The superbly positioned Radisson Blu Lyon re-opened its doors on 1st October 2016. This stylish and contemporary hotel, located on the upper floors of Lyon’s iconic Part-Dieu tower, known locally as ‘Le Crayon’, offers a unique place to stay, with truly breath-taking panoramic views of the city’s historical quarter, the French Alps and Mont Blanc. Following a program of investment valued at EUR 40m, the Radisson Blu Lyon provides the ideal place to stay for guests on business or leisure. Upon entering the lobby, guests are welcomed by the striking, 18-meter high light installation, showcasing the atrium under the building’s glass roof. At the stylish bar on the 32nd floor, Erik Wood, CEO of Eventonline, had a chat with Thierry Pecorella, the General Manager of the hotel.
“When you close a property for three years and you re-open after renovation works you can say you opened a brand new hotel”, states Thierry Pecorella. “We opened doors again in October 2016 after 33 months of renovation. All spaces were fully transformed: the 245 rooms, the restaurant, the bar and all conference facilities. The only thing that we kept is the magnificent view,” jokes the GM.
And he surely tells the truth. The view is just stunning, but so is the hotel. All 245 stylish and modern guest rooms boast superb panoramic views of the city, and provide all of the comfort and technology a guest could need, including free high-speed, wireless Internet. In line with the rest of the hotel, guest rooms have been designed with a theme of the sky and light. Décor is neutral with color splashes of violet or saffron, elegant furniture pieces with rounded and harmonious shapes are featured, and headboards, illuminated by soft, warm tones are adorned with cloud patterns. In tribute to the history and heritage of the city of Lyon, each room includes a specially woven framed silk.
“As guidelines for the gigantic makeover, we used the idea that our guests should have memorable moments at our hotel. Indeed, when you enter such an iconic building as ‘Le Crayon’, you have high expectations. And that’s what we want our guests to experience, sheer memorable moments,” says the General Manager.
The hotel’s meeting space is located on the 32nd floor, benefitting from natural daylight throughout, stunning 360-degree views, and offering high-tech equipment. The 11 flexible meeting rooms, spread over 500 sqm, can be customized to welcome groups of up to 350 guests for any meetings, conferences or private events. “Rooms offer an exceptional and unique space, great connectivity with fast and free Wi-Fi, supported by the operational expertise of the hotel team to guarantee a quality event,” adds Thierry Pecorella.
Moreover, the ‘Celest Restaurant’, with its incredible view over the cityscape, offers an exciting new and exceptional setting for business events as well. The hotel’s Executive Chef, Fabrice de Flue is a chef with Michelin 2-star experience. “It’s the least you can expect from a hotel in the culinary center of France.” Indeed, stylishly designed with breath-taking views, Celest Bar & Restaurant reinvents the dining experience. Influenced by a nomadic spirit, the restaurant offers a ‘cuisine du voyage’, inspired by international flavors and embarks its visitor for an extraordinary culinary journey. Celest brings together a multitude of gastronomic experiences, enabling guests to consume in the way they want – throughout the day, a beautiful concentration of culinary experiences is offered. The escapism not only occurs on the plate but also in the journey between the kitchen and the dining room, reflecting the free spirit of travel. The restaurant’s seasonal menu, based on fine local products and spiced up by international flavors offers a range of signature dishes, creatively served.
Open from morning until night, Celest Bar is the newest place in Lyon for people to meet for business or pleasure. Set around a unique oval counter, the bar has a pure linear working plan. The atmosphere is ideal for after-work drinks and cocktails, wine tastings and evenings out with friends.
Also, the location of the hotel is perfect for business meetings. “We are easy accessible from the airport, hardly 30km away and the train station is at walking distance,” says the GM. “Lyon is only 2 hours from Paris by TGV and Brussels just four.”
Besides, the hotel has its own car parking with valet service as Erik Wood experienced when he arrived. “An excellent service indeed. What surprised me most was the reception desk at the 32nd floor. The room I got was perfect with an impressive panoramic view on the old city. You can even spot the Mont Blanc if the sky is crystal clear. Dinner at the Celest Restaurant was excellent. I had a lobster soup and Limousine meat with veggies and mousseline mashed potatoes, accompanied by a Chateauneuf-du-Pape quality wine by the glass. My stay at the highest hotel of Europe on top of Lyon city was without doubt a very memorable one.” – Wood Approved.