The Metropolitan Tourist Office Nice Côte d’Azur inaugurated this Wednesday, January 21, its new tourist information office, located at 25 Jean-Médecin Avenue, right in the heart of the city. A strategic location, envisioned as a true showcase of Nice’s tourist hospitality.
Previously located on the Promenade des Anglais, the old office reportedly suffered from a lack of visibility, according to the municipality. “We had an office on the Promenade des Anglais, which is not a very busy place. We wanted a much more central location, a landmark spot in the city,” explained Christian Estrosi during the inauguration.
The choice of Jean-Médecin Avenue (at 25 Jean-Médecin Avenue) was a natural choice. “It’s one of the most commercial streets, close to the Carré d’Or, the large hotel establishments of the city center. When this location became available, we knew this was where the showcase needed to be,” continued the mayor of Nice, who is also the president of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis and the Metropolitan Tourist Office.
Located at the crossroads of tram lines 1, and 2, and in immediate proximity to the SNCF train station, the new office aims to meet the expectations of visitors and locals alike, offering easier and more accessible tourist information.
Jean-Sébastien Martinez: “better inform visitors”
Recently appointed head of the structure, Jean-Sébastien Martinez, 39 years old, general manager of the Metropolitan Tourist Office Nice Côte d’Azur, emphasizes the continuity of the mission, despite the change of setting.
“What changes is everything and not much at the same time. Our mission of providing information remains the same. What changes is the location,” he explains. We wanted to be in the heart of Nice, close to the two main tramway lines, lines 1 and 2, to better inform visitors and residents and encourage them to explore all the activities of the area.”
An area that far exceeds the city’s boundaries. “The goal is also to inspire people to discover not only Nice but also the whole metropolis, the middle country, and the high country,“, he emphasizes.
Why Jean-Médecin Avenue? “We wanted a central location. And a central location in Nice is Jean-Médecin, it’s Masséna Square, recalls Jean-Sébastien Martinez. We had the opportunity, thanks to Caisse d’Épargne, to acquire this space that met all our needs in terms of welcoming and location.”
Beyond its location, the new office stands out by its design. “Above all, it’s not an office, it’s a space. A welcoming area, insists the general manager. It’s a space where visitors can discover the craftsmanship of our producers and artisans, but also a place equipped with immersive screens allowing them to soak in the region from the entrance.”
A redesigned space for visitor reception
With an area of 200 m², the new space was designed to meet the criteria of customer experience, sustainable tourism, and energy efficiency. It offers enhanced accessibility, spaces adapted to different clienteles, innovative digital supports, as well as a reimagined boutique, in line with the new graphic charter of the Tourist Office.
A necessary change according to Christian Estrosi: “we were in premises where we neither had the digital network structure, nor this warmth of welcome, nor this organization and design matching what visitors to a city like ours expect to be welcomed and informed,” he noted.
This new office marks a step in the tourist hospitality strategy of the metropolis. “It was Jean-Médecin for the city center, with decentralized offices, and I’m also considering setting up an annex in the Var plain, which will be just as prestigious,” announced the mayor.
With this inauguration, the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis affirms its desire to modernize its tourist hospitality and enhance its attractiveness, betting on a central, accessible, and immersive location that reflects the dynamism of the region.
