DELPORTE HOSPITALITY MAG

DELPORTE HOSPITALITY MAG,
the leading publication for decision-makers in the luxury hotel industry,
shares its cross-disciplinary, in-depth view of luxury hotels and hospitality.

Crédits photo de Pixabay




(+) followers on
social networks
(+ of) articles on
luxury hotels
(+) hotel visits
around the world
(+) conferences in
France and abroad

Photo credits Pixabay

forbidden city of beijing, beijing, china, architecture, imperial, palace, ornament, the ceiling, asia, art, imperial palace, colorful, decor, roof, beijing, beijing, beijing, imperial palace, imperial palace, imperial palace, imperial palace, imperial palace

The Art of Welcoming in Japan – O’Service

Service Professions: “Japan and Service” in Partnership with the association O’Service This organization led by Denis Courtiade is devoted to restoring meaning and value to service careers. The organization holds as its objective to unite agents working in the French service profession to better advise service professionals of today and the future. Today I’d like […]

logo_palace

The War of the Palaces: Dream vs. Reality

Rivalry Among the ‘Newest’ Palaces in Paris A little competition is always healthy and, when done right, usually leads to better client service. When I think about the situation over the last 15 years, it’s worth noting that the Park Hyatt was the first to establish itself (2002) and begin disrupting codes by offering a […]

A Conversation with Frank Marrenbach, CEO of Oetker Collection

Discovering the Oetker Collection I had the pleasure of visiting the marvelous and mythical city of Baden-Baden in Germany. This is a city rich in history, tradition, and nature. It is a holiday resort and a thermal station in the middle of the Black Forest. The German word ‘Baden’ means ‘baths’ and stands in reference […]

Digital Technology and Hotels

The Inevitable Development of Digital Technology in Hotels Since their arrival, digital technology and the Internet have transformed our ways of life and our ways of consuming, as so often happens with the arrival of such progress. It has been this way, and it remains inevitable. Luxury hotels cannot close their eyes on digital transformations […]

one and only

Interview with Monsieur Zuber, One&Only

The Art of Sublimating Luxury Hotels I’ve been lucky to discover numerous One&Only Hotels, especially two in Dubai and one in Mauritius. The One&Only Dubai Palm is a sumptuous establishment, an oasis of calm between the Palm and Dubai Harbor. This interview with Monsieur Philippe Zuber, President of One&Only Resorts will allow you to better discover […]

Well-Being: Making the Difference in Hotels

Well-Being at a Hotel I first grew aware of the innovative spirit and work led by the Phélippeau family following the 2014 opening of their hotel, Château des Tourelles, and its thalassotherapy center. They have reinvted the welcoming and follow-up of their clients over the course of their cares. The teams on site demonstrate a […]

Luxury ‘à la française’ in Hotels

Luxury Has Become France’s DNA What is luxury ‘à la française’ in the sector of high-end hotels? Is there such a thing as a French hotel tradition? Here’s a question that someone asked me recently. I now have the pleasure of sharing my answer directly with you. It was in the 19th century that the […]

Sleeping in the Dark

Sleeping in the dark: How does one sleep well in a room? How do you prefer to sleep? In total darkness, in plain light, or in semi-darkness? In plain light, you will you will never have a problem with sleeping in hotels; any room will work fine, and you will likely be able to sleep […]

Elegancia: A New Look at the Hotel Industry

Interview with Philippe Vaurs, founder of Elegancia Hotels Philippe is an alchemist of the hotel industry. A well-respected influencer at the EQUIPHOTEL Salon, his modus operandi is to invest in hotels which he then transforms and even metamorphoses thanks to architects that he selects with the utmost care and originality. He has turned the Parisian hotel […]

Nadler

The Art of Welcoming at Nadler Hotels

A Conversation with Robert Nadler, CEO of Nadler Hotels Robert Nadler, CEO of Nadler Hotels, founded his hotels using inspiration from his personal experience as a hotel client. I met Robert a few days before the opening of one of his latest hotels. Openings are a very special and intense moment for the owner. I had […]

Low angle view of a circular glass dome ceiling featuring geometric patterns.

The Art of Organizing and Furnishing a Hotel Room

The Opening of a Hotel: The Verdict At the moment of a hotel’s opening, everything is at its most beautiful and marvelous. The hotel invites the press to spoil them and sends its PR team to show around everything there is to be seen. So it’s an interesting exercise to return to the hotel a […]

FIAC 2016: Contemporary Art and Luxury Hotels

FIAC: Contemporary art and luxury hotels—towards a new Eldorado? At the latest Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain (FIAC) in Paris, I reflected on the importance of contemporary art in Palaces and 5-star hotels. A fervent defender of the French art of welcoming, I am of the belief that contemporary art has always been an integral element of our DNA. […]

Luxe

Selecting Interior Designers at Accor Hotels

Choosing Interior Designers A Conversation with Julie Grégoire. I’ve met her when she used to work for Accor as Operational Director of Luxury, High-End, and Thalassa France. How do you decide on an interior designer? What are the necessary qualities and criteria? How much room do you give for new talents? Do you always select experts? […]

Training Hotel Staff by M Gallery

An Engaging Internal Training Program  What happens when you open a hotel? How do you train your staff teams? In each Sofitel, we have a person dedicated to training. Even better, we have a ‘flying’ trainer on hand in case a trainer is absent or when we need more specific training sessions around the brand’s […]

Corinne Menegaux

The Art of Welcoming & EQUIPHOTEL

“…the art of welcoming is not a prerogative of high-end hotels…” We are back with Corinne Ménégaux, the talented figure in charge of organizing EQUIPHOTEL Salon, a Parisian trade show that captures all the latest trends in furnishings in the hotel world. As a partner of the salon, it is my mission to regularly bring […]

A woman sunbathing on a yacht in the turquoise waters of British Virgin Islands.

Differentiation in the Hotel Industry

Differentiation in the Hotel Industry Achieving differentiation in the hotel industry is a key element for offering clients a memorable and quality experience. With the help of Charles De Foucault, General Manager of One&Only Le Saint Géran, I sought out to understand the key elements in the differentiation of a hotel. Numerous international luxury brands have […]

Melia

Hotel Construction in Paris

The Stages of Construction for the Mélia La Défense Paris Hotel I recently met with an investor who was seeking to acquire a hotel for the first time. He asked me if it was better to acquire an existing hotel or to sign on to construct a new hotel. The answer to this, of course, […]

Restaurants and Luxury Hotels: Dining round the Clock

How are dining behaviors evolving in luxury restaurants and hotels? During the latest salon SuccessFood, three issues facing restaurants today were laid out before industry experts. Let’s consider the issue of “round-the-clock dining.” Here’s a well-established offering in luxury hotels. One should be able to eat whenever one feels like it. Open bars in the lobbies will likely be […]

Meilleur Ouvrier de France – Receptionist

A Conversation with Gilles Le Bras, organizer of the ‘Meilleur Ouvrier de France’ competition for hotel receptionists. Back when I was a Director of Accommodations, I had the pleasure of serving as member of AICR (Amicale Internationale des Chefs de Réception), an international association for reception managers and assistant directors of large hotels. This dynamic association […]

The Art of Welcoming in France, the Maranatha Way

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”] Does France Need to Work on the French Art of Welcoming? I recently met with Olivier Carvin, CEO for the Maranatha Group. We were able to exchange our views on the French art of welcoming.  What is your point of view on the French art of welcoming? Does […]

Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku: A Restaurant

Alain Ducasse Restaurant Following up from their earlier design work for the bar of the Plaza Athénée, Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku went on to design the Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the illustrious hotel for the third time. I invite you to discover their vision of the restaurant from their perspective as architects. Let’s talk about the dining room of […]

Metal door handle and lock system with key inserted, showcasing security features.

Safes in Hotel Rooms

Hotel : feel protected in Hotel Rooms Interview with Christian Perdomo, CEO of ARCARIUS Security within a hotel, especially in one’s room, is one of the most important factors in determining the quality of one’s stay. We all have the need to feel protected, and the presence of a safe contributes to this. It is also a […]

Atelier de Joel Robuchon Bangkok and the NGO Ô Services

Interview with Mr. Quentin Arnould, General Manager, l’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Bangkok He is a member of the NGO Ô Services. Ô Services, is the association was formed with the goal of uniting people from the various spheres of the profession. Their approach involves addressing the youth: convincing them, encouraging them, guiding them, and accompanying them… Quentin Arnould was born and […]

Métropole - Edouard François

Edouard François, Architect: The French Art of Welcoming

The French Art of Welcoming Edouard François An encounter with architect Edouard François, who took part in the construction of Fouquet’s Barrière Paris. France’s history reveals that we have cultivated a true art of living and welcoming. This expertise and thoroughly French art of welcoming has been considerably developed in luxury hotels, where it remains […]

Staff Hôtel Baume

Repositioning a Hotel

Repositioning a Hotel: A True Challenge Repositioning a hotel reflects a true challenge for an existing hotel structure. It is not an effort from the management alone, or in any case, it shouldn’t be; in my opinion, this would be an assured failure. Repositioning a hotel requires the hotel to assemble and unify its entire […]

An Encounter with Fanélie Gaffinel

Fanélie Gaffinel Following the success of our first conference in January 2013 on the changes in luxury hotel renovations under the involvement of Studio Putman, Jean-Philippe Nuel, and Max Flageollet, I had the pleasure of working with Journal des Palaces to organize a second conference on hotel renovation at the Salon Maison et Objets. I was able to […]

Suite du Plaza Athénée

Plaza Athénée: Changing Everything Without Changing Anything

Once Upon a Time at the Plaza Athénée François Delahaye and his team have taken to their feather pens to write the next chapter of the history of the Plaza Athénée. Their ambition is a marvelous one: ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS THE PALACE OF TOMORROW. The hotel has acquired its neighboring buildings in […]

Optimisme

Optimism in the Hotel Industry

Optimism in All Its Forms During the third annual ‘Printemps de l’Optimisme’ held in Paris, I had the pleasure of meeting Thierry Saussez, the founder of this wonderful event bursting alive in positivity and seeking to cultivate the dynamism of businesses across all sectors. I wanted to interview him on the importance of optimism in […]

Hotel montagne

Hotels in the Mountains, Hotels in the South

Hotels in the Mountains, Hotels in the South… Séverine Pétilaire-Bellet, General Manager of the LOV Hotel Collection Group, lets us in on her vision of the French art of welcoming that she applies each day in her hotels. The LOV Hotel Collection group brings together the following splendid establishments: Les Airelles, Chalet Ormello, Aman Le […]

Dramatic sunset with vibrant clouds over misty mountains, capturing nature's beauty.

Neil Jacobs, CEO at Six Senses

Neil Jacobs, CEO at Six Senses:  The Art of Welcoming It is my pleasure to share with you my interview with Neil Jacobs, the Chief Executive Officer at Six Senses, about the art of hospitality and the Six Senses brand. Neil Jacobs is the CEO at Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas. With over three decades of experience in the operation, development […]

In the Spirit of the Plaza Athénée

Opening Up a Breathtaking Space for the Bar of the Plaza Athénée  Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku How did you collaborate with the Plaza Athénée? What characterizes your work on the bar, and how did you incarnate the ‘spirit of the Plaza’ in your designs? Our work at the Plaza Athénée has always remained a […]

Philippe GOMBERT Relais & Châteaux

What Are the Ambitions of Relais & Châteaux?

Phillippe Gombert, Relais & Châteaux Philippe Gombert, President of Relais & Châteaux, attests to the ambitions of the brand over which he presides. I invite you to rediscover his last interview on my blog by clicking here. Philippe Gombert in his own words: Relais & Châteaux has always, for me, been synonymous with passion. One of […]

Hard Rock Hotel

Hard Rock Hotels

Josh Littman is the EMEA Vice President of Development for Hotels at Hard Rock International, based in London, having joined the company in April 2012. At Hard Rock, he is responsible for expanding the firm’s portfolio of hotels in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, which involves the sourcing of opportunities, negotiation of transaction […]

Haute Couture Hotels: “Away from Home” with Isabelle Miaja

Away from Home with Architect-Designer Isabelle Miaja Last year, I had the pleasure of conducting a roundtable at the Maison & Objet Salon around the theme “Haute Couture Hotels,” in the presence of Isabelle Miaja (architect-designer), Geoffray Maugin (Marketing Director of Sofitel), and Giovanna Golnelli (Marketing Head of Fendi Maison). We addressed various themes and topics […]

European arcade with café seating, showcasing architectural elegance and lively atmosphere.

Between Hotel and Boutique

Boutique Hotel: Between Hotel and Boutique I recently met with Eric-Jean Floureusse, founder of the concept hotel Hameau des Baux, where he has recently integrated a boutique spirit. What this means: he’s established an exhibition gallery and artist boutique, both of which are redesigned every year, just like an actual gallery. In the space designated […]

Olivier Lapidus and the Art of Welcoming

Olivier Lapidus and the Art of Welcoming A few months ago, I addressed the theme of “high-fashion hospitality.” In line with this theme, allow me to introduce you to Olivier Lapidus, a fashion designer turned interior designer who is perhaps most well known for designing the Félicien Hotel. There, he imported his style, his innovations […]

cuisine

Culinary Voyage Around the World

A Voyage with Patrick Charvet, Chef  Upon meeting Patrick Charvet, the previous head chef at the Hyatt Paris Madeleine, it struck me that he is one of the rare chefs in France to have traveled around the world in search of new culinary horizons. To me, it seems more essential than ever these days to […]

métiers de l'hôtellerie

Inspiration Journal: Hotel Professions

Professions in the Hospitality Industry My section on “Inspiration Journals” presents various hotel ambiances along themes that develop according to my visits, my readings, and my given mood. Today I want to turn the spotlight on those artisans who are involved in your hotel stays by examining the wide variety of careers in the hotel industry—those […]

art of welcoming

Robert D’HENRY, French “Art of Welcoming”

Robert D’HENRY architects: His vision of French “Art of Welcoming” I met the architect Robert D’ Henry at the Hotel and Spa Forum organized in The George V Four Seasons Paris. It was an interesting forum where professionals from different European countries came to listen to international experts who present their knowledge and experience of […]

Fendi

Hotel “Haute couture”, by Fendi

Interview of Giovanna Golnelli, Marketing and communication director of Fendi Casa.   Could you present your positionning ? Fendi Casa is positioned on a high-end segment of the market, with a range of exclusive offers that reinterpret the aesthetics of living in a new kind of glamor-comfort. A collection of furniture that has been able to develop […]

Peninsula

The Human Dimension of the Peninsula Towards Its Staff

At the Peninsula, Respect Is What Underlies Service On my visit to the Peninsula Paris, I could sense that the brand placed importance on how they treat their staff members. This sentiment was confirmed upon my exchange with the General Manager of the Peninsula Chicago and the Peninsula Hong Kong. Upon meeting Peter C. Borer, […]

Melia

The Art of Welcoming by Mélia

At Mélia, the Art of Welcoming Begins with a Personalized Welcome At the opening of the newest Mélia Paris La Défense Hotel, I enjoyed a lengthy discussion with Jorge Roll, regional manager at the Mélia Group. I took advantage of this opportunity to ask him to introduce us to his brand.  At Mélia Hôtel, what […]

repas de Bébé

Baby Food Offerings and Children’s Menus at Hotels

Baby Food Offerings and Children’s Menus at Hotels I had the pleasure of chatting with Alain Ducasse on the kinds of dishes one should offer children. He has just recently published a book « nature, simple, sain et bon » (Natural, Simple, Healthy, and Good) which offers a wealth of easy recipes to prepare for children, with […]

tree, christmas tree, nature, snow, winter, holiday, christmas, christmas tree, snow, christmas, christmas, christmas, christmas, christmas

Inspiration Journal: Christmas at a Hotel

Inspiration Journal My section on “Inspiration Journals” presents various hotel ambiances along themes that develop according to my visits, my readings, and my given mood. Christmas Cheer Take advantage of the magic of Christmas to enjoy a stay in a hotel with a universe out of the ordinary and open to discovery. You will come […]

The French Art of Welcoming and the Butler Profession

The Art of Welcoming and Butlers A couple months back, I had a discussion with Robert Mauchamp, founder of ‘Association des Majordomes d’Europe et Personnel de Maison’ (Association of European Butlers and Domestic Personnel) and the distinction ’Excellence In Butlers Services’. We engaged in a fascinating discussion, and I wanted to shed the spotlight on […]

hôtels éphémères

Pop-Up Hotels: From London to Singapor

Pop-up Hotels Pop-up hotels regularly pop up from time to time in various places around the world, often in untapped locations. To describe one as a ‘hotel,’ though, could be considered somewhat of a stretch, since it describes above all a room that comes with a few services. Nevertheless, these hotels often form unique experiences for enthusiasts. […]

W Paris

W PARIS

The W Paris After opening back in February 2012, the W Paris, located a stone’s throw away from the Opera in Paris, has taken a strong foothold in just a matter of months among the vast panorama of Parisian hotels. The hotel features its own take on the art of living, which draws inspiration from […]

repas de Bébé

Children in Hotels: When It Comes to Restaurants

Children in Hotels: When It Comes to Restaurants While having breakfast at the Alain Ducasse Restaurant at the Plaza Athénée, I discovered the special menu suggested for children. I thought it was an excellent idea to offer an illustrated menu for children where they can choose their pastries, cereals, orange juice, etc. Luxury hotels have […]

Butlers in the Digital Age

Digital Butlers: The Evolution of the Butler’s Profession in the Face of New Forms of Technology New forms of technology have had significant impacts on various professions in the hotel industry. My meeting with Robert Mauchamp on the latest technology shows just how important it is to stay abreast of evolutions in order to be […]

_EDF_plafond_

“Being Away at a Hotel” With Alexis Tricoire

“Being Away at a Hotel” With Alexis Tricoire Up until only a few years ago, clients largely sought out hotels that made them feel at home. Today, the circumstances have changed. The client, who has now become an experienced traveler and a well-informed connoisseur of hotels, is increasingly in search of being transported ‘elsewhere,’ an experience […]

John Licence Interview 

Meet John Licence, Continental Brand Leader – Europe – Autograph Collection What characterizes your brand Autograph Collection in terms of construction and design? How do you select the hotels? How do you embody the spirit of the Autograph collection brand?  Can you give us an example? The Autograph Collection marketing tag line is ‘exactly like nothing else’  and […]

Sofitel-Bahrain

Samy Boukhaled GM, Sofitel Bahrain

Art of welcoming What is your business approach to the French art of welcoming? Do you think that the French art of welcoming is a differentiating factor for luxury hotels? What are the values that you emphasize when welcoming your customers? French elegance is at the heart of Sofitel and is also, in my opinion, at […]

Kenpinski

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea by Sébastien Mariette, General Manager Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. What is your business approach of “the Art of Welcoming”? Do you think that French “art de recevoir” is a differentiating factor for luxury hotels? What are the values that you emphasize when welcoming your customers?  Our mission at Kempinski hotel […]

entrée fleur

Flowers Revisited in the Hotel Lobby

Flowers in Hotels It is a touch of luxury tradition to be met with a resplendent arrangement of flowers upon entering a hotel. For the Royal Monceau, this forms a centerpiece that the hotel revisits every few months with the help of skilled artists. (I invite you to rediscover my article featuring Sylvie Maréchal, who was responsible for […]

NH Collection

NH Collection Venezia Palazzo Barocci

About NH Collection Meet Laurent Heras Guerquin, the previous GM at NH Hotel collection What is your take on the French art of welcoming? Do you think that the French art of welcoming is a distinguishing feature in the international hotel industry? I am French, and my mother is French…so I don’t see the art of welcoming as […]

Edouard François

How to design an hotel ?

Interview with Edouard François, the architect behind the design of Fouquet’s Barrière Paris Hotel. What inherited expertise have you reinterpreted in your project for the Fouquet’s Barrière Hotel? At Fouquet’s, we faced an ensemble of seven buildings constructed in both true and faux Haussmann-style and a building dating from the 70s that formed a near-complete island in the Triangle […]

laurent delporte - Hôtel Thoumieux salle à manger

The Evolution of the Hotel Franchise

The hotel franchise in luxury: Towards the evolution of a concept At the end of the day, creating a successful network of franchises in the luxury hotel industry comes back to offering quality services that align with the identity of an establishment that is unique, rather than generic. In other words, they should appropriately and respectfully utilize the attributes […]

Relais & chateaux

Relais & Châteaux and their Values

The Values of Relais & Chateaux I invite you each day of this week to discover my interview with Philippe Gombert, President of the brand Relais & Châteaux, around the French art of welcoming and Relais & Châteaux.  Over the years, Relais & Châteaux has developed an international brand presence in order to export its expertise […]

A chef artfully plating a gourmet dish with mushrooms and greens on wood slices.

Pierre Gagnaire: The French Art of Welcoming

Pierre Gagnaire : The French Art of Welcoming Lies in its Sincerity Pierre Gagnaire ranks among the greatest of French chefs. He owns close to 10 restaurants around the world, including Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire, located on rue Balzac in Paris. I had the pleasure of meeting him upon the occasion of the announcement of his […]

logo_palace

3 Palaces in France in 2014

What It Means to Have Three New Palaces in France: “The Palace Label has profoundly transformed the landscape of luxury hotels. Originally conceived in 2010, it was awarded for the first time in 2011 to 8 French establishments, including classic hotels from Paris (Le Meurice and the Plaza Athénée) as well as those in other […]

10 essential tips for improving the hotel guest experience

Customer experience is one of the most decisive aspects of the hotel business. To stand out from the crowd in such a competitive sector, hoteliers need to know how to meet guests’ expectations while offering services that go beyond their needs. As a hospitality expert who has visited over 300 hotels worldwide, I can help […]

TOMORROW NEEDS TODAY

It’s a such a pleasure to present Ralph Radtke, a man with nearly 40 years in the hotel industry across 15 different countries to his name, is a sizeable reference guide for this industry. Following a noteworthy career path as General Manager of Sofitel, Director of Operations in Accor Hotels in Luxembourg and a nomination […]

Langham Hotel : trends and sustainability

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Stefan Leser, CEO of Langham Hotel and we’ve shared our hotel vision during the ILTM show:   What are your biggest challenges in the guest experience going forward? What trends do you see that you want to incorporate? The challenge is about how you bring your message […]

Langham Hotels, art of welcoming

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Stefan Leser, CEO of Langham Hotel and we’ve shared our hotel vision during the ILTM show: What differentiates Langham Hotels from other hotels? One thing that is unique is our club lounge. I almost don’t like the words ‘Club Lounge’ because a lot of people claim to […]

Ralph radtke and his team

Iconic hotel

It’s a such a pleasure to present Ralph Radtke, a man with nearly 40 years in the hotel industry across 15 different countries to his name, is a sizeable reference guide for this industry. Following a noteworthy career path as General Manager of Sofitel, Director of Operations in Accor Hotels in Luxembourg and a nomination […]

Langham Group hotel

Meet a great entrepreneur : Stefan Leser – CEO of Langham I met with the CEO of Langham Hotels during the ILTM show. I’ve stayed in a Langham Hotel in Shanghai: a beautiful hotel in the French Concession area of the city. Where are Langham Hotels located, and what are the upcoming developments for the […]

The Negresco and the art of renewal

The reputation of the Negresco precedes it. Since it opened its doors in 1912, this Niçoise Palace has climbed to the summit of the hotel industry and has made a place for itself in the highly exclusive club of the jewels of French hotels. By any measure, the hotel had surely found the recipe for […]

Plaza_athenee_spa

The future of hospitality

  I recently met with François Delahaye, General Manager of the Dorchester Collection. Like a fine symphony maestro, he leads the hotels in the Collection: Plaza Athénée, the Meurice in Paris, The Dorchester in Londres, The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles, Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan, the Coworth Park […]

The Art Of welcoming

The Art Of welcoming The art of welcoming in the Middle East and in Asia does not follow local customs, but instead prioritizes a highly international approach. What is your view on the French art of welcoming? In France, 90% of the products that I serve are French. And yet, when I look at the […]

Hotel Borgo Egnazia 

Interview with Aldo Melpignano, General Manager of Hotel Borgo Egnazia  On a recent trip to Hotelspa Forum, I had the privilege of meeting with Aldo Melpignano, who helped me discover Hotel Borgo Egnazia. Located in Puglia in Italy, Hotel Borgo Egnazia has created an authentic art of welcoming to help people achieve wellness and discover […]

Meet a great hotel entrepreneur !

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Sir Rocco Forte, the paterfamilias behind the luxury hotel group under his name: Rocco Forte Hotels. He helped me discover the unique art of welcoming at Rocco Forte Hotels. Many affluent travelers now want more in a hotel. They want some expertise on the destination and the […]

Trump Hotels

I was recently at ILTM, which brings together many of the finest hotel groups from around the globe. At the occasion, I was able to discover Trump Hotels. What is the history behind the brand? Our first hotel in our portfolio was Trump Central Park in New York. It’s been open for 21 years now. […]

ART OF LIVING AND FRENCH REFINEMENT IN PARIS

The art of welcoming guest … Welcoming friends, family, clients, partners—all of these form occasions for an exchange of sensual and intellectual pleasures that, in France, bring out the best in standards, beauty, refinement, rituals, and sophistication, not to mention lightheartedness, excellence, and courtesy. This page is aimed at sharing the various codes, customs, signs, […]

Plaza-Athenee-facade

Managing a Palace  

The staff team: The heart of the Palace Experience I recently met with François Delahaye, General Manager of the Dorchester Collection. Like a fine symphony maestro, he leads the hotels in the Collection: Plaza Athénée, the Meurice in Paris, The Dorchester in Londres, The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Bel-Air Hotel in Los Angeles, Hotel […]

Preferred Hotels

Interview with Lindsey Ueberroth She is the Chief Executive Officer of Preferred Hotels & Resorts and a member of its Board of Directors. Since joining the company in 2004, Lindsey has helped solidify the position of Preferred Hotels & Resorts as an iconic global hospitality brand, a preferred partner for independent hotels, and a trusted […]

georgeV-paris-facade

What is a Palace in France?

Compared to the past, our lifestyles tend to undergo change more rapidly. The trend of the moment quickly becomes outdated. The codes that are in one day are replaced the next. What was true two years ago is no longer true today—and particularly so in the world of luxury hotels. Globalization has imposed its standards […]