ONLYLYON to Spotlight the City of Lyon on September 26, 2013 at Bar Boulud

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Sep 24, 2013, 09:00 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ONLYLYON, an agency devoted to managing the international promotion of the city of Lyon, is organizing an experiential press lunch on September 26 with Chef Daniel Boulud, Karine Dognin-Sauze, Francois Gaillard, and Lionel Flasseur.

This year ONLYLYON will be a part of Taste of France, which will be taking place at Bryant Park on September 28 and 29.

Registered as a World Heritage Site by Unesco, Lyon boasts an immense variety of attractions and is considered the 9^th most attractive city in Europe, according to Ernst & Young this year.

Gastronomy remains an area of specific pride in Lyon and continues to be one of its best-known traditions. As part of the network of "Cities of Gastronomy," Lyon's cuisine is top-notch, including 14 restaurants with Michelin Guide Stars. Paul Bocuse named Chef of the Century by the Gault-Milau Guide and by the Culinary Institute of America is a noteworthy figure based out of Lyon. The Bocuse D'Or, a worldwide cooking competition in his name, is considered a highly prestigious affair in the culinary realm and brings together masterful chefs from all over the world. The January 2013 competition took place in Lyon with the previous year's competition taking place at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Lyon's prominent gastronomy reputation is not the only institution that distinguishes the city. Lyon is a unique and desirable attraction for international businesses. Named the 8^th most innovative city in the world by the 2thinkknow Innovation Cities Global 256 Index, Lyon ranks among Boston, San Francisco, and New York in the top ten. With more than 600 companies and 10,000 jobs in life sciences, and more than 800 researchers and doctors at the Lyon Neuroscience Research Center, Lyon is an ideal destination for business.

"What makes Lyon so attractive is the balance between 'art de vivre' and innovation. It is a city that allows all experiments and all connections, permitting each person and each project to express themselves. This idea is the concept behind our last communication campaign, 'Addicted to Lyon,' which was inspired by the real stories of people from diverse backgrounds who have all chosen Lyon. This is also what motivates our participation in Taste of France -- because Lyon is the perfect blend of boldness, tradition, economy, and lifestyle," said Karine Dognin-Sauze, Vice President of Grand Lyon, in charge of Innovation & New Technology.

Lyon is also a prime location for education, voted the second most important city in France for higher education. Offering the largest network of municipal libraries and the second-largest heritage library in France, roughly 124,000 students study in Lyon, of whom more than 13% are foreigners.

American maestro of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Leonard Slatkin, took over the National Orchestra of Lyon in September 2011 and is originally from Los Angeles, indicating a strong tie with Lyon and the United States.

Lyon is easily accessible through the Part Dieu TGV Station, with more than 120,000 passengers each day. The station is a short two hours from Paris. Part Dieu is the largest shopping center in Western Europe and offers 1 million square meters of office space with the goal of reaching 1.5 million square meters to guarantee international visibility for Lyon. Additionally the Lyon Saint-Exupery Airport now offers a new terminal dedicated to low-cost flights.

Lyon is thus an ideal location through its industrial distinction and the opportunities for innovation, putting it in the top 10 favorite European cities for entrepreneurs.

About ONLYLYON: ONLYLYON an agency devoted to managing the international promotion of the city of Lyon, which includes 2.6 million inhabitants in the urban area. Enabled by the French system of regional economic governance, the initiative is coordinated by Aderly, otherwise known as Invest in Lyon, on behalf of 19 institutional and economic partners.

To participate at the Experiential Press lunch at Bar Boulud on September 26, 2013

Please contact us.

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Contact France: Emmanuelle Sysoyev - [email protected] - +33 4 72 40 57 15

SOURCE ONLYLYON