After having to close its 70 houses in 6 European countriesand first in France in mid-March, Châteauform is gradually relaunching its events and training activities. More than forty houses are already in operation. To reassure companies, the group has gone to seek advice from Socotec to develop a Covid-19 charter based on a strict sanitary protocol, with differentiated circulation within the sites, distribution of a kit containing a mask and hydro-alcoholic gel, room layout to allow appropriate distancing according to the number of participants, cleaning of the space after each meeting, etc. The catering offer has also been adapted to meet the new distancing rules. " Despite these constraints, our teams are motivated to share the Châteauform experience with our customers." says Gérald Coutaudier, deputy CEO of the MICE group. This is all the more true given that the recovery is on track for June, with demand down by "only" 40% compared with June 2019. " This is encouraging, given that we had to cancel 3,000 events between 15 March and 15 June, the majority of which were postponed between the start of the new academic year and the end of 2020." he adds. In the run-up to September, Châteauform will be opening some twenty character houses for private rental this summer, in the Ile-de-France (14) and the provinces (4), as well as in Switzerland, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Companies wishing to meet after the teleworking period
To support the takeover, Châteauform is introducing an all-inclusive offer "Work from City including the hire of a meeting room with wifi, water, tea and coffee making facilities. A solution for video-conferencing is also being developed with Stardust Group to connect speakers from all over the world with companies holding seminars at one of our European sites. This autumn will also see the launch ofopening of the Marseille-Longchamp house combining seminar facilities and 51 bedrooms. The inauguration of this first house with accommodation in the city was originally scheduled for last April. " Companies are keen to get together after this crisis. If the recovery continues at the current pace, we can look forward to better prospects." Gérald Coutaudier concludes, but remains cautious, expecting a return to normal occupancy of his sites in... 2022 !
