La Clef Decamp, a company from the Manche that rents gîtes, and it’s booming.
Jennifer Decamp offers 40 vacation rentals, mostly in Normandy. ©Victoria Allaume-Côté Manche.
Jennifer is not originally from Normandy, as her last name “Decamp” indicates—it is rather common in her native Picardy.
Coming from a family of farmers and horse breeders, she grew up in this environment and became an equestrian journalist. After traveling extensively, she met a rider from the Cotentin, which brought her closer to the Manche region.
It is in this department that she settled and renovated her first house, near Valognes.
The first gîtes in her own house
“After our separation, I continued the renovations in the house and hosted roommates for a year. The atmosphere was very good, and when they left, I decided to start renting out gîtes,” recalls Jennifer, who at the time was still working as a journalist.
In 2012, the new Manche resident decided to fully dedicate herself to renovating and renting gîtes, “but in 2015, I met my husband (Sébastien Cordon), and he really helped structure me professionally. He handles the accounting and administrative side, and I focus on development.”
Together, they created La Clef Decamp in 2016.
40 gîtes and 24 employees in 2024
Gradually, the number of gîtes managed by the couple—whether their own or on behalf of private owners—grew, along with the company’s staff.
Today, the offices of La Clef Decamp are located in Villedieu-les-Poêles, Jennifer’s beloved town, but the forty 3- and 4-star gîtes they offer are mainly in Normandy and in the Hauts-de-France region. There is also one gîte in La Baule and on the French Riviera.
La Clef Decamp also has a team of 24 employees, some working in the office (webmaster, sales staff, HR, etc.) and others mobile, dedicated to maintaining the houses and apartments (gardening, cleaning, repairs), ensuring a high-quality experience for guests and that “everything is always clean and functional upon arrival,” says the owner, who “never thought I would become the head of a company one day.”
Unusual gîtes with plenty of amenities
Her hard work is now rewarded by the company’s continual growth and its originality.
“For each rental, we provide a complete welcome booklet online, listing all the equipment in the gîte, additional services we can offer, and nearby attractions.”
Several gîtes are often located on the same property, which can be rented together (useful for large family events) or separately. Each “complex” includes at least one jacuzzi, a pool table, a foosball table, children’s games, or outdoor games.
“We are also increasingly offering themed gîtes to stand out,” explains Jennifer, who still oversees interior decoration, her favorite part of the job.
In Luot, there is a gîte called “Tanzania,” and in La Chaise-Baudouin, you can spend the night in a unique gypsy caravan, for example.
The company offers stays in unusual accommodations, such as this caravan. ©La Clef Decamp.
A new service rental activity for events
The big novelty of the year for La Clef Decamp is the creation of its event rental company. “Plus que la Clef” allows customers to rent photo booths, bouncy castles, marquees, games, beer dispensers, or even wedding tableware, no matter the occasion.
Other various projects are expected in the coming years, such as the development of a large reception hall in one of the complexes.
Prices start at €80 per night for a four-person rental. Some gîtes can accommodate up to 55 people at once, and last-minute bookings on the website sometimes benefit from discounts.
Published 10/10/2024 at 17:02 on Côté Manche