Contents
Key points
- 6 départements and more than 5.2 million inhabitants: the region offers the sea, the Provençal countryside and the mountains.
- Two major airports (Nice, Marseille) and many TGV stations.
- Tourism accounts for 10% of jobs and 13% of regional GDP, according to the regional tourism board: there is a wide choice of places to stay and meet.
Three main areas
| Area | Destinations | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Provence | Aix, Marseille, Cassis, Avignon, Luberon, Alpilles, Camargue, Var, Toulon | All formats, from day meetings to residential seminars |
| The French Riviera (Côte d’Azur) | Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Grasse | Large groups, conferences, international participants, incentives |
| The Southern Alps (Alpes du Sud) | Serre Chevalier, Vars, Risoul, Verdon, Ubaye | Mountain retreats, summer and winter. See mountain corporate retreat |
Getting there
- Air: Nice Côte d’Azur handled 15.23 million passengers in 2025; Marseille Provence 11.17 million in 2024, 70% of them on international routes. Toulon-Hyères completes the picture; Avignon handles business aviation.
- Train: Aix-en-Provence TGV (2 h 55 min from Paris), Avignon TGV (2 h 40 min), Marseille Saint-Charles, Toulon, Les Arcs, Cannes and Nice.
- Road: the A7 towards Lyon, the A8 along the coast, the A51 towards the Southern Alps.
Types of venue
- Bastides, mas and châteaux in Provence: see château corporate retreat and countryside retreat.
- Conference hotels in town and in the countryside: see conference hotels.
- Conference centres for large groups: the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, the Palais du Pharo in Marseille, the Palais des Papes conference centre in Avignon, OcéaNice in Nice.
- Club hotels and holiday villages in the mountains and by the sea, for large numbers.
Choosing your destination in 4 questions
- Where are participants travelling from? A regional team: Aix or Marseille. Participants from Paris: a venue close to a TGV station. From abroad: Nice or Marseille.
- How many are they? Beyond 150, favour the cities and conference centres.
- What is the objective? Decision-making in peace and quiet: Luberon, Alpilles. Rewarding the team: the coast. Pushing boundaries: the mountains.
- Which season? Spring and autumn everywhere; winter in the mountains; avoid July and August on the coast.
Describe your corporate retreat: we pass your request on, free of charge, to up to three suitable venues.
Sources and method
Information checked on 11 November 2026.
- Insee Flash Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur n° 118 — INSEE : population at 1 January 2023
- Le tourisme en Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 2025 — Comité régional de tourisme Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur : tourism’s share of jobs and GDP
- Objectifs atteints en 2025 — Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur : 15.23 million passengers
- L’aéroport méditerranéen qui regarde vers demain — Aéroport Marseille Provence : 2024 passengers and international share
- Accès et transports — Office de tourisme d’Aix-en-Provence : Paris to Aix TGV in 2 h 55 min
- Comment venir — Avignon Tourisme : Paris to Avignon TGV in 2 h 40 min
Frequently asked questions
What is the best corporate retreat destination in the South of France?
It depends on the format: Aix-en-Provence, Marseille and Avignon for TGV access and day meetings; the Luberon, the Alpilles and the Var for a quiet residential seminar; Cannes and Nice for a large group or participants travelling from abroad; the Southern Alps for a mountain retreat.
Which airports serve a corporate retreat in the South of France?
Nice Côte d’Azur (15.23 million passengers in 2025) and Marseille Provence (11.2 million in 2024) are the region’s two major airports, complemented by Toulon-Hyères and Avignon (business aviation).
