Dîner en Blanc: a global success “Made in Quebec”

It is from the Quebec metropolis that the Dîner en Blanc is organized each year, which can be found in 120 cities and around forty countries, on six continents. The newspaper spoke with his big boss, Sandy Safi.

“We have about fifteen employees in Montreal. We speak six languages ​​in the office. We have translators,” says Sandy Safi, president of Dîner en Blanc International. In Montreal, some 46,000 people have attended since 2009. This year, it will take place on September 6 at a secret location, revealed at the last minute, to fuel the suspense.

“We have bilingualism that fits very well with the concept of French origin, which serves cities around the world,” she emphasizes. Local creativity is a powerful ally, according to her.

It was in 2011 that Sandy Safi co-founded the organization with Aymeric Pasquier, the son of the creator of the movement François Pasquier, after the success of the famous concept created in Paris in the 1980s. For two years, it is the number 1 who has been leading the way.

“We met through people in the events industry at the time,” she shares.

“We don’t charge to have the rights to the name and the support. It really allowed us to deploy the concept internationally,” she explains.

“We have over two million people on our fan lists. We have over 100,000 people who attend the event every year,” she adds.

In Montreal, around a hundred volunteers take part in the organization of the Dîner en Blanc, which welcomes 25,000 participants.

Paid by the ticket office

How does the organization make money to pay its employees? Every time someone buys a ticket and becomes a member, the company keeps a portion for its activities.

In Montreal, you have to pay 50 dollars to participate in Dîner en Blanc, in addition to a membership fee of 14 dollars. Guests bring their tables, chairs, meals and utensils and must clean up afterwards. Every year there are marriage proposals.

“We want to expand this network by doing more than just Dîners en Blanc around the world, but by creating collaborations between events,” emphasizes Sandy Safi.

Gastronomy, fashion, travel… the Quebec businesswoman does not intend to stop there to make her contacts flourish across the planet by showcasing her activities.

“It’s a fairly unique, aesthetic concept, a collective experience,” she illustrates.

“It’s a great group of friends actually,” she concludes.

The first Dîner en Blanc event took place in Paris in 1988, in the Bois de Boulogne, organized by François Pasquier and a group of friends. The Pont des Arts and the Eiffel Tower (Paris), the Lincoln Center and the streets of the Meatpacking District (New York), the Museum of Art (Philadelphia) and the Olympic Stadium (Montreal) welcomed him. Last year, it was the turn of the decor of Montreal’s Farine Five Roses.