A new hotel in Lyon’s Cité Internationale

From the beginning of November the Cité Internationale will offer another hotel brand, in addition to the Hilton, with the opening of Concorde Cité designed by Renzo Piano. This 3-star hotel is part of the Concorde chain, which was sold by the Taittinger family to the Starwood group in September 2005, and which offers 164 rooms including five suites (54 m²⁾ and 12  superior rooms (34 m²⁾, a bar, a restaurant with high quality hot and cold buffets, a flexible conference space (96 m²⁾, a private roof terrace overlooking the Parc de la Tête d'Or and the river Rhône, and a car park with about 50 spaces.

"We are really a 3-star hotel offering 4-star standards," explains Patrick Souliez, the property's general manager. "All of our rooms have a view, either the river Rhône or the Parc de la Tête d'Or. They are all equipped with a flat screen TV, internet connection, free wireless access, a safe, a mini-bar and a seating area.  We'll also be offering a small business centre, approximately 30m², equipped with computers, printers and internet access, where about 15 people can work."

Patrick Souliez, who has worked for the Concorde group for 15 years, highlights another special feature of the Concorde Cité : "Twelve of our rooms can be turned into break-out rooms during the day enabling companies to organise small conferences or business meetings."

The Concorde Cité will strengthen Lyon's range of hotel options especially during the larger international conferences involving thousands of delegates which take place in the neighbouring Centre de Congrès or during the big trade shows organised at Eurexpo.  Clearly the hotel will mainly target business clients, in particular from overseas.  With less than a month to go before the hotel opens, Patrick Souliez is delighted to report that he is already fully booked for 83 days in 2007. 

Prices start at 220 € for a room and 380 € for a suite, although special rates can be negotiated at certain times.  A study day, including welcome coffee, two refreshments breaks and lunch costs from 60 € per participant.

Already the Concorde Cité seems set on the road to success which is good news for the Lyon-based investor who financed the project to the tune of 23 million euros.  It is worth noting that Concorde also runs the Lutétia and Crillon hotels in Paris, the Martinez in Cannes, the Palais de la Méditerranée in Nice and the Hôtel de la Paix in Geneva.