Bordeaux
A feast for the senses
BORDEAUX An elegant city with a great gastronomic scene, world class wines and a fantastic urban energy – what’s not to love about Bordeaux? Writer: Dani Redd | Project Manager: Krisha Canlas
Bordeaux
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BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE
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n elegant city nestled into a landscape of sun-kissed vineyards, Bordeaux is a feast for the eyes and the senses. Most parts of the city are a UNESCOdesignated site, making it the world’s largest urban heritage centre. Picture broad, tree-lined avenues and elegant 18th-century facades, ornate fountains and honey-coloured chateaux. Marvel over the Opéra National de BordeauxGrand Théâtre, a neoclassical edifice of
towering columns. But Bordeaux has a modern side too. Local architects are revitalising the city in new and innovative ways. La Cité du Vin is the world’s largest wine museum, contained within a bold curved structure of glass and iridescent aluminium panels. The city has an unrivalled gastronomic scene, thanks to an abundance of delicious local ingredients. It’s renowned for everything from
entrecôtes to cannelés – caramelised brioche-style pastries. Its reputation for delicious fresh oysters stretches back to the days of Pliny the Elder. And a trip to Bordeaux wouldn’t be complete without sampling a glass of full-bodied local claret. Bordeaux is an exciting city with unmistakable joie de vivre. Business travellers will be captivated by its traditional surroundings and energetic atmosphere.
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BORDEAUX
The Business End BORDEAUX IS at the heart of renowned vineyards, including the fertile Médoc and Saint-Emilion. As a result, its economy is centred around the trade of wines – in 2015 there were 7,375 producers in the region. Most years, close to 900 million bottles of wine are produced. The city also has a well-developed tertiary sector and is an important industrial employer, especially in the automotive, chemical and biotechnological industries. Ubisoft, Hermès and Deezer have headquarters in Bordeaux. Tourism is also of great benefit to the city’s economy. In 2018, 6.1 million
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overnight stays were recorded in the city, an increase of 19 percent on 2017. As a port city, Bordeaux is serviced by cruise ships as well as by air – there were 26,200 cruise tourists in 2018, for example. Bordeaux is a well-established MICE hub and popular business tourism destination. It hosts more than 100 conferences a year, making it a major player on the international business travel scene. This success is due to the city’s exceptional R&D centres and fantastic transport infrastructure, which will continue to expand and develop in the future.
FACTS & FIGURES
Languages: French Area: 49.36 km2 (city) Population (2019): 783,081 GDP (2014): $36.4 billion Currency: Euro Time zone: Central European Dialling code: +33 Climate: Oceanic Highest recorded temperature: 41.2˚C
ophorus dmc Meetings & Events in Regional France – Made Easy Incentive Programs – Team Building activities – PCO Social Programs – Meetings – Seminars Corporate Events – Gala Dinner – CEO Meeting – Destination management Services – Themed Parties – Museum Events – Venues sourcing
Thanks to our perfect knowledge of the tourism offer and strong network of carefully chosen local partners, our agency has been developing and implementing, since 2005, unique programs for the business clientele. Mainly oriented towards wine tourism and the design of events in prestigious venues, our expertise in these areas as well as the seriousness of our team will bring you confidence and serenity from the design to the realization of your event.
Request a proposal +33 556 152 609 – Cécile Brichet, MICE Department cecile@ophorus.com – www.ophorus.com
BORDEAUX
In Focus: Bordeaux Exhibition Centre BORDEAUX EXHIBITION Centre bills itself as a place where anything is possible. It has an enviable location in the city centre, on the shores of Bordeaux Lake. This vast complex occupies 84,000 square metres, and is designed for optimal modularity, with three exhibition halls and a new hall, Palais 2 l’Atlantique. The venue also offers around 120,000 metres of outdoor space, making it the perfect
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spot for organising events such as markets and fairs. This means you have the flexibility to customise your event. Palais 2 l’Atlantique has a total surface area of 15,500 square metres, including a reception area, 12 meeting rooms and a vast main hall. This area can be transformed into a conference centre with tiered seating or be made into a series of smaller event spaces with a system of partitions.
Events that have been held recently at the centre include SAE Aerotech Congress, the Aquitaine Agricultural Show, and Vinexpo, a wine expo. The centre offers a team of passionate event organisers to help you create a bespoke event. They can accommodate a diversity of requests relating to set up, catering and spaces. If you’re planning on hosting an event in France, the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre comes highly recommended.
BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE
Cousin & Compagnie, since 1993, Biodynamic, Natural and Bordeaux Fine Wines’ old vintages specialist, welcomes you on their : • Taylor made tastings
• Intimistic Wine Cruises • Exclusive wine dinners
In hidden places of the secret Bordeaux… Cousin & Compagnie, 2 rue du Pas-Saint-Georges, 33000 Bordeaux 05 56 01 20 23 – shop@cousin.fr
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BORDEAUX
Outlook Recommends “An intoxicating cocktail of 18th-century savoir-faire, millennial hi-tech and urban street life, France’s sixth largest city is among Europe’s most exciting and gutsy players” – Lonely Planet
VI N E YARDS AND TO UR S
Rustic Vines Tours
Grape Escapes
Ophorus If you’re looking to explore the wine growing region beyond the city limits, book a tour with Ophorus. The company leads small group and bespoke private tours to the St Emilion and Medoc regions, where the world’s best red wines are produced. Tours include wine tastings, winery visits and sightseeing excursions to local villages. The tours are fully adapted and family-friendly, so children are more than welcome. The company also organises sightseeing tours. Their most popular excursion is to the Arcachon Bay. It takes in Dune du Pyla, Europe’s tallest dune, and a trip to a seafood restaurant in Arcachon town or Cap Ferret.
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Bordeaux Wine Trip
Bordeaux à la Carte
BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE
HOTELS
WI N E SH O P S AND CEL LARS
Le Boutique Hotel Bordeaux
Château Hôtel Grattequina
Cousin et Compagnie
L’Intendant
Château de la Couronne
Millesima
BADIE
Villa Reale
Cave Briau
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BORDEAUX
Bordeaux Convention Bureau We are becoming increasingly committed to organising responsible events. We strive to become an eco-responsible destination in the years to come, a remit extending beyond our events industry. EMEO: How would you say Bordeaux has developed in recent years as a business travel hub and what are the key reasons behind its growing appeal?
THE BORDEAUX Convention Bureau was founded 25 years ago, with a visionary ambition of promoting the city and its surrounding regions as a destination for conventions, seminars, trade fairs and incentives. It currently acts as an interface between local professionals in the business tourism sector, and events organisers, proposed venues and other service providers. It also prepares applications to position the city for national and international conferences. We sat down with Amélie Déchénais, the Manager of the Bordeaux Convention Bureau, to discuss Bordeaux’s potential as a business travel destination. Top: Cyclists crossing Pont de Pierre Bridge
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EME Outlook (EMEO): Since inception, how has the Bordeaux Convention Bureau developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across? Amélie Déchénais (AD): Our primary role is to get national and international events to come to Bordeaux which wouldn’t normally do so. We have to stand out, attract and innovate so that those clients choose us as their destination! We have developed a business strategy for congresses and major professional events. It consists of bringing together institutions and major players in sectors across the city in order to boost our bids to host events, and ensure a high quality, harmonious welcome. We attach great importance to allowing burgeoning sectors – aeronautics, geosciences, robotics, neurosciences and many more – to flourish on our territory by hosting events or conventions.
AD: Voted the best city in the world by Lonely Planet in 2017, Bordeaux is now internationally recognised as a major business destination. Each year, it welcomes more and professional events. Last year, more than 120 congresses were organised in the metropole, 57 of which were international. This added up to a total of nearly 290,000 congress days – an increase of 40 percent on 2018! Bordeaux is an epicentre for innovation. We have more than 60 sectors of excellence. What’s more, we are the city with highest job creation rates in the digital sector, and the metropolis with the highest business growth rate in France. Several reasons explain this growing interest for our city. One is our fantastic transport system and flight connections. The other is our business infrastructure, including a new congress and exhibition hall with a capacity of 6,000, and more than 16,600 rooms in 220 hotels. EMEO: Why, in your opinion, should someone visit Bordeaux? AD: Bordeaux has some fantastic attractions, including the largest UNESCO-designated urban area in
BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE A dinner next to the Garonne is definitely a must-do, at Les Chantiers de la Garonne for instance. A dinner in a wine property is also recommended. EMEO: What trends are transforming the tourism industry in Bordeaux at present? How are you responding to these trends? the world. But nature is at your fingertips with a walk or cruise along the Garonne River. The city is in constant renewal: development of the quays, renovation of the right bank, new districts springing up. To the north, the Bassins à Flot are bringing life back to the old Bordeaux docks. To the south, Bordeaux Euratlantique is gradually becoming the economic heart of the city. The MECA (the Aquitaine ‘economy and culture’ exhibition space), was just inaugurated there in June 2019 to welcome cultural events designed for a business audience. If you wish to escape from the city, you can enjoy a day out at the vineyards, tasting the superb Bordeaux wines. We are also close to the forest and the coast. The Bay of Arcachon, the Arguin sandbars, the Pyla dune, and the cabins on stilts guarantee a real change of scenery. EMEO: Are there any specific attractions, landmarks or places to eat and drink that you would recommend? AD: Bordeaux is the gateway to the southwest and the epitome of the sweetness of life. Wine, cannelés, Aquitaine caviar, oysters... our specialties make Bordeaux a true symbol of the French way of life. Our typical French markets, such as the Halles Bacalan or the Capucins can offer you a glimpse. A tasting in a wine bar could also nicely end your day.
AD: The tourism industry is more attentive than ever to its sustainable development. The Bordeaux Convention Bureau aims to be a powerful driver of this transition, improving the experience for business travellers. Following the next G7 summit in August, Bordeaux has also been chosen with eight other French cities to take part in a pilot programme which aims to extend the existing ISO 20121 certification for sustainable events to sustainable destinations. Various actors of the Bordeaux business tourism sector are endeavouring to be more low impact. For example, Bordeaux Events proposes a carbon footprint for events, while Vatel Hotel is certified ecologically, partly for its rooftop solar panels. EMEO: How do you see Bordeaux developing as a business travel hub over the next year or two? AD: We just inaugurated a brand-new exhibition and convention hall, the Palais 2 l’Atlantique. Bordeaux now has the second largest Exhibition Centre in France, outside Paris. It has a capacity of 6,000 and 50,000 square metres of exhibition space, bolstering
Bordeaux’s capacity to compete with other major cities for conferences, conventions and trade fairs. Our business infrastructure is continuing to develop. There will be new convention centres and 750 new hotel rooms available by 2021, as well as a new tram line between the airport and city centre by the same date. The Metropole has a clear strategy to make Bordeaux an essential, perfectly adapted hub for business tourism. EMEO: Are there any plans or projects in the pipeline that you wish to highlight? AD: The Bordeaux Convention Bureau just launched the observatory for business tourism. Almost 40 major operators in Bordeaux’s business tourism sector are involved, including convention centres, accommodation providers and venues for large-scale events, national research centres and much more. This observatory aims to improve the Bordeaux metropolitan area’s attractiveness in the professional events sector. We are also developing a welcome pack to ensure a high-quality welcome of our clients. It will include public transport tickets, information about local events and accommodation lists. EMEO: Are you optimistic about the future of the tourism industry in Bordeaux? AD: Of course! It’s fascinating to work in a constantly growing and innovative city such as Bordeaux. You should come and visit us! Bordeaux Convention Bureau Tel: +33 (0)5 56 52 53 11
Palais 2 l’Atlantique
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BORDEAUX
Transport Links AS AMÉLIE Déchénais, the manager of the Bordeaux Convention Bureau says, “it is easier than ever to get here, thanks to one of the fastest trafficgrowing airports in France”. Bordeaux Airport currently serves 109 direct destinations. In 2018 it saw 6.8 million travellers. Bordeaux is also connected to other cities in France and Europe by high 12 | EME Outlook issue 33
speed rail services (the TGV). Over 20 trains per day run between Bordeaux and Paris, a journey which takes two hours. Brussels can also be reached in four hours – there are 15 trains a day. The city has an efficient and userfriendly transport system, Transports Bordeaux Métropole (TBM). It consists of three tram lines and 80 bus lines, allowing you to visit all
major landmarks. Plenty of taxis are available. But public transport isn’t the only way to see the city. Try renting a bicycle or taking a river cruise along the glassy waters of the Garonne River, which bisects the city. “By bike, bus, motorbike sidecar, Citroën 2CV... we offer plenty of creative possibilities to discover our region!” Déchénais says.
BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE
Landmark Attractions LA CITÉ DU VIN
PLACE DE LA BOURSE
“The complex world of wine is explored in depth at ground-breaking La Cité du Vin, a stunning piece of contemporary architecture resembling a wine decanter on the banks of the River Garonne. The curvaceous gold building glitters in the sun and its 3,000 square metres of exhibits are equally sensory and sensational” – Lonely Planet
“Place de la Bourse is one of the most impressive architectural sights you can see in Bordeaux. It faces the Garonne River and features a wide-open plaza with a central fountain and reflecting pool” – Culture Passport
MARCHÉ DES CAPUCINS
THE CATHÉDRALE ST-ANDRÉ
“Marché des Capucins, also known as the “belly of Bordeaux”, is the largest market in Bordeaux. You will find bakers, snack bars, restaurants, caterers, cheese, florists, wine merchants, oystergrowers, fishmongers but also organic regional products as well as food from all over the globe, fruit and vegetables, and olives” – European Best Destinations
“One of Bordeaux’s more ancient edifices, this UNESCO World Heritage site features a Romanesque wall from as far back as 1096. It’s also where 13-year-old Eleanor of Aquitaine married her first husband, King Louis VII, in 1137, and where fodder was stored during the French Revolution” – AFAR
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Business Travel Guides joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 676 jordan.levey@outlookpublishing.com Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 668 krisha.canlas@outlookpublishing.com Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 682 matt.cole-wilkin@outlookpublishing.com Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 669 w w w. e m e o u t l o o k m a g . c o m