If you’re passing by Paris soon, head to the République district to visit or stay at the Crowne Plaza Paris-République hotel, which has recently been revamped. The modern, yet authentic hotel has one of the most beautiful terraces in all of Paris with its breathtaking interior garden. The rooms are comfortable and spacious, a rarity in the City of Light! The place has several conference rooms, which makes it the perfect site to organize professional meetings, but also remains a completely romantic hotel for couples getaways! We spoke with Christophe Charolles, General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Paris-République hotel to learn more about this address of choice and why it is so good to stay there when in Paris!
The hotel has recently undergone a refresh, can you tell us more about the work that has been done?
Much more than a refreshment, the hotel has undergone major transformations: the reception and bar once dark and old, have become modern and airy. Today, our customers enjoy a perfect space to work, eat and spend pleasant moments with friends, family or colleagues. A large part of the rooms have also been renovated, thus offering more comfort and adopting a more contemporary decoration.
And to reduce our energy and water consumption, we have invested a lot in work that is not visible. The Crowne Plaza Paris-République took the opportunity to install more efficient equipment (heating and air conditioning and hot water tanks, for example) which improves the comfort of our customers on a daily basis. The new windows, in addition to being more insulating, better protect the rooms from street noise.
In addition to tourists, the Crowne Plaza Paris-République seems to be perfectly equipped to host business conferences. Does this kind of clientele represent a large percentage of business for you?
We are fortunate to have a conference center of 10 rooms (also renovated) with a conference room that can accommodate up to 250 people and the Studio, an intimate and informal lounge. This allows us to have the chance to accommodate many business customers (about 50%), thanks to our flexible spaces, our location and our 328 rooms and common areas.
Tell us about the sublime interior terrace: what is its history and how has it been so well preserved over the years?
Our indoor terrace is an atypical and rare space in Paris. 1,200m² next to the Place de la République, but immersed in calm and serenity.
The history of the terrace is of course, linked to that of the hotel. It was during the Haussmann works that Gabriel Davioud built this imposing façade. The building opened its doors in 1866 as a department store: les Magasins Réunis. It then reveals behind his walls, the inner courtyard which is then covered and houses a garden and the Myers Circus for some performances. Throughout these years of openings, a Painting Salon and Temporary Exhibitions and then a Bazaar settled in the building.
It was not until 1893 that the “Hotel Moderne Palace” invested in the building and changed the nature of the establishment that the terrace was then installed on the 1st floor so that the shops could continue their activities on the ground floor.
In 1979, the hotel underwent major transformations and became Holiday Inn, then Crowne Plaza Paris-République in 2009.
The terrace was then less and less used and it is during the last renovation work in 2019 that the director of the hotel, Christophe Charolles, decided to utilize this space as a summer catering point.
What are the signature dishes of the cuisine of the restaurant Le 10?
The menu of the restaurant Le 10 changes every season, but some dishes return every year such as snacked scallops, langoustine risotto, strawberry-basil panacotta or sharing boards. The hotel’s interior terrace currently welcomes guests for lunch and dinner until the end of the summer. During the opening of La Terrasse Du Crowne Plaza, the restaurant was closed. Some of the dishes are cooked on the plancha directly on the terrace. At the moment the snacked octopus is the chef’s specialty.
The rooms are comfortable and spacious for a hotel in the heart of Paris, what do you think makes them so special for guests?
Indeed, the rooms are particularly spacious. Some of the Deluxe rooms even have 2 double beds, which is appreciated by families. The other rooms in this category, as well as the Executives, have a very cozy and excellent quality king size bed.
What allows customers to feel really good is the welcome they receive. Our team is really attentive, very caring, available and responsive. This allows our guests to fully enjoy their stay, their meeting, and discover Paris.
And finally, what do you think is a must-see in the République district?
A lot of things! One of the major advantages of the hotel is its hyper central location. It is a concentrate of trendy neighborhoods that can be quickly reached on foot:
- The Canal Saint Martin for typically Parisian walks, the oldest market in Paris, Le Marché des Enfants rouge.
- The Marais for galleries, bars and shops.
- Oberkampf also for local bars.
