Olympic Games – Paris 2024
Starting at the end of July, sports fans from all over the world will have their eyes on Paris. France's capital will host the Olympic Games from July 26th to August 11th, with a lot to offer a luxury clientele. Here's LuxuryWise's VIP check!
Olympic Games – Paris 2024
Starting at the end of July, sports fans from all over the world will have their eyes on Paris. France's capital will host the Olympic Games from July 26th to August 11th, with a lot to offer a luxury clientele. Here's LuxuryWise's VIP check!
Paris – 2024's Olympic City
There's never a lack of visitors to France's capital, and next summer there will be more than ever thanks to the Olympics. Most of the sporting events will take place in Paris, with other venues including Versailles Palace hosting equestrian events (pictured), Vaires-sur-Marne (rowing), Marseille (water sports), Nanterre (swimming), and Bordeaux (soccer). The Olympic Games have already been held in Paris twice before – once in 1900 and then again in 1924. According to the organizers however, a few things are set to change this year. The biggest one is to the opening ceremony, which has always taken place in a stadium. This year the Seine river will play the leading role, as the grand event will take place on and along the river over a length of six kilometers (3.7mi.). The idea behind this is simple: the Olympic Games and the opening ceremony should be experienced by as many people as possible, so the city is issuing a large number of free tickets. A total of 300,000 spectators are expected – that's five times the capacity of the Stade de France stadium, which is where the closing ceremony will take place on August 11th.
Paris is committed to making the Olympic Games as sustainable as possible. This means that most of the sports facilities already existed before the bid to host the Games. Only essential buildings or amenities have been built anew for the event, which comprises about five percent of the total number of sports facilities. Another environmental plus: all venues can be reached by public transport.
VIP Experiences – Hospitality Programs
This year, Olympic tickets are only available directly from the organizer of the Olympic Games, Paris 2024. The provider, On Location, is exclusively responsible for the hospitality packages, which have been put together in various categories. Clients who want the most luxurious experiences can book the Gold category. This guarantees a high level of service, comfort, and quality of food and drinks in the stadiums and other event venues. The Gold lounges (pictured) feature state-of-the-art equipment, i.e. huge screens and great audio, and private lounges can also be booked.
On Location offers three different types of hospitality packages: Clubhouse 24, On-Site Hospitality, and Travel Packages. Clubhouse 24 is a hospitality venue in the heart of Paris and is not located directly at the sports venues. Only ticket holders have access to Clubhouse 24, which provides food, drinks, and entertainment. On-Site Hospitality, on the other hand, is more luxurious. These luxury lounges are always located directly at the sports venue corresponding to your client's ticket, and it's often possible to watch the competition directly from them. Upscale gastronomy is always included, the setting is elegant, and the entertainment is top notch. On top of that, guests also have the chance to meet Olympic athletes. In addition to tickets, Travel Packages include overnight accommodation and on-site hospitality. Perhaps it's a misnomer, but travel is not included.
Pro tip: clients who opt for the Gold category in athletics will also find special "On the Finish Line" tickets, which offer the best view of the athletes as they cross the finish line. Particularly nice VIP locations are Salon 24 and Lounge Gustave Eiffel, which can be included depending on the package. Salon 24 is located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and is included in the Gold tickets for athletics, among others. Guests have access for the duration of their package, are served French specialties, and can enjoy the additional entertainment. Among other things, Olympic medals will be on display and Olympic athletes will be available for talks. The Salon Gustave Eiffel is located high up in the Eiffel Tower and is the venue for fine dinners in certain hospitality packages.
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Top Events
Opening Ceremony
By far the dramatic change, the big opening event for the Olympic Games in Paris will take place on and along the Seine instead of a stadium. Tickets for this are sold in different categories, and determine the exact location from which you can experience the grand spectacle. On the Gold level, Olympic guests can book so-called Bridge 360 packages, among other things. Instead of sitting on the banks of the Seine, you can sit on the famous Alma Bridge with a cool panoramic view and be right in the middle of the action. A Parisian-style brasserie is set up on the bridge, accompanied by a cocktail-style dinner and live music. Packages including tickets for Olympic competitions can also be booked.
Dressage
The setting alone is very special, as the equestrian competitions all take place on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. Teams from Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Spain, and the U.S. will be competing for the gold medal. The On-Site Hospitality Package Gold for the Dressage Grand Prix Special Team Final event will take place on August 3rd from 10am to 4:30pm local time. Included are tickets for the best Category A seats, as well as gourmet food that features French dishes, high-quality drinks, meetings with Olympic athletes and sports experts, and even a special Olympic souvenir. The Olympic Village in Paris is around 35 kilometers (21.7mi.) away, so plan your clients' transfers accordingly.
Track & Field
It will be an evening with a showering of medals as the Track & Field events reach their culmination. On August 10th, the final competitions of these varied athletic disciplines will take place at the Stade de France. On Location has included this popular sporting event in a travel package. You can watch the medal competitions in the women's 1500 meters, women's 100 meter hurdles, women's 4x400 meter relay, women's javelin, men's 800 meters, men's 5,000 meters, men's 4x400 meter relay, and men's high jump in the hospitality category Gold, Seating Level 1st. Also included are the Closing Ceremony on August 11th, also at the Stade de France, and the Salon 24 with overnight accommodation at the Hotel Bel Ami.
Marseille Marina – Watersports on the Mediterranean
Summer, sun, and sailboats on the Mediterranean, what more could you ask for? The sailing and windsurfing competitions take place in Marseille in the south of France, and it's this very reason why the Marseille Marina has been renovated and modernized for the Olympic Games. When the competitions start, it offers space for 2,262 seated and 10,000 standing places. The medal regattas are particularly popular for water sports. For Marseille, an On-Site Hospitality Package with gold service and Category A tickets can be booked for August 8th, 2024.
Summer, sun, and sailboats on the Mediterranean, what more could you ask for? The sailing and windsurfing competitions take place in Marseille in the south of France, and it's this very reason why the Marseille Marina has been renovated and modernized for the Olympic Games. When the competitions start, it offers space for 2,262 seated and 10,000 standing places. The medal regattas are particularly popular for water sports. For Marseille, an On-Site Hospitality Package with gold service and Category A tickets can be booked for August 8th, 2024.
Athletes
...are participating in the Olympic Games in Paris in July and August. They belong to a total of 206 National Olympic Committees from around the world.
Million Visitors
...from all over the world are expected by the organizers of the Olympic Games in Paris. A total of 35,000 security personnel are being deployed for the games.
Boats
...will take part in the opening ceremony on the Seine on July 26th, 2024. They will have more than 200 delegations of Olympic athletes on board.
Hotel Tips
Hôtel Dame des Arts
This hotel has an ace up its sleeve. Located on the left bank of the Seine in the heart of the artistic Latin Quarter, it offers terrace rooms with unmatched views of the Eiffel Tower. The inner courtyard is home to a hidden garden, and in the summer months the Hôtel Dame des Arts boasts a 360-degree rooftop bar. In terms of design, architect Raphaël Navot has focused primarily on wooden materials and textures, combined with swaths of black and white. The in-house restaurant combines French, Mexican, and Japanese flavors. Gotta love the variety: three suite categories have views of the Eiffel Tower!
Contact: Audrey Audiberti, Cluster Sales Manager
Le Grand Mazarin
Interior designer Martin Brudnizki drew inspiration for this new hotel from France's aristocratic past. The latest hotel and first city hotel of the Maisons Pariente transports its guests back in time with its ambience. The level of service, however, is absolutely in line with today's luxury hotel industry. Le Grand Mazarin is located in the Marais district, which is also popular with Parisians. The hotel boasts 61 rooms and suites and an impressive 500 works of art, embedded in French classicism. Ashkenazi cuisine is served in the Boubale restaurant, created by Israeli Michelin-starred chef, Assaf Granit.
Contact: Stéphanie Lancien, Director of Sales
Villa-des-Prés
You're pretty close to the action in this still relatively young, boutique hotel. As the name suggests, it is located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, which is the artists' quarter of Paris. Naturally this hotel is pretty stocked with artwork. Art expert Amélie du Chalard has curated 50 paintings created by French painters especially for the Villa-des-Prés. In addition to a bar, restaurant, and wellness area, the hotel also has 34 rooms, 14 of which are suites. Pro tip: the two deluxe suites on the seventh floor have a small terrace from which you can see the roofs of the Louvre, Sacre-Cœur, and the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Contact: The Reservations Team at Villa-des-Prés