Denis Courtiade, president of O’service Interview with Denis Courtiade, Director of Restaurant Jean Imbert at the Plaza Athénée I recently encountered a preeminent figure of the Parisian hotel industry: Denis Courtiade, the Director of Restaurant Jean Imbert at the Plaza Athénée. I had the pleasure of meeting both him and his team in action. I invite you to learn […]
The Lancaster Hotel Changes are in full swing at the Lancaster Hotel in Paris. To complete the renovation of rooms and suites that took place in February 2012, the Lancaster Hotel has recently furnished a new look to its gastronomic restaurant, La Table du Lancaster. Elegantly arrayed in tones of taupe, gold, and sand, the decor in La […]
The Grand Hotel of Bordeaux I had the immense pleasure and privilege of staying in the Grand Hotel of Bordeaux (5-stars). It is located in the sumptuous Place de la Comédie in the golden triangle right in the very heart of the city. The building was constructed in 1779 by Victor Louis in a Neoclassical style comprised of Corinthian […]
I recently had the pleasure of conducting a roundtable with Iris Maluski at the Maison & Objet Salon around the theme: “BEING AWAY FROM HOME IN A HOTEL” Be sure to check out all my articles with other guest speakers from the salon: => Fabrice Knoll => Réda Amalou => Alexis Tricoire I leave you to discover the international […]
The Concierge Goes up Against the Latest Technology I had the pleasure of interviewing Jérome Poret, the head of concierge services at the Plaza Athénée, who skillfully presides each day before the clients of the hotel to respond to their every needs and requests—a true daily challenge for Jérome and his entire team. 1. The Plaza Athénée has just reopened […]
The Hyatt Madeleine’s Commitment to Sustainable Development I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Hyatt Paris Madeleine Hotel in the 8th arrondissement, located beside the head office of my business. It is a charming boutique hotel, with 86 rooms spread out over seven stories. It boasts a bar, in addition to two restaurants led by an incredible chef […]
Kempinski Geneva I present to you Thierry Lavalley, General Manager of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Geneva. A lover of cultures and civilizations, human relationships, voyages and traditions, it was at a young age that Thierry Lavalley chose to enter the hospitality industry—above all, out of passion. A graduate of the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland, he began his career […]
The Diwi Program Lucien Barrière group wins best initiative in client experience from Worldwide hospitality awards. The proliferation in client points of contact due to the rapid development of the Internet and the advent of social networks, as well as the increasingly influential role of children in families, has led Lucien Barrière Group to rethink their marketing approach […]
Health Comes First During the latest SuccessFood conference, three of the biggest issues facing restaurants today were laid out before industry experts. Let’s consider the issue of health. Clients these days are increasingly looking to eat healthily. Sanitary conditions in France and other various countries have helped consumers avoid numerous problems. And diners are increasingly demanding the origins […]
We all know The Buddha-Bar by name, but perhaps a bit less their hotels. The group owns over fifteen restaurants around the world and currently boasts three 5-star hotels, including one in Paris. I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Buddha-Bar in Paris, and I can say that I very much admired it. The architect has designed some […]
I recently encountered Dominique Desseigne at Fouquet’s in Paris. I was delighted to run into him and learn about his vision of the art of welcoming. We also touched on the renovations in progress in Barrière Hotels. What is the French Art of Welcoming for you and for Barrière Hotels? It is to give one’s heart to the […]
Suites Designed To Make You Feel at Home For over fifteen years, the hotel has relied upon the work of one interior designer for the continual renovations of their suites and rooms (which today number at 54 and 154, respectively). In this manner, Marie-José Pommereau has designed the hotel’s new suites in continuation of her work for the hotel. […]
Meeting with Stéfany and Jean-Pascal Phélippeau I had the pleasure of discovering the Château des Tourelles Hotel (****) and its affiliated Thalassotherapy Center—Relais Thalasso—located in the Bay of La Baule. The history of the site is a very interesting one. At one time, it was a center for holiday resorts where parents sent young children who were sickly […]
Meet Christophe Hache, the head Chief of Hotel de Crillon, a Rosewood hotel Since the interview, Christophe Hache left the Hotel de Crillon and he works for his own restaurant. Is French gastronomy still a standard of reference for the rest of the world? Take the example of pastries. In France, I find that we’ve always […]
Update After the departure of multi-starred chef Alain Ducasse from the Plaza Athénée, Jean Imbert will succeed him at the head of the kitchens of the palace since July 2021. Revealed by the cooking show Top Chef broadcast on M6 in 2012, he is in charge of the hotel’s six restaurants, namely the Table Gastronomique, the Cour […]
A Conversation with Christopher Hache, Head Chef at Hotel Crillon, a Rosewood hotel In March of 2013, the Crillon closed its doors for large-scale renovation work. I recently met with Christopher Hache, the head chef of the hotel’s restaurants, to discuss the steps he has taken to prepare for the re-opening of the hotel (under the new management of the Rosewood […]
His Take on the French Art of welcoming How do you envision the French art of welcoming? In what ways have you revisited it? What are the keys to success today in guaranteeing that the client enjoys an exclusive experience? The French art of welcoming has been shaped by a very long tradition. This is an advantage, but, over time, […]
A hotel for business or pleasure? When a ‘resort’ and a ‘business hotel’ come together, you may find your stay transported to a new realm: Welcome to the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Ajaccio Bay. This hotel will be reason enough for a change of scenery for a stay or other professional reasons. You won’t hesitate to extend […]
What is your view on the French art of welcoming? It’s a true French tradition. France has always been a country that has drawn the attention of the rest of the world, including the English, who have developed their own art of welcoming. But it’s important to remember that many English people are descended from French families. In […]
This interview with Alain Ducasse was conducted around 2015, at a time when the transformation of the French art of welcoming was already underway within luxury hospitality. Revisiting this exchange today offers a particularly insightful perspective. It reflects a vision that has not only endured but continues to influence how hotels and restaurants approach guest experience, design, […]
The fears that worry clients : hotel superstition Here’s a rather unconventional subject—though one that, based on stories from hotel employees, does not go unnoticed. I myself remember several clients who explicitly refused to sleep on the 13th floor of the Sofitel Paris Porte de Sèvre. All very well, as it, in fact, did not […]
