WTCA Accreditation Spotlight: WTC Rennes Bretagne

Interview conducted by WTCA Membership Programs Coordinator, Aubrey Ball.

“It’s not about being perfect across the board, it’s about showcasing your strengths authentically and strategically.”

The World Trade Center Association (WTCA) Accreditation Program was created to celebrate and amplify Members excelling and leading the way in network engagement, as well as WTCA’s four pillars: Trade Development, Commercial Real Estate Services, Business & Member Services, and Conferences & Exhibitions. 

In our new WTCA Accreditation Spotlight Series, the WTCA team will regularly feature interviews with Accredited Members. We’ll discuss their successes, moments of growth, and key takeaways from the Accreditation process.

For our first Spotlight interview, we reached out to World Trade Center (WTC) Rennes Bretagne, recently Premier Accredited with Specializations in Trade Development and Business & Member Services. Our Interviewees, Manager Nicholas Beaty and Project Manager Joanna Murphy, shared their insights below.

WTC Rennes Bretagne was recently Premier Accredited by WTCA — the first in France, congratulations! What made you start the application process, and why did you feel that being Accredited was important for your WTC business?

A combination of curiosity and ambition led us to initiate the Accreditation process. At the time, there were no Accredited Members in France, and we saw a unique opportunity to stand out both within the WTCA network and within our local ecosystem in Rennes. Obtaining Premier Accreditation is a way to reinforce the value of the services we offer, showcase our ongoing involvement with WTCA, and strengthen our reputation in our regional business community. It was also a strategic move to affirm our commitment to excellence and continue building legitimacy through international recognition.

One notable strength of WTC Rennes Bretagne in their application was a commitment to reciprocity and connection building. What benefits do you see from being such an active Member in the WTCA network?

We are actively involved in the WTCA network because we work, first and foremost, for our members. We are constantly seeking meaningful connections to help them acquire new partners or clients. It’s not always easy to pinpoint one specific benefit, as the value comes from a combination of ongoing relationships, shared projects, and mutual trust. That said, our active involvement has led to collaboration within the WTCA Francophone Initiative and strong ties with other WTC businesses, including WTC Bengaluru, WTC Algiers, WTC Twente, WTC Dublin, WTC Savannah, WTC Denver, WTC Belgrade, WTC Lisbon, and WTC Cyprus, to name just a few. These interactions continuously open doors to new opportunities — for our team, our region, and our Members.

What was something you discovered about your strengths or growth opportunities as an organization from the Accreditation process? Have any new programs or ideas come to fruition based on things you learned about your WTC location while completing the application?

The Accreditation process encouraged us to take a fresh and structured look at our strategic positioning. While completing the application, a partnership emerged with Ferrandi Paris – Rennes Campus, a prestigious French culinary school. This collaboration sparked the idea of launching a business center in a shared building with Ferrandi — offering premium flex offices, co-working spaces, and meeting rooms, while fostering economic diplomacy and culinary diplomacy under one roof. Interestingly, it was the Accreditation process itself that allowed this vision to crystallize. We’re already imagining applying for another category of specialization (Commercial Real Estate Services) after the official launch of this new initiative.

One thing that stood out in your application was the strength of your Business Club. Have you been able to (or do you plan to) leverage your specialization to expand your Business Club’s profile in your region or in the network?

Absolutely, that’s one of our main goals following Accreditation. Being officially recognized adds credibility and legitimacy to our actions. The more certified and recognized we are, the more we can attract new members and partners. Our WTC Business Club is a central pillar of our activity, and this recognition reinforces our capacity to position it as a leading platform for business services and international outreach in Brittany.

What was one big trade-related win from the last year, and what is one goal your team is looking forward to achieving in the next year?

In 2024, we were proud to host delegations from the Republic of the Congo as well as the Tunisian Embassy as part of our key trade missions. For 2025, we were excited to welcome a Serbian delegation with the involvement of WTC Belgrade, and in 2026, we are already preparing to host a business delegation during the Global Business Forum (GBF) in Philadelphia. Each of these milestones represents a concrete outcome of our trade services and our international engagement.

What do you wish other WTCA Members knew about the Accreditation process that you wish you had known prior to starting?

That it takes time, but it’s worth it. You don’t need to be an expert or highly developed in all four categories to achieve Premier Accreditation. If you excel in one category and can clearly demonstrate impact, that can be enough. It’s not about being perfect across the board, it’s about showcasing your strengths authentically and strategically. It also helps you review your offerings of services to see in a broad vision what you offer.

What is a service suggested in the Accreditation application you would like to implement at your WTC business?

As mentioned earlier, the idea of developing a Business Center in collaboration with Ferrandi Paris – Rennes Campus emerged during the Accreditation process. This project encapsulates many of the services highlighted in the application including “best in class” flexible workspaces, premium meeting infrastructure, and opportunities for international business development, making it a natural next step in our growth strategy.

What aspect of the Accreditation process did you find the most rewarding?

The official announcement was a moment of pride, but what made it truly special was celebrating Accreditation on stage at the conclusion of the WTCA General Assembly during the Global Business Forum. Sharing this milestone with other WTC businesses and some of our peers who were also recognized created a deep sense of belonging and accomplishment. Receiving the commemorative plaque from WTCA and displaying it proudly in our offices serves as a lasting reminder of this achievement and our collective momentum.

To find out more about World Trade Center Rennes Bretagne, please visit them directly at: https://www.wtc-rennes-bretagne.com/

WTCA will continue to spotlight Accredited Members throughout the year, so stay tuned for more one-on-one interviews with these excellent Members! If you’re interested in starting the WTCA Accreditation process, please contact Aubrey Ball at aball@wtca.org.