Paris Business Travel: A Corporate Traveller’s Guide

Paris – a vibrant, bustling city where elegance meets modernity, art and culture combine, and millions of people come each year for business and pleasure.

Paris is known as one of the largest business hubs in Europe, and with an increasing number of startups and established businesses now calling the City of Lights home, business travellers are now finding themselves visiting the city more frequently to close deals, attend conferences and establish offices in this bustling space.

Primary Language: French and English

Currency: Euros

Travel Time from Australia: Approximately 20 hours

Visa Requirements: No requirements for a Visa when staying for up to 90 days. A Visa may be required to stay longer than 90 days.

Paris Business Travel: Things To Know

Outside of its fashion roots, Paris is becoming increasingly well-known for its advanced technology and modernity. Home to the 4th largest business district in the world, La Défense, the city is welcoming an increasing number of SME’s from Europe as they move to take advantage of the many startup incubators, accelerators and coworking spaces cropping up around the city.

For those looking to visit the city for business purposes, there are a wide range of accommodation options to choose from while in the area, with plenty of upper-class restaurants and coworking spaces available for those hosting events in the region.

 

Transport & Accommodation

Getting Around the City

Paris has two primary airports – the Charles de Gaulle Airport and Orly Airport. Conveniently located just outside of the CBD, both airports serve as international business hubs for the region and are equipped with businesses lounges and transport connectivity to ensure the city is easily accessible once you land.

Once you’ve landed, you’ll find a range of transport options to choose from to help you get around the city while staying – taxis, shuttle buses, Uber and the RER B train are all viable options to help you get around if you don’t have a car while staying, and are a particularly cost-effective way to navigate. However, there are also a range of hire car options available to give you more freedom and flexibility to move about the city as you wish, and your Travel Agent can organise this for you.

 

Best Places To Stay In Paris

La Défense is currently the largest Business District in Paris, so it makes sense to stay here when conducting business – and there are over 3000 hotel rooms to choose from, so travellers have plenty of options to suit all budgets and Travel Policy requirements. A few of the most popular options when staying in the region are:

  1. Pullman Paris La Défense
    Centrally located with easy access to transport and shopping. The hotel also offers a range of meeting rooms and an in-house restaurant, alongside valet parking, laundry service and baggage storage with 24-hour express check-in and check-out.
  2. Hotel 37 Bis
    An Art Deco hotel connected to the convention centre in Neuilly-sur-Seine, offering High-Speed WiFi, baggage storage and laundry service.
  3. Hotel Mercure Paris Suresnes Longchamp
    An upmarket and eco-friendly property in the centre of the La Défense Business District. The property offers a full laundry service, buffet breakfast and access to meeting rooms with High-Speed WiFi suitable for corporate events.
  4. The Social Hub Paris La Défense
    Just a short walk from the La Défense Business Centre, this property is ideal for those looking for comfortable and more affordable accommodation. The property features a gym, laundry service and parking available.
  5. ibis Styles Puteaux Paris La Défense
    A comfortable, eco-certified hotel under 10 minutes’ walk from La Défense, with a bar, free Wi-Fi and accessible access throughout the property.

 

Dining & Business

Best Restaurants to Visit For Meetings

If Paris is known for anything outside of fashion and culture, its food, wine and exceptional coffee. While the chances are the majority of restaurants will be suitable for hosting businesses meals or meetings, there are a few that come highly recommended:

  1. Lóuseau Blanc at the Peninsula Hotel – 16th Arrondissement
    Located on the roof of the hotel, diners can enjoy a majestic view of the Eiffel Tower will dining here. As a Michelin-Starred restaurant, it’s recommended to visit during dinner. Ensure you wear black tie.
  2. L’Ambroisie, Place Des Vosges – 4th Arrondissement
    The very best of French gastronomy in terms of cuisine, creation and execution, this 3-star restaurant can only be described as ‘remarkable’. Having been awarded 3 Michelin Stars since 1988, it’s a must-visit while in the area.
  3. Le Jules Verne, The Eiffel Tower – 7th Arrondissement
    This restaurant is known for its privacy and unique setting, set within the Eiffel Tower and offering both incredible food and incredible views of the inner workings of the Iron Lady. Guests are also only likely to have 4 – 8 fellow diners around at any one time, making it the perfect place for smaller, more private dinners.
  4. Le Restaurant Guy Savoy, Quai De Conti – 6th Arrondissement
    Voted the world’s best restaurant for the 6th year running last year, a trip to Paris isn’t complete without a visit to this restaurant. Boasting views over the Siene and the Institut de France, alongside the opportunity to hire out the dining spaces privately, Le Restaurant Guy Savoy is the perfect place to visit when needing to impress and close a deal.

Tourism

Best Things To Do While Visiting

Known as one of the world’s best tourism locations, Paris is home to a huge number of world-class tourism locations that are must-sees while visiting for business. If you find yourself visiting the city for ‘Bleisure’ purposes, we recommend visiting the below:

The Latin Quarter

A bohemian hotspot and one of the oldest districts in Paris, a trip to the Latin Quarter is a must-do for those who have a few spare hours in the region. Made up of crooked streets and leafy pathways, enjoy an afternoon stroll and pick up coffee or a pastry from one of the many cafes, or walk all the way to Place Saint-Michel and the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

One of the many incredible historical structures that Paris is known for, a trip to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is essential if you’re a fan of architecture, history and incredible culture. An awe-inspiring Roman Church, step inside and explore the basilica itself, or take a Dome Tour to see the roof up close and marvel at the architecture. We recommend visiting at sunset, when you can see the Eiffel Tower and Paris painted gold and red from the sun.

The Louvre

The national Art Museum in Paris, and one of the most famous museums in the world, a visit to The Louvre is highly recommended if you have a spare day in between meetings. Located on the Right Bank of the Siene and home to some of the world’s most famous works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory, take a walk through this sprawling piece of architectural art.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is arguably one of the most famous tourist attractions in Paris, if not the whole of Europe, so no trip to Paris is complete without carving some time out of your trip to visit. Open right up until late, take a wander around the base and marvel at the sheer size of the structure, or climb to the top and take in views of the whole of Paris. There are also several restaurants around the Eiffel Tower, so you could pair a visit with a business lunch to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The Siene

The Siene has recently gained world interest after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony was hosted on it, and it’s simple to take time in between meetings to get some fresh air and walk along the Siene, taking in the sights and the culture. Depending on how long you’re out for and where you start, you’re also likely to walk past several other world-famous locations on your travels.

Culture

Culture & Etiquette

When visiting somewhere international for business, the success of a meeting can often hinge on a traveller’s understanding and adherence to local customs and etiquette. While Paris is similar to Australia in many ways, there are a few important pieces of etiquette to remember:

  1. Prioritise Punctuality
    Parisians hold punctuality in high importance, so it’s important that travellers are on-time, if not early, to any meetings and events planned. If they’re going to be running late, let the other party know.
  2. Establish the First Language
    French business meetings are often held in French, so unless there is a particular reason for the meeting to be in English, travellers may be caught out being unable to understand what’s going on. When organising a meeting, ensure the Primary Language is established, or request an interpreter.
  3. Respect meal customs
    The French commonly conduct business meetings over lunch or dinner, and travellers will commonly find themselves out at casual lunches or dinner events to network and discuss business. When out at a business event, it’s customary for the host to pay – it is also frowned upon to discuss work during mealtimes, unless it is established to be a business event.

 

Booking Your Next Paris Trip

One of the world’s largest economies and now home to a wide range of startup and established businesses, business travel to Paris is becoming more common than ever as businesses look to close deals, develop ties and open new office spaces in the region.

Pulse Travel has over 35 years of experience in the Corporate Travel Industry, and regularly supports travellers in booking business travel to Paris and around the world. If you’re looking for a Corporate Travel Agent or want to learn more about our offerings, get in touch.