Resort news

The building permits for Les Menuires have almost run out. This symbol of a fully integrated ski resort has made the effort to renew and improve their existing buildings to meet the current demands of today's clientele. This mainly involves the labelling of holiday accommodation and the establishing in 2003 of an operation to renovate tourism infrastructure (Oril).

The Solaret building was the first to be demolished in the spring of 2004, followed by a second architectural symbol of the Les Menuire's original architecture 21st November 2007. The Clarines building, constructed in the 60's, has disappeared. MGM property developer is building a luxury residential development for 2008 on the site of this former 300 room, run as a holiday centre until last year. This type of operation is rare due to the due to the multiownership of existing buildings, but this spectacular operation demonstrates the willingness of ski resorts, and Les Menuires in particular, to follow closely the wishes of today's clientele.

«This deserves a more spacious building, more comfortable and better integrated into the mountain environment», stresses Gabriel Mingeon, MGM's commercial director. To keep in with his demands, the resort of Belleville began its real estate transformation in the middle of the 90's, with the emergence of the new areas whose architectural style was inspired by the traditional style of building (the mountain at these altitudes having never had permanent buildings..). Progressively, Les Menuires has got rid of their original 60's architectural style, often criticised, to adopt a new image with stone and wood replacing cement.