A seminar venue in the great outdoors, but accessible using the Navigo pass, with a T13 tram stop right next door and the Saint-Cyr-l'École RER station not far away. The Le Bout du Parc café-hotel responds to two major trends in business meetings and events today: the need for nature and the need to limit travel, as part of our commitment to corporate social responsibility. Opened last April, this establishment is part of the emerging new eco-neighbourhood in VersaillesJust a stone's throw from the Etoile Royale gate leading to the château grounds.
Called the Gally district - the Gally farm is right next door - it revisits the former Pion military site as a garden city, combining housing, a crèche and school, shops and activities. And, of course, a hotel nestling in the heart of a two-hectare park, boasting three wood-clad seminar roomsThe large bay windows open onto the terrace and garden. In tune with the times. While one is more institutional and designed for executive committees, with a large table or carpeted floor, the other two are modular and can be adapted to the needs of organisers, and can even be combined into one large room. The whole MICE area can accommodate up to 70 people.
However, the name "café-hotel Le Bout du Parc" also says a lot about the place. Although the establishment is partly designed for business seminars, whether residential or otherwise, it is also a place where you can relax and unwind. above all, friendly and welcoming for all types of customers: couples, families, groups of friends... This subtle mix of genres is what the family-run Huttopia group, which initiated the project, likes to offer in its Villages and Campsites.
A leading player in the glamping market, the group began extending its footprint to the hotel sector around ten years ago with the launch of the Hoscar café-hotelsof which the Versailles establishment is the fourth link. It's a story that began with the takeover of the bar-hotel Le Beaulieu in Charbonnières-les-Bains, near Lyon, in the heart of the village where Huttopia's head office is located, but which, without a buyer, was in danger of falling into the hands of property developers. " It was the café where people met, with many regulars, including myself.explains Céline Bossanne, co-founder of the Huttopia group. We wanted to keep this place where friends could meet, to keep the village alive. So we created a restaurant and renovated the 40 rooms. It's a great place to stop for business travellers, who make up a large proportion of our clientele and enjoy meeting up in this relaxed atmosphere." .
In contact with local authorities as part of the development of its campsites, Huttopia is often approached for similar projects, for example a youth hostel in the Pyrenees resort of Piau Engaly has also become a Hoscar café-hotel. At the Le Bout du Parc café-hotel, it is Versailles Town Hall who came knocking on the door of Huttopia, which has been managing the town's campsite for two decades. " They like our spirit, which is suited to this new eco-neighbourhood, and invited us to take part in the project." says Céline Bossanne.
A project with several challenges. First of all, it had to respect its august neighbour, with architect William Wilmotte designing a square building on two levels, so as not to be visible from the château's gardens. There were also environmental constraints, resulting in a wooden structure and heating provided by the eco-neighbourhood's district heating network, fed by geothermal energy. Last but not least, the requirement to be ready in time for riding competitions of the Olympic Games at Versailles, as the hotel will provide official accommodation for the grooms, " The latter must sleep within 500 m of their horses according to Olympic regulations." says the group's co-founder.
After 18 months of construction work, this multi-faceted hotel, " difficult to classify, as we like them at Huttopia" adds Céline Bossanne. It's a lively place, with a friendly café-restaurant where you can take a break between two meetings and enjoy simple, home-style cooking. There are also plenty of accommodation options, with 23 double or quadruple rooms in the superior category, with double beds and bunk beds, as well as 12 shared dormitories for up to 82 people.
Finally, scattered throughout the park designed by landscape architect Michel Desvigne, 30 wooden chalets offer travellers their natural surroundings, incorporating a large bedroom with a double bed and a sofa bed, a workspace, a private area and a beautiful terrace. The result is a relaxing stay for business travellers and seminar participants alike. " With this in mind, we can offer them a traditional hotel with three-star-plus rooms for an event organised by a large company in the Paris region. But for start-ups and small companies with little money to spend on seminars, their teams can easily rent a dormitory for a low-budget event." says Céline Bossanne. This approach is shared by the seven Huttopia Villages, which are ideal for hosting seminars.
