Grimaldi Forum Monaco Celebrates Dual International Honors Following 8,000 m² Mareterra Eco-Expansion

Prestigious Industry Recognition for Monaco’s Cultural and Convention Hub

LARVOTTO, Monaco — The Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) has officially been crowned 'Best Overseas Conference Centre' at the prestigious Meetings & Incentive Travel (M&IT) Industry Awards in London for the second consecutive year. The distinguished international accolade celebrates the convention centre’s extraordinary operational success and commercial demand, following the completion of its monumental 8,000-square-metre eco-expansion developed in seamless conjunction with the Principality's new Mareterra waterfront district.

The award underscores the Principality of Monaco's global standing as a vanguard of business tourism, international diplomacy, and cultural arts exhibitions, highlighted by a record-breaking calendar of international congresses and luxury hospitality summits scheduled across 2026 and 2027.

Transformative 50% Capacity Increase Integrated with Mareterra

The physical expansion marks one of the most complex civil engineering feats in the venue's 26-year history. Built into the newly inaugurated six-hectare sustainably reclaimed Mareterra eco-quarter, the expansion adds 6,000 m² of versatile indoor exhibition halls and 2,000 m² of breathtaking outdoor Mediterranean event terraces overlooking the sea. The added footprint increases the Grimaldi Forum’s total exhibition capacity by an impressive 50 percent, allowing the complex to host concurrent multi-thousand-delegate medical forums, high-tech summits, and premier cultural showcases without scheduling compromise.

Direct pedestrian connections link the convention halls straight to Mareterra’s leafy pine groves, coastal promenades, luxury residential villas, and intimate yacht marina, creating an open, walkable seaside environment that integrates urban congress infrastructure naturally into the Mediterranean coastline.

Pioneering Seawater Geothermal Loops and 100% Renewable Energy

Championed under the strict environmental stewardship of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, the entire Grimaldi Forum extension operates on 100 percent renewable energy. The building’s thermal regulation is powered by Monaco’s pioneering thalassothermal marine energy loop, which pumps seawater from the depths of the Mediterranean to supply zero-emission heating, cooling, and ventilation through high-efficiency heat exchangers without burning fossil fuels.

Complementing the seawater heating system, an expansive rooftop array of 1,500 square meters of high-efficiency photovoltaic solar panels generates approximately 350,000 kWh of clean electricity annually. The installation powers onsite lighting and multimedia audiovisual systems while feeding excess carbon-free electricity directly into the surrounding Larvotto municipal grid.

Catalyzing Sustainable Global Events along the Mediterranean Coast

Monegasque government dignitaries and Grimaldi Forum executive leadership confirmed that the venue’s forward order books are booked at historic highs through 2028, with marquee global gatherings—including the Forbes Travel Guide Summit, clean-tech gatherings, and international scientific symposia—securing dates years in advance.

By establishing an uncompromising benchmark for environmental sustainability, architectural elegance, and digital infrastructure, the expanded Grimaldi Forum demonstrates how compact coastal cities can expand their economic horizons while remaining steadfastly dedicated to marine preservation and absolute carbon neutrality.