coastal hotels stormed for the Tour de France
The hotels on the coast taken by storm thanks to the passage of the Tour de France, which will pass on July 5 and 6 in the Nord and Pas-de-Calais.
The countdown has begun for tourism professionals in Hauts-de-France. After moving to Denmark, the region will be the first in France visited by runners from Tour de France beginning of July.
A real spotlight for the region because the Tour de France is one of the most watched sporting events in the world behind the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup. And it shows in reservations, especially on the coast with a fourth between Dunkirk and Calais.
Many hotels already full thanks to the teams
Unveiled to the general public in October, the Tour de France route was no secret to tourism professionals in the region. The first reservations of professional teams date back more than a year.
Last October, hoteliers in the region were taken by storm. This is the case of this hotel in Calais where two teams of runners will take over the premises on July 4 and 5. Great news for the director.
“At the beginning of July in general we do not have many reservations because it is the beginning of the holidays. There thanks to the Tour de France, we will do 100%”, explained Claudiane Camphin, director of the Ibis hotel in Calais, at the microphone of BFM Grand Littoral.
Same observation in another hotel in Calais where two thirds of the rooms of the establishment were already reserved in October by teams of the Tour on these same dates. For the director, welcoming the Tour de France is always an event.
“I remember having had them at the big start in 2001, also in 2007, when they left London. I have a small personal hope, it is to see Julian Allaphilippe, who is world champion”, confided Christophe Gamblin, manager of the Holiday Inn hotel.
Since then, bookings have continued in the area. So less than five months from the stage, it is no longer possible to take a room. “On the reservation schedule, we are already full for the period of 4 and 5, accommodation is no longer available”, explains Pierre Leclercq, director of the Mercure-Saint-Omer hotel.
“On double our turnover”
Same enthusiasm for this hotel chain in Bray-Dunes, in the North. Out of five residences, two of them are already complete to accommodate caravans. One of the biggest events of the year, which feels good after a complicated year.
“Compared to last year, July 5 when the school holidays were calmer. There it doubles our turnover”, rejoices Fabien Douriez, manager of the “Les Margats” site, of the Evancy hotel residence in Bray. -Dunes.
An event does not also benefit from the more remote cities of the route. According to this official, their other residences of the group in Whaplage and even Boulogne-sur-Mer, plan to be complete on July 3-4 and 5.