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THE HOTEL MARTINEZ, A PIONEER IN SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY IN CANNES THANKS TO THERMAL SEA POWER (France)
The iconic hotel on the Croisette has reached a milestone in its ecological transition by adopting thermal sea power, an innovative solution that draws its energy from the Mediterranean Sea. |
Category: Europe - France - Industry economy
- Sustainability
Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on Wednesday 30 July 2025
 Signing of the agreement between Emmanuelle Brisemer, Director of the Southeast Region for Engie Solutions, and Michel Cottray, General Manager of the Hotel Martinez in Cannes.
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
Through its connection to the Énergie Marine Cannes Croisette (EMCC) network, the Martinez is committed to an ambitious energy transition. This technology, based on thermal sea power, is part of a vast plan to revitalize the Croisette led by the municipality. It is an innovative, eco-responsible, and resolutely forward-looking approach.
An innovative process promoting energy efficiency
The principle is based on natural heat exchange: seawater, collected at a depth of between 5 and 10 meters, transfers its heat to a freshwater network via a titanium heat exchanger that is resistant to salt corrosion. This energy then powers heat pumps capable of producing chilled or heated water as required. The seawater is then returned to its original environment, with a temperature difference strictly limited to +3°C.
“We are below the +5°C recommended by IFREMER,” emphasizes Alexis Tawfik, Sales Director for Nice Côte d'Azur Area South-East at Engie Solutions.
A meaningful signature and a lower bill
“This project will enable us to get rid of our boiler rooms and the two eight-tonne cooling units that sit on the roof of the hotel. This will considerably lighten the structure of the building, but the most important thing for us is to feel responsible,” said Michel Cottray, General Manager of the property, to Journal des Palaces.
The impact will be immediate: hot water, heating, and air conditioning will be powered mainly by this system. In figures, 1,132 tons of CO2 will be avoided each year, equivalent to the emissions of 4,500 homes or 700 flights between Paris and New York. An environmental benefit coupled with economic savings: the hotel's energy bills are expected to fall by 30% for this building, which houses 410 rooms and suites, several restaurants, a spa, a swimming pool, and spaces dedicated to MICE.
A collective commitment to a new era for Cannes as a destination
Recalling the Martinez's strong ties to a collective dynamic led by the city of Cannes, Michel Cottray was keen to emphasize that “it's not the Martinez that likes to be ahead of the curve, it's Cannes as a destination.”
Indeed, this initiative goes beyond the boundaries of the palace to embody a virtuous model of cooperation between public actors, notably the Cannes Lérins Agglomeration, and private actors, such as the Martinez, the first hotel in Cannes to sign up to this connection. The entire energy network, including the marine power plant, represents an investment of $50 million, financed by Engie.
Invisible to passersby, the power plant has been discreetly installed under the Square de la Roseraie, in harmony with the urban landscape. “Cannes is going further than other pioneering cities such as Marseille, Monaco, Barcelona, and Lisbon because here, the power plant is completely underground,” emphasizes Emmanuelle Brisemer, Director of the Southeast Region for Engie Solutions.
More ambitious responses to the expectations of MICE and leisure guests
Faced with the growing demands of travelers and event organizers in particular, the Martinez now intends to provide tangible proof of its commitment. “We need strong elements that will also set us apart from other destinations. We can no longer be satisfied with saying that we sort our waste or recycle food scraps,” emphasizes Michel Cottray.
Cooling 44,000 sqm of building space with 74% renewable energy sourced from the sea is a compelling argument. It is also a powerful response to those who still see the Croisette as an exclusively ostentatious destination.
With this signature, the Hotel Martinez is laying another brick in the edifice of a more virtuous form of tourism, where hotel excellence can no longer do without a strong sense of environmental responsibility.
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