Innovation on the French Riviera

In Cannes, the JW Marriott Hotel will be heated and cooled using water from the Mediterranean Sea

An iconic establishment on the Croisette, the JW Marriott Hotel in Cannes is joining the Énergie Marine Cannes Croisette (EMCC) thalassotherapy network, operated by ENGIE Solutions. From April 2027, 100% of its energy needs will be covered by water from the Mediterranean Sea, enabling an estimated reduction of 400 tons of CO₂ per year.

Formerly the Palais des Festivals, converted into a hotel in 1992, the JW Marriott Cannes Hotel is one of the establishments connected to the Énergie Marine Cannes Croisette (EMCC) network. This network already supplies several public and private buildings on the Croisette, including the Hotel Martinez, the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, as well as condominiums and school facilities.

As part of its environmental strategy, the establishment has opted for thalassothermie to heat and cool all of its facilities. Covering an area of approximately 50,000 m², the hotel comprises 262 rooms and suites, a restaurant, a swimming pool, a conference center, and a theater. The energy required, estimated at 6,000 MWh per year, will be supplied entirely by a renewable source: the Mediterranean Sea.

This connection is part of the Croisette beautification program launched in 2021 by David Lisnard, president of the Cannes Lérins Agglomeration and mayor of Cannes. The program aims to reduce the city's carbon footprint over the 25-year term of the EMCC network operating contract by avoiding more than 125,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Already committed to a structured CSR approach, the JW Marriott Cannes Hotel obtained Green Key certification in 2024, an international label for sustainable tourism. The use of a carbon-free energy solution, without combustion or chimneys, makes it possible to reconcile environmental requirements, energy performance, and thermal comfort for an international clientele.

The connection will provide 1,300 kW of heating power and 1,780 kW of cooling power. It will replace the existing equipment—three cooling units and two gas boilers—while stabilizing the facility's energy costs and avoiding future heavy investments. Work will begin in the fall of 2026 and last for six months, with commissioning scheduled for April 30, 2027.

We currently have Alumnus Lindsay Sosnowski working at the JW Marriott in Cannes (F&B Director) and look forward to hearing more about these exciting projects!

(Source: La Tribune de L'Hôtellerie)