This month, Melia Hotels International will debut Melia Paris La Defense, the largest Four-Star hotel to open in Paris in the past decade. Located in the middle of Paris’ business district, the 369-room hotel is ideal for groups looking to meet near the city’s about 1,500 corporate head offices — 15 of which are part of the top 50 companies in the world.
Jorge Roll, Melia Hotels International’s general director for France, Portugal and Morocco, says the hotel’s location and accessibility are key. Situated in front of the Esplanade water mirror fountain and Greek artist Takis’ “Bright Trees” installation, the hotel offers direct underground connection to the city center via Esplanade de La Defense. The underground station located directly opposite the hotel allows guests to reach famous Parisian attractions such as Champs-Elysees Avenue, famous for its theaters, cafes and luxury shopping; Palais des Congres de Paris, the city’s convention center; and the Opera Garnier, a 1,979-seat opera house. It is also walking distance from one of the city’s biggest shopping malls, Les Quatre Temps.
Not only is the hotel’s location and accessibility convenient, its new design brings contemporary, colorful event spaces to Paris’ meeting scene. Designed by Vasconi Architects in partnership with French interior designer Jean-Phillipe Nuel, the building takes the shape of a boat’s sail and features panoramic views of the city from a variety of spaces. The interiors are equally interesting, designed with soft white and gray hues punctuated by splashes of yellow and gold. Several black and white photos of Paris also highlight the guest rooms and meeting spaces.
The hotel’s 9,000 sf of flexible event space space is complemented by its inviting restaurant and lounges. Located on the first floor, Le Miroir restaurant overlooks the water mirror fountain and allows lots of natural light in with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Its Mediterranean menu has strong Spanish influences with traditional Spanish starters and tapas dishes to share as well as main entrees of fish and beef. The Skyline Paris Lounge & Bar on the 19th floor also features impressive views via massive windows, while offering a cocktail list and a menu of tapas and appetizers as well as live music and DJs — the perfect end to a day of meetings.
Groups looking for teambuilding opportunities can take the cocktail master class at Skyline or enjoy a food and herbs experience at Le Miroir, which allows attendees to understand how and why certain herbs are selected for the restaurant’s Mediterranean menu. The hotel can also organize a guided visit to La Defense Open Air Museum. During the summer, hotel staff can also create a summer barbecue lunch break for groups on the 19th floor.
