Pullman,
Accor’s upscale brand, is revolutionizing the interiors of its five
Parisian hotels, with refurbishments scheduled to last until the
first quarter of 2014.
This
ambitious overhaul, baptized “Pullman Paris Live”, involves the
renovation of over 2,500 rooms and the reinventing of 26,000 m2 of
public areas so the establishments will be even better equipped to
cater for the needs of the brand’s cosmopolitan clientele of
seasoned travelers. After the transformations,
the Paris Pullman hotels (Montparnasse, Bercy, Tour Eiffel, La
Défense and Charles de Gaulle Airport) will showcase the new
approach to upscale hospitality invented by Pullman: an experience
that blends efficiency with pleasure and a lifestyle where business
and relaxation are not inconsistent.
Pullman
unveils its new look in Paris
Pullman
is launching an operation that aims to transform its five Parisian
hotels. All five establishments, which are located in emblematic
districts of the French capital (Montparnasse, Bercy, Tour Eiffel, La
Défense and Charles de Gaulle Airport), are initiating a period of
refurbishment involving renowned architects and interior designers.
This is a unique project involving 30 months of renovations,
the refurbishment of 2,510 rooms and the redesigning of 26,000 m² of
public areas.
Denys
Sappey – Managing Director of Pullman France stated:
“This project represents an unprecedented challenge in the Paris
hotel sector with the virtually
simultaneous refurbishment of five ”heavy weight” establishments.
No hotel brand has ever undertaken renovations on this
scale in as many hotels
in the same city in such a short period
of time. It represents a sizeable investment which is entirely funded
by the hotel owners. We are giving ourselves the means with which to
fulfill our ambitions in the world’s top tourist
destination.”
Several
features have been reinvented - services, interior design, removal of
partitions to expand each space, etc. The aim is to create unique
places in which customers recognize Pullman’s identity through a
series of hallmarks and strong characteristics: comfort, design,
modernity and technology.
An
unprecedented organization system has been deployed so that the
establishments can continue to welcome guests during the
refurbishment period. The renovations will be discrete and
the top priority will be to preserve customer’s well-being and
comfort. As a result, guests will be privy to each hotel’s new look
as the renovationsprogress.
Design
is central to the project
Contemporary
shapes and refined elegance is the aim of the eight renowned interior
designers and architects responsible for Pullman’s new identity in
Paris: Didier Gomez, Marc Hertrich & Nicolas Adnet, JOI Design,
Laurent Moreau, Naço, Christophe Pillet and Didier Rey.
The
establishments have been completely reinvented. The rooms are
brighter and blend comfort with modernity, and the public areas focus
on interaction, providing spaces for work, entertainment and
meetings, etc.
“Our
brand project offers a new approach to upscale hospitality in which
design plays a key role. Whether they are staying for business,
leisure of both, our objective is to offer our guests a cosmopolitan,
vibrant and in style experience. The designer element in our hotels
will be reinforced by the brand’s commitments in the field of
contemporary art,” explains Xavier Louyot – Senior Vice
President,
Global Marketing for Pullman.
Christophe
Pillet, who will be responsible for the design of the Pullman Paris
Tour Eiffel – one of Pullman’s future worldwide flagship
establishments – and of the rooms at the Pullman Paris La Défense,
continues “These renovationsanchor the brand in a
contemporary, audacious and modern reality. Interior design is not a
stance, but a modern-day language that serves the simple, practical,
easy experience offered to guests.”
The
project includes a large-scale information campaign and internal
training program that will last throughout the renovation period.
From the back office to the Welcome Desk, from the kitchen to the
rooms, specific measures will turn the Paris Pullman hotels’ staff
into the real actors of the change, so they know how best to welcome
customers, answer their questions, and offer them a positive
experience throughout this period.
Communication
aimed at customers has also been initiated to accompany the
refurbishment and promote the brand’s differentiating features. A
section on a dedicated website will
highlight Pullman’s specific professions, for example, the
Welcomer, the Event Manager or the Open Kitchen cooks. Photos and
interviews will also be available online.
“It
is vital to involve our customers in the project by opting for great
transparency. We get them to take part by allowing them to see what
the Pullman hotels of the future will be like using several devices
(Website, films, etc.). This challenge has been welcomed warmly by
both our employees and our customers and is proving to be
an excellent means of communication,” declares Denys Sappey.
The
five Paris Pullmans: places to meet
Pullman
is France’s top upscale hotel chain and the plan to renovate its
five Paris establishments aims to provide seasoned international
travelers with a very high quality of service that offers comfort and
the indispensable practical facilities they require. Pullman’s
Parisian hotels offer its business clientele 110 meeting
rooms that can cater for events
involving six to 2,000 people.
In
time, all 75 of the Pullman network establishments will follow in the
footsteps of their Parisian counterparts, offering guests a unique
environment and interior design, in which the brand expresses its
identity through its “signature services”: the Welcomer, the
Pullman bed, Roger&Gallet toiletries, Vinoteca by Pullman (with
its wine card selection chosen specially for France by
Olivier Poussier, the World’s Best Sommelier in 2000), free Wi-Fi
throughout the hotel, Connectivity Lounge by Microsoft®, Nespresso®
experience, Co-Meeting event concept, etc.
