hotel, Penthouse or Villa) such as advertising, venue rental or event setup, compared to chartering a Luxury Yacht with a cost breakdown for yacht rental, branding, and associated services.
In all cases, Bespoke Yacht Charter makes it transparent what exactly the pricing on these charters includes; for example: how many days brands will have to rent the yacht.
Cannes Lions: Traditional Options Cost Breakdown
- Airport branding is about €75,000, with advertising banners along the Croisette costing from €90,000 to €180,000 for a bundle of two.
- Between €50,000 and €350,000 to rent high-foot traffic activation spaces for the Palais and hotels.
- €100,000 to host a Friday brunch, to host jury networking drinks or to sponsor the awards. At €110,000 you can invite your guests to a Happy Hour takeover on the Terrace, which would include branded drink ware and photo wall, rollout bars and use of a digital screen.
- €195,000 will give you the opportunity to take over the Big Screen at Lions which is the largest digital asset available to purchase at the festival.
- If you fancy renting the Croisette Cafe next to the Carlton Hotel it will set you back €550,000. This rental includes “four build days, five activation days and two dismantle days; additional branding opportunities available at additional cost,” per the deck. There is an additional €8,000 installation fee for external branding.
Cannes Lions Yacht Charter Guide: Bespoke Yacht Charter
Bespoke Yacht Charter specialises in yacht charters and boat rentals for Cannes Lions, offering fully crewed luxury yachts available for charter by the day or for the entire duration of the event.
“Yacht Row” provides a prime location for charter yachts at Vieux-Port Cannes, adjacent to the Palais des Festivals. We understand that a luxury yacht is an integral part of a company’s public relations strategy, offering opportunities to host presentations, lunches, and parties for varying group sizes so we offer a range of vessels and options.
Why a Luxury Yacht?
- Unrivalled Branding Opportunities: A luxury yacht serves as a floating venue, providing exceptional visibility and brand exposure throughout the event. Strategically positioned at Vieux-Port Cannes, beside the Palais des Festivals, your company will be at the heart of the action and fully branded with your logos, flags and banners.
- Exclusive Networking Venue: Entertain clients, partners, and industry influencers in a unique and memorable setting. Host breakfast meetings, lunch, presentations, and unforgettable parties on your fully branded yacht for groups from 15 to over 300. You also have the opportunity to cruise on your yacht to nearby beach clubs and towns, including St Tropez. Lunches at legendary French Riviera beach clubs such as Club 55, Nikki Beach and Bagatelle are ever popular as are boat trips to the islands off Cannes for sunset cocktails!
- Enhanced Return on Investment (ROI): While the initial cost may seem higher, a luxury yacht offers extended visibility and strategic positioning, resulting in a higher ROI for your brand activation and marketing efforts.
What can Bespoke Yacht Charter help with:
- Fully crewed luxury yachts ranging from 20-metres to 100-metres in length, available to charter for Cannes Lions.
- Dedicated yacht crew on board each charter, including a professional chef for exceptional service and culinary experiences.
- Practical guidance and expertise in securing prime berths for charter yachts by organising your Cannes Lions Yacht Partnership.
- Additional costs are at clients discretion but most would include a budget for: Quay side tent with branding and welcome area, furniture and equipment rental, yacht branding, outside catering for receptions, DJs, entertainment, live music, decor, florals, plants, branded swag, beach bags, napkins, note books, toiletries, client gifts and giveaways, audio visual systems – for panel discussions and DJ set ups, plus other enhancements to make each event on board unique with that extra twist! Our clients this year have budgets for add ons ranging from €25,000 to €250,000 to really showcase their brand and offer unique client experiences.
Cannes Lions Yacht Charter Breakdown (Examples):
A typical Cannes Lions yacht charter costs anywhere from €50,000 to €150,000 or more for the charter fee for the week plus VAT and expenses. Entry-level yachts start at around €35,000 for the week plus VAT and expenses.
Here a three examples of yachts for Cannes Lions with approximate costs.
- 30m Princess Yachts for up to 25 Guests
- Charter Fee €50,000
- VAT €10,000
- APA €19,250
- Security Deposit €10,000
- Berth fee €5,800 approx
- 30m Ferretti Yachts for up to 20 Guests
- Charter Fee €75,000
- VAT @ 20% €15,000
- APA €26,250
- Security Deposit €15,000
- Berth Fee €5,800 approx
- 40m Sunseeker Yachts for up to 70 Guests
- Charter Fee €160,000
- VAT @20% €32,000
- APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance to cover fuel, port fees, yacht food and beverage, protective deck carpeting, extra crew) €56,000
- Security Deposit €10,000
- Berth Fee €9,000 approx
Alexander Coles, Senior Charter Broker says, “Another option is a vessel we charter for €18,000 per day plus VAT and APA. When companies are paying large amounts for a one-off brunch or banner on the Croisette, this is a fantastic option yacht-wise if an agency or company wants to host 200 guests for a sunset cruise, or 250 guests in port!”
- All yachts must obtain the Cannes Lions Yacht Partnership that is €50,000 + VAT including: 4 x Full Delegate passes, partnership status with branding on all Lions literature and promotions, dedicated bi-lingual hostess for the week to assist with check ins, automated check in with all guest info built into a database to be shared with the partner at the end of the event for easier access to who attended their events, unique access to database of all delegate companies attending the event.
Media coverage is unprecedented during Cannes Lions with a fair amount of attention on the brands and yachts in the port. There are more than 600 journalists attending Cannes Lions, and over 15,000 articles and press releases were published during the Cannes Lions festival last year with Bespoke Yacht Charter’s advice and commentary about Cannes Lions yacht charters consistently ranking highly online.
Conclusion
The comparison of luxury yacht rental costs to traditional venues at Cannes Lions empowers advertising firms with the knowledge to make informed venue selection decisions that align with their brand objectives and budget considerations. “We work with an amazing group of suppliers who after years of collaboration go above and beyond to look after our charter clients each year in Cannes – and without whom none of this would happen!,” says Rachel Coles, Senior Charter Broker. “Our team are always on hand to assist with everything from booking airport transfers, branded Vianos or helicopters to arranging that superstar DJ for a fabulous party!”
In summary, the allure of a luxury yacht as a venue for Cannes Lions extends beyond its initial cost, highlighting unparalleled branding opportunities, elevated ROI through a strategic venue choice and a unique platform to engage with clients, partners and influential brands.
