"Come and discover Europe's largest conference hotel".. It's certainly difficult to verify, but the invitation issued by the Accor group to celebrate the changeover of Le Méridien Montparnasse to the Pullman banner has the merit of setting the scene: there's room in "the largest hotel in Paris".. And plenty of space too: 953 rooms, 300 meals served in the main restaurant and, above all, 49 (!) meeting rooms spread over more than 4,200 m2, capable of hosting events for up to 2,000 people.
You'll have to get used to it: the legendary Méridien Montparnasse is no more, making way for the Pullman Paris Montparnasse. The handover of power between the two competing chains took effect on the morning of 7 January, with dozens of small hands employed to clean up the signage and affix the Pullman image throughout the hotel's 25 floors, from the sign on the façade to the last fabric coaster in the last suite. Once installed in its new premises, the brand immediately rolled out all its standards, from Roger&Gallet products in the rooms to free WiFi and the introduction of the Pullman service. "WelcomersThese employees are dedicated to welcoming customers as soon as they walk through the front door.
The quiet break
This acquisition is being celebrated with the sound of legitimate trumpets. Two years after the takeover of the Hilton Suffren, now the Pullman Paris Tour Eiffel, the conquest of this other icon of the Paris business hotel scene represents a further step forward in the establishment of a brand that already has 52 hotels worldwide and 14 in France, just three years after its launch. The brand's arrival in Montparnasse seems logical, but it was not obvious. "When Méridien's contract expired, the whole world of top-of-the-range hotels got in on the act. But our project won us over, because we're specifically geared towards business travellers, with an emphasis on friendliness and hospitality".Denis Sappey, Managing Director of Pullman France, is particularly pleased to see this giant of the MICE industry join its Paris catalogue: "Until now, none of our establishments in the capital could host conventions or very large-scale events. Now we can associate our brand with these types of meetings"..
The grand hôtel de Montparnasse, 85% of which is occupied by business customers, is not destined to change its destiny: "the large conventions and conferences sector remains essential for this hotel. It is its life".said Jean Ricoux, hotel manager, during the inauguration. "official"March 10. Renovation of rooms and communal areas, work on comfort features such as heating and air conditioning: Pullman is announcing a number of further improvements between now and the end of 2011, but overall, the change of name is more of an evolution than a revolution.
The same goes for human resources: from the front desk to room service, we're taking the same people and carrying on, with, in the process, a major operation to make our teams aware of the requirements of the new label. Apparently, at least in the kitchens of Justine, the hotel's main restaurant, the handover seems to have gone very smoothly: "Of course, we have been trained to Pullman brand standards. But, for the time being, no one has forced us to change our gastronomic offering, which is perfectly suited to our clientele".says one of the employees. Before concluding with a half-smile: "What we were proposing before was good, but what we'll be proposing afterwards will be very good...".. Something to console all those nostalgic for Le Méridien...
Practice
The Pullman Paris Montparnasse has announced 4,215 m2 of modular meeting space, divided into 49 lounges for events ranging from 10 to 2,000 participants. The main space is the Grand Modigliani room: up to 2,000 participants in theatre style and 1,330 in banquet format. The names of the lounges pay homage to the heyday of Montparnasse: Picasso, Cocteau, Aragon, Chagall... In addition, 24 rooms are available. "duo" can be converted into meeting rooms (for up to 10 people).
Pullman Paris Montparnasse - 19, rue Commandant René Mouchotte - 75014 Paris
Tel: 01 44 36 44 36
Fax : 01 44 36 47 00
E-mail : h8189@accor.com
Internet : www.pullmanhotels.com
