With Vannes opening onto the Gulf of Morbihan, Roche-Bernard as a border to the south and Lorient to the north, maritime Morbihan is one of the tourist beacons of southern Brittany. A region also very dynamic in the MICE segment, as evidenced by the good form of Morbihan Business: the association based in Vannes, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, has just welcomed its hundredth member. Its space will bring together some of them next week at the Séminaire Expo show in Paris.
In a recent article, we took stock of the rich offer in Lorient (Lorient: a convention office to support the MICE boom). The number of incoming agencies specializing in MICE based in Vannes and its surroundings also highlights the weight of local business tourism. We can cite the very recent Oasis Event which joins others already more than ten years old, such as OBH Evénement, Armor Evasion, Zen Orga and Funbreizh.
The range of event venues has also continued to grow in recent years. “We realize this with the renovations of Liziec, Le Mezo, La Maison Obono, Le Domaine de Locguénolé or the Thalazur thalasso: the move upmarket made by these places allows us to have the offer that we were missing », underlines Georges Rivière, host of Morbihan Business (Morbihan Tourisme). Enough to complete a “ very important outdoor incentive offer in our territory, which benefits from the proximity of the sea… this even if the capricious weather played some tricks on us this year ».
. The Domaine du Lizieclocated 2 kilometers from the Vannes TGV station, in the heart of a vast wooded area, opens this November, transformed into both a luxury hotel and an event venue. An establishment now franchised by MGallery, which reflects the ambitions of its owners, the brothers Philippe and Laurent Davalo. The estate offers 71 rooms including 12 suites, a gourmet restaurant where starred chef Olivier Samson works, a brasserie, a bar open to all, a spa, a fitness room…
One of its assets: its 1000 m² of reception spaces. Its two meeting rooms, Salon Horizon and Salon des Lumières (120m² each) offer a pleasant working environment. The Domaine's farmhouse (250m²) has also been refurbished to accommodate dinners, receptions and conferences. And in the heart of the 6-hectare park, L'Orangerie (500m²) designed in the Pavillon Baltard spirit is also a privileged location for professional events.
. Le Mezolocated in Ploeren (10 minutes from Vannes), is experiencing a new lease of life. This elegant 18th century building was purchased in 2019 by Marie Nommé and Sébastien Brancq. Who completely renovated the estate including the castle, the barn, the stables and the stables. Opened last year, the place now dedicated to events – particularly professional – and luxury hotels hosted 268 events in its first year of activity.
The Mezo has 44 rooms between the farm houses and the castle, the La Table du Mezo restaurant, a heated indoor swimming pool, a 25-hectare park, as well as MICE structures: the Great Room (400m²) can accommodate up to 350 people in theater configuration (max 600 people for a cocktail), the Grande Serre (250m²) up to 100 people in theater configuration (max 300 for a cocktail).
. The thalassotherapy hotel Thalazur in Carnac is currently undergoing renovation. Having closed at the beginning of 2023, it should reopen next May or June – initially its hotel part – after having been the subject of an investment of more than 45 million euros. Enough to completely transform this aging establishment. Thalazur Carnac, it should be remembered, is the largest in the region, with 205 rooms and suites, as well as around thirty apartments and studios. In addition to the thalassotherapy center, there is also a marine spa, a beauty center, a restaurant, etc.
A seminar/conference space with several rooms, catering area, bar and terrace has also been created, indicated its director Philippe Rio in the columns of the daily Ouest France. The former premises dedicated to seminars are being redeveloped and enlarged, with soon two large rooms with a capacity of 100 and 120 people (compared to 60 to 70 previously) and “ seven to eight rooms of ten to twelve people ».
. The Flow Housea project led by the events agency Curiosity Breizh Lab (founded in 2020 by Eve Rogard and Maly Sananikone), will open next spring, after two years of work. Housed in a 19th century building located near the Vannes TGV station, this 1600m² third venue, which formerly housed the Normand distillery, will bring together a restaurant, coworking spaces, eleven meeting rooms (6 to 50 people) and a event space with stands that can accommodate up to 150 people.
Curiosity Breizh Lab has also been operating, for two years, a space for business seminars at the Korn-er-Houët castle, located in Colpo, 20 minutes from Vannes. The agency has a 200m² barn that can accommodate up to 150 people (200 for a cocktail) and plays the nature card with the vast 17 hectare park. At Colpo, she can count on the support of the group of investors who also finance Maison Flow.
. La Maison Obono Hotel & Spathe new name of the former Domaine des Abbatiales (also called Kerdréan manor) purchased in 2020 by Turenne Hôtellerie, reopened its doors this year, after two years of work. Close to the Auray TGV station, between Vannes and Lorient, the establishment has 68 rooms, the La Table Obono restaurant, a bar and a spa.
One of the characteristics of Maison Obono: its four seminar rooms, which can accommodate 5 to 180 people. The largest, the Marion Salon (142m²) can accommodate up to 130 people in a cocktail setting. We will also mention the Elizabeth (45m²), Arthur (42m²) and Jeanne-Jacquette (27m²) lounges. Note the proximity of a golf course and an equestrian center.
. The Domaine de Locguénolé & Spa reopened its doors at the end of 2023, after three years of work. Located in Kervignac, about twenty minutes by car from Lorient, this estate brings together an old 19th century castle and an 18th century manor. Relais & Châteaux since 1971, it already did not fail to seduce the elite of the music world (Serge Gainsbourg, Mick Jagger Bruce Springsteen…). Now owned by the Breton group Beautiful Life Hotels, it has been the subject of an investment of 30 million euros. This 4-star hotel now has 44 rooms and suites, three atypical accommodations, two restaurants (the bistro La Maison Alyette and the gourmet restaurant L'Inattendu, with Yann Maget in the kitchen), indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa…
The estate has also improved its meeting & events offering, with renovated seminar and reception spaces. It has four meeting rooms from 25 to 97m², as well as the Orangery which can accommodate up to 300 people in theater configuration, 240 guests for a gala dinner and 320 guests in cocktail format. On the activities side, we will mention a team-building offer offered in the park, in the neighboring forest and on the coastal river of Blavet where you can access from a pontoon, practice kayaking and paddle, and visit the neighboring islands at aboard the sailing boat Le Caprice.
. The World of Nedolocated in Plaudren (twenty minutes from Vannes), is entirely dedicated to businesses, and more particularly to those who wish to go green. It is in fact the choice of the owners of the charming little Château du Nédo dating from the end of the 19th century: Bertrand Tierny and his wife renovated it and, for three years now, have been welcoming small groups, rather decision-makers, within the framework seminars, meetings and other training. An invitation to also disconnect in the 30 hectare park and the beautiful nature of the foothills of the Landes de Lanvaux. In the castle, there are five bedrooms – whose decor is inspired by the world of Tintin – and work and relaxation spaces in a “home-like” spirit.
. The Manor of Gouezaclocated in Grand-Champ, about fifteen kilometers from Vannes and Auray, has been transformed into an events center by a young couple, Aurélie Tinel and Vincent Gazaigne. Opened last year, the manor brings together an accommodation offer (high-end gîte for 15 people) and event spaces, including a reception and meeting room (180m²) which can accommodate up to 120 people in theater configuration and 130 for a cocktail, the dining room of the Manor (45m²) for up to 25 people, a Berber tent (150m²) for up to 130 people, as well as the garden French style for up to 130 people.
. The Miramar The cicadalocated in Arzon, on the Rhuys peninsula, in the Gulf of Morbihan, is both a 5-star hotel (113 rooms and suites) and a thalassotherapy center, an establishment also known as the “fitness liner » because of its architecture. The establishment has been flanked, since 2018, by a residence (24 apartments) in which there are two seminar rooms.
