Organising a corporate event in Marseille: districts and venues

Why organise a corporate event in Marseille?

France’s second city by population, Marseille combines three assets rarely found together: a TGV station right in the centre, an airport half an hour away and the sea a few minutes from any business district. For a company bringing together teams from all over France, it is an easy destination to reach, with a very wide range of venues: museums, palaces, sailing clubs, beaches, bastides and boats.

The other side of the coin: the city is sprawling, traffic is heavy at rush hour and the mistral can upset an outdoor programme. A successful event in Marseille therefore depends a great deal on choosing the district and planning ahead. That is what ADJM Événementiel’s Marseille communities have been doing since 2014, with the City of Marseille among their references.

Which district should you choose for your event in Marseille?

For a one-day seminar, La Joliette and the Old Port keep journey times from Saint-Charles to a minimum. For a party of more than 300 people, the large sites at the Prado and the Pharo offer the space and parking you need. For a management team, a sailing club or a bastide creates a more intimate setting.

Which venues are there for a professional event in Marseille?

We have given a page to each of the venues where we most often organise events, with their spaces, their constraints and our advice:

• Seafront and Old Port: the Mucem, the Palais du Pharo, the Rowing Club, the Cercle des Nageurs and the Palais de la Bourse.
• Business district: Docks Village in La Joliette.
• Large events at the Prado: Parc Chanot, the Orange Vélodrome and the Prado beaches.
• Châteaux and estates: Château de Forbin in the 11th arrondissement and, less than an hour away, Château Saint-Hilaire and Château de Valmousse.
• At sea: a boat party in the Bay of Marseille and the Calanques as far as Cassis.

When is the best time for an event in Marseille?

Seminars take place all year round. For anything outdoors (terrace, beach, boat), the right window runs from May to early October, with a preference for June and September: the light is beautiful and the heat bearable. Dates in May, June and December are booked several months ahead, especially Thursdays and Fridays.

How do you manage the logistics of an event in Marseille?

• Guests arriving by train: choose a venue served by the metro from Saint-Charles (La Joliette, Old Port) or plan a shuttle.
• Guests arriving by car: check parking, which is scarce around the Old Port and the Corniche on summer evenings.
• An evening at sea: boarding at the Old Port is around 7.30pm for an 8pm departure; a group arriving late pays for it in cruising time.
• Seafront and residential districts: check the cut-off time for amplified music, often earlier than indoors.

How much does a corporate event in Marseille cost?

For a turnkey evening (venue, caterer, drinks, entertainment), quotes seen in Marseille range from €65 to €130 per person, i.e. €12,000 to €25,000 excl. VAT for 150 to 200 guests. The venue and the caterer account for the largest share; music, photography and the bar are priced separately: with us, a DJ starts at €299. Full details are on our prices page and in our guide to the budget for a corporate party in Marseille. To entrust everything to a single project manager, see our turnkey event planning.

Do you work in the area around Marseille?

Yes, throughout the region: Aix-en-Provence, Aubagne, Cassis, La Ciotat, Martigues or Vitrolles and Marignane. Outside Marseille, travel is charged at €1 per kilometre, return trip, shown clearly in the quote.