Paris A touch of glamour at Hotel Fouquet’s Barrière Creative in the city From incentive chocolate tours to inspiring coffee breaks, now is the time for event organisers to get creative in Paris. Kelly Ranson reports reativity is everywhere in Paris, just look around you as you travel through the streets – more and The insider perspective “ more artists have exhibitions Chere and top chefs are putting their names to Thinking of getting creative in Paris? Heather Deane from restaurants. For groups, it’s a great opportunity DMC Tumlare recommends… not to be missed,” says Paris Convention Bureau’s marketing manager Corine Bernadou The secrets of scent of the French capital. In a workshop in the heart of Paris you will learn some of the secrets behind the creation of a It seems that this year meetings and event fragrance, as age-old techniques and raw materials are explained. Then, take your turn at becoming offerings coming out of the city have one the perfumer as you create your own fine fragrance using high quality ingredients and take home common theme – creativity with a capital C. your own personalised scent. Florent Joncquiert Latarjet is director of development at ViParis – which has a portfolio Take to the (vintage) driving seat of 10 convention centres and venues including A great way to explore the French countryside is from the the Palais des Congrès and the Carrousel du driving seat of a vintage car. You can meet local people Louvre – and he agrees with Bernadou: “Paris during a coffee or lunch stop at a beautiful private French is a city that moves. If you look at all the new country house. Why not combine the activity with a tour of properties in all the different areas, this shows Giverny and a visit to the Impressionist Museum? that Paris is still attractive for investors, MICE and business. It’s a creative place that’s for See the Park of Versailles from a new angle sure.” A new way to visit Versailles: step aboard a Segway. After Hoteliers have also recognised that clients a short introduction, the guide will lead you through some are now looking for more than just a meeting of the most beautiful places of interest in the Royal Park, including the Grand Canal, the Queen’s Farm and the Grand and Petit Trianon. A tempting option: chocolate tasting See the city through a tablet! Teams are introduced to the game and, after a short lesson on how to use the tablets, set off on WHO the streets of Paris. As you follow the tablet’s instructions, you will encounter a series of creative to contact challenges such as taking a photo that recreates a famous statue you have just passed or filming your version of a famous French song. Paris Convention Bureau Corine Bernadou High fashion scene During this creative tour you will meet young Parisian designers and passionate shopkeepers in 00 33 1 49 52 53 96 boutiques and workshops. The Marais has long been one of the most attractive districts and it’s easy [email protected] to see why with its winding streets, fabulous boutiques and beautiful mansions. www.convention.parisinfo.com Continued on page 45 www.meetpie.com April 2013 m&it 43 04 paris.indd 43 18/03/2013 12:58 Paris Continued from page 43 room in the city. Christophe Laure, the general manager of the 150-year-old InterContintental Paris Le Grand, notes: “It’s very important to be creative – we are always thinking about our approach and how to give the guest a different experience. For the client, a business meeting is the same, but we have to make sure they have a real experience.” Laure points to the hotel’s new ‘Insider Coffee Break’ meetings offering, where delegates can learn to make a macaroon, get tips from a top wine sommelier or listen to external speakers such as a hotel historian in a short but sweet 15-minute session. The Novotel Tour Eiffel is also opting to do something different. The 764-room hotel, which has its own 2,000 sqm conference centre, is offering new cuisine for delegates that goes beyond the norm. Corporate sales manager Laurent Fuentealba explains: “When you spend four days in the same hotel, you want something different to eat. In Paris, you want gastronomy – we have a chef who is experimenting with molecular cuisine and an ice bar. We can do these things for clients.” For incentive groups wanting to get a true taste of Paris, Esprit Chocolat offers fantastic chocolate tours (two hours in the Opera or Saint Germain districts) and tastings in chocolate shops including Un Dimanche à Paris in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which New ‘Insider Coffee Breaks’ are available at the InterContinental can cater for up to 40 people seated or 60 for a cocktail reception. Guests can also use the kitchen space for cooking classes or for meetings. ‘Although it is a destination that comes at a When it comes to museums and art galleries, planners are spoilt for choice in Paris, higher price, there is always something new’ with more to come – the Picasso Museum is set to reopen this year following an extensive renovation. The popular Centre Pompidou has just featured a Dalí exhibition and Eileen Gray renovation with conference and meeting and can accommodate up to 650 guests. The will display artwork until May. Group tours of facilities for up to 200 guests. Likewise, the Radisson Blu Hotel Paris-Boulogne has carried the museum with a guide are available. L’Hotel du Collectionneur has undergone a out a refurbishment of its six meeting rooms, The city’s hotel scene is continuing to evolve, recent transformation. The art deco-styled which now feature free Wi-Fi and improved too, following a number of boutique openings hotel changed management from Hilton last sound systems. last year, including the 91-room W Hotel, July and now sits under the Preferred Hotel The Peninsula will make its European debut which has two meeting rooms for small groups Groups brand. It became a five-star hotel in in the City of Lights later this year with a new of 20, and the quirky 26-room Crayon Hotel. November and is currently renovating 160 200-room property. On a smaller but no less Starwood’s 182-room Prince de Galles rooms, with more to follow throughout the stylish scale, Buddha Bar will open a 59-room reopens in May after a two-year, €200m year. The hotel has 1,700 sqm of meeting space hotel in Paris this summer. buyer’s eye Emma Kennard, operations manager at thevenuepot (drpgroup) “Paris is a great location and is extremely accessible via airports and the Eurostar. In just over two hours you can be in Paris from London. It is a key hub for businesses as a lot of international companies have offices within the city. We know our clients find Paris to be ideal for events, not just because of what the city has to offer, but when delegates are travelling from all over Europe it is one of the easiest places to access. It is a destination that has something for everyone, whether it’s the history, culture, art or architecture. One of the key aspects of this city is the food; it has cuisine like no other. Although it is a destination that comes sometimes at a higher price, it is constantly changing so there is always something new for returning delegates and clients.” Buddha Bar is to open a new hotel in Paris this summer Continued on page 47 www.meetpie.com April 2013 m&it 45 Paris Continued from page 45 NEWS UPDATES Fouquet’s Barrière (above) has recently opened a ‘pop-up’ bar for guests, Le Petit Maison de Nicole. By day it is Fouquet’s, and in the evening it is transformed into a vibrant space with live bands performing. Le Saut du Loup, the contemporary restaurant at the Louvre Museum, has just hired Michelin-starred French chef Marc Meneau. The venue can cater for up 90 people for dinner, 400 for cocktails or 100 people on its terrace, which has amazing views of the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. Disney’s Sequoia Lodge has recently been renovated and added a new superior level of accommodation. The 124-room Golden Forest Club will offer guests a private reception desk, porter service and Disney Hotel FASTPASS or VIP Plenty of accommodation, meeting space and easy access at Disneyland Paris FASTPASS (suites only). Guests will also have access to the Golden Forest Lounge. Minecraft fans at Disneyland CASE STUDY 17 as well as their families. And so Disneyland Paris was the ideal place to give not just the The retro Le Bus Bleu (above) offers participants what they wanted but also the Eloi Courcoux tours around Paris for up to seven people they brought with them.” people. The 1958 Renault bus takes Event: Minecon 2012 Minecon took over the convention centre at guests on a guided tour of the city. Participants: 7,000 video game fans Disney’s Hotel New York for the duration with Venue: Disneyland Paris workshops and sessions with expert players Hôtel Plaza Athénée is celebrating its on hand to talk to eager gamers. Additionally, 100th anniversary this year. To mark game tests and demonstrations took place in the milestone it is introducing a variety When Mojang, the company that publishes the 6,500 sqm Disney Events Arena and more of commemorative concepts, dining the Minecraft video game, wanted to organise than 100 PCs were made available for a special surprises and specialty packages.