Service providers
From caterers to gastronomic restaurants, rental cars to helicopter trips, science and technology parks to castle meeting rooms, Rhone-Alpes region has a wide range of services for organizing professional trips and meetings.
It is extremely rare to see potential rival professionals join forces to promote their destination: in fact so rare that it is worth highlighting. La Clusaz, at the heart of the Aravis mountains and a short distance from Annecy, has been doing just that since 2008. A number of the local professionals based in La Clusaz have got together in order to offer a shared service and to develop joint ...
Fairly low profile up to now, the Vercors Aventure agency based in Villard-de-Lans is beginning to establish itself as one of the main meeting and incentive operators in the Rhône-Alpes. In order to deal with its growing business, the agency has recently opened a specialist department called Vert et Blanc Organisation. In the Autumn, it might even take over another Isère-based events organiser.
The Grand Cercle, one of St-Etienne's stylish historic venues, was re-opened for business by GL Events at the beginning of 2008. It was originally built in 1840, close to the city's Hôtel de Ville, and has now been completely renovated to host groups of 250 people for a sit-down meal and 300 delegates for a seminar. After several months working alongside a caterer, the management has decided ...
On 7 November last year, Jean-Paul Pignol opened for business right at the heart of Grenoble. Within the prestigious setting of the Sainte-Cécile convent, situated in the middle of the antique dealers' district, he opened a restaurant and shop. The convent, renovated by Éditions Glénat who established its headquarters there, also offers a seminar venue within the Sainte-Cécile chapel.
Air France and KLM Global Meetings is a product aimed at all event organisers, offering reductions of up to 47% on flights within France itself. In order to avail themselves of the service's various benefits, organisers just need to register their event on the Global Meetings website no later than two months before it takes place - or no earlier than five years in advance!
Based in Veauche, in the Loire, Établissements Bénier specialises in the luxury end of the car rental business, offering a fleet of chauffeur driven vehicles. It's the sort of product that is becoming more and more popular with companies looking for transport options either for their directors or for when they receive clients or suppliers.
Established back in1936 and bought in 2002 by Florent Vannucci, the famous Grenoble-based caterer La Fine Fourchette made the move last September from its home base to set up shop in Bron. Its decision was influenced by the desire to be closer to regular clients when they're organising events in Lyon as well as to promote its specialist skills, in particular for cocktail parties.
Opened for business in March 2007 on the shores of Lac de Divonne, right on the Franco-Swiss border, Le Rectiligne is a gastronomic restaurant that takes seminar groups. Its chef, Bruno Tucheu, previously worked under Pierre Gagnaire. In the winter months, business tourism represents almost half of its clientele.
Established on the meetings and congress market since 1993, Château de Montchat (named after an area of Lyon) promotes itself as one of Lyon's most discreet venues. Despite its low-key approach, it offers 12 halls and rooms and can host groups of between 10 and 150 people.
Located in the Haute-Savoie, just 10 minutes from the centre of Geneva, this is a 11,000m2 sports complex that is also making inroads into the seminar and team building sectors. In response to demand from companies, since 2005 it's been able to offer four meeting rooms for between 15 and 100 people together with the possibility of offering accommodation in a neighbouring ...