Bourg Saint Maurice - Les Arcs - There are places that sum up the history of a resort. In Arc 1800, the Hôtel du Golf is not just an accommodation establishment: it's an institution, an emblematic address, built at the very beginning of the Les Arcs adventure. It was the resort's first hotel, opened in 1972, and has continued to evolve with the times ever since.
Today, with the summer season in full swing, a smooth handover is taking place between Stéphane Guichet, director for the last four years, and Mahir Devinck, who will officially take over in September.
Located right in the centre of the resort, at the foot of the ski lifts, the Hôtel du Golf occupies a strategic, almost magnetic position. With 110 employees in winter, 86 in summer, 3 restaurants, a bar, a spa, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a discotheque and twelve seminar rooms, the hotel has a 360° vocation.
A top-of-the-range yet affordable Belambra
Since 2017, the Belambra group has taken over the reins of this historic site, with a clear ambition: to move upmarket while remaining accessible.
"In winter, we switched to an all-inclusive package, like Club Med: accommodation, meals, ski passes, lessons, everything is included. And it's a big hit, especially with foreign customers from Argentina, Brazil, Canada and Belgium. stresses Stéphane Guichet.
Even the groups and seminars that have been coming here for thirty years have adopted this formula. All served in convivial surroundings: a French-style buffet on two floors, a Savoyard restaurant (fondues, raclettes) and a more contemporary brasserie.
The hotel is also very popular in summer. With nine weeks open, the season starts at the end of June and reaches an occupancy rate of 100 % during the first two weeks of August.
Customers benefit from a complete holiday package, including the " HERO Les Arcs "These include events, access to sports facilities, introductory golf or tennis lessons, guided walks, yoga or pilates sessions, etc. "Along with Tignes, we are probably one of the best resorts for the summer". notes Stéphane.
This summer appeal is becoming a powerful lever for securing jobs, building team loyalty and smoothing out business activity.
Intensification of operations planned
"We want to go from nine weeks to seven months of operation. If we open from June to November for groups and seminars, we'll be able to stabilise jobs, provide accommodation and have people living here all year round". he explains. The challenge is to make the mountains a four-season destination.
Mahir Devinck, formerly of Club Med, shares this vision. Attracted by Belambra's global project and by the potential of Les Arcs 1800, he intends to continue the momentum by strengthening local partnerships, consolidating the inclusive offer and positioning the hotel as a "one-stop shop". "the station's driving force.
"What really appealed to me here was the combination of a complete, highly contemporary formula, a central location and an area that really believes in summer.
While short-term projects aim to consolidate existing facilities, Belambra's medium-term ambition is to move even further up the range.
At a time when summer holidays in the mountains are becoming an increasingly sought-after alternative - more affordable than the coast, with an incomparable wealth of activities - the Hôtel du Golf aims to set the standard. "We need people to come, discover and want to come back". sums up Mahir.
And in this adventure, the establishment remains true to its original vocation: welcoming, bringing people together and providing entertainment. All with the rigour of a major group and the warmth of a place that has always embodied the soul of Les Arcs.
Find out more :
- Prices: to be consulted directly on the school's website
- Open: throughout the winter season and in July and August
- Address: 322 impasse de l'Hôtel du Golf, Arc 1800 - Village du Charvet, 73700 Bourg St Maurice, France
- Contact: 04 79 41 43 43