Your meeting & incentive Guide
10 reasons
to choose Lausanne
for your event
Easy access
As Switzerland’s fourth-biggest city and capital of the Canton
of Vaud, Lausanne enjoys a privileged geographical location at
the centre of Europe. It is easily accessible by train, car, boat and
aeroplane, being situated near Geneva International Airport
(40 minutes) and Zurich Airport (2 hours 30 minutes).
Swiss reliability and security
Like other Swiss towns, Lausanne benefits from a stable
political environment and a climate of safety much
appreciated by business travellers. Performance and
reliability, Swiss values par excellence, characterise its
different infrastructures.
Olympic Capital
The International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Museum and
more than 40 international sports federations and organisations
have chosen to be based in the Olympic Capital, the only title of
its kind in the world. A variety of prestigious events featuring
the world’s elite athletes are staged every year.
Idyllic setting
Situated by Lake Geneva, the biggest lake in western Europe,
and surrounded by vineyards, countryside and forests,
Lausanne benefits from an enchanting backdrop with
spectacular views of the Alps. It makes an ideal point of
departure for excursions lasting several hours or longer.
City of culture and leisure
The sheer variety of attractions makes it easy to organise diverse
social activities and team-building exercises. Not to mention the
hundreds of cultural and recreational events that feature
on Lausanne’s calendar.
Research and excellence
Lausanne is known for its internationally renowned institutions of
higher education (University, Federal Institute of Technology in
Lausanne, IMD, Lausanne Hotel Management School, etc.) and centres of
medical research, not to mention the presence of numerous
multination-als. The region thus offers an ideal environment for the organisation of
international conferences, medical conventions and business meetings.
Efficiency of public transport
With a compact bus network and two metro lines,
journeys in Lausanne are quick and easy. What’s more,
every hotel guest is given a Transport Card entitling
the holder to free public transport throughout
his or her stay.
A tradition of hospitality
Lausanne’s hotel sector offers countless options, ranging
from boutique hotels to a palace, as well as hotels full
of charm and an international hotel chain. In terms of
gastronomy, Lausanne is one of the wealthiest regions
on the continent and boasts a record number of
award-winning chefs.
Diversity of hospitality infrastructures
Different venues make it possible to host any type of
congress or event, ranging from a new modular congress
centre – the only one of its kind in the world – to a seminar
room in a palace, not to mention less traditional places
such as a château, a concert hall, a boat or a museum.
Sustainable development
Sustainable development represents one of the most important
targets of political development in Lausanne. Soft mobility,
energy management, waste sorting and ecotourism are
environmentally friendly schemes that you will be able to
incorporate into your event.
Lausanne, the guarantee of a successful event
Lausanne boasts numerous assets, which its urban marketing campaign has
brought together under four beacons of excellence: education and research,
sport, culture and sustainable development. Close to Geneva International
Airport, the city also benefits from modern amenities that make it one of the
top-ranking destinations with expertise in staging congresses and events.
The statistics bear this out: two out of three tourists come to Lausanne
on business, whether individually or to attend an organised event.
The Olympic Capital has been able to profit from the presence of colleges
and internationally renowned centres of medical research, from forty or so
international sports organisations and federations, and from the establishment
of numerous multinationals to develop its business tourism. The latter now
benefits from a stimulating intellectual, scientific and economic environment.
The organisation of professional gatherings is facilitated by efficient
infrastructures, including congress venues, a diverse range of hotels providing
over 5,000 beds, an efficient public transport network and attractive
programmes for accompanying persons. In addition, the Convention Office
attached to Lausanne Tourisme benefits from a team of specialists capable of
organising all or part of your project to cater for your individual requirements.
The city of Lausanne makes good use of its capacity for innovation and
enterprise by continuously improving provision so as to meet the expectations
of the most discerning event organisers and business tourists. Its hotel
capacity will increase substantially by 2015 due to the enlargement of some
establishments and the opening of new hotels. The congress and exhibition
centre operated by MCH Beaulieu Lausanne has been completely renovated and
the Swiss Tech Convention Center (due to open in April 2014)
built on the campus of the Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne
is a world first in terms of its completely modular construction.
Not to mention the improvements planned for public transport services.
Welcome to Lausanne, the ideal destination for your event!
Claude Petitpierre
04
Arrival in Lausanne,
centre of Europe
06
Your transport
10
Convention Office,
preferred partner
08
City map
12
Conference
hotels
24
High-quality
conference venues
38
Unforgettable
evenings
49
Clubs and bars
for private events
52
Wine bars
and cellars
54
Gourmet
delights
56
Large choice
of excursions
69
Some references
64
Group activities all
year round
C o n t e n t s
Your personal guide
Your personal guide
Your personal guide
C o n t e n t s
Your personal guide
C o n t e n t s
C o n t e n t s
Your personal guide
C o n t e n t s
C o n t e n t s
A r r i v a l i n L a u s a n n e , c e n t r e o f E u r o p e
t the heart of Europe, Lausanne is easily
accessible. Whether by car, by bus, by train,
by boat or by air (Geneva International Airport is
just 40 minutes away), your arrival in Lausanne is
simplified by reliable and efficient public transport
services and roads. Private transfers for groups or
individuals are arranged on request.
A
Did you know
that the city centre
is connected to Geneva
International Airport by
a direct train service
5 times an hour?
W e l c o m e
W e l c o m e
Whether you are organising a congress, a seminar or an incentive trip, SWISS is your partner in its capacity as official carrier. Covering more than 70 destinations in 37 countries around the world, the company is renowned for its reliability, its safety and the quality of its onboard service. Conference delegates and organisers can benefit from reduced fares on flights with SWISS or selected partner airlines: a 15% discount for 50 to 399 participants and a 20% discount for upwards of 400 participants. There is also a number of free tickets for conference speakers. See conditions on www.swiss.com/officialcarrier
Thanks to the Swiss Travel System, every foreign visitor has access to the entire Swiss public transport network (train, bus and boat). On offer are a variety of flat fares and tickets depending on the type of stay, and other advantages, such as a luggage transport service, reductions in specific hotels and even a conference railway carriage. Arrangements can also be made for groups of more than 250 people.
www.swisstravelsystem.com
Why not make the most of your free time by touring the surroundings of Lausanne in a comfortable car? Europcar offers a large range of vehicles and a chauffeur service for transfers and excursions of one or several days. The office is situated in the centre of Lausanne, a short walk from the station. Customers of Lausanne Tourisme benefit from a discount of up to 20% on hire costs.
www.europcar.ch
Every guest staying in a hotel in Lausanne and paying the city tax is entitled to make
free use of all the public transport services in Lausanne. The Lausanne Transport Card is issued by the hotel and is valid for the period of reservation, including the days of arrival and departure. www.lausanne.ch/LTC BRUSSELS MOSCOW FRANKFURT BARCELONA VIENNA
