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Business trip to Paris? Pourquoi pas? (Why not?) There are few other commands that light on the eyes of a business traveler visiting the French capital.
Business trip to Paris? Despite declining economic growth in the eurozone, a record 88 million travelers passed through the town of Charles de Gaulle and Orly in 2011. To this day, the City of Light remains the world's most visited city - and almost half of the visitors (45%) are there on business.
Paris is in a constant state of renewal, and recent additions and upgrades to the city airports and hotels reflect the intention to remain a premier business and leisure destination. For example, in June 2012 Air France opened the light, airy, 580-million-euro satellite S4 boarding area at Charles de Gaulle airport, including the carrier's largest business class lounge, a Clarins spa and plenty of room for six giant Airbus A380 treat aircraft.
The center of town is built on an east-west axis, bisected by the River Seine. Major business centers are located in La Défense, a district of skyscrapers and headquarters in the northwest of the city, and on the left (south) bank of the Seine, near the Eiffel Tower, the most public and semi-public institutions. The central core of the town, on the right (north) bank of the Seine is home to fashion houses, banks, department stores, most major hotels and embassies.
Business trip to Paris? Despite declining economic growth in the eurozone, a record 88 million travelers passed through the town of Charles de Gaulle and Orly in 2011. To this day, the City of Light remains the world's most visited city - and almost half of the visitors (45%) are there on business.
Paris is in a constant state of renewal, and recent additions and upgrades to the city airports and hotels reflect the intention to remain a premier business and leisure destination. For example, in June 2012 Air France opened the light, airy, 580-million-euro satellite S4 boarding area at Charles de Gaulle airport, including the carrier's largest business class lounge, a Clarins spa and plenty of room for six giant Airbus A380 treat aircraft.
The center of town is built on an east-west axis, bisected by the River Seine. Major business centers are located in La Défense, a district of skyscrapers and headquarters in the northwest of the city, and on the left (south) bank of the Seine, near the Eiffel Tower, the most public and semi-public institutions. The central core of the town, on the right (north) bank of the Seine is home to fashion houses, banks, department stores, most major hotels and embassies.
Business trip to Paris?
Hotels
Elegant
Business trip to Paris? Paris has long been home to some of the biggest names in the world when it comes to elegance hotel: Le Bristol has a beautiful courtyard, the Hotel Crillon overlooks the prestigious Place de la Concorde, Georges V has a rich history of hosting celebrities, Le Meurice is also known as the "Hotel of Kings", the Plaza Athénée is the center of haute couture in the city scene, and Le Royal Monceau has new interiors by Philippe Starck. They all infused with the legendary five-star opulence and luxury, and have kept up with the times with frequent revamps, facelifts and upgrades. Even the Ritz-Paris, perhaps the city famous luxury hotel, closed earlier this year for an unprecedented two-year renovation.
Happen on the heels of the established five star Parisian players are two newcomers from Asia. The elegant 81-room Shangri-La Hotel opened in 2010 under the embassies and mansions in the Trocadero district, after a four-year renewal of a building that was once the residence of Roland Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon. Almost half of the rooms face south with breathtaking views over the Seine to the nearby Eiffel Tour. Room decor, service and restaurants are a blend of Europe and Asia - for example, guests can enjoy foie gras and a glass of wine on his chic, two Michelin-starred French restaurant L'Abeille, or order congee (a thin rice porridge served sweet or savory) for breakfast in the hotel Shang Palace, where authentic Chinese cuisine. It is one of the few five-star hotels in Paris, which offers free Wi-Fi.
Very close to Place Vendome, a brand new, 138-room Mandarin Oriental opened in June, offering some of the largest in the city, modern rooms and suites, and a spa with a 15m indoor pool. For the day crowd, hotel chef cook Thierry Marx offers a quick 55-minute lunch for 55 euros at Camelia - where fashionistas gather to dine outside on warm days.
Sharp
The brand new W Hotel Paris Opera is located on the front of tense in Paris. The hotel is housed in a beautifully restored Haussmann-era building in the city center, this 91-room hotel offers what W guests all over the world have come to expect from the hip Starwood brand - a trendy scene in the lobby interrupted by a deep bass beat from a DJ, quirky extras in the room, such as pillows adorned with caricatures of famous French men and women, hangover remedies in the mini-bar, and an exciting new Catalan tapas restaurant Arola. For more business-minded travelers, Wi-Fi in the lobby is free, the hotel has two modern meeting rooms, and a bright gym on the top floor. The W is centrally located next to the beautiful Beaux-Arts-style Opéra Palais Garnier (ask for a room facing it) and easy access to several subway lines located.
The building may be old, the attitude and the decor is hip, young and fashion forward at the 30-room Le Bourg Tibourg Hotel. Centrally located in the bohemian Marais district offers free Wi-Fi in the cozy, richly decorated room via an iPad borrowed from reception.
Completed in 2006, the ultra-modern, ultra-luxurious, 107-room Hotel Fouquet's Barriere on the Champs-Elysées is an extraordinary amalgamation of five buildings around a courtyard, with rooms decorated in rich velvet, leather and even shark skin. In a nice touch, wi-fi and a number of mini-bar items are free.
Business travelers eager to earn Marriott Rewards points can opt for the modern, 118-room Renaissance Arc de Triomphe, with an unusual wavy glass façade that stands out on the historic Champs Elysées.
Cost account
For an unforgettable view of the Eiffel Tower when it sparkles in the night, or a light business lunch under a glass roof, book a table at Les Ombres, on the roof of the Musée du Quai Branly. Because what many the best steak frites or steak tartare consider in the town, follow the crowd of meat lovers to Le Severo near Montparnasse. If you really want a Parisian, nab impress a hard-to-get reservation at Frenchie, known for its simple, fresh cuisine prepared by chef Gregory Marchand cook, and served in a small room near the Bourse Paris (stock exchange).
The brand new L'Opera Restaurant offers stylish and light meals in a colorful, modern setting that seems to float in the classically styled Opera Garnier. Enjoy minimalist, beautifully cooked food and environment on the super-hot Agape Substance, where the food at the counter encourages interaction with chefs and staff. If you are tired of French food, plush, popular Shang Palace at the new Shangri-La Hotel offers a high-end take on Cantonese favorites like hot cakes pork or Peking duck, and recently earned a Michelin star.
To keep abreast of what is called (or not) on the Paris dining scene, look on the websites of the famous Paris-based foodies like Alexander Lobrano, European correspondent for the now defunct Gourmet magazine, or Patricia Wells, author of The Food Lover's Guide to Paris and former food critic for the International Herald Tribune.
Off the clock
New York City's many celebrated High Line, an abandoned elevated railway line which turned into a popular public park, took his cue from Paris Promenade Plantée, a landscaped walking through the east of Paris, which opened in 1989. This 4.5 km walk, which begins just east of the Opera Bastille, winds above and below ground by shops and gardens along what was once the Vincennes railway. It is open to pedestrians and cyclists, making it a perfect place to experience the hustle and bustle of the city for a walk or jog escape when your meetings are over.
Go local
It is unfortunate that business trips to Paris are good, busy, with never enough time between appointments and flights to a truly local experience. But if you find yourself with a few extra hours, take a walk along the Rue des Martyrs, just down the hill from the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre. This small street is bustling with locals patronizing a diverse range of small, family-run shops specializing in everything from fruit, cheese, chocolate, meat and bread to toys, scarves, jewelry, art or shoes. Looking for the perfect souvenir to bring home? You'll probably find something unique in the Rue des Martyrs.
Do not do this!
Not to greet your French colleagues in the English - speaking French first is considered polite and will help make your trip off to a good start. Before you leave, apps like TripAdvisor Lingo consult websites like French Steps BBC or the Francophones in your business that can help you with basic, good-accented French sentences in business meetings, using the formal honorifics Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle when speaking with your colleagues up early to do anything else.
Elegant
Business trip to Paris? Paris has long been home to some of the biggest names in the world when it comes to elegance hotel: Le Bristol has a beautiful courtyard, the Hotel Crillon overlooks the prestigious Place de la Concorde, Georges V has a rich history of hosting celebrities, Le Meurice is also known as the "Hotel of Kings", the Plaza Athénée is the center of haute couture in the city scene, and Le Royal Monceau has new interiors by Philippe Starck. They all infused with the legendary five-star opulence and luxury, and have kept up with the times with frequent revamps, facelifts and upgrades. Even the Ritz-Paris, perhaps the city famous luxury hotel, closed earlier this year for an unprecedented two-year renovation.
Happen on the heels of the established five star Parisian players are two newcomers from Asia. The elegant 81-room Shangri-La Hotel opened in 2010 under the embassies and mansions in the Trocadero district, after a four-year renewal of a building that was once the residence of Roland Bonaparte, nephew of Napoleon. Almost half of the rooms face south with breathtaking views over the Seine to the nearby Eiffel Tour. Room decor, service and restaurants are a blend of Europe and Asia - for example, guests can enjoy foie gras and a glass of wine on his chic, two Michelin-starred French restaurant L'Abeille, or order congee (a thin rice porridge served sweet or savory) for breakfast in the hotel Shang Palace, where authentic Chinese cuisine. It is one of the few five-star hotels in Paris, which offers free Wi-Fi.
Very close to Place Vendome, a brand new, 138-room Mandarin Oriental opened in June, offering some of the largest in the city, modern rooms and suites, and a spa with a 15m indoor pool. For the day crowd, hotel chef cook Thierry Marx offers a quick 55-minute lunch for 55 euros at Camelia - where fashionistas gather to dine outside on warm days.
Sharp
The brand new W Hotel Paris Opera is located on the front of tense in Paris. The hotel is housed in a beautifully restored Haussmann-era building in the city center, this 91-room hotel offers what W guests all over the world have come to expect from the hip Starwood brand - a trendy scene in the lobby interrupted by a deep bass beat from a DJ, quirky extras in the room, such as pillows adorned with caricatures of famous French men and women, hangover remedies in the mini-bar, and an exciting new Catalan tapas restaurant Arola. For more business-minded travelers, Wi-Fi in the lobby is free, the hotel has two modern meeting rooms, and a bright gym on the top floor. The W is centrally located next to the beautiful Beaux-Arts-style Opéra Palais Garnier (ask for a room facing it) and easy access to several subway lines located.
The building may be old, the attitude and the decor is hip, young and fashion forward at the 30-room Le Bourg Tibourg Hotel. Centrally located in the bohemian Marais district offers free Wi-Fi in the cozy, richly decorated room via an iPad borrowed from reception.
Completed in 2006, the ultra-modern, ultra-luxurious, 107-room Hotel Fouquet's Barriere on the Champs-Elysées is an extraordinary amalgamation of five buildings around a courtyard, with rooms decorated in rich velvet, leather and even shark skin. In a nice touch, wi-fi and a number of mini-bar items are free.
Business travelers eager to earn Marriott Rewards points can opt for the modern, 118-room Renaissance Arc de Triomphe, with an unusual wavy glass façade that stands out on the historic Champs Elysées.
Cost account
For an unforgettable view of the Eiffel Tower when it sparkles in the night, or a light business lunch under a glass roof, book a table at Les Ombres, on the roof of the Musée du Quai Branly. Because what many the best steak frites or steak tartare consider in the town, follow the crowd of meat lovers to Le Severo near Montparnasse. If you really want a Parisian, nab impress a hard-to-get reservation at Frenchie, known for its simple, fresh cuisine prepared by chef Gregory Marchand cook, and served in a small room near the Bourse Paris (stock exchange).
The brand new L'Opera Restaurant offers stylish and light meals in a colorful, modern setting that seems to float in the classically styled Opera Garnier. Enjoy minimalist, beautifully cooked food and environment on the super-hot Agape Substance, where the food at the counter encourages interaction with chefs and staff. If you are tired of French food, plush, popular Shang Palace at the new Shangri-La Hotel offers a high-end take on Cantonese favorites like hot cakes pork or Peking duck, and recently earned a Michelin star.
To keep abreast of what is called (or not) on the Paris dining scene, look on the websites of the famous Paris-based foodies like Alexander Lobrano, European correspondent for the now defunct Gourmet magazine, or Patricia Wells, author of The Food Lover's Guide to Paris and former food critic for the International Herald Tribune.
Off the clock
New York City's many celebrated High Line, an abandoned elevated railway line which turned into a popular public park, took his cue from Paris Promenade Plantée, a landscaped walking through the east of Paris, which opened in 1989. This 4.5 km walk, which begins just east of the Opera Bastille, winds above and below ground by shops and gardens along what was once the Vincennes railway. It is open to pedestrians and cyclists, making it a perfect place to experience the hustle and bustle of the city for a walk or jog escape when your meetings are over.
Go local
It is unfortunate that business trips to Paris are good, busy, with never enough time between appointments and flights to a truly local experience. But if you find yourself with a few extra hours, take a walk along the Rue des Martyrs, just down the hill from the Basilique du Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre. This small street is bustling with locals patronizing a diverse range of small, family-run shops specializing in everything from fruit, cheese, chocolate, meat and bread to toys, scarves, jewelry, art or shoes. Looking for the perfect souvenir to bring home? You'll probably find something unique in the Rue des Martyrs.
Do not do this!
Not to greet your French colleagues in the English - speaking French first is considered polite and will help make your trip off to a good start. Before you leave, apps like TripAdvisor Lingo consult websites like French Steps BBC or the Francophones in your business that can help you with basic, good-accented French sentences in business meetings, using the formal honorifics Monsieur, Madame and Mademoiselle when speaking with your colleagues up early to do anything else.
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