Méribel, which is one of the prettiest resorts in the 3 Vallées, used not to be particularly interested in the meetings market, unlike other resorts in the region, even though it published a dedicated brochure giving details of some of its facilities. However, the new director of Méribel Tourisme, Fabrice Mielzarek, who has just taken over from Jean-Marie Choffel, is looking to develop business tourism in the resort. In order to achieve his aims and to make Méribel a must for business tourism clients, he now oversees not only the tourist office but also the reservations department. He should also take charge of the Parc Olympique, which offers a number of meeting rooms, during the second half of 2008.
This amalgamation of the various infrastructures will make the marketing of this Savoyard resort much easier, enabling it to react more efficiently to increasing demands for both conference and incentive business. Méribel offers a whole range of excellent facilities including the Parc Olympique de la Chaudanne which has one main meeting room for 300 people and six small break-out rooms for between 14 and 42 people, a 317-seat auditorium next to the tourist office, a 60-seat venue in Mottaret and another room for 30 people at the Altiport, explains Fabrice Mielzarek. The auditorium with its rooms is a very modern facility but, up until now, it has been underused. Our marketing department is now tasked with the job of selling it more actively .
As well as the facilities owned and managed by the resort, Méribel also boasts a number of excellent hotels several of which are very active on the business tourism front. The resort offers a total of 37,200 tourist beds including, more specifically, 2200 hotel beds. Most of these are in the Chaudanne area, close to the Parc Olympique, which has a flexible 190 m2 space for 150 people, 12 smaller rooms measuring between 19-56 m2 and a lodge area which can be used exclusively for evening events; the Allodis located at the Altiport with its three rooms: 90, 50 and 40 m2; the Mont Vallon in Mottaret (one room of 130 m2 and two break-out rooms measuring 20 and 25 m2 ; the Orée du Bois at the Rond-Point des Pistes (a 20-seat room) ; and the Alpen Ruitor in Mottaret (40-seat room).
The resort’s facilities are pretty comprehensive, enabling it to respond positively to most requests. What’s even more evident is that Fabrice Mielzarek is set on pushing the destination to the forefront: We’re going to employ all the necessary resources, including the personnel, to make this work. Having established the services, we’re now going to participate at various specialist tradeshows. We’ve already had some success, attracting large companies such as Roche, Bayer, Merck, Givenchy and LVMH who’ve chosen Méribel for their events this winter .
The resort is also banking on its famous advertising Festival, which takes place between 11 and 16 December and attracts 900 industry professionals, to spread the word. All the rooms at the Parc Olympique will be in use over this period, and the skating rink will be transformed into a venue for the gala dinner for 350 participants…
As far as rates are concerned, the largest of the Chaudanne rooms (Parc Olympique) can be rented for 535 euros per day, 250 euros for a morning,300 euros for the afternoon and 535 for an evening from 7pm to 4 am. For the other rooms, prices range from 120 to170 euros per day, 70 to100 euros for a morning or afternoon, and 100 to152 euros for an evening. The auditorium located next to the tourist office works out at 765 euros per day, 385 euros for a morning or afternoon, and 460 euros for an evening from 7 pm to midnight. There are another three rooms, with capacity of between 20 and 60, next to the tourist office with prices ranging from 70 euros for half a day for the smallest to 170 euros per day for the largest).
Méribel Tourisme, in Méribel (Savoie)
Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 79 08 60 01
