A change of scenery guaranteed for "green" seminars in Les Landes

At a time when companies are looking for green spaces for holding their seminars and incentivesthe Landes believe that they have a - good - card to play thanks to an offer MICE diversified, with a resolutely nature and sportsand a good accessibility at TGV from Paris and Bordeaux to Dax in 3h20 and 1h respectively, or by plane to Biarritzthe Atlantic Pyrenees seaside resort to the south of the Landes. The department is also hoping to capitalise on the work it has been doing since 2014 to raise its profile as a MICE destination, and to develop this activity through its Club Cap 40 Landes Affaires which has around twenty members, including accommodation providers, incoming agencies and conference and meeting venues. Professionals who want to turn the page on Covid thanks to the increase in the number of corporate events since the start of the new academic year.

the Landes is positioning itself for seminars in a relaxed and eco-responsible mode

" Activity is traditionally strong from April to November, with a wide choice of outdoor activities. "explains Lara Hustinx, who is in charge of business tourism at the Comité départemental du tourisme. In addition to a a hundred kilometres of coastlineThe Landes region is unique in that it is covered with 60% of forestsHossegor, Biscarosse, Seignosse, Cap Breton or Vieux Boucau is a vast playground for team building. Staying in Hossegor, Biscarosse, Seignosse, Cap Breton or Vieux Boucau means you can combine work sessions with moments of relaxation, thanks to a wide range of activities designed to bring teams together: surf or paddle initiation, pétanque tournament, mountain bike or electric scooter rides, oyster tasting, gastronomic rally, beach volleyball, golf, etc.". In the face of competition from Biarritz, Arcachon and Bordeaux, the Landes region is positioning itself in the following areas seminars in relaxed, eco-responsible mode "confirms Lara Hustinx.

A wide range of accommodation in a natural environment

For major events, Moliets is the place to be, with its seminar centre featuring a 300-seat auditorium and ten meeting rooms (10 to 385 seats). MC Events will also be taking over management of the event spaces and seminar rooms at the Sporting Casino d'Hossegor (20 to 250 people). Accommodation is provided in hotels, tourist residences and open-air hotel complexes along the coast, such as the 3* Club Belambra Les Tuquets and the 4* Naturéo Resort in Seignosse, the 4* Village Pierre & Vacances in Moliets, the Vieux Port campsite in Messanges, etc. Atypical or more exclusive structures are also "Mice Welcome" in Hossegor: the Joe&Joe residence, the 4* Villa Seren, Les Hortensias du Lac and 70 hectares... and l'Océan, two addresses in the Domaines de Fontenille collection. And let's not forget the Hotel Mercedes, which has just inaugurated an 80-seat seminar room and increased its capacity to 54 rooms.

Dax, a natural choice

Thanks to its springs gushing out of the ground at over 60°c, Dax has the largest hotel capacity in the département, with 4,000 rooms, including 2,300 rated 3* and 4*. The star of the spa town since the 1930s has obviously been the Splendid, with its 146 rooms, 1,800 m2 spa and 13 meeting rooms (for 10 to 110 people). After a renovation completed in 2018, the 4-star hotel, now operated by Vacances Bleues, has regained its Art Deco lustre, which companies can enjoy at events held in its smoking room or in the large restaurant (200 covers), whose decor is reminiscent of the legendary ocean liner Normandie. The Splendid also benefits from its proximity to the Les Thermes hotel designed by Jean Nouvel (92 studios), the Atrium for its amphitheatre (436 seats) and its restaurant (300 to 500 seats with patio) with equally incredible Art Deco decor and the neo-Moorish arena seating 8,000. Nicolas Vergonzeanne, who regularly organises major Landais shows in the venue, explains " that it is nevertheless possible to adapt to the budget and capacities of even small groups, by making the corridors private for a dinner or the patio for festive activities ".

With his Landes Emotions agency, the former athlete and eight-time French landais race champion also uses a smaller arena (seating up to 350) at the El Campo equestrian estate on the outskirts of Dax. " The aim is to offer festive and cultural events typical of the Landes region with Landes races, storytellers, stilt-walkers, dressage demonstrations... "he adds. " The Landes is an authentic region with strong traditions but no folklore. "adds Lara Hustinx. The town of Dax is also banking on two brand new facilities to boost this MICE business: a modular 800 m² room nestling in the grandstand of its rugby stadium (seating for 350 in the theatre, 600 seated or 800 for cocktails) and the new halls, due to open in mid-October. Its 1,000 m² can be reserved for private functions, and will be a fitting showcase for Landes gastronomy.