L'Embarcadère

What L'Embarcadère does

L'Embarcadère is a privately held French event venue and turnkey event management operator headquartered in Lyon. Founded in 1992 and structured as a SARL with 1-10 employees, the company operates from a 19th-century heritage building at 13 bis Quai Rambaud in Lyon's Confluence district — a 900 m² facility comprising six configurable event spaces and a waterfront terrace, accommodating groups of 50 to 700 persons. The venue hosts approximately 140 events per year and serves a diversified mix of enterprise clients (including L'Oréal, Gattefossé, Enedis, CGI, Foselev Agintis), event and communication agencies (Agence Submarine, Pure Events Toulouse), and public institutions (Mairie de Lyon, Handicap International), achieving a 9.1/10 average client satisfaction score.

The core product is venue rental, increasingly bundled with a portfolio of four turnkey service modules launched in 2025: video capture and live streaming (Captation), carbon footprint assessment (Bilan Carbone aligned with CSRD), expert speaker booking (Expert Conférencier, supported by the "Les Résonances" podcast), and scenography design. Supporting offerings include participatory engagement tools (Opinion Box, Mur qui Parle, Moodwall, LEGO Serious Play, KAPLA), a Matterport 3D virtual tour, a curated caterer network (La Boucle, Le Cousu, Magner, Nomad Kitchens, C Gastronomie), and reception services delivered through a 10+ year partnership with CityOne. The technology stack integrates AV equipment, carbon-measurement methodology, and immersive scenography incorporating AR, holograms, and interactive devices. The venue holds APAVE Safe & Clean certification and aligns with ISO 20121, ISO 26000, REEVE, and Prestadd sustainability standards.

L'Embarcadère operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market, with sales generated through website quote requests, phone inquiries, and channel partnerships with event agencies. Pricing is quote-based, varying by space, group size, duration, and bundled services. Geographic reach is concentrated in Lyon and surrounding French regions, with secondary international draw enabled by Lyon's TGV connectivity. Marketing channels include the website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, an email newsletter, a blog, and the Les Résonances podcast. The business was repositioned through the ReStart renovation project completed in 2022, and is led by a duo of sisters — Pauline as Managing Director and Lucie Durieux as Director of Publication — in a deliberately small, relationship-driven operating model.

Name

L'Embarcadère

Legal name

L'Embarcadère – Espaces d'événements

Website

https://embarcadere-lyon.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

L'Embarcadère is a privately held Lyon-based event venue and turnkey event management operator, renting a 900 m², 19th-century heritage facility across six configurable spaces for corporate events of 50 to 700 guests, hosting approximately 140 events annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Event Venue Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Party Venue Sourcing & Booking Services (HSACACAL), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK), Venue Tours & Premium Hospitality Packages (Backstage, VIP, Suites) (THAJAFAL), VIP, Hospitality & Premium Experiences (Packages, Clubs, Suites) (MPAIAFAK)

Keywords

• Corporate event venue
• Meeting room rental
• Conference hosting services
• Seminar facilities Lyon
• Event management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Venue Rental for Corporate Events: Revenue generated by renting event spaces for congresses, conventions, conferences, seminars, trade shows, product launches, cocktail parties, and company evenings. Pricing is quote-based, varies by space selected, duration, catering package, and additional services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

L'Embarcadère rents six fully configurable event spaces totaling 900 m² in a 19th-century waterfront heritage building in Lyon's Confluence district, accommodating 50 to 700 guests for corporate congresses, conventions, seminars, trade shows, product launches, and cocktail evenings. The venue offers turnkey event management with bundled services including catering coordination, audiovisual production, scenography design, expert speaker booking, carbon footprint measurement, video capture and live streaming, and reception services through partner networks.

Product overview

L'Embarcadère is a premium event venue — a 19th-century industrial building in the Confluence district of Lyon, operated as a 'Réservoir d'événements' (event reservoir). Its core product is the rental of 6 fully equipped, configurable event spaces spanning 900 m², accommodating 50 to 700 persons, hosting approximately 140 events per year. The offering operates as a platform-plus-modules model: the venue rental (core) is bundled with or supplemented by turnkey service packages including Captation & Retransmission Audio-Visuelle, Bilan Carbone assessment, Expert Conférencier (speaker booking via the Les Résonances podcast), and Scénographie (event staging). Supporting add-on modules include interactive engagement tools (Opinion Box, Mur qui Parle, Moodwall, LEGO Serious Play, KAPLA), a dedicated RSE event format, Matterport virtual tours, a curated catering partner network (La Boucle, Le Cousu, Magner, Nomad Kitchens, C Gastronomie), professional reception services via CityOne, a Responsible Events White Paper, and a comprehensive Event Planner's Guide. Full end-to-end event management (Accompagnement de A à Z) ties all modules together into a unified, turnkey service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Les Résonances: A podcast featuring conversations with expert speakers who take the stage at L'Embarcadère, showcasing their voices, backgrounds, and convictions.

Products and services

• Location de Salles de Réunion et Événements (Event Venue Rental) Rental of six configurable event spaces totaling 900 m² in a heritage waterfront building, accommodating 50 to 700 people. Spaces include meeting rooms, conference halls, showrooms, exhibition areas, and an outdoor terrace, all fully equipped and offered on a turnkey basis for corporate events.
• Accompagnement de A à Z (End-to-End Event Management) Full-service event management from planning through execution, including venue configuration, catering coordination, audiovisual setup, speaker booking, scenography, participant engagement tools, and post-event reporting, delivered by the in-house L'Embarcadère team.
• Captation & Retransmission Audio-Visuelle (Video Capture & Live Streaming) Professional video capture and live streaming service for corporate events, enabling broader audience reach beyond physical attendees, reusable content creation for social media and internal use, and enhanced brand positioning.
• Bilan Carbone (Carbon Footprint Assessment) Turnkey carbon footprint measurement service for events, collecting data across transport, venue energy, catering, and vendors to produce a detailed emissions report, certificate, and personalized reduction recommendations aligned with CSRD reporting requirements.
• Expert Conférencier (Expert Speaker Booking) Expert speaker booking and coordination service with a curated roster of speakers covering entrepreneurship, leadership, climate, resilience, and philosophy; clients can preview speakers via the Les Résonances podcast.
• Scénographie (Event Staging & Design) Event staging and scenic design service using light, materials, and immersive setups to transform spaces, including pre-designed scenography packages adaptable to event themes and leveraging technologies such as AI, augmented reality, holograms, and interactive devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 140+ events hosted annually across congresses, seminars, trade shows, and cocktail evenings
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CityOnecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCityOne is a leading French host and reception services company (founded 1991, leader in reception and hospitality services). L'Embarcadère has partnered with CityOne for over 10 years, deploying professional hosts and hostesses for event reception, check-in, guest orientation, and on-site assistance. CityOne's long tenure at the venue means their staff know the spaces intimately, ensuring an irreproachable guest experience.
• Diverty EventscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiverty Events provides innovative team building and serious game animations at L'Embarcadère. Their activities include the 'Tour du Monde en Solidaire' (eco-responsible team building), the Burger Party evening animation, and other participatory formats. Their animations are highlighted during Breakfast Time client events and are integrated into team building proposals.
• La BoucleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEco-responsible caterer specializing in fresh, green, and sustainable catering options for events at L'Embarcadère. Part of the curated catering network aligned with the venue's RSE commitments.
• Le CousuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFine caterer offering diverse menus from cocktail catering to buffets and elegant dinners. Known for surprising flavors, trend-focused scenography, and versatility across all event types.
• MagnerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished caterer, the oldest catering partner of L'Embarcadère, providing timeless catering formulas that work reliably across all event types.
• Nomad KitchensminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet food chic caterer offering creative, travel-inspired cuisine with high-quality scenography. Recommended for corporate events seeking an innovative, trend-driven culinary experience.
• C GastronomieminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremium, elegant caterer specializing in high-end cocktail receptions, corporate lunches, and formal dinners. Delivers distinguished flavors and refined recipes for upscale corporate events.
• Book My MusicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic entertainment platform with a catalog of over 2,000 groups and artists. Offers a streamlined booking service for soloists to full orchestras, used for concerts, cocktail evenings, and live entertainment at events.
• Fin PalletminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic and entertainment partner collaborating with L'Embarcadère on live music events, including the 'Rock Your Saône' evening series.
• Food Trucks GourmetsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGourmet food truck partner featured at events like Rock Your Saône, offering diverse street food options for casual and festive corporate gatherings.
• Kojak (Bureau de Création)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCreative design and graphic design agency responsible for the visual identity, branding, and web design of L'Embarcadère's communications and digital presence.
• BIM DIGITALminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDigital agency based in Lyon responsible for the development and technical maintenance of L'Embarcadère's website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Les Salons Hoche: Premium Parisian corporate event venue hosting seminars, conferences, and cocktail receptions. Closely comparable premium-positioning, turnkey-service model, and corporate clientele.
• Atelier des Lumières: Immersive digital-art and corporate event venue in Paris. Comparable heritage-industrial venue repurposed for premium experiential events, with overlap in scenography-led corporate client base.
• Palais des Congrès de Paris: Large-scale convention and exhibition venue in Paris operated by Viparis. Competes for the same corporate conventions, trade shows, and seminars; differs primarily in scale and national rather than regional catchment.
• Pavillon Dauphine: Heritage Parisian event venue offering modular spaces for 30-800 guests. Analogous premium heritage-positioned corporate event venue with similar turnkey offerings.
• InterContinental Lyon - Hotel Dieu: Heritage luxury hotel in central Lyon offering dedicated event and meeting spaces for corporate clients. Directly comparable premium venue in the same city competing for the same corporate event RFPs.
• Cité Internationale - Centre de Congrès de Lyon: Lyon's flagship convention center located on the Parc de la Tête d'Or. Direct competitor in the corporate congress, convention, and seminar segment in the same metro, often the first option on event-agency shortlists.
• Maison de la Mutualité: Premium Parisian event venue hosting congresses, conventions, and corporate events for 200-1,800 guests. Closest analog in business model (single-venue premium event rental with turnkey services) at a larger scale in Paris.
• Château de Longchamp: Premium Parisian heritage venue hosting corporate seminars, conferences, and gala evenings. Closely mirrors L'Embarcadère's positioning as a landmark venue with turnkey event services and a heritage cachet.

Broad incumbents

• GL Events: Major French MICE operator managing venues, trade shows, and event services globally. Larger portfolio of convention centers and a broader event-services stack; competes for the same corporate and agency RFPs across France.
• AccorHotels - Sofitel & Pullman Venues (Lyon): Major hotel group operating Sofitel, Pullman, and MGallery properties in Lyon with substantial meeting and event space. Broad incumbent competitor combining lodging with corporate event venues at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/embarcaderelyon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l'embarcad%C3%A8re
• Instagraminstagram.com/embarcadere.lyon

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about L'Embarcadère