The hotel, located just a stone's throw from the Société Générale towers, was already a favourite meeting place for executives and business travellers. The Renaissance Paris La Défense intends to be even more so today, now that it has completed its renovation. its complete renovation. "The establishment needed to be brought up to date, as the last renovation was carried out ten years ago."explains Brigitte Lallemand, the restaurant's manager. Launched at the end of 2014, the works were completed at the end of last year with the unveiling of the new La Brasserie restaurant and bar, which revisits traditional French cuisine in a Parisian spirit. It also boasts a terrace, a rare feature in the business district, which is popular as soon as the weather warms up.
This lengthy renovation phase did not just involve giving a contemporary character to the 327 rooms and public areas. Previously partitioned floor by floor, the hotel now has a more open feel thanks to a wide central staircase around which the life of the hotel is organised. In its offer, the Renaissance Paris La Défense offers Club rooms to its customers - but accessible to others against payment -. a Club Lounge where breakfast, hot drinks in the afternoon and evening snacks are served. This VIP lounge also houses a small meeting room for ten people, in addition to the hotel's seven seminar rooms, all with natural daylight.
The 327 spacious rooms and suites on the hotel's upper floors open onto large picture windows and offer amenities such as bathrobes and slippers, Tokyo Milk welcome products, free Wi-Fi access and, in some suites, a jet bath and sauna. All have designer desks with all the latest connectorsThere are also USB ports near the headboards. With their two king-size beds, 30 new rooms have been created with the inauguration of the Arena in September in mind. The Arena is a concert hall, rugby stadium and events venue in one. "They can accommodate families at weekends, friends coming to see a concert, as well as sports enthusiasts."says Brigitte Lallemand.
The last hotel in La Défense to be renovated, the hotel is part of the future of the business district. "We're in the right place at the right time, at the heart of the new dynamic"says Brigitte Lallemand. Indeed, previously limited to a certain extent to La Grande Arche - which has just been renovated and will feature a panoramic roof - the business district is now extending towards Nanterre. "The Grande Arche will now be at the centre of the districtIt's a real challenge for the future," says Capucine Marescal, Head of Customer Relations at Defacto, the public body that manages the La Défense business district. In addition to the Arena, new housing and office buildings are expected, as well as hotels, with a 170-room Citizen M due to open later this year and, further ahead, in 2020, a tower designed to house several IHG Group establishments.
But it's the neighbourhood as a whole which is evolving with the ambition of being a place to live beyond the workplace. Next year, new restaurants are set to open, as well as an events venue near the La Défense esplanade and a coworking space. "New towers are going up, like M2 and Trinity, while others are being vacated and rebuilt. Companies such as KPMG and RTE are moving from one tower to another, while others such as Deloitte and Whirlpool are moving in." says Capucine Marescal. It's an ongoing movement that could gain even more momentum if Paris succeeds in establishing itself as a destination of choice for those disappointed by the Brexit.
