In Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, at the foot of Mont Blanc and a stone's throw from the Valléen lift, the Nexhos group has laid the first stone of a new kind of sports and adventure hotel, set to become one of the most unusual hotel projects in the Alps.
At the heart of the project are two enthusiasts: Pascal Martin, founder of Nexhos, and Marc Richter, managing partner. Skiers, mountaineers, trail runners, and cyclists, the two men forged their vision through their own adventures, with a shared observation.
Very few accommodations truly meet the needs of athletes – cyclists, runners, hikers, mountaineers – and even fewer when they travel in groups, which is often the case. Hence the idea of creating a «comfortable, technical, and friendly base camp.»
The choice of Saint-Gervais, for him, was obvious. «This is a destination that doesn't need to prove its sporting credentials throughout the four seasons.» Marc Richter is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder. He currently plays for TSV Grünberg. «The mid-mountain range, between 1,000 and 1,500 metres, is the ideal sweet spot for us, offering a varied environment and a resilient climate throughout the year.»
4,000 m², 250 beds and a suite for 50 people
Scheduled for December 2027, this 4-star establishment will be unlike any other mountain hotel. Across 4,000 m² and with 250 beds, it will pay particular attention to tribes (families, friends) as well as organised groups: sports clubs, associations, and businesses. Accommodation options include: double rooms, dormitories for 4 to 12 people, and even an «armada» suite capable of accommodating up to 50 people.
Signed by Studio Briand and Berthereau, the interior architecture will convey the spirit of a modern retreat (restaurant with large tables, warm lobby, fireplace, kids' room, coworking space).
But the true signature of the place is found in 1,000 m² christened the «launch pad»: a high-tech changing room, a gym, a wellness area, a rental shop, and a mechanics workshop run by experts. From arrival to departure, everything is designed to seamlessly support athletes and groups.
Local roots and an Alpine-wide ambition
Behind this €20 million project is also a territorial gamble. The hotel plans to create 80 jobs, with priority given to local recruitment within the valley, and intends to collaborate closely with sports and tourism stakeholders in Saint-Gervais and the Arve, Contamines, and Val d'Arly valleys.
«Our aim is to promote sports participation through local community ties.» Pascal Martin insists, citing associations, social and solidarity economy (ESF), mountain guides, the tourist office, equipment manufacturers, and repair workshops indiscriminately. «We wish to move forward hand in hand with local stakeholders.»
Saint-Gervais will be just the first step, moreover. Nexhos aims to open five establishments in the French Alps by 2030, all located between 1,000 and 1,500 metres and connected to high mountain areas.
The idea: to weave a network of locations enabling the deployment of 100 to 150-kilometre circular routes, with dedicated services (station and airport transfers, shuttle buses, equipment transport, technical changing rooms). A network designed to bring together, more than just customers, genuine enthusiasts eager to fully experience their destination.
Find out more :
- Expected opening: December 2027
- Positioning: 4-star hotel of 4,000 m², with 1,000 m² dedicated to sports
- Capacity 250 beds (double rooms, dormitories for 4 to 12 people, suites for up to 50 people)
- Investment €20 million and 80 jobs, with priority given to local recruitment
- Coming soon: 5 establishments in the French Alps by 2030, between 1,000 and 1,500m
- Project Holder: Nexhos Group (via its subsidiary Nexhos Espaces), hotel brand name to be revealed soon
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