GENERAL POSITIONING

The Radisson Blu Nice is a large four-star business style hotel sitting alongside the busy seafront road, Promenade des Anglais that connects Nice with the airport which is only 4km away. It is the biggest and closest meeting hotel the airport. The city of Nice is the same distance from the airport as it is from the city centre.

Nice sits on the Bay of Angels on the Côte d'Azur and is often recognised, nationally and internationally, as a resort destination.

Easy access is provided by 100 flight routes including those from 29 European countries. Nice SNCF train station is 5 km away and serves Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Toulon and Ventimiglia just across the Italian border. There are 140 car parking spaces available for those meeting attendees who drive to the hotel.

The Radisson Blu Nice is a venue built for business meetings however, due to its proximity to the beach, the hotel also naturally attracts, and positions itself, towards the leisure market. The roof top pool, restaurant and bar providing facilities for leisure traffic which does not, due to its location, affect meeting taking place at the hotel.

The hotel has a residential look which blends in to other adjacent apartment buildings and offers 331 bedrooms across five categories with all having undergone a recent refurbishment. All 145 standard rooms have a city view so any upgraded rooms including those with a sea view which are considered upgrades, would not initially form part of any room block offered as part of a HCP meeting proposal.

There are11 meeting rooms in total, offering 1400sqms of conference space which can accommodate meeting sizes from 25 in boardroom style to 320 in theatre style in the hotels largest room, the Baie des anges. In addition, 20 bedrooms can also be converted into breakout rooms. The meeting areas on -2 and 7th floors are due for a full refurbishment in 2018.

The hotel has two main restaurants and it is the ground floor Le223 Restaurant that is used for guest buffet breakfasts however, for meeting lunches over 100, the Riviera Suites located on the ground floor will be required or a combination of both for very large meetings.

Fitness facilities comprise of one room offering four exercise machines located on the 7th floor. There are no spa facilities; however, guests do have access to a sauna and hammam. With the pool on the rooftop floor (open seasonally), the location of all facilities means that meeting delegates on the -2 floor would not be exposed to, or distracted by leisure-based activities. The hotel has its own beach but like the other facilities, is not visible to delegate attendees.

Nice is a popular destination for International Healthcare congresses at the Acropolis convention centre including ECMINT (European Society of Minimally Invasive Neurological Therapy) and ESCP (European Society of Coloproctology), a medical device congress. As the hotel offers some of the largest meeting space in the city, it regularly supports association and internal regional meetings and external congress related HCP meetings.

SALES AND MARKETING

The Radisson Blu Nice draws on its beach front location and sea views to position itself to the leisure market but with its number of good size and flexible meeting spaces this hotel demonstrates a strong meetings and events product.

The hotels seafront location is used as the hotels primary marketing imagery on websites and in offline collateral, and will form a lasting impression however, standard rooms are without sea views, and these will be included in external meeting packages, so there is limited exposure to the views when at the hotel for a meeting.

The hotels website homepage uses images from outside the hotel taken at dusk, a bedroom with a sea view and a picture of the rooftop pool looking back along the coastline. Language used in the hotel’s website along with further images of the sea and bay area serve as a constant reminder of its location and its appeal to the leisure market. However, in our opinion, the hotel does have a meetings and business approach and these images should not be a distractor for bookers of healthcare meetings.

The website also provides a picture gallery that offers a further insight into the hotels offering. Professionally presented, they are an even mix of business focussed images and those that would appeal to those wishing to stay at the hotel for leisure purposes.

Sales and marketing collateral is in line with the Radisson Blu Experience Meetings brand guidelines and uses images to further underline the impressive views alongside those of meeting room layouts and details of meeting capacities.

External popular travel websites support the hotels 4-star rating and naturally concentrate on the hotel’s location close to the beach, its leisure facilities and proximity to the centre of Nice.

Typically, the hotel’s social media pages, Facebook and Instagram, carry images of the views across to the beach and leisure-based activities which is more suited to the Meetings, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions Market. The hotel does not have its own LinkedIn page however, Radisson Blu do have a corporate brand page providing an overview of their 300 properties across 69 countries.

LOCATION AND SETTING

The Radisson Blu Nice is a large, four-star business hotel that was purpose built and the exterior has a simple, almost residential look over 8 floors and lobby level.

The hotel sits on the busy Promenade des Anglais and amongst residential apartment properties. The front of the building faces the busy Prom des Anglais road which sits between the hotel and the beach. To the rear are offices and residential buildings mixed in with walkways and the train line. The city centre is also a 20-minute walk from the hotel.

Nice Airport (NCE) is 4 km away and has daily flights to Paris, London and other European cities. Nice SNCF train station is 5 km away and serves Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint Sebastien in Spain. There are 140 car parking spaces available for those meeting attendees who drive.

FIT FOR PURPOSE

Radisson Blu Nice has a positioning in the leisure and the meeting and events markets. Facilities are provided for both group types with large, flexible meeting facilities on the ground and -2 floor sitting apart and self-contained from spaces used by leisure guests such as the pool area on the top floor.

The Radisson Blu Nice provides a contemporary interior and does not attempt to use design features and décor as a way of delivering a luxury and upscale product but does exploit its position opposite the sea for views to attract leisure and business guests.

Radisson Blu created, as part of their core strategy for business meetings, the ‘Experience Meetings’ concept for meetings and events, that is said to harmonise the meetings essentials: breakout rooms, food and connectivity with service, satisfaction and sustainability.

Complimentary Wi-fi is provided and personal details are not required however, for quicker speeds and additional security, a dedicated line can be installed at a cost.

The Acropolis Congress Centre, in the heart of Nice, is a popular choice for healthcare congresses and the Radisson Blu Nice, being one of the larger hotels in Nice, is a strong choice for congress accommodation and related meetings including those attended by healthcare professionals.

FACILITIES

Meetings: There are11 meeting rooms in total, offering planners 1400sqms of conference space which can accommodate meeting sizes from 25 in boardroom style to 320 in theatre style in the hotels largest room, the Baie des anges. In addition, 20 bedrooms can also be converted in to breakout rooms.

The four meeting rooms on the lower floor do not allow or natural daylight but do offer an excellent space for investigator meetings or sales conferences with a plenary room (Baie de anges) for 320 theatre, three breakout rooms of 60 theatre each and the Carre foyer area that can accommodate 160 for sit down lunches or 280 stand up. It is also an excellent location for exhibition stands.

For breakouts, workshops or mid-size meetings the 6 ground floor rooms offer spaces catering from 40 to 130 theatre style. Located off the lobby

There is one more room on the 7th floor which caters for 80 theatre style and with the terrace; this would be a strong option for internal meetings such as brand team and sales force meetings.

Styling in all meeting rooms is functional with carpeted flooring, dark tables and blue chairs offer a simple business focus. The meeting areas on -2 and 7th floors are due for a full refurbishment in 2018 so styling may alter during this time.

Bedrooms: The hotel has 331 bedrooms across five categories and all have undergone a recent refurbishment. All x145 standard rooms have a city view so any upgraded room including those with a sea view are considered upgrades and would not form part of any room block offered as part of an external healthcare meeting proposal.

Standard class rooms provide 27sqm that offer a flat screen TV, air conditioning, tea/coffee and iron and ironing board. The styling is business contemporary with light beige curtains and wood flooring, white bedding, light beige walls and slate grey units and dark chairs.

Bathroom floors and wall are tiled in light beige and come with a bath tub with shower fittings and come with own brand “This Works” toiletries.

Superior rooms are located on higher floors and still with city views and come with added bathrobe and slippers. These rooms, in our opinion, are not likely to be considered luxury or deluxe and, acceptable for allocation to Healthcare professionals if the added amenities are removed however, the Suites and those rooms with a sea view, would represent an upgrade and therefore their allocation to HCPs be considered carefully.

Restaurant: The Restaurant LE223 is located on the ground floor provides guests a place for buffet breakfasts. It features smart contemporary décor with light wooden flooring and tables with views across the road in front of the hotel to the sea.

The Calade Restaurant is located on the roof of the hotel and is well known for the views and offers a Mediterranean but not upscale menu. With light brown wooden flooring and white marble tables, their ambience is bright and is dominated by views across the sea and coastline. Whilst décor is not of a luxurious nature, its use for external healthcare meetings with the views and ambience would suggest a more leisure basis to any meeting related dinner.

Bar: The hotel has three bars.

The 223 Bar Bar is located off the street level lobby and leads to the Le223 Restaurant. A external glass wall allows daylight to further lighten the light beige flooring and white walls and ceiling - décor is modern and contemporary.

The Le Pool Bar and Beach Bar Regence Plage are open seasonally however, no hotel bars would form part of any formal healthcare meeting hotel proposal.

Leisure: Fitness facilities comprise of one room offering four machines located on the TBC floor. There are no spa facilities here however guests do have access to a sauna and hammam. The pool is on the rooftop floor and only open seasonally however, the location of all facilities means that meeting delegates on -2 floor would not be exposed to, or distracted by, leisure-based activities. The hotel has its own beach but like the other facilities, is not visible to delegate attendees.

SERVICE

The hotel provides a Concierge Service via a “One Touch Service” available through guest telephones. Service levels are consistent with a venue appropriate for healthcare meetings and events.

The Radisson Hotel Group is actively involved in the Think Planet scheme and the Radisson Blu Nice is a Green Key hotel which represents an independent third-party audit of each hotel’s practises and actions to protect the environment. Whilst not directly related to Healthcare Meetings, it demonstrates the brands dedication to responsible business activities.

The Radisson Rewards membership programme offers meetings and professionals Points for each booking which leads to complimentary hotel stays and upgrades - this is consistent with other hotel brands and should not be a deciding factor when booking this hotel for a healthcare meeting.

In 2017 the hotel gained the Safe Hotel. SafeHotels is the originator of The Global Hotel Security Standard ©, the only independently recognized hotel safety and security certification standard in the world.

The venue is well known to be located in the tourist destination of Nice. Sea views directly in front of the hotel support this resort-style geographic location. However, the hotel is not located in the centre of Nice city being mid way between the airport and the centre.