ibis Brands Announce Four-Year Sponsorship of Café Joyeux’s Boat Ahead of Transat Café L’Or

In a spirited celebration of diversity, inclusion, and courageous pursuits, ibis – France’s leading hotel brand, part of the Accor group – is thrilled to announce a four-year sponsorship of Café Joyeux’s remarkable boat. This sponsorship will see ibis brands – ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget -  proudly supporting skipper Nicolas D’Estais and the Café Joyeux team as they embark on their bold journey across the Atlantic in the highly anticipated Transat Café L’Or, setting sail from Le Havre in just few weeks.  

ibis’s support will provide Café Joyeux with enhanced resources and unparalleled visibility during one of sailing’s most prestigious races, shining a light on Café Joyeux’s mission: championing the employment and social inclusion of people with mental and cognitive disabilities. As thousands line the docks in Le Havre and millions follow online, Café Joyeux’s boat—now resplendent with ibis colours—will serve as a beacon for positive change and a joyous reminder of their unwavering commitment. 

“We are proud to partner with Café Joyeux as Nico and the team set sail for a truly important cause,” said Raphaëlle Chiapolino, Global Vice-President ibis brands: “Our partnership with Café Joyeux embodies ibis’ commitment to inclusion and diversity, celebrating the belief that everyone’s potential deserves to shine. It’s truly inspiring to see the dedication and passion of Nico and the Café Joyeux team. That’s ibis’ ’hospitality for all’ vision in action. We are very proud to support the team at the Transat and beyond, a joyous celebration of this important cause.” 

For ibis teams and guests alike, this sponsorship is cause for celebration—and an opportunity to rally behind Café Joyeux’s transformative mission, giving visibility to their work. Through creative activations in hotels and on social media, followers, travellers, and local communities are invited to join the adventure, amplify awareness, and take part in the “Joyeux encouragements” - Joyful encouragement  operation, a collective movement to support skipper Nicolas d’Estais and his crew. Everyone is encouraged to share their words of support to accompany the Café Joyeux Boat on its journey, and demonstrate that anything is possible when you dare to believe in yourself.  

In recognition of the brand ethos it shares with Café Joyeux, ibis continues to foster open-mindedness and genuine connection across its network of over 2,500 hotels worldwide. Whether hosting globe-trotting travelers or supporting pioneering initiatives like this, ibis stands as a champion of authentic and affordable experiences for all.  

“We are thrilled to have ibis by our side for this extraordinary journey,” said Nicolas D’Estais, the Café Joyeux boat skipper. “Their support not only helps us take on the challenge of the Transat Café L’Or, but also amplifies the message that everyone has unique potential worth celebrating. Together, we are sailing towards a future where joy and inclusion guide the way.” 

The long-term sponsorship will accompany the Café Joyeux boat and its skipper, Nicolas d’Estais, through major upcoming challenges: the Route du Café (2025), the Route du Rhum (2026), the Route du Café (2027), and the Vendée Globe (2028).  

The Transat Café L’Or and this collaborative voyage offer a powerful platform to highlight how meaningful partnerships can spark far-reaching social impact. Today, ibis and Café Joyeux are sending a bold message: when we come together, dare to dream, and support each other—anything is possible. 

About Café Joyeux  

Café Joyeux has an innovative and nonprofit legal model. It is a standard SAS-structured company wholly owned by a nonprofit public interest organisation. In 2017, Café Joyeux, the first inclusive café-restaurant employing and training people with mental and cognitive disabilities, opened its doors in Rennes. This inclusive and socially responsible concept aims to integrate people with mental and cognitive disabilities through work, professional training and encounter. Today, there are 30 café-restaurants in operation in France and abroad, employing 214 people with disabilities with permanent contracts. In 2018, Café Joyeux launched a specialty coffee brand of the same name, available in beans, capsules and ground coffee.
For more information, visit cafejoyeux.com. 

About the ibis brands 

Since 1974, ibis has been a trailblazing brand, founded on the core principles of affordability, innovation and reliability. Democratising travel and hospitality, it was the first hotel brand in Europe to make a high quality, comfortable night’s stay accessible to all. In 2012, the ibis megabrand was created, with three distinct sub-brands – ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget - each with a different personality, design and passion, all unified by the ibis spirit of openness and the promise of affordability, convenience and comfort. The globally-recognised ibis, ibis Styles and ibis budget brands offer more than 2,530 locations in 80 countries. The ibis brands are part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,700 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL Accor, a lifestyle loyalty program and booking platform providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences.    

ibis.com | all.com | group.accor.com