Business Hotel in Paris
 

I am planning a business meeting for about 50 poeple in Paris in February. Can anyone recommend a good hotel that is not outrageously expensive. I need a conference room that can hold the 50 people. If we need to have people sleep in 2 different hotels that would be fine.

Central Paris would be preferable, but around La Defense would be ok as well.

Thanks for all your help http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

We had a very successful meeting for about 40 people at the Hotel Concorde-St. Lazare in April 1999. Not outrageously expensive (by Paris standards; Paris is not cheap), more character than modern chain hotels. Only drawback is its location directly in front of the St. Lazare railroad station, but that was never a real problem. (The person we worked with has since left, or I'd give you her name.) See their Web site at http://www.concordestlazare-paris.com/.

Two possibilities would be the Concorde Lafayette and the Meridien Etoile. They're both big business hotels at Porte Maillot, which is adjacent to the peripherique (Paris Beltway) and just a few minutes by taxi or metro to La Defense. They also provide great access to CDG -- there's an Air France bus every 15-20 minutes from CDG to Porte Maillot.

The Meridien Etoile is a little expensive. If you don't mind staying at the airport the CDG Hilton is really nice and is only a short metro ride from downtown Paris. If not then the Renaissance hotel in La Defense is really nice

> Concorde Lafayette

I'll 2nd this recommendation!

-doug

With due respect to PSU Lion, I would strongly caution against the CDG Hilton. Using public transportation, it's a long ride from Paris (at least 45 mins, and 60 mins or more from La Defense) and it's on the suburban train (RER) line, which has been growing increasingly unsafe, especially at night. The situation has grown so bad that the RATP (who operate the RER trains) recently decided to close off all but the front cars of the trains in the late evening, so that riders would not be less isolated and susceptible to thefts/assaults.

Would the Paris Hilton be so much in February? I think not. I would even try the Marriott Champs D'Elysees to see what they charge.

Or try the Novotel Les Halles, or one of 3 Sofitels in centre or La Defense.

Renaissance La Defense (while we were there for pleasure) was really fine. It is not inconvenient as I feared it might be. Just a few metro stops past the Arc de Triumphe right in the business district.

The Renaissance La Defense is a nice hotel, but I have not done a conference/big meeting there. It is very convenient with the RER station just the other side of the plaza.

Wow http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif Thanks for all your help. I have my assistant checking out all your recommendations. Once the meeting is booked I'll let you all know what I decided and then post a trip report in Feb.

I love this board http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

Don't the Hiltons give you lots of HHonors bonus points for planning meetings in their facilities? Might be worth the inquiry.

All the major hotel programs award points for meetings, be sure to ask.

The metro (RER) ride from the airport at night can be bad but the taxi ride is not that expensive and a bus can be easily chartered. I have put on dozens of meetings here and use the CDG airport Hilton all the time. When we have meetings we tend not to see the city much and when we do go it is usually a group excursion to dinner...so what is more important to me is superior meeting facilities which the Hilton CDG has. And the price can't be beat compared to the Concorde LaFayette and the Meridien Etoile.

This just depends on the kind of meeting you are planning. If you are planning a lot of free time to explore the city then forget the CDG Hilton and go to the Renaissance. If you are looking for the best facilities for your $ or Euro and want to have a group dinner in the city then I would still recommend the CDG Hilton and take a group bus tour into the city.

I think I've found an available hotel. We are trying to book at the Hotel Lutetia on Blvd. Raspail in Saint-Germain.

The hotel's site is: http://digital.france.com/hotels/hot...l?HotelID=5112

Has anyone stayed here? Any comments?

Thanks http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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I wish I were 1,000 miles away

Excellent choice! Well done!

The Lutetia is a 1st-rate hotel, and the location is superb. It's in the middle of a very nice commercial/residential neighborhood, just a short walk to lots of attractions (St-Germain-des-Près, zillions of museums). Some excellent restaurants in the immediate neighborhood, and a good department store (Bon Marché) across the street.