Once a fortified manor house situated in the Combe de Savoie, close to the thermal centre and casino at Challes-les-Eaux, the Château des Comtes de Challes was bought in 2002 by the Trèves family, who own the luxury hotel Les Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850. The family has spent over 2 million euros in transforming the property into one of Savoie’s top addresses, and the château already hosts about 200 corporate events every year. A new concept for 2010 is the marketing of 14 different “gift boxes”, 650 of which have already been sold!

Gérard Trèves can talk for hours about the Château des Comtes de Challes which his family, owners of the Hôtel Les Grandes Alpes in Courchevel 1850, took over in 2002. “At the time, the hotel had nine employees. It served between 8000 and 9000 meals a year and registered somewhere between 3000 and 4000 bed nights annually. We’ve spent more than 2 million euros on renovations to the 54 bedrooms and getting the property up to standard – the château was originally a 3* property but is now a 4* and part of the Châteaux et Hôtels de France network. We now employ 35 people, and in 2009 we served 40,830 meals and registered 18,000 bednights!”

The Château des Comtes de Challes, which is located just an hour away from Lyon, has become one of the trendiest addresses in the Alpine valley and is proving popular with companies for their events. In 2009 there were nearly 200 bookings, ranging from one day work sessions to residential seminars at the château which offers five fully-equipped plenary rooms and three break out rooms with capacity for up to 150 people. Most of the companies were from the Rhône-Alpes, with 20% from Paris or overseas, proof that the Château des Comtes de Challes has achieved its aim of turning the business round.

The hotel, with its swimming pool and lovely terrace, is also renowned for its excellent restaurant under the direction of chef Pascal Colliat, one of Savoie’s most experienced professionals. The combination of all these factors has enabled this beautiful property, situated opposite the Belledonne mountains and Mont Granier, to regain its sense of nobility. Never short of ideas, the Trèves family has also introduced a range of “gift boxes” which are selling like hot cakes.

“We launched the concept during the CE trade show in Lyon,” recalls Gérard Trèves. “Participants voted us the “show’s hot favourite” and the products seem to be popular, as we’ve already sold over 650 of them! A dozen or so companies who benefit from preferential rates with us (up to 20% reduction for business over 10,000 €) have already bought some …”

There are 14 “gift boxes” in total. The basic package starts at 67 € for a dinner or lunch for two people, but there is a wide range of options that can be adapted for any budget including a gastronomic evening with accommodation for 269 €, seven nights half-board and four beauty treatments for 1387 €, a parachute jump with overnight accommodation and breakfast for one person (423 €), a helicopter flight for two with overnight accommodation and breakfast (480 €)…

Le Château des Comtes de Challes, in Challes les Eaux (Savoie)

info@chateaudescomtesdechalles.com

http://www.chateaudescomtesdechalles.com/challes/index.php?lang=en

Tel.: 00 33 (0)4 79 72 72 72