Among its group offerings, the SNCF has just revised its proposal MICE designed for companies and event agencies that need to manage travel for a seminar, convention, reward trip, product launch, etc. The railway company handles requests from 10 people upwards that may require the privatisation of all or part of one or more carriages in 1era or 2nde class, until thechartering an entire TGV for 250 people or more. " There are more and more requests, particularly for CSR issues. "confides Véronique De WiestThe Head of Communications and Sales Channels in the TGV/Intercités Group Travel Division.
Thanks to a much better carbon footprint for trains than for planes, this department has observed an increase of 70% in car privatisations in 2023/2024 and 54% in the number of special TGVs. Véronique de Wiest added: " Our strength lies in offering a travel experience that starts at the station, in the city centre. ". The group service offers a choice of made-to-measure services such as a welcome by a hostess at a counter in front of the platform, a welcome cocktail on the platform for a special TGV, baggage handling, branding in the colours of the company or the event (banner, headrest, window sticker, etc.), workshops or events on board during the journey and transfers to the final destination. " It all depends on the number of people and your budget. "she sums up.
Dishes from a Michelin-starred chef for catering on long journeys
Compared to a normal TGV journey, companies obviously have their own requirements, looking for the best value for money. top-of-the-range services. To cater for this, passengers will now be able to enjoy small cold dishes concocted by Frédéric Simonin, a Michelin-starred Parisian chef and Meilleur ouvrier de France in 2019. The meal is presented in a china set, accompanied by a cheese platter, a choice of wines and tea/coffee.
This meal served at the restaurant requires a minimum journey time (3 hours) from Paris to Marseille, ToulonToulouse, CannesNice or MonacoThe principality is only served by special TGV trains. The SNCF works actively with the Convention Bureaus in these cities, and in particular with the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in Cannes, the convention centres in Mandelieu-La-NapouleAntibes-Juan-les-Pins and Nice, which has had a new facility built on the Vieux Port for the past month. Demand is all the stronger on the Riviera, with Nice and Cannes having renovated and expanded their 4 and 5-star hotels. In winter, Bourg-Saint-Maurice station is also a sought-after destination for MICE operations in the mountains, such as the BigBoss events.
4 to 8 months' lead time
The capacity of a TGV Duplex is up to 90 people per carriage in 2nde class or 60 in 1era (with 22 seats at the bottom and 38 at the top). However, event agencies and companies will need to be very careful when choosing their seats.anticipation to take advantage of the transport possibilities offered by the SNCF's Voyages Groupes service. Around 4 months, before the opening of individual sales, for the privatisation of one or more carriages. And 6 to 8 months for a Special TGV, whose trainset will have to be inserted into high-speed train traffic. This offer is marketed not only in France, but also on foreign markets, as far afield as the United States and Australia, in particular with the help of Atout France.
