GL events

What GL events does

GL events is a publicly-listed French event management company founded in 1978 as Polygone Services by Olivier Ginon, listed on Euronext Paris (EPA:GLO) since 1998. The company operates through three integrated business divisions — Live (event design, production, temporary structures, tribunes, audiovisual, energy distribution), Exhibitions (organization of 103 trade shows and events annually attracting 910,000+ visitors and 17,837 exhibitors), and Venues (a network of 60+ managed event venues across 20+ countries) — supported by 90+ Live agencies and more than 6,000 employees worldwide.

Revenue is generated across professional services (event production and consulting), transaction-based fees (exhibitor and visitor fees, sponsorships for the Exhibitions division), and managed services (venue rental, facility management, concessions). The company reported record consolidated revenue of €1.635 billion in 2024 (+15% YoY), with the Live division contributing €824.5M, Venues €442.6M, and Exhibitions €138.5M. Pricing is custom and quote-based, with major clients including corporations, institutions, governments, and Olympic organizing committees.

GL events serves a broad customer base spanning corporate event organizers, trade show exhibitors, sports federations, government bodies, and cultural institutions. Marquee engagements include the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games (70% of temporary installations, 160,000 tribune seats), Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics (Official Temporary Infrastructure Partner across 20 venues), UNCCD COP16 Riyadh (100,000 m² of temporary infrastructure in 90 days), and a partnership with Festival de Cannes dating to 1988. The company has executed a multi-decade acquisition trail — including Première Vision, Tranoï, FISA, CACLP, Johannesburg Expo Centre, Field & Lawn, Locabri, and the pending ADD Group (Saudi Arabia) — to build an international footprint spanning France, Europe, South America (Brazil, Chile), Asia (China, Japan), the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar), Africa (South Africa, Morocco, Algeria), and Oceania.

Name

GL events

Legal name

GL events Support

Website

https://gl-events.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

GL events is a publicly-traded French event management company operating three integrated divisions — Live (event production), Exhibitions (103 trade shows), and Venues (60+ global sites) — serving corporations, institutions, and governments with end-to-end event solutions across 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Management Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Festival Grounds & Fairgrounds Operations (MPAGALAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conferences & Conventions Operations Services (Registration, AV, Logistics) (MPAGAGAM), Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB), Event Production & Technical Services (AV/Lighting/Staging) (MPAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Event management services
• Trade show organization
• Venue management
• Exhibition services
• Event production

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Event production services (Live): Design, construction, and operation of events including temporary structures, tribunes, audiovisual, energy distribution, furniture, signage, and hospitality services. Revenue from equipment rental (130.1M€) and service provision.
2. Exhibition organization (Exhibitions): Organizing professional and public trade shows globally. Revenue from exhibitor fees, visitor fees, sponsorships, and related services. 103 events, 910,663 visitors, 17,837 exhibitors.
3. Venue management (Venues): Managing a network of 60+ event venues worldwide under concession or ownership arrangements. Revenue from venue rentals, facility management fees, and event hosting.
4. Integrated event solutions: Full-service offering combining Live, Exhibitions, and Venues divisions for comprehensive event delivery from conception to execution.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GL events is a global integrated event solutions provider operating across three complementary business divisions: GL events Live (event conception, design, production, equipment rental and turnkey execution), GL events Exhibitions (organization of 103+ professional and public trade shows annually), and GL events Venues (management of 60+ event venue sites worldwide under concession or ownership). The group delivers the full event value chain from creative concept to on-site execution, including temporary structures, tribunes, audiovisual, energy distribution, signage, hospitality, and venue hosting across 20+ countries.

Product overview

GL events is a global event management company operating across three complementary business units: Live (event conception and execution services), Exhibitions (trade show organization), and Venues (venue management network). The company manages 60+ venues globally and organizes 103 exhibitions and events, generating €1.267B in combined revenue across its divisions. Key exhibition brands include Hyvolution (hydrogen industry), Première Vision (fashion), Sirha (food service), Global Industrie (manufacturing), CACLP (IVD diagnostics), and Aquasur (aquaculture). The Venues network spans 20+ countries with major sites including Stade de France (Paris), Riocentro (Rio), Eurexpo Lyon, São Paulo Expo, and Centro de Congressi (Milan). GL events also provides major event services including infrastructure for Olympic Games, COP summits, and international sporting events. The company operates primarily as a physical events and venue management provider rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GL events Live: Event design and execution services, including technical services, construction, stands, audiovisual, furniture, and reception services.
• GL events Exhibitions
• GL events Venues
• Réseau s.pass
• Live by GL events
• GL events Equestrian Sport
• Greentech+
• Hyvolution
• Sirha
• Première Vision
• Global Industrie
• Health & Science
• Observatoire International de la Création

Products and services

• GL events Live Turnkey event solutions provider covering the full event lifecycle from consulting and design to on-site execution. Services include construction of temporary structures and tribunes, audiovisual, energy distribution, stands, signage, furniture, and hospitality services, delivered through 90+ agencies globally. Generated €824.5M revenue across 1,323 events.
• GL events Exhibitions Exhibition organizing division managing professional and public trade shows in France and internationally. Organizes 103 shows and events annually spanning sectors such as industry, fashion, agribusiness, healthcare, food service, and energy, attracting 910,663 visitors and 17,837 exhibitors. Generated €138.5M revenue.
• GL events Venues Global venue management network operating 60 event sites across France, Europe, South America, Asia, and South Africa. Includes convention centers, exhibition parks, receptive venues, and multifunctional halls hosting 4,100+ events annually across 2.18M+ square meters. Generated €442.6M revenue.
• GL events Venues Network (60 Sites) Global network of 60 event venues including Stade de France (Paris, 30-year concession), Riocentro (Rio), Eurexpo Lyon, São Paulo Expo, Distrito Anhembi (São Paulo), Centre de Congrès de Lyon, Square-Brussels Convention Centre, MEETT Toulouse, Hungexpo (Budapest), World Forum The Hague, and others across 20+ countries.
• Hyvolution

Quantifiable outcome

• 70% of temporary installations for Paris 2024 Olympics
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Visit.BrusselscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Initiative to transform Brussels city center into integrated convention district. SQUARE - Brussels Convention Centre (GL events Venues) leads project with Visit.Brussels and cultural institutions including BOZAR, KBR, Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, and Musée BELvue.
• AGEFIPHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2026Three-year partnership agreement for disability inclusion in employment. GL events strengthens its Diversity & Inclusion policy by committing to structured actions for recruiting, retaining, and supporting employees with disabilities. Includes network of Disability Relays deployed nationally.
• Fondazione Milano Cortina 2026flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 January 2026GL events Italia formalized as Official Temporary Infrastructure Partner for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. GL events will supply, design, install, maintain, and remove temporary infrastructure across 20 venues including Arena Santagiulia in Milano, Predazzo, and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Partnership emphasizes legacy, sustainability, and reuse principles.
• ADD Group (Riyadh)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025GL events entered exclusive talks to acquire 51% of Riyadh-based ADD Group, marking significant expansion into Saudi Arabian market aligned with Vision 2030. Represents strategic M&A for market entry in Middle East.
• LOXAMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 July 2024Joint partnership for Paris 2024 Olympics providing electrical infrastructure, temperature control, and International Broadcast Center operations. GL events and LOXAM delivered clean and reliable energy across 55+ sites in support of Olympic sustainability goals.
• MatmutcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017Naming rights partnership for Matmut Stadium (formerly Stade de Gerland) in Lyon. Partnership extended until 2031. Matmut serves as title sponsor for the 100-year-old venue home to LOU Rugby.
• LOU RugbycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership for stadium operations at Matmut Stadium. GL events Sports manages the venue as home ground for professional rugby club LOU Rugby, combining sports and event operations.
• Yuexiu GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Joint venture to develop venue network in China. Partnership enables management of Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center (Beijing), Guangzhou Aerotropolis Expo Center, and Yuexiu International Congress Center (Guangzhou).

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Informa (Informa Markets + Informa Connect): World's largest exhibitions and events organizer (Informa Markets) with comparable trade show portfolio (fashion, industry, healthcare) and venue partnerships. Direct competitor to GL events Exhibitions and Live divisions across Europe, Americas, and Asia.
• Messe Frankfurt: Operates one of the world's largest exhibition venue networks (Frankfurt Fairground + 30+ global subsidiaries) and runs its own branded trade shows (Ambiente, Heimtextil). Closely comparable on venue management scale and trade show organization depth.
• Reed Exhibitions (RELX): Exhibition organizing arm of RELX, running major trade shows across aerospace, travel, and entertainment. Direct competitor to GL events Exhibitions brands with overlapping enterprise client bases in the same sectors.
• Comexposium: Paris-based major trade show organizer (Vivatech, Paris Retail Week, Maison&Objet) with overlapping fashion/consumer industry portfolio to GL events Première Vision, and direct competition for French exhibition clients.
• Koelnmesse: Cologne-based trade fair organizer and venue operator with comparable B2B exhibition portfolio (food, industry, leisure). Direct competition for GL events across European trade show and venue business.
• Freeman: Largest US-based event production and AV services company, a direct competitor to GL events Live division for corporate events, congresses, and large-scale temporary infrastructure builds.
• dmg events: International trade show organizer (Big 5 construction, ADIPEC energy, industry events) with comparable B2B exhibition operations to GL events Exhibitions, particularly in the Middle East and Africa where GL events is expanding.

Regional players

• Fira Barcelona: Barcelona-based trade fair venue operator and organizer, direct competition in Spain/Mediterranean venue and exhibition market, especially relevant to GL events Venues Spain operations.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo Live!: Specialized division of Sodexo providing hospitality, catering, and event services to stadiums, convention centers, and arenas. Comparable to GL events Live services within Sodexo's broader food services portfolio.

Emerging players

• IMEX Group: MICE event organizer focused on incentive travel and meetings industry exhibitions (IMEX Frankfurt, IMEX America). Adjacent peer addressing overlapping MICE market segments where GL events operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/glevents
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gl-events

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries28 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A18 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GL events