The gateway - and standard-bearer - of the MICE Côte d'Azur, Nice Over the last ten years or so, the city has undergone a vast urban metamorphosis, notably with the construction of the tramway which now serves theairportThis transformation benefits both locals and business tourists alike. This transformation benefits locals and business tourists alike. And shifts Nice's centre of gravity westwards of the region, including the emergence of a new business district : Grand Arénas. For the time being, shops and restaurants - in short, a soul - are still lacking in this new business hub. But hoteliers are already preparing the ground, and their restaurants are serving as canteens for employees who have already moved into the surrounding offices. " Previously, you couldn't really appreciate the architecture of the city, its volumes. The green corridor has really changed the face of Nice. Even as people from Nice, we've rediscovered the city and its perspectives. "says one of the Grand Arénas employees.
The conquest of the West - which will also involve transferring the business within the New Exhibition and Convention Centre - The project goes beyond the borders of Nice. It is part of the vast Eco-Valley project, an "operation of national interest", which shows the way forward. " The city is moving westwards because there is no more land availablesays Denis Zanon, Director of the Nice Convention and Visitors Bureau. Nice's development is therefore moving towards this valley of the Var plain. The multimodal station will provide links to the west, to Cannes and the airport, and to the east, to the city of Nice. ". To keep pace with these developments, we had to rethink the transport aspect. Here too, the Grand Arénas is set to play a new strategic role, as it will be home to the Nice Saint-Augustin-Aéroport multimodal hub, with 90,000 m² of building space, including a railway station with links to Paris, Marseille and Italy, a bus station, and a direct tramway link to Nice city centre.
More and more hotels for business tourism
Already boasting a substantial accommodation offer, both quantitatively and qualitatively - there are 9,500 hotel rooms within the city itself, and 11,000 properties for rent - Nice's hotel catalogue is taking on a new dimension. So much so that we might wonder about the match between supply and demand, and the strength of occupancy rates? Not really, according to Denis Zanon, who describes the situation as " a bet on the future, but a bet without major risk ". For him, " Everything is being done in correlation with the conference business, which is going to be revitalised and rethought, and with the general appeal of the destination. For very large scientific conferences, we sometimes had trouble accommodating everyone. Having this top-of-the-range hotel capacity, geared towards business tourism, enables us to combine leisure and business tourism. ".
In any case, conference delegates and business travellers will have more choice than ever before for their stay in Nice. In addition to the recent renovation of the Radisson Blu and MeridianNew addresses are emerging. Crowne Plaza moved into Grand Arénas last May, marking a new stage in the development of the business district. What's more, in addition to the five-star hotel, this new building - which is at the cutting edge of standards in terms of eco-responsible structures - houses another IHG representative, the Holiday Inn Express (three stars). With this 'combo', the hotel group is not shying away from playing the synergy card. With 129 and 131 rooms respectively, the Crowne Plaza Nice Grand Arénas and the Holiday Inn Express further increase the city's accommodation capacity, while targeting the MICE market with more than 400 m² dedicated to meetings & events.
Just recently, the 19 October, Okko has also set up shop in Nice's new business district. Already present in nearby ToulonThe French hotelier is adding 135 rooms (around 17m²) designed by Studio Catoir and spread over the first seven floors of the building. MICE customers will now have access to three meeting rooms, with capacities ranging from 16 to 70 people.
We want to attract customers from Monaco and Cannes
Over the coming months, these newcomers will be joined by other international players. While Sheraton is expected at Grand Arénas, as is Hilton within the Iconic project or Mama Shelter boulevard de Riquier, theAnantara is due to open its doors in mid-May 2022 in the building formerly occupied by the Plaza. Even if the many setbacks encountered during the renovation of the building are prompting its managers to be cautious... The Asian retailer, founded twenty years ago in Bangkok has entrusted the keys to this first establishment in France to local architect Jean-Paul Gomis and decorator David Collins. The Anantara Plaza Nice Hotel will be positioned as a five-star superior hotel, and will join the catalogue of Leading Hotels of the World. Business travellers will be able to access one of the 151 rooms of the hotel (including 36 suites), and local guests will be able to rediscover one of the most prestigious rooftops the city's most famous hotels. Better known for its resorts on the Asian market, the Minor group (NH Hotels, Nhow, Tivoli...) is continuing its strategy of 'urban resorts' adopted in Europe. All the while maintaining its philosophy of native" brandThe hotel will also offer a wide range of gastronomic experiences, highlighting local culture. The MICE clientele will obviously be targeted, with eight seminar rooms, including the Baie des anges ballroom, which can accommodate 300 people in theatre format. " Together with other local event partners, we've taken a gamble: we want to attract Monegasque and Cannes-based customers to us! "warns Stéphane Vilar, General Manager of the Anantara Nice.
