Since its inauguration in early 1967The sleek lines of the Versailles Congress Centre sit side-by-side with the emblematic château, weaving a discreet link between the Trente Glorieuses and the Grand Siècle. France's oldest convention centreThe Versailles Palais des Congrès has had a facelift. Closed for renovations in 2019, it should have reopened its doors at the end of last year, but due to covid, the start of this new story could only be made on 8 July. This was at the General Meeting of Coesioa French-speaking network of conference cities with 73 member destinations, and in the presence of the Minister for the Economy and FinanceBruno Le Maire, who was keen to take part in the event for a number of reasons, including family ties - his grandmother was born in the town - friendship with François de Mazières, the town's mayor, and the role Versailles plays in France's history and influence abroad.
The Palais des Congrès in Versailles, " very modern for its time" according to François de Mazières, has therefore regained all its lustre, but above all it has adapted to the times with a contemporary scenography. Its manager, the Iris group, has invested two million euros in this project to incorporate the latest connected and immersive innovations. With a very high-speed connection in all its areas, the convention centre is notably ready for hybrid eventsAll this was enhanced by giant 4k screens, laser video projectors and robotic lighting. Particular attention has also been paid to the sound system, with the Richelieu amphitheatre equipped with sound diffusion systems designed by one of the French leaders in the sector, L-acoustics.
Along with Paris, Versailles is the most likely city in the Paris region to host major international events
But it was also the form and the embellishment of the site that were the focus of the work. Its owner, the City of Versailles, has earmarked four million euros for this purpose, with the aim of respect the history of the building by enhancing its powerful concrete architecture evoking the 1930s through the use of light and Art Deco decorative elements. Designed by architect Pierre-Edouard Lambert, a disciple of Auguste Perret, the building has been redesigned by Romain Greif of GFTK Architectes, in keeping with its original spirit.
With 3,700 m² of modular space, an amphitheatre with a capacity of 1,000 peopleWith its ten or so meeting and sub-committee rooms, its Lulli studio for connected events and its Mazarin rotunda room, dedicated to exhibitions as well as cocktails and dinners, the renovated Palais des Congrès de Versailles is part of a new generation of conference centres. the new dynamic that the city intends to give to business tourisms. " The town has potential that needs to be developed" says François de Mazières.
Easily accessible from Paris and its airports, close to La Défense and the headquarters of a number of major companies, Versailles is, along with Paris, "the place to be". the city in the Paris region most likely to host major international eventssays its mayor. It has everything it takes to become a meeting place for the financial, economic and cultural sectors. from France, Europe and all over the world. "And François de Mazières points to the hosting of the Choose France summit on the attractiveness of France and the Paris-Saclay French-style Silicon Valley project, with Versailles as the cultural and tourist hub.
" The international appeal of Versailles is exceptional, but it's not always easy. underexploitedsays the town's mayor. If you look at Cannes, whose reputation is on a par with Versailles, their convention centre, which is more recent, is world-renowned, whereas ours has not enjoyed the same momentum, mainly due to a lack of recurring events. "The launch of a biennial event for architecture and landscape in the Ile-de-France region, the second of which will take place next year, is a step in this direction. Versailles also benefits from another asset, one that is very much in vogue today, despite being inherited from the Grand Siècle and Le Nôtre: "It was designed around nature. Versailles bears the mark of the right balance between buildings and plants" says its mayor.
It is on this basis that Versailles intends to develop its appeal in the MICE segment, especially as, with around sixty restaurants and 16 hotels with over 1,000 rooms, it is already well equipped to welcome conference delegates. The only thing missing, according to the Town Hall, is a more extensive range of top-of-the-range hotels, currently limited to the Trianon Palace, part of the Hilton Waldorf Astoria luxury brand. Although an ultra-luxury hotel has recently opened within the château, the The Great Control has just 14 keys.
François de Mazières took advantage of the presence of the Minister for the Economy and Finance to push forward a project, thea luxury hotel in the heart of the Recollets Convent. Next door to the Palais des Congrès, this military site has been approved for sale by the Ministry of Defence. But who would benefit from the sale? Bercy or the Hôtel de Brienne? The question remains unanswered and seems to be holding back the ardour of the Ministry of Defence. " I undertake to reopen the file, to look at it carefully, with an open and benevolent mind." replied Bruno le Maire. While stressing " that a good Minister of Finance, as soon as money comes in, likes to see it land in the State's coffers, and in his coffers rather than in those of another ministry."
