"They share experiences and unforgettable memories. No pollution, no cars; the calm, the cold and the winter sun... All this makes the participants really relaxed."This is the opinion of Fanny Dunand, MICE Sales Manager at Hôtels d'en haut, a group which runs four high-altitude establishments: the Alpaga in Megève, the Val Thorens and the Fitz Roy in Val Thorens and the Hôtel des 3 Vallées in Courchevel.
As opposed to "less than an hour from..." meetings - to be completed by your choice of: the company's head office, a major international hub, a TGV station with excellent transport links -, seminars in the mountains are not just for...
"They share experiences and unforgettable memories. No pollution, no cars; the calm, the cold and the winter sun... All this makes the participants really relaxed."This is the opinion of Fanny Dunand, MICE Sales Manager at Hôtels d'en haut, a group which runs four high-altitude establishments: the Alpaga in Megève, the Val Thorens and the Fitz Roy in Val Thorens and the Hôtel des 3 Vallées in Courchevel.
As opposed to "less than an hour from..." meetings - to be completed by your choice of: the company's head office, a major international hub, a TGV station with excellent transport links -, Seminars in the mountains don't leave nothing to chance. Train or plane, then transfer to climb to the very top: it often takes several hours to get from Paris to one or other of the Alpine resorts. It's an investment in time that pays off once you're at the summit, in one of the chic hotels dotted around the mountain resorts.
Megève, Chamonix or Courchevel in France, Gstaad, Saint-Moritz or Zermatt in Switzerland, Garmisch-Partenkirschen in Germany, Kitzbühel in Austria, Cortina or Sestriere in Italy: there is no shortage of resorts in the Alps that have become the most popular. winter legendsThe city's main square attracts celebrities, luxury boutiques and art galleries. But there are so many others that are no less charming, giving business events a little corporate 'Christmas magic'. "When you arrive in a century-old village like Champéry, there's something Heidi-like about it, something totally magical.It's the perfect place to relax and unwind," explains Alexandra Pruvost, Châteauform' manager for Switzerland, where the green meeting specialist has three seminar centres, two in Champéry and a new business and relaxation centre in Commeire.
This breath of fresh air has to be earned. It has to be organised well in advance, especially in winter when business tourism has to avoid overlapping with holidaymakers' schedules. However, at the beginning or end of the season, or even during the first few days of the week, establishments open their doors wide to corporate groups, up to and including full privatisation of the hotel. "We offer our customers the chance to become "masters of the premises" for the duration of their seminar, from 30 rooms at the Mont Blanc hotel or 50 rooms at Les Fermes de Marie.explains Isabelle Barthelémy, Sales Manager for Maisons & Hôtels Sibuet. For a larger committee or to bring together larger teams, our hotel facilities in Megève can accommodate up to 162 rooms."
But why go so high and so far when there are so many fine hotels close to the business districts? First of all, for absolutely professional reasons, in order to find the serenity you need to think clearly. Perched 2,112 metres above the Swiss resort of Crans Montana, the Chetzeron has transformed a former cable car station into a Design Hotel. The hotel is only accessible by caterpillar-equipped shuttle bus in winter or by 4×4 in summer, giving groups the feeling of being alone in the world, with the surrounding silence disturbed only by the rocky language of the neighbouring peaks. "Groups come here to work in peace and quiet away from distractions, to find a family atmosphere where they can let go and concentrate on their objectives."says Sami J. Lamaa, hotel manager.
"In the autumn, companies work on their budgets, their strategic orientations, etc.says Alexandra Pruvost. At this time of year, we receive many small committees to get away from it all and think. In winter, on the other hand, companies mainly organise incentives to thank their staff or their best customers."
Because, despite the seriousness of the meetings that can be held there, the mountain is first and foremost a place where you can take stock of your professional life. a fantastic playground It's a special place where participants can rediscover their childlike spirit for a toboggan run or a few turns in the powder. "Skiing or snowboarding is an essential part of every programme. Even the most focused groups devote half a day or more to their work discussions.explains Fanny Dunand. Snowshoeing is another popular activity, not least because it's suitable for everyone. Another popular activity is riding fat bikes, electric bicycles that don't require a high level of fitness."
The very chic Les Airelles hotel in Courchevel pampers these day skiers. "Every morning at the Bernard Orcel Ski Room, our teams prepare the equipment you have booked in advance, under their expert guidance. When they return from the slopes, hot drinks and other delicacies await them in the authentic ski room kitchen. The room was completely redesigned last year, and now extends to 200m²."explains Jean-Pierre Lerallu, director of the palace.
What's more, teams in need of cohesion will find within the stations a host of team building activities such as igloo building or multi-slide challenges, all the way up to unique experiences. "We organise all types of activities, from the most classic to the most originalexplains Isabelle Barthelémy. In Megève, for example, there's an introduction to dog-sleigh driving or a flight over Mont Blanc in a plane or helicopter; in Chamonix, there's the not-to-be-missed hike to the Mer de Glace; ice driving or a snowmobile ride for an adventurous dinner at altitude in Flaine; ice driving in Val Thorens, too, as well as mountain biking on snow or tobogganing on France's longest piste."
In Courchevel, the Barrière Les Neiges hotel also offers a full range of winter entertainment, including personalised programmes These can include dog-sleigh rides, snowmobile tours, hot-air balloon rides and torch-lit descents, with lunch on the slopes or dinner in a yurt. "Customers arrive after a snowmobile ride, and then we can arrange an aperitif, a tailor-made dinner or something more convivial like a Savoyard fondue."says Julie Antonioli, the school's marketing manager.
This is a typically mountain way of enjoying the pleasures of the table without fuss, of indulging guilt-free in the pleasures of the mountains. joyfully invigoratingIn the warmth of the day - and the mulled wine too - confidences and laughter are a big part of the success of these events. "The approach to catering is completely different from that offered in town. Participants expect to find the best of the region, with fondues, raclettes, dried meats and more."says Alexandra Pruvost. For her part, Fanny Dunand notes that this desire to taste local specialities can also be combined with more subtle things: "We are lucky enough to have a Michelin-starred restaurant at the Hotel Alpaga. In 80 % of cases, groups ask for a gastronomic evening and a mountain evening. It's a very popular combination."
Tradition and modernity, terroir and lifestyle: this is the same combination that a host of beautiful hotels regularly feature in decorating magazines for their consummate art of rustic chic. Re-invented chalets, Scandinavian furniture, designer objects, soft carpets, wool plaids and animal skins: these establishments create cosy, refined interiors and exteriors, where wood and stone are always the basis, without the form neglecting the off-piste towards the contemporary.
Roots or rustic chic
With the launch, almost 30 years ago, of Les Fermes de Marie, consisting of nine cottages rebuilt using materials from Alpine farms several hundred years oldThe Sibuet Hotels were among the first to develop this art of living, in keeping with its cosy surroundings. It's a spirit that has been expressed in a variety of ways over the years: trendy chic and 'far north' at the Lodge Park in Megève; vintage design and loft-style seminar rooms at the Terminal Neige - Totem in Flaine; a rootsy atmosphere at the Terminal Neige - Montenvers in Chamonix, in harmony with this refuge perched at an altitude of 1,913 m at the foot of the Mer de glace; and finally, elegant, timeless luxury at the Mont-Blanc hotel in Megève.
Since then, new ultra-contemporary hotels have appeared almost every year, often designed by renowned designers who don't hesitate to break the rules to add works of art and shimmering colours to wooden interiors. These include India Mahdavi, at work at the Apogée in Courchevel, and Sybille de Margerie at the Cheval Blanc, the LVMH Group's luxury hotel in Courchevel.
Until now, however, few top-of-the-range chains have ventured onto slopes that are perhaps a little too slippery for managers who are resistant to seasonal fluctuations. Recently, however, some of them have not hesitated to make a few forays into the snowy peaks, such as Barrière, which has been based in Courchevel since 2016, and Four Seasons, which took over management of the emblematic Mont d'Arbois in Megève in 2017. In a younger, trendier vein, the new boutique brand Hyatt Centric has set up in La Rosière, on the French-Italian border. These are groups that, in their own way, embody what makes top-of-the-range mountain hotels so successful: independence of spirit and strong character.
Evian Resort: a major advantage
Intimate, cocooning, top-of-the-range mountain hotels have the drawback of their virtues: they often have limited capacity. In contrast, the Evian Resort shares with the Club Med villages the ability to accommodate large-scale events. Set between the lake and the mountains, the complex comprises the 80-room Hôtel Hermitage and the 150-room Le Royal luxury hotel, set in a vast 19-hectare park. Seminars, conventions, even summit meetings such as the G7 in 2003: the resort is ideal for meetings of all sizes thanks to its 2,100 m² seminar area and its Grange au Lac auditorium, which looks like a chalet set in the middle of a forest and has a capacity of 1,150. Although not at the foot of the slopes, the Evian Resort is only a quarter of an hour from the nearest resort, Bernex, and 45 minutes from the Portes du Soleil. The Evian Resort is also dedicated to well-being. "More and more people are asking for itexplains Maxime Astorgis, Director of Operations in charge of events at the Evian Resort. Companies want to manage their employees' stress."
Disconnection and spiritual elevation
Abandoned barns; a tiny hamlet, Commeire, nestled at an altitude of 1,800 m in the Swiss region of Saint Bernard: it was in these peaceful surroundings that Montagne Alternative developed a retreat for business leaders ten years ago. With the Bcorp label, a worldwide movement promoting humanist and responsible values in the business world, the estate welcomes professionals who are encouraged to think differently about their company's strategy under the guidance of personalities such as the Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard.
Recently acquired by Chateauform', the venue is also ideal for company seminars. completely disconnected. The ten barns, which have been faithfully restored using traditional techniques, house 28 comfortable rooms, organised around communal areas furnished with Chesterfield armchairs. "You're sitting round the fireplace, looking at the mountain and talking, talking like this for hours on endsays Alexandra Pruvost, from Châteauform'. And that's how the world is remaking itself. People need to reconnect with the values of nature, to take a step back and get some perspective."The activities on offer range from yoga and stargazing to snowshoe hikes, sometimes as far as a small chalet where you can enjoy a delicious fondue. After all, just because you're meditative doesn't mean you're any less of a man.
