Month: May 2022

Reopening of Maison des Artistes

Posted on by Al Slinn

Maison des Artistes is one of the funkiest, most fascinating venues in the Chamonix valley. Home to concerts, art exhibitions, dance nights and events, the venue had unfortunately closed its doors back in 2019. Three years later, a reopening of Maison des Artistes has finally been announced for June 2022!

As an article on Chamonix.net explains, the venue is reopening its doors with a renewed project that encourages the practice of all arts, creation and training. It also aims to work hand in hand with the cultural and associative actors in the territory.

Works for the reopening of Maison des Artistes are carried out in 2 phases.

  • The first phase, already finished, entailed a general renovation of the building and the recording studio.
  • The second phase will begin in September 2022 and will include sealing work on the terrace and the construction of a second recording studio.

Maison des Artistes is managed by a “semi-public company”, led by Juliette Martinez alongside an artistic coordinator for the cultural programming, a sound engineer and a cultural administrator.

The venue will offer a broadcasting scene with music appointments, stand up shows, an artists’ residence and two recording studios, training and master classes, and a bar with a small restaurant open to all.

So, who’s ready for some singing and dancing at Maison des Artistes this summer?

Replacement of the Grands Montets lifts

Posted on by Al Slinn

Back in 2018, the Grands Montets ski area in Chamonix was severely affected by a fire which destroyed its two cable car stations. The accident severely impacted access to the area and deprived skiers of lift access to glacier skiing, previously reached via the top Grands Montets station. The Compagnie du Mont Blanc has recently unveiled exciting plans for the replacement of the Grands Montets lifts.

The project has been entrusted to the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. For those who don’t know him, his notable buildings include The Shard in London, the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.

The project is very big and will likely take some years, currently aiming for completion by the 2023/24 season. The current building will be replaced by a more compact cable car station in a better location for public transport users, to include direct access to and from Argentière village and train station.

The aim of this replacement of the Grands Montets lifts is to ultimately offer a “four seasons” access to an exceptional high-mountain location, whether it be for mountain professionals, hikers or sight-seers. The essence of the Grands Montets will be preserved.

As a Chamonix spokesman reported: “The Compagnie du Mont-Blanc is working with determination and passion to imagine and carry out a fully integrated project for the Grands Montets site. This large-scale project must respond to the challenges of ecological transition by collectively imagining mechanism for the next fifty years. It is with this in mind that we work and will keep you informed of the progress of the project”.

Upcoming events in Chamonix

Posted on by Al Slinn

After two years of pandemic, it is a huge relief to see events come back to life. And if we talk about events, there is no better place in the French Alps than Chamonix-Mont-Blanc. As a year-round resort, Chamonix offers all sorts of events, from sport competitions to film festivals and concerts. Here’s an overview of upcoming events in Chamonix for summer 2022.

14 to 19 June 2022. Second edition of the Chamonix Film Festival. Film projections, meetings & talks with some of the mountaineering world’s most prominent personalities. Five days devoted to mountain lovers and enthusiasts!

23 to 26 June 2022. Mont Blanc marathon. A trail running event comprised of 8 different races to suit every participant’s expectations and level of practice. The event includes the “flagship” 42km race, 23km, 10km, the “Duo under the stars” (duo race at nightfall), Vertical Kilometer, as well as races for children.

30 June to 3 July 2022. Arc’teryx Alpine Academy. The outdoor community will be gathering in Chamonix, at the heart of the Alps, to celebrate the biggest educational outdoor event in the world. Programme: clinics and workshops led by mountain guides and athletes, free Alpine village, DJ, film screenings…

8 to 10 July 2022. Climbing World Cup. Programme: Difficulty World Cup (Men and Women) and Speed World Cup (Men and Women).

3 to 22 July 2022. Baroque Festival. A series of exceptional concerts held in towns and villages of the Mont Blanc region as a tribute to Johann-Sebastian Bach.

24 to 30 July 2022. Cosmojazz Festival. Concerts at altitude take place during the day on sites chosen for their majestic scenery. From 5 to 9 pm., it’s time for concerts in Chamonix center! The Couttet Park becomes the focal point of the festival, hosting a large covered stage.

22 to 28 August 2022. Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc. An extraordinary adventure at the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif! The UTMB is a trail running event for runners from around the world.

We surely can’t wait to take part in all these exciting, upcoming events in Chamonix and we hope to bring some of our clients along to experience the magic.

Return to in-person events

Posted on by Al Slinn

As an event business we are constantly keeping updated on industry updates, especially after all the changes brought about by the pandemic. A recent article on sociatables.com highlights some key 2022 event industry trends, insisting on the return to in-person events. This is really great news for us, as we organize winter and summer corporate trips for our clients all over the world.

As the article explains, a recent 2022 Global Meetings and Events Forecast highlights a high anticipation of in-person events returning in 2022. 67% of respondents believe levels will return to their pre-pandemic numbers within one to two years. In-person event growth is also supported by the high number of event professionals who have increased their events budget for 2022: 64% of respondents. Due to the anticipation of the return of in-person events, some venues already have limited or no availability for events in 2022. Event venues, event staff, and other vital services will likely be in high demand. Booking the necessary vendors and services may prove more difficult.

We are thrilled to hear these good news and to start planning our live events again. In fact, the 2021/2022 winter season has already been surprisingly busy for us. We are already planning our summer events and winter corporate trips for next year.

We believe in creating unforgettable event experiences whether it’s ski trips, outdoor adventures, city escapes or other corporate event types. Being able to communicate closely with our clients and design the perfect, tailor-made trip is at the heart of our event philosophy. We typically start the planning process 4 to 10 months before the event and spend a lot of time finding the right venue, suppliers and activities on site.

Most of all though, we love seeing our clients have fun and enjoying the moment them, while making sure everything runs super smoothly. After these couple of difficult years, we are 100% ready to go back to in-person events!