Steven Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer, Accor, said, “A new edition of the festival goes hand in hand with innovation! Just like our destinations, music is synonymous with escape and we are proud to stand alongside the Montreux Jazz Festival for the second consecutive year. Music has long been a passion supported by Accor brands – it is part of the culture at Sofitel, which offers a multitude of musical experiences, and at each summer Solstice for about ten years, celebrates World Music Day. In late March, ibis launched ibis MUSIC, an ambitious program aimed at developing the range of music in all its hotels, and Fairmont – galvanized by the success of the first edition – has decided to expand the award launched last year with the Montreux Jazz Festival internationally and will offer the winner a tour of 20 Fairmont properties throughout the world. We are excited to offer our clients around the world musical experiences that meet their expectations.”
« La Terrasse ibis MUSIC » - the entire ibis musical world will be at the Montreux Jazz Festival
The first official stage sponsored by the Montreux Jazz Festival and fully integrated into the line-up, « La Terrasse ibis MUSIC » will host 17 free concerts. Sony Music France is responsible for the Terrasse’s artistic direction, with a lineup of live performances from emerging to confirm artists, as well as DJ sets. Famous names such as Charlie Winston, Klingande or Boulevard des Airs will be performing daily.
This 400m² terrace on the shores of Lake Geneva will be completely dedicated to live music and will be open every day until 4am. ibis constantly strives to align its values, history and collaborations with artists and festivals, while simultaneously acknowledging the universal nature of music. As part of an international survey, conducted by Ipsos for ibis, 79% of participants said that listening to music is an essential part of their life. 84% said that music helps them to socialize and share feelings, with 58% saying they enjoy listening to music while traveling. The results of this study are therefore totally in line with the positioning of ibis and illustrate the extent to which travel, hospitality and music are connected. Intended to support emerging talent and celebrate live music, the ibis MUSIC line-up will be a 360° activation, which will include music played in hotels, specially compiled playlists and a competition for emerging artists. As part of this competition, ibis will also be involved in the summer at the Sziget Festival from August 7 to 13, 2019.
Fairmont provides an international dimension with the “Fairmont World Tour Award”
Fairmont Le Montreux Palace offers unique events every year, including the must-see "House of Jazz".
Seeking to promote new talents, this year Fairmont is launching the “Fairmont World Tour Award”, an enhanced version of the award that the brand unveiled in 2018 with the Festival. The two winners, selected from among artists given special mentions by the Montreux Jazz Festival and Fairmont, will thus have the opportunity to play their first world tour. 20 Fairmont palaces will set up the stage for their tours: one in North and South America, the other in Europe and Asia.
The prize for the “Fairmont European Tour Awards”, one of the three accolades handed out last year, was a tour performing in four Fairmont palaces in Barcelona, London, Hamburg and Montreux, and was won by American singer Jalen N’Gonda. Following the success of his performance, the Savoy in London has since created a permanent artist residency. In 2019, Jalen N’Gonda will be returning to the Festival, performing on the Stravinsky Auditorium stage before Lauryn Hill.
A unique experience on board the Orient Express
Between Paris and Montreux, some festival-goers, including members of the loyalty program Le Club AccorHotels, will be lucky enough to experience various music performances on board the Orient Express, an Accor subsidiary since January 2018. The program includes the chance to enjoy a gastronomic lunch created by Head Chef Yoni Saada and a piano recital featuring artists sponsored by the Montreux Jazz Festival.
In Montreux, the celebrated Train Bleu carriage, dating from the 1920s and embodying the luxury and splendor of the Golden Age of Travel, will be open to the public. Furnished by interior designer René Prou, in collaboration with master glassmaker René Lalique and his daughter Suzanne, this legendary train carriage is one of the most highly prized of the current Orient Express. It owes its international reputation to the 1974 movie Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Sidney Lumet, and is unmistakable thanks to its medley of bouquets with silver stalks and cast glass roses. Its decor will be recreated in the main lobby and accessible free of charge.
After discovering the exhibition dedicated to the history of the Orient-Express, festival-goers will be invited to make themselves at home in bridge chairs to enjoy the daily line-up of music featuring a showcase of artists performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, and to play the piano, which - who knows - may reveal the talents of tomorrow.
The « House of Vinyl ALL » : a new treasure trove for music lovers
In the heart of the “Garden”, the Festival’s VIP hospitality village, the new « House of Vinyl ALL* » will open its doors to hotel guests, artists and partners of the Festival. In the heart of one of the most beautiful vinyl collections in the world, two passionate collectors at the event will guide them. They will be able to customize their playlists on the ground floor. Two listening lounges will also be available. In order to provide a magnificent accompaniment to the musical ambiance, three rooftops with a breath-taking view of Lake Léman, a spirit bar and a cigar cellar are at your disposal throughout the festival and will enhance the music-loving experience offered by Accor/ALL.
*ALL, Accor Live Limitless, the Group’s new loyalty program announced in March will be available before the end of 2019.