Inaugurations No. 73 PARIS N E W S // SEPTEMBER 2012

Home , Arrondissements of Paris, Parc des Princes, Passage Choiseul, Passy, Passy (Paris Métro), Pont Royal

There are lots of Inaugurations to keep up with in Paris in September: the Louvre opens its new Islamic Art Department to great fanfare and three hotels reopen after a full makeover. Tour guide specialists have come up with brand new tours: visits to workshops, boutiques, auction houses. And then there is a cashmere boutique and a concept restaurant … Have a good rentrée! Culture // Event at the Louvre: opening of the museum’s 8th department Twenty years after the huge pyramid project, the Louvre today sees the result of a ten-year project, which showcases the Islamic Arts. Architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti have created 2,800 m2 of exhibition area in the Cour Visconti; this architectural masterpiece involved excavating to a depth of 12 metres within the heart of the historic palace of the royal kingdom of France, which dates back to the 12th century. Eight centuries later, a glass roof seems to float above one of the palace’s most ornate courtyards: this ‘dragonfly’s wing’ with its changing reflections of light is a remarkable technical feat of glass panels and metallic glass sheets composed of 2,350 triangles with a gold coloured effect that rest on a structure of eight fine pillars. The interior space is a light and airy exhibition space. Some 3,000 objects are presented to the public in this area specifically designed for them: wall of Ottoman tiles, Egyptian porch, carpets, boxes, carafes, paintings, ceramics, etc. The display of the collections by Renaud Piérard, closely linked to the architecture around it, forms a loop that presents the evolution of these Islamic Arts from the year 632 to 1800, in four large fluid parts. A tactile trail, designed for visually-impaired and blind visitors, but accessible to all, and in particular to young visitors, is an integral part of the visit and makes it possible for visitors to discover with their fingertips a selection of 10 moulds of key objects as well as the substance (ivory for example) from which they are made. A large multimedia installation accompanies the layout, giving visitors the keys to the visit and presenting the often little-known chronology and geography of these outstanding works.

> Département des Arts de l’Islam Musée du Louvre, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 40 20 53 17 www.louvre.fr/departement-arts-islam Leisure // Art in Paris, a new introduction to the world of art The autumn cultural season in Paris heralds the start of new exhibitions. For art aficionados with a thirst for more knowledge, a new company, Art in Paris, gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the art world and the art market. The idea is that of Catherine Nesly-Bollack, a qualified tour guide in the history of art. What could be more intimidating but also more exciting than a visit to an auction house? Through Art in Paris, Drouot reveals its secrets; amateurs and why not future buyers are guided through the labyrinth of this auction house. Another possibility for an outing is a tour of the 3rd arrondissement, home to some of the most famous art galleries and up-and-coming centres that will be tomorrow’s not-to-be-missed venues.

> ART IN PARIS www.art-in-paris.fr Meeting the French adds two new great visits to its catalogue The well-known incoming agency Meeting the French continues to expand its range of visits and since the summer has two new ones that will appeal to women.

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 1 Make-up studio By Terry. Getting to know simple techniques and the secrets for successful make-up is every woman’s dream. And it is now possible with a one and a half-hour make-up session with the French brand By Terry, created in 1998 by Terry de Gunzburg, the former artistic and marketing director of Yves Saint Laurent. Bespoke make-up is offered for a group of 8 people, at the shop in the Passage Véro-Dodat, the cradle of the brand since it opened. On the first floor, in a cosy area bathed in the light of the glass passage, clients discover the techniques and advice of professionals to master the art of applying make-up and so reduce the time they spend each day in front of the mirror. Complexions become flawless, dark circles under the eyes are hidden … as if by magic. The session is both pedagogical and fun and may also be given in English as the make-up artist in charge of the workshop speaks English. A beauty-passport is given to participants listing the products used and the different advice given.

Cécile & Jeanne. Meeting the French’s second visit makes it possible to discover the expertise of Cécile & Jeanne, a famous French jewellery house. Since they opened in the capital in 1994, followed in 1996 by a boutique cum workshop at the Viaduct des Arts, the brand has continued to expand and become more and more well-known and successful. Cécile & Jeanne, whose logo is a dove, has a nice history. Its designer (she does not like the term of creator, reserved only for God) sent one of her lucky jewels in the form of a dove to Lea Rabin so that she could give it as a gift to the wife of Yasser Arafat as a token of peace. The legend thus began and the famous dove then reappeared over time on the blouses of such well-known women as Madeleine Albright and Bernadette Chirac. After this successful atypical beginning, the brand now wishes to appeal to a wider public and share its artisanal expertise. Visitors get a behind-the-scenes view of quality craftsmanship. All the stages in the making of a piece of jewellery, from its conception on paper to the final touches are shown: sketches, cutting up of the material (pewter, silver, etc.), choice of shapes (pearls, cabochons, stones, etc.), and cutting, welding or applying of gold leaf. A whole process which has an element of magic about it and technical expertise: a soldering iron heated to 100° must for example be handled with skill; the same skill is required for the polishing stage which is a vital process where no errors must be made otherwise the look of the object could be ruined. The very instructive visit lasts one hour and is a rare opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes of these art professions; it certainly gives you a new insight into jewellery.

> meeting the french www.meetingthefrench.com Accommodation // L’hôtel O: a colourful designer hotel a few steps from the Louvre Already noted for several hotel projects in Paris, the group Elegancia opens the Hotel O this month, a daring creation by the French designer Ora Ïto. Located in a small quiet street a few steps from the Louvre, the hotel offers refreshing modern decor in its 29 bedrooms ‘cOcoon, ‘Odyssey’ and GaliléO. Each floor has a palette of colours in the bedrooms, all different: pink-purple, yellow, red-orange … every room is a surprise. Play of trans- parent colours, extension of the bedroom into the bathroom, walls in felt, beds tucked away in alcoves: Ora Ïto shakes up the idea of a hotel room to create a futuristic and comfortable bedroom. All the rooms are double rooms with a shower; free Wi-Fi, iPhone connection, plumbing fixtures and welcome products branded Ora Ïto: every detail has been thought of to cater to the comfort of the trendy modern traveller. The reception and bar area have been thought of as an ode to nature: the colour green, wood, clean lines in a hotel that seeks to be city-oriented and animated at all hours, with in particular the creation of exclusive cocktails with unique flavours.

> Hôtel O 19 rue Hérold, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 42 36 04 02 www.hotel-o-paris.com

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 2 End of refurbishment work for Holiday Inn Paris Opéra Grands Boulevards After more than two years of refurbishment work, September marks the end of the renovation and transformation of the Holiday Inn Paris Opéra Grands Boulevards***. This is the time it has taken to give a complete makeover to the 118 bedrooms and public areas and comply with the latest safety standards and accessibility regulations. All the bedrooms are now decorated in shades of pale green and grey to create a relaxed and soothing environment. Quilt, choice of firm or soft pillow, soundproofed rooms, bathtub or floor-level shower, courtesy tray, safe-deposit box, mini bar, and room-service menu … everything for a comfortable and peaceful stay. Twenty double rooms can be made into twin rooms; some standard rooms have a sofa that can be made up for a third person, others have a communicating door between them for family accommodation. Eighteen Executive rooms offer a higher level of comfort including bathrobes, luxury welcome products, magazines, drinks and snacks, iron and ironing board, etc. Finally, four rooms are fully adapted for people with physical disabilities. The breakfast room is light and airy and Scandinavian in inspiration with wood panelling and designer lights. It is situated on the first floor with a view over the bustling boulevard Poissonnière. The bar, open every day, may be privately-hired for small-scale events (around 20 people) with the possibility of catering. The district, one of the liveliest in the capital, is known as the ‘Grands Boulevards’. It is the epicentre of the Parisian theatre world, but also of shopping with its famous covered passages; the Palais Garnier opera house, the Louvre and even Montmartre are just a few minutes away. N.B.: the hotel will soon be requesting an assessment to be awarded a fourth star.

> Holiday Inn Paris Opéra Grands Boulevards*** 30-32 boulevard Poissonnière, Paris 9th Tel +33 (0) 1 47 70 25 55 www.holiday-inn.com/grands-blvds Le Robinet d’or, a hidden gem near the banks of the canal Saint- Martin Le Robinet d’or, which opened this summer, is located in a little street leading onto the canal Saint-Martin, a rapidly-expanding district popular with hip Parisians. The hotel-restaurant has taken the place of a former tap-making factory from the 1930s; the decor of the restaurant makes a reference to the history of the place with zinc pipes, taps, wood panels and second-hand earthenware tiles, an amusing little detail that gives the place its style. It is the decorator Laurent Moreau, to whom we already owe several boutique hotels in Paris, who has brought her special touch to making an eclectic mix into a harmonious and very ‘popular Paris’ whole. The 16 bedrooms are tastefully furnished in a mix of modern and old; sourced second-hand writing desks go well with industrial lights, whilst contemporary wallpaper contrasts with walls in warm colours. The bathrooms are paved with colourful ‘Parisian metro’ tiles, giving them quite a masculine atmosphere; N.B. the welcome products are organic. All bedrooms are equipped with an Espresso machine and an iPhone dock; Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, and a good room-service menu is available. The hotel restaurant seats around 100 and is open every day for fresh homemade bistro type cooking, and brunch on Sunday. Le Robinet d’or is awaiting a ***rating.

> Le Robinet d’or 7 rue Eugène Varlin, Paris 10st Tel +33 (0) 1 44 65 14 50 http://www.lerobinetdor.com

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 3 Shopping // Kapra Hiska Cashmere or the French-style elegance of Mongol craftsmanship This recently-opened delightful boutique in the heart of the Marais showcases the collections of Kapra Hiska. The store provides a complete warm 100 % cashmere wardrobe of clothes for men and women through quality collections rigorously selected throughout the year. From light and fine ‘two thread’ fabrics to warm and cosy ‘12 thread’ knits, the collection includes timeless pieces: jumpers, cardigans, tunics, scarves, wraps, capes, hats, gloves, etc. There is a huge range of colours to choose from: strong and primary colours, shades of blue, pink, green … Ancestral Mongolian know-how can be found in discrete details on the back of a sleeve or in the lining of a cardigan; incredible richness in the association of colours and embroidery. The shop, in the oldest district of Paris, also displays pieces of Mongolian arts and crafts which create a link between the Parisian design of the clothes and their Oriental origin.

> Kapra Hiska Cashmere 43 rue de Turenne, Paris 3rd Tel +33 (0) 1 42 76 06 47 Gastronomy // A ‘cocotte’ at Saint-Ouen flea market This month, restaurateurs Philippe and Fabienne Amzalak open Ma Cocotte, a new restaurant at the Saint-Ouen flea market, signed Philippe Starck. The chic canteen style venue seats around 250. Loft style with an industrial inspiration, it features a large room opening onto the kitchens, two rooms on the first floor and two lovely terraces opening onto the Serpette and Paul Bert markets. Chef Yannick Papin unveils a menu featuring classic Parisian dishes with a new twist using simple quality products. Prices promise to be mid-range offering good value for money.

> Ma Cocotte 116 rue des Rosiers, Saint-Ouen Tel +33 (0) 1 49 51 70 00 Stop press // Opening in the 11th arrondissement of the restaurant Pierre Sang by young and talented cook Pierre Sang Boyer, with a changing themed menu: vegetarian, gluten-fee, local, etc.

> Pierre Sang restaurant 55 rue Oberkampf, Paris 11st http://pierresangboyer.com

Ma Cocotte

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14th 13th 12th Coming soon // Culture - Renovation work at the Musée de l’Air et de l’espace (April 2012-end of 2014) - Opening of the new Islamic Arts department in the Cour Visconti at the Louvre after covering of the courtyard by architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. 13,000 works will be on show in 4,600 m2 of new spaces (22 September 2012) - Opening by Larry Gagosian of an art gallery at Le Bourget airport, in a former aeronautical warehouse fully renovated by Jean Nouvel (autumn 2012) - During the second phase of renovation of the Château de Versailles, closure of the ‘Grands appartements’ (from November 2012) - Renovation without closing of the Musée de Montmartre and, for the first time, the Suzanne Valadon studio opens to the public (2012-2014) - Reorganization of the Grand Palais with the incorporation of the Galeries nationales and the creation of a shop, a cafe and a bookshop (2012-2017) - Opening of 4 art house cinemas as part of the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in the 13th arrondissement (beginning of 2013) - Replacement of the bells of Notre-Dame for its 850th anniversary (February 2013) - End of renovation work at the Musée Rodin (April 2013) - Opening of the Fondation Jérôme-Seydoux-Pathé for cinema, built by Italian Renzo Piano at 73 avenue des Gobelins (spring 2013) - Opening after renovation and extension of the old cinema Le Louxor in the 10th arrondissement (beginning of 2013) - Reopening of the Musée Picasso after renovation and extension (summer 2013) - Closure for renovation work of the Musée Jean-Jacques Henner and construction of a sun lounge and cafe (July 2013- spring 2014) - Opening of the Institut des Cultures d’Islam in two venues, on rue Stephenson and rue Polonceau, in the Goutte d’Or district of the 18th arrondissement (September 2013-beginning 2014) - Creation of a 250-seat theatre under the Carreau du Temple (November 2013) - Launch of the Louvre online reservation system (2013) - Reopening of the Musée Galliera after renovation (2013) - Creation of a Théâtre de la Marionnette (puppet theatre), rue Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement (2013) - Closure for renovation of the Musée national Gustave Moreau (May 2013) - Opening of the Louis-Vuitton foundation for contemporary art in a Franck Gehry building (end of 2013) - Renovation of the Monnaie de Paris by Philippe Prost with the opening of shops and creation of a 500 m2 zen garden, and a cafe and gourmet restaurant by Guy Savoy (end of 2013) - Opening of the Cité de l’Économie in the former Gaillard townhouse, a listed building dating to 1882 in the 17th arrondissement. The Cité will have a library devoted to economics, a 120-seat amphitheatre, a restaurant and a 2,500 m2 exhibition space for displays on the economy, currencies and finance (end of 2014) - Creation of a Paris Philharmonic concert hall by architect Jean Nouvel in the park of La Villette including a 2,400-seat symphonic concert hall and a panoramic roof and restaurant (beginning of 2015) - Reopening of the Musée de l’Homme after renovation (2015) - Opening of the Maison de l’Histoire de France within the premises of the Archives Nationales (2015) - Opening of the Cité de la gastronomie in Rungis with a Musée de l’histoire de la gastronomie et des arts culinaires, theme gourmet restaurants and a venue for conferences and seminars (2015) - Transformation of the Hôtel de la Marine by the Louvre: 24,000 m2 of contemporary design space, museum and offices (2017) - Reopening of the Musée Ernest-Hébert (date to be defined)

Urbanism - Transformation of the district Les Halles (2010-2014) - Construction at La Défense of the Tour Phare, a project of the architect Thom Mayne, 297-metres in height, with 7,000 m2 of shops and services, including a panoramic restaurant on the 66th floor (2011-2017)

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 5 - 10,000 m2 extension of the André-Citroën Park and installation of fountains, refreshment areas and merry-go-rounds (May 2012 – summer 2013) - Renovation of the longest covered passage in Paris: the Passage Choiseul (in the course of 2012) - Opening by the Eurosites group of the first 100% eco-responsible congress centre within the Tour Europe at La Défense: a 3,500 m2 expanse over 4 storeys with an auditorium, 22 meeting rooms and the Toutbio organic catering service (October 2012) - Opening of Cinélilas, a cinematographic complex with park in the east of Paris (end of 2012) - Extension of Line 4 of the Métro to the south of Paris in Montrouge (end of 2012) - Creation of 12 hectares of green space and sports facilities at the Hippodrome d’Auteuil (end of 2012) - Redevelopment of north-east Paris, between Porte de la Chapelle and Porte de la Villette, creation of the Rosa Parks station on RER line E, green spaces, a university campus, businesses and services (2012-2016) - Renovation of the Gare d’Austerlitz by French architect Jean Nouvel with creation of a glass roof and 20,000 m2 of shopping area (2012-2020) - Creation of green spaces and pedestrian areas along a 2.3 km stretch on the Left Bank and Right Bank of the Seine (spring 2013) - Re-design of the Beaugrenelle commercial centre with 120 shops, a cinema, a restaurant and a 8,000 m2-terrace (September 2013) - Reopening of a public transport network on the Seine, with three Voguéo river shuttle lines circulating to and from Suresnes, Maisons Alfort/Vitry sur Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides and the Musée d’Orsay (end of 2013) - Creation of 1.5 km of green spaces and natural features open to the public along part of the former inner circle railway line in the 15th arrondissement (end of 2013) - Redevelopment of the Champ-de-Mars (2014) - Creation of an international congress centre, the World Trade Center, at Roissy, with seven hotels including a ***** hotel, 20,000 m2 of offices, a 6,000-seat congress hall, 75 metre rooms, a 10,000 m2 showroom and two exhibition halls totaling 30,000 m2 (2015) - Extension and modernization of the Hippodrome de Longchamp (2013-2015) - In the 13th arrondissement, construction by Jean Nouvel of Duo, an ensemble of two towers (115 and 175 metres with auditorium, 1,832 m2 of shops, hotel **** with 237 bedrooms and panoramic restaurant with terrace (2014-2018) - Redevelopment of the Grand Palais, Galeries nationales and the Palais de la découverte sites (2014-2022) - Re-design of the Île Seguin by Jean Nouvel, with a centre for music, a centre for contemporary art, art galleries, guinguettes (outdoor cafes with dancing) and a 4-hectare garden (2015) - Construction at La Défense of the two 323 m-high Hermitage towers, with function room, auditorium, contemporary art gallery, shops, **** hotel with 210 rooms, conference centre and restaurants (2016) - Extension of the Parc Clichy-Batignolles – Martin-Luther-King to 10 ha (2016) - Renovation work at the Gare Montparnasse (2016-2017) - Renovation of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and restoring of it to its original state of 1867 on the occasion of its 150th anniversary (2013-2017) - Construction at the Porte de Versailles of the 180-m high Triangle tower block with panoramic lift, panoramic viewpoint, panoramic restaurant and cafe and park of 8,000 m2, a project by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron (2017) - Extension of Line 14 of the Métro from Saint-Lazare to Mairie de Saint-Ouen, through Porte de Clichy (2017) - Extension of the tramway to the east of Paris, from Porte de Vitry to Porte de la Chapelle (December 2012), then as far as Porte d’Asnières (2017) - Creation of an extra congress infrastructure at Paris Porte de Versailles, with a surface area of 8,000 to 10,000m² with two auditoriums, and modernization of existing halls (2017) - Creation of a TGV train station at Paris-Orly airport (2020) - Modernization work on the Stade de France and construction of a nearby congress centre with 1,500 places and 500 bedrooms (date to be defined)

Leisure - Renovation of the first floor of the Eiffel Tower with creation of a 57-metre high glass floor (April 2012-29 November 2013) - Launch of a music-hall revue at the Folies Bergère (summer 2013)

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 6 - Launch of excursions in a Zeppelin airship above the west of Paris (summer 2013) - Creation of a swimming area on the Daumesnil Lake in the Bois de Vincennes (2013) - Opening of a brasserie and a luxury suite on the rooftop of the Moulin Rouge (2013) - Creation by Italian architect Renzo Piano of a 14-room multiplex cinema with 2,800 seats in the future Claude-Benard neighborhood of the 19th arrondissement (end of 2013) - Reopening after renovation work of the Parc zoologique de Paris in the Bois de Vincennes with 1,000 animals, 175 species, organized into 6 ‘biozones’ including a 2,000 m2 aviary and a 100 m-long greenhouse (spring 2014) - Renovation of the Molitor swimming pool, a gem of Art Deco from 1929 and creation of a 98-bedroom MGallery**** hotel with two restaurants and a balneotherapy centre (April 2014) - Launch of a new music-hall revue at the Lido (2014) - Installation of new festive lighting on the Eiffel Tower (end of 2014) - Extension and renovation work to the Roland-Garros Tennis Stadium for the French Open, the Masters Series and the Fed Cup (2014-2017) - Extension and modernization work at the Palais Omnisport de Paris-Bercy to give 21,000 seats (February 2014-Sep- tember 2015) - Opening in Évry-Ris-Orangis to the south of Paris of a 133-hectare site devoted to rugby, including a stadium with a grass pitch and a folding roof, hotels and a thalassotherapy centre (2017) - Creation of Europa City, in the north of Paris; a gigantic theme park with a snow park, ice-skating rink, indoor ski slopes, a water park, covered theme park, permanent circus, 500 and 2,000-seater concert halls, exhibition hall, 10 hotels with a total of 2,700 bedrooms, a 230,000 m2 shopping gallery within an 80-hectare landscaped park, serviced by the Gare du Grand Paris Express (construction 2018-2022) - Opening at the Cité des Sciences of a 16-room digital complex with restaurants and shops (date to be defined) - New 100% digital cinema complex by the Pathé group in the 13th arrondissement, Place d’Italie, comprising 10 auditoriums and 1,250 seats (date to be defined)

Accommodation - Closure of the Hôtel Saint-Merry for renovation work (no date given for reopening) - Closure for full renovation of the Grand Hôtel Haussmann*** in the 9th arrondissement and transformation into a 51-bedroom concept hotel, **** classification requested (30 June 2012-autumn 2013) - Renovation work without closure of the hotel Paris Est Lafayette***. The hotel will be renamed Le Mademoiselle on completion of the renovation work and will be inspired by 1970s fashion (1 July 2012-start 2013) - Closure of The Ritz***** for full renovation, including the restaurant L’Espadon and the cooking school Ritz-Escoffier (1 August 2012-Christmas 2014) - Opening of the Marcel hotel, a small 35-bedroom hotel opposite the Gare de l’Est, *** category requested (autumn 2012) - Reopening of the Marignan hotel Champs-Élysées after renovation work, ***** category requested (autumn 2012) - Opening of Vice Versa, a concept hotel near to Porte de Versailles created by fashion designer Chantal Thomass, *** classification requested (September 2012) - Reopening of the Chinagora hotel by the Chinese group Huatian, under the supervision of the Chinese architect Liang Kunhao, with 187 bedrooms including 20 suites, **** classification requested (1 October 2012) - Opening by the Élégancia group of Le Félicien hotel (ex-Passy Home**) after full renovation by Olivier Lapidus (November 2012) - Opening by Charm and More of the Nell hotel with 33 bedrooms, **** classification requested (November 2012) - Closure for full renovation work and construction of a spa at the Crillon***** (décembre 2012-end of 2014) - Opening of a 52-room Buddha Bar boutique hotel, a spa and a restaurant, on rue d’Anjou in the 8th arrondissement, **** category requested (end of 2012) - Opening of the Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, a luxury hotel near the Louvre, ***** classification requested (end of 2012) - Full renovation of the Hôtel Cheverny*** by the Élégancia group, reopening under the Armoni name (end of 2012) - Opening by the Astotel Group of the 123 Sébastopol, a cinema-themed hotel with a swimming pool and private cinema, facing the Gaîté Lyrique in the 2nd arrondissement, **** category requested (end of 2012)

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 7 - Opening of a charming 23-bed hotel in the former Grand Contrôle private mansion house, a building designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1684 and belonging to the national Versailles estate (end of 2012) - Opening of the aparthotel Hipark at Val d’Europe, close to Disneyland® Paris and the Val d’Europe shopping centre: 210 apartments including 101 suites, and swimming pool (1 December 2012) - Opening of the Art hôtel Eiffel, a small 35-room designer hotel in the 15th arrondissement, *** category requested (2012) - Conversion by Japanese architects Sejima and Nishizawo of the former La Samaritaine department store into a luxury hotel, Le Cheval Blanc, with 80 rooms and suites overlooking the Seine, a cultural centre and shops (2012-2015) - Reopening of the Prince de Galles hotel, bar and restaurant after full renovation and creation of a new suite and fitness space (beginning of 2013) - Opening of a second Saint Christopher’s Inn accommodation centre for young people opposite the Gare du Nord, with 500 beds including 100 in private rooms with toilets, and multipurpose rooms (early 2013) - Opening of a 330-bed youth hostel with meeting rooms and auditorium, rue Pajol in the 18th arrondissement (2013) - Reopening after full renovation of the Hotel Cronstadt** in the 9th arrondissement, with a probable change of name, *** classification requested (2013) - Opening of a 120-bedroom Courtyard hotel by the Marriott at Le Bourget airport, Europe’s premier business airport (2013) - Opening of the first Mövenpick hotel in France – the group’s 100th – in place of the Courtyard by Marriott Paris Neuilly**** (January 2013) followed by renovation works and extension to reach 282 rooms including 29 suites and 20 meeting rooms for a total surface of 1,100 m2 (2014) - Opening of a new 46-bedroom hotel at no. 18 rue de la Fidelité in the 10th arrondissement by the Relais de Paris Group, category *** requested (spring 2013) - Opening of two CitizenM low-cost design hotels in Paris, **** category requested (2013) - Opening of a Hilton Garden Inn and a Hampton by Hilton at Paris – Charles de Gaulle airport (2013) - Opening of a hotel Roberto Naldi in the 8th arrondissement (2013) - Opening of a Radisson Blu at La Défense, **** category requested (2013) - Opening of a fifth Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Paris, near Porte de Saint-Cloud (2013) - Opening of a hotel in the heart of the Thoiry zoological garden, with 25 rooms fully accessible to persons with disabilities (end of 2013) - Opening of a 200-bedroom Peninsula hotel at the Centre de Conférences internationales Kléber (2014) - Opening of a 230-room CitizenM design hotel with a restaurant space at Paris – Charles de Gaulle airport (2014) - Opening of a Renaissance hotel near the Porte de Saint-Cloud (2014) - Opening of a 149-room hotel designed by architect Manuelle Gautrand as part of an entirely eco-friendly project in the 19th arrondissement, *** category requested (2014) - Opening of a 369-bedroom hotel at La Défense by the Meliá group (end of 2014) - Opening of a 304-bedroom Mercure and 319-bedroom Ibis Styles hotels as well as a long-stay transfer centre with accommodation at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport (end of 2014) - Creation of Villages Nature, an ecological leisure complex by Disneyland® Paris/Pierre & Vacances, with 4 villages and 1,730 cottages over 259 hectares, 9,000 m2 water park and lagoon heated all year round (spring 2016) - Opening of a small luxury hotel by Gérard Depardieu with seven guest rooms at 95 rue du Cherche-Midi in the 6th arrondissement (date to be defined) - Extension works of the Plaza Athénée***** in 5,500 m2 of annexed buildings, with no closure of the hotel (date to be defined)

Gastronomy - Closure for renovation of the restaurant L’Alsace on the Champs-Élysées (August 2012 to mid-2013) - Reopening after renovation work of the Café de l’Homme at Trocadéro (autumn 2012) - Opening of La Dame de Pic restaurant by Anne-Sophie Pic at 20 rue du Louvre in the 1st arrondissement (autumn 2012) - Opening of a third restaurant Boco at Saint-Lazare (autumn 2012) - Opening of a 7th address in Paris for the Pain Quotidien, rue Lepic in Montmartre (October 2012)

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 8 - Opening of an Angelina restaurant/tea room in the Hôtel de Sully, a 17th-century historic building in the heart of the Marais (end of 2012) - Opening of an organic fast food at La Bourse by Marc Veyrat (end of 2012) - Closure for renovation work of the buffet restaurant on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower (15 March-29 November 2013) and the restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel, also on the first floor (1 November-21 December 2012) - Opening of a restaurant and function rooms in the bridge abutment of the Pont Alexandre III, on the left bank (summer 2013) - Opening of a bar and restaurant in the Maison des Célestins on the bank of the Seine in the Marais as part of the renovation of the riverbanks (summer 2013) - Opening of two restaurants at L’Orée du Bois, Porte Maillot, a former pavilion in the Bois de Boulogne, renovated by the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte (2013) - Opening of a Ladurée tea room on the corner of rue des Pyramides and the rue de Rivoli (date to be confirmed)

Shops - Opening of two new addresses in Paris for Marks and Spencer (2012-2013) - Renovation of the Galeries Lafayette to mark the 100th anniversary of its historic dome, with the refurbishment of the Lafayette Gourmet food store and the opening of a new fine dining restaurant (2012) - Renovation and 4,000 m2 extension of the Bon Marché Rive Gauche department store, with the creation of a wine cellar and a bar (2012-2017) - Opening of several stores on the Champs-Élysées: at no. 92 a 2,000 m2 Zara and Zara Home; at no. 78 a flagship MAC Cosmetics store in a 200 m2 space and at no. 62 Tiffany & Co. (2012-2013) - Opening of a 2,200 m2 Bucherer shop on the corner of rue Scribe and the boulevard des Capucines, making it the world’s largest shop for luxury watches (beginning of 2013) - Full renovation of the Trois Quartiers shopping centre by the designer Ora Ïto to give a surface area of 11,700 m2 on two levels, with a C&A flagship store (5,400 m2), a Marionnaud perfume shop (380 m2), and the already existingDé- cathlon (4,360 m2). The new centre will be called Le Madeleine (March 2013) - Opening of West Paris Outlet, a 24,000 m2 shopping centre with 140 luxury brand factory stores and 4 restaurants, in the west of the Parisian region (June 2013) - Opening of a new Uniqlo store in a former factory space in the Marais, at 39 rue des Francs-Bourgeois (2013) - Closure of Virgin Megastore on the Champs-Élysées (date to be confirmed)

ParisNews // the Paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // inaugurations // SEPTEMBER 2012 9 Trends N0. 73 PARIS N E W S // SEPTEMBER 2012

Paris in a shaker. Mojito, Bloody Mary, Alexandra, Concombre fumant, Léon Trotsky, Dirty Blonde … Whether you’re looking for something traditional or contemporary, nothing could be simpler than finding a cocktail to your taste in Paris to begin or end a night out. Choose your favourite ambience: trendy with music in hip bars, luxury and plush in hotels and palaces. Here’s a selection of the French capital’s top addresses. Fashionable bars for trendy cocktails … // Opened in 2007 by a trio of enthusiasts, the Experimental Cocktail Club has injected new life into the Paris cocktail scene and the art of mixology. This comfortable venue with open stonework and exposed beams is the place to taste adventurous cocktails like Expérience 1, the doyenne of the cocktail menu, a subtle mix of vodka, basil, lemongrass, elderflower cordial and fresh lemon juice. The success of the Experimental led to the creation of the Curio Parlor, the Prescription Cocktail Club, and then the Ballroom. In a British-style decor with stuffed animals, the Curio Parlor pays tribute to Japanese whisky which is an ingredient in various cocktails. For example the Kotoba, a daring combination of pure malt Nikka, chartreuse, cherry liqueur and lime. The bookshelves and brick-red walls all contribute to the cosy atmosphere of the Prescription Cocktail Club whose sophisticated cocktails delight the taste buds. Take for example, the amazing Jasmine: gin infused with jasmine tea, freshly-squeezed grapefruit and lemon juice, elderflower and Peychaud bitter. Situated on the lower ground floor of the Beef Club, a New York-style steak house, the Ballroom is a chic and cosy place to sip a cocktail in the candlelight; crazy cocktails like Concombre fumant (tequila, mezcal infused with, chilli pepper, agave honey, lime and coriander). Soft lighting and offbeat decor (vintage furniture, flashy colours, jackets on the walls, ani- mal skins, etc.) define the Wildrick where the bartender, an expert in molecular mixology, won the prize for the best mojito in 2012. For a quiet tête-à-tête, cosy up on the leather sofa at Jefrey’s. The establishment’s For her and him cocktail menu features classics and creations with appealing names: Mon Je préféré or Shake cœur, a mix of vodka, rose syrup, fresh raspberries, honey, lemon juice and lemongrass. With its exposed piping, brick walls and red leather armchairs, The Club leaves an impression of sophisticated avant-gardism. This cocktail and club sandwich bar offers the usual classics and specialities, such as Dirty blonde, a delicate fusion of gin, rose liqueur, lychees and pineapple juice. Aficionados of custom-made will head to L’Acte 3 to choose the fruit, spice and alcohol for their cocktail. In the lounge with its vintage 1970s atmosphere, you can also taste creations like La Belle Marianne, made with gin, green chartreuse, champagne, cucumber, mint and lime. Finally, explosive concoctions can be tried out in the cosy 40 m2 restaurant bar L’Entrée des artistes, run by two star cocktail shakers.

> BALLROOM Beef Club 58 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 9 52 52 89 34

> CURIO PARLOR 16 rue des Bernardins, Paris 5th Tel +33 (0) 1 44 07 12 47 www.curioparlor.com

> EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB 37 rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris 2nd Tel +33 (0) 1 45 08 88 09

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 1 > JEFREY’S 14 rue Saint-Sauveur, Paris 2nd Tel +33 (0) 1 42 33 60 77 www.jefreys.fr

> L’ACTE 3 94 rue Quincampoix, Paris 3rd Tel +33 (0) 1 44 61 29 69

> L’ENTRÉE DES ARTISTES 8 rue de Crussol, Paris 11th Tel +33 (0) 9 50 99 67 11

> LE WILDRICK 20 rue de Picardie, Paris 3rd Tel +33 (0) 9 51 03 63 35

> PRESCRIPTION COCKTAIL CLUB 23 rue Mazarine, Paris 6th Tel +33 (0) 1 46 34 67 73 www.prescriptioncocktailclub.com

> THE CLUB 24 rue Surcouf, Paris 7th Tel +33 (0) 1 45 50 31 54 www.theclub-paris.com Good old classics // The legendary and 100-year-old Harry’s Bar is one of the top cocktail makers. This haunt for Americans in Paris has created many a cocktail, including the Bloody Mary in 1921 and Blue Lagoon in 1960. There are now 250 to choose from. Work your way down the menu in the cosy atmosphere of the piano bar on the lower ground floor while listening to jazz … Le Forum, another Parisian institution, was founded in 1918 and offers some 65 cocktails, from the most classic to the most innovative. In this bar, with its select English club atmosphere (mahogany, leather armchairs), you can sip a Pornstar Martini, which mixes vodka, vanilla liqueur, and passion fruit liqueur and coulis. Sultry mixes are also on the menu at the restaurant club L’Arc, which serves, for example, Sex on the beach (vodka, cream of peach, orange and cranberry juice) to sip under the huge ceiling mirror, in front of the alabaster bar or in a plum-coloured velvet armchair. Le China, a restaurant, bar and club, offers patrons the warmth of wood, the comfort of leather armchairs, soft lighting and a long bar to enjoy a perfect Cosmopolitan. The bar of the restaurant Lapérouse, run by the former bartender at the Hôtel Raphaël, serves all the classics. Mojito, Alexandra, Negroni, Black Russian, Alaska … are served either long or short in a flamboyant neo-classical red and gold atmosphere of velvet and wood panelling. Both a restaurant and a cocktail bar, Le Fumoir is ideally situated opposite the Louvre. Spacious and comfortable, this designer and trendy setting offers a great choice of classic cocktails with a contemporary twist.

> HARRY’S BAR 5 rue Daunou, Paris 2nd Tel +33 (0) 1 42 61 71 14 www.harrysbar.fr

> L’ARC 12 rue de Presbourg, Paris 16th Tel +33 (0) 1 45 00 78 70 http://larc-paris.com

> LAPÉROUSE 51 quai des Grands Augustins, Paris 6th Tel +33 (0) 1 43 26 68 04 www.laperouse.com

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 2 > LE CHINA 50 rue de Charenton, Paris 12th Tel +33 (0) 1 43 46 08 09 www.lechina.eu

> LE FORUM 4 boulevard Malesherbes, Paris 8th Tel +33 (0) 1 42 65 37 86 www.bar-le-forum.com

> LE FUMOIR 6 rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 42 92 00 24 http://lefumoir.com Hotel and palaces bars // Who has never dreamed of having a drink in a palace, at the famous Plaza Athénée for example? The ultra chic bar which combines classicism (wood panelling, leather seats) and avant-gardism (a bluish-coloured bar that lights by touch), has ‘Blue Hours’ every evening from 6pm to 10pm. The opportunity to try out, among other concoctions, a Japanese whisky-based cocktail. There is also luxuriousness and modernity at the Bar Long of the Royal Monceau Raffles, signed Philippe Starck. The white marble bar, the high central table with back lighting and the reflection of mirrors adds to the pleasure of sipping house cocktails. Also signed Starck, Le bar 228 of the Meurice is decorated with mahogany and leather to create a warm and soft ambience. Enjoy the sound of jazz as you peruse the long list of cocktails featuring classics and creations, including the Lord Egerton (half gin, half port), named after the hotel’s first guest. Not far away, Bar 8 at the Mandarin Oriental sports a sumptuous ultra modern decor (walls incrusted with Lalique crystals, an impressive block of central marble, tables sprinkled with lights, etc.). In fine weather, the terrace is a great place to enjoy a Mandarule (gin, ginger beer, tarragon, passion fruit). Those looking for splendour and ultra modernity will also love La Maison Champs-Élysées, designed by Maison Martin Margiela. In the piano bar, decorated entirely in white except for the black piano, clients can taste the ‘Huits du 8’, the house specialities, such as Midi à minuit (Pernod, coffee liqueur, barley water). For more traditional luxury, go to the Shangri-La, a palace housed in a 19th-century mansion house. The bar with its Empire decoration offers its star cocktail, Pink Lady (gin based) and its variations, together with an ‘Asian Touch’, including Marco Polo (Bacardi, straw- berries, basil, Sichuan pepper and soda). You have to head to the centre of Paris to discover the bar at the Murano Urban Resort and its pop art decor: padded walls, warm colours (deep red punctuated with blue and orange), a long bar in slate … is an invitation to take one’s time to sip one of its numerous cocktails, including exclusive creations. The Saint James Paris offers elegant classicism and a legendary bar in a 19th-century library. Its cosy atmosphere makes it an ideal place for sampling a variety of mojitos or exclusive cocktails like French Cancan (champagne, cognac, orange juice, strawberry liqueur), which can also be enjoyed outside in the hotel’s superb grounds. Sipping a mojito with your head in the clouds is a privilege offered at The 7th, the bar of the Terrass Hôtel at Montmartre. From a comfortable chair, you have a stunning view of the monuments and rooftops of Paris. Finally, gin aficionados will enjoy the elegance and comfort of the G’Bar & Lounge at the Hôtel Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadéro. Paris’s first gin bar also has a garden terrace and there is a wide array of cocktails to choose from, including its speciality Flower Power@Le Parc, a subtle mix of gin with jasmine tea, rose syrup and lemon juice.

> BAR 8 Le Mandarin Oriental 251 rue Saint-Honoré, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 70 98 71 15 www.mandarinoriental.fr

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 3 > G’BAR & LOUNGE Renaissance Paris Le Parc Trocadéro 55-57 avenue Raymond Poincaré, Paris 16th Tel +33 (0) 1 44 05 66 10 www.renaissanceleparctrocadero.fr

> LA MAISON CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES 8 rue Jean Goujon, Paris 8th Tel +33 (0) 1 40 74 64 65 www.lamaisonchampselysees.com

> LE BAR 228 Le Meurice 228 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 44 58 10 66 www.meuricehotel.fr

> LE BAR LONG Le Royal Monceau Raffles 37 avenue Hoche, Paris 8th Tel +33 (0) 1 42 99 88 00 www.leroyalmonceau.com

> MURANO URBAN RESORT 13 boulevard du Temple, Paris 3rd Tel +33 (0) 1 42 71 20 00 www.muranoresort.com

> LE BAR DU PLAZA ATHÉNÉE 25 avenue Montaigne, Paris 8th Tel +33 (0) 1 53 67 66 00 www.plaza-athenee-paris.fr/bar

> SAINT JAMES PARIS 43 avenue Bugeaud, Paris 16th Tel +33 (0) 1 44 05 81 81 www.saint-james-paris.com

> SHANGRI-LA 10 avenue d’Iéna, Paris 16th Tel +33 (0) 1 53 67 19 93 www.shangri-la.com/fr/paris/shangrila

> THE 7TH Terrass Hôtel 12 rue Joseph de Maistre, Paris 18th Tel +33 (0) 1 46 06 72 85 www.terrass-hotel.com Theme bars // Hommage is paid to the mojito and its culture, the ‘mojitology’, at the Bacardi Mojito Lab, a 200 m2 design space near to Bastille. Plasma screens on black walls, bright apple green tables … the atmosphere is young and laid-back and there are 20 or so recipes to discover, including the spectacular flambé mojito. Aficionados can prolong the experience with lessons at the Mojito school. Also laid-back is Spot Café, a bar devoted to surfing and skiing sports: beach and surf in summer, chalet and skiing in winter. The menu features great classics (Mojito, Ti punch, Bloody Mary, etc.) and various rum-based cocktails, the speciality of the place. Devoted to vodka, Le Molotov is designed as a community apartment decorated with old posters, portraits of Lenin, caps of officers and other objects evoking the Soviet era. Another place entirely devoted to vodka is the Ice Kube at the Kube Hotel, the only ice bar in Paris. Warmly dressed in a parka lent at the entrance and surrounded by 20 tons of ice, you can (for half an hour maxi-

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 4 mum) enjoy one of the four Grey Goose vodka-based house cocktails. To warm up, opt for the elegant decor of Dokhan’s Bar at the Hôtel Radisson Blu. Champagne is a must amidst the finery of the setting with its gold-leaf panelling, antique mirrors and open fire. Champagne lovers have more than 30 champagne labels to choose from.

> BACARDI MOJITO LAB 28 rue Keller, Paris 11th Tel +33 (0) 1 75 77 23 95 www.mojitolab.com > ICE KUBE Kube Hotel 1-5 passage Ruelle, Paris 18th Tel +33 (0) 1 42 05 20 00 www.muranoresort.com

> LE DOKHAN’S BAR Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hôtel 117 rue Lauriston, Paris 16th Tel +33 (0) 1 53 65 66 99 www.radissonblu.fr/dokhanhotel-paristrocadero

> LE MOLOTOV 4 rue de Port Mahon, Paris 2nd Tel +33 (0) 1 73 70 98 46

> LE SPOT CAFÉ 58 rue Richer, Paris 9th www.lespotcafe.com Learning the art of cocktail making // Choosing ingredients for a good cocktail and acquiring a good shaking technique is an art in itself. Paris’s leading French lifestyle school, La Belle École has therefore added cocktail making courses to its catalogue. Here, a professional gives apprentice mixologists the basic essential techniques for creating their own cocktails. L’Atelier des Sens, which specializes in cooking courses, and wine courses also runs courses in mixology. Its courses provide the theoretical and practical elements for creating and decorating a cocktail. During the session, three mixers, including one without alcohol, are made in a shaker; others, like champagne soup, are made with a siphon.

> L’ATELIER DES SENS 40 rue Sedaine, Paris 11th Tel +33 (0) 1 40 21 08 50 www.atelier-des-sens.com 2 other addresses in Paris

> LA BELLE ÉCOLE 26 rue Saussier Leroy, Paris 17th Tel +33 (0) 1 82 83 12 00 www.labelleecole.fr

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 5 17th 18th 18th 17th 19th 19th THE 7TH ICE KUBE

BAR 8 9th 9th 8th 10th 8th L’ARC 10th 20th 1st 2nd 3rd G’BAR & LOUNGE 2nd 3rd SHANGRI-LA 11th 1st MURANO URBAN RESORT LE BAR DU 20thPLAZA ATHÉNÉE 4th 16th 7th 4th L’ATELIER DES SENS 6th LE BAR 228 11th 7th 5th 15th 16th 6th 12th 5th 12th 14th 13th 15th 14th 13th

Written by Yves Dougin / MeMo Translated by Deborah Lindsay-Mc Geown

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Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // trends // SEPTEMBER 2012 6 In the spotlight N0. 73 PARIS N E W S // SEPTEMBER 2012

Unusual Paris. Paris is one of the most visited capitals in the world with more than 29 million tourists. So, tour guides are plentiful and easy to find. For visitors wishing to discover the capital from an original angle, there are some highly original options to choose from for an unforgettable stay. Paris… in the footsteps of Parisians // What could be more original than discovering Paris accompanied by people who live there every day? Get to know the capital alongside local residents, share their lifestyle, their addresses … To get in touch with this other, more authentic and more personal Paris, visitors can call on service providers who are specialists in this type of visit. Meeting Parisians in their homes, in the course of a typically French meal, cooked by the hosts for their guests: VoulezVousDîner has made a speciality of these types of exchanges between inhabitants of the capital and foreign visitors who wish to have a unique experience based around food. The founders of Meeting the French also seek to bring French people and foreigners into contact with eachother through cooking. Guests, received by Parisians in their apartment, have a choice of two menus put together by an outside caterer or a restaurateur. In addition to these original meetings, Meeting the French also offers other ways of seeing Paris and Parisians in a ‘gourmet’ and friendly way: visits to local food shops (baker’s, cheese shops, pastry and cake shops, etc.), tasting sessions of wine, cheese or chocolate, gastronomic walking tours, cooking lessons and shopping at the market. Succulent Paris offers similar services: bespoke gourmet tours through the streets of the capital, led by bilingual Parisians: guided tours of the most typically French markets (place d’Aligre, Batignolles organic market, the Montorgueil district ...), lunches or gastronomic dinners at the home of a Parisian, patisserie making lessons in the kitchen of a private apartment, or even baking workshops with a baker who will reveal the secrets of his art. A unique gourmet programme! The tours devised by French for a Day put the accent on French lifestyle with bespoke tours of your choice based around gastronomy and fashion. French and foreign visitors become Parisian for a day as personal Parisian guides, show them a real city: wan- der through a picturesque market, cooking lessons under the aegis of a top chef, shopping itinerary (fashion and home decor) and finally enjoy the charm of a place that is always original. Authenticity guaranteed.

> FRENCH FOR A DAY www.frenchforaday.com

> MEETING THE FRENCH www.meetingthefrench.com > SUCCULENT PARIS www.succulent-paris.com

> VOULEZ-VOUS DÎNER www.voulezvousdiner.com Gourmet Paris // Paris is renowned for gastronomy as well as French wine and has always been appreciated by food lovers and gourmets. It is too often forgotten that the French capital and its surroundings were the first wine-producing region from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century, when phylloxera destroyed a vineyard that at its most productive extended over 42,000 hectares … Up until 1970, Bercy was one of the world’s leading market places for wine. It is this past, of which there remain some traces, that experts at Œnodyssée reveal to French and foreign visitors. Four themed tours are organized for groups of 10 people in the heart of the capital, in the districts of Montmartre, Bercy and its former wine warehouses, Louvre and Palais-Royal and the Marais. These

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 1 tours include several workshops (barrel making, collection of wines, etc.) and finish with a tasting session. Œnodyssée also organizes dinners with a focus on wine. Still on the theme of oenology, Paris Wine Day Tours takes participants further afield to wine regions close to Paris, around Sancerre or Chablis. These themed excursions offer a real insight to wine growing and participants get to meet local wine growers. Back to the culinary richness of Paris, with gourmet guided tours by Promenades des Sens. In groups of 2 to 6 people, visitors are taken to various shops, each selected for their quality, to discover the creations of great pastry chefs and chocolatiers, and the specialities of fine food stores; and they will come across professionals eager to share their enthusiasm and expertise. The itineraries devised by Esprit Chocolat are entirely devoted to chocolate and will delight chocoholics: bespoke tastings, discussions with creative and award-winning professionals at these gourmet outings at Saint-Germain-des-Prés or near to Opéra Garnier. These tours, in French or English, include technical explanations about the ganaches pralines and cocoa beans tasted. Esprit Chocolat also organizes themed tasting workshops based on wine and chocolate combinations, or ‘prestige’ tasting sessions on chocolate from around the world.

> ESPRIT CHOCOLAT www.espritchocolat.com

> ŒNODYSSÉE, LE PARIS DU VIN www.oenodyssee.fr

> PARIS WINE DAY TOURS www.wine-day-tours.com

> PROMENADE DES SENS www.promenade-des-sens.fr Paris in pictures walks // Paris is still today one of the most filmed cities in the world. Every year, more than 900 different types of films are shot here in 4,000 natural locations. So, lots of ideas for original walks. That is just what Ciné Balade has thought of with walks around places where films have been shot and around districts popular with actors and which are an opportunity to reveal the beauty of the city: monuments, unknown buildings, tucked away passages, restaurants that have been the setting for memorable films, and legendary cinema houses feature along the three itineraries offered. The itinerary ‘Light’, first of all recounts the early days of cinema and the legendary figures of that era (Méliès, Gaumont, Linder, the Lumière brothers, etc.). The itinerary ‘Walk of Fame’ reveals great films where Paris is the setting (videos on iPad). The walk ‘Midnight in Paris’ focuses on the Paris of the 1920s, as it is celebrated in the recent film of the same name by Woody Allen. Like Gil the hero, visitors travel through time and meet leading writers and artists of the time. Awesome Guide has a large catalogue of themed guided tours and offers a specific itinerary entirely dedicated to cinema ‘Paris comme au Cinéma’), based around films like Amelie of Montmartre or La Môme, in the footsteps of the singer Édith Piaf. Paris is also a favourite subject for photography fans, immortalized by the greatest photographers, from Doisneau to Cartier-Bresson. For those who wish to hone their photography skills during their stay in the capital, Photo Up has created ‘Photo walks’ in the Marais and Montmartre for French-speaking visitors, and a bilingual visit at Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Trocadéro for English-speaking visitors. These itineraries, led by a professional photographer, are designed for photography fans of all levels. Photo Up also organizes meetings with Parisian photographic artists. In the same vein, Shoot the City offers visitors the chance to discover the most emblematic districts of the capital (Montmartre, the Marais, the Latin Quarter, etc.) by day or night, with itineraries lasting four hours in the company of a professional photographer. The itinerary ‘Paris by night’, which links all the capital’s illuminated monuments, is reserved for informed photographers. Lesphotographes.org is aimed at visitors who wish to have a practical lesson outdoors in the streets of Paris. Supervised by bilingual photographers (several of them are American), the itinerary ‘See the City’ takes place over two days (at the weekend, on specific dates) in small groups of 4 or 5 people, and provides an introduction and more detailed knowledge of different techniques and shots. Paris Adventures offers visitors the chance to experience some real Parisian ‘adventures’ based on themed programmes. It organizes several itineraries on photography with

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 2 itineraries around the Centre Pompidou, Paris’s bridges, or the Marais, supervised by professional Parisian photographers who adore Paris.

> AWESOME GUIDE www.awesome-guide.com

> CINÉ BALADE www.cine-balade.com

> LESPHOTOGRAPHES.ORG www.lesphotographes.org

> PARIS ADVENTURES www.paris-adventures.com

> PHOTO UP www.photo-up.fr > SHOOT THE CITY www.shoot-the-city.com Historical and cultural tours // Paris’s monuments and streets offer a living history of France, as do its museums, whose artistic and cultural diversity is unique. To guide visitors through the ‘City of Light’, a large number of professional tour guides can devise bespoke tours, and specialist service providers offer specific visits. Cultival, with a focus on culture and the performing arts, organizes some 50 guided tours of the finest places and monuments, always from an original angle. Cultival covers all the major historical districts including Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the Marais, Montmartre and the Ile de la Cité. Themed tours are offered of several landmark places. These include the behind-the-scenes of the Eiffel Tower or the Palais Garnier opera house, the hidden treasures of the École des beaux-arts, the behind-the-scenes of the Lido, and the life of Yves Saint Laurent at the Fondation Pierre Bergé, etc. Members of the association the Rallye Révolutionnaire Parisien are passionate about the French Revolution and seek to promote heritage that testifies to popular uprisings in the capital. Guided tours with costumed performances enable visitors to plunge into the turbulent atmosphere of the late 18th century. A walking itinerary of revolutionary Paris, map guide in hand with clues to follow throughout the walk, makes it possible to relive the great events of 1789 through numerous historical sites in Paris. The association also offers guided tours of places marked by the riots of 1848 or 1871, on the eve of the Commune de Paris. Even more original, the tour can be undertaken in a bicycle-carriage, with a costumed ‘sans-culotte’ guide. Reliving the history of Paris through the lives of famous people is how the guided tours of Passeurs d’Histoires have been designed. These tours, led by professional bilingual tour guides, take their inspiration from the lives of famous men and women. Thus Juliette Gréco is the ‘passeur’ who reveals the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, Claude Nougaro reveals Montmartre, where he lived, and François Vidocq, the famous head of the Parisian Crime detection department at the beginning of the 19th century, reveals the capital’s main covered passages. Eleven guided tours are designed in this way. Culture Consulting, specialists in contemporary art, focuses on Parisian creation: guided bespoke tours of the principal exhibitions chosen from an exclusive selection of the best Parisian galleries, private collections and foundations, and even artists’ workshops. The itineraries may be personalized and are devised according to each visit and the current artistic programme. An expert on Parisian design, Design à Paris has devised several itineraries around creative districts in Paris, interspersed with the opportunity to meet artistic professionals who are setting today’s trends (designers, publishers, galleries, culinary designers, etc.). The themes for these walks may cover wide-ranging subjects, such as foo- ding, for example. They may also be very specific, centred on current trends and the most innovative places, or even on areas selected by Parisian designers, like the Haut Marais or the lower districts of Belville. New in 2012, the itinerary, ‘What’s New in Paris?’ (renewed every month) links new addresses and visits to places that are not easily accessible: boutiques, show rooms, ephemeral spaces, unusual places, boutique hotels, restaurants, events, etc.

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 3 > CULTIVAL www.cultival.fr

> CULTURE CONSULTING www.culture-consulting.fr

> DESIGN À PARIS www.designaparis.com

> LES PASSEURS D’HISTOIRES www.lespasseursdhistoires.com

> RALLYE RÉVOLUTIONNAIRE PARISIEN www.rallyerevolutionnaireparisien.fr Paris for kids // Paris has lots for children … There are of course lots of opportunities to discover the city’s monuments and districts with urban orienteering trails, and historical tours designed especially for them. These are ideal for families who wish to adapt their stay to the whole family. The association Paris d’enfants offers 50 or so trails for children aged from 5 to 12 or for adolescents aged 11 to 15. These guided bilingual trails, some of which are devised as urban orienteering trails, are both fun and pedagogical. You can, for example, discover the history of the masterpieces of the Louvre, plunge into the history of Montmartre for an adventure, or discover the secrets of the construction of Notre-Dame de Paris. Paris Kid also makes Parisian culture accessible to French and foreign children. It adapts itineraries for children aged 6 to 12 by using simple language. These visits for all the family are led by professionals who specialize in accompanying young children. Groups of 5 or 6 children visit the major Parisian museums (Orangerie, Centre Pompidou, Louvre, etc.) and take part in creative workshops. Workshops and cooking lessons or pastry and cake making are also possible. Also of note, the ‘VIP’ trails, exclusively for kids: parents only have to choose the itinerary, the date and the time. Specialising in the discovery of the artistic richness of the capital, Le Petit chercheur d’art focuses on cultural trails around art works in the major Paris museums, through story sessions. Adapted to children aged 3 to 15, and lasting an hour and a half, they take place in groups of 8 children maximum, and put the emphasis on learning and observation. Small booklets distributed to the children also provide a more in-depth knowledge and remind children of what they have seen.

> LE PETIT CHERCHEUR D’ART www.lepetitchercheurdart.com

> PARIS D’ENFANTS www.parisdenfants.com

> PARIS KID www.pariskid.com Unusual Paris // For those in search of originality, there are many unusual ways of seeing Paris. It is just a question of discovering them. Many tourism professionals have put together a variety of often original tours for visitors to the capital. Curiocités is one such agency whose catalogue is filled with authentic and unusual tours. The ‘com- plicités’ trails combine major and minor historical themes, around the streets and major districts of Paris. The walk ‘Paris Illustré concentrates on the appearances of Paris in comic strip books, linking locations that were a background for them with episodes of Astérix and Obélix, Alix and Bec-en-fer. The ‘authenticités’ trails, on the other hand, focus more on culture and learning, with visits to Paris’s main museums, or guided tours to historical districts, like the Ile de la Cité, the faubourg Saint-Antoine and its courtyards, or the cemetery of Père- Lachaise. The association Entrées Privilégiées en France, created by an American historian who has lived for many years in Paris, has put together themed bilingual day or night walking tours with an intimate approach. These eclectic visits seek to present less well known aspects of the capital, such as tucked away parks and

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 4 gardens, the creative Paris of Montmartre and Montparnasse, and the antique dealers’ districts including a visit to the Saint-Ouen flea market. More surprising, one of these itineraries takes the visitor on the trail of Parisian criminals and serial killers from the beginning of the 20th century. Also with a focus on authentic Paris, Paris par rues méconnues offers guided walks that venture into the popular districts of Belleville or Barbès, and which bring visitors into contact with Parisians and people who work in Paris (artists, crafts people, restaurateurs, etc.). The agency Robert Pink, another specialist in themed visits, also has a varied programme of itineraries. These include, visits to art galleries and to major museums to discover the past, as well as gourmet multilingual itineraries with a focus on chocolate or wine. Bespoke tours are also offered for contemporary art enthusiasts. Parisian cemeteries too are inseparable from the capital’s monuments and have their own specialists. Among the numerous tour guides who give tours of Père-Lachaise or the cemetery of Montmartre is Thierry Le Roi, an enthusiast of funerary art and founder of Nécro-romantiques. He devises his tours like a show, with a change of decor and atmosphere, sometimes sprinkled with a touch of humour and always full of anecdotes about famous people who are buried there. Détour des Sens also offers themed visits, but of another kind, on Parisan haute perfumery and fragrances. Created by a recognized specialist, member of the ‘Société française des par- fumeurs’, Détour des Sens devises guided walks that link the great perfume houses of the 1st arrondissement. A three-hour tour of a unique world including meetings with enthusiastic professionals for groups of 6 people maximum.

> CURIOCITÉS www.curiocites.com

> DÉTOUR DES SENS www.detourdessens.com

> ENTRÉES PRIVILÉGIÉES EN FRANCE www.privileged-entries.org

> LES NÉCRO-ROMANTIQUES www.necro-romantiques.com

> PARIS PAR RUES MÉCONNUES www.paris-prm.com

> ROBERT PINK www.robertpink.com This is Paris // Entertaining visits and visits with entertainment, a stay in Paris has many surprises to offer. For fans of urban orienteering or role play games the capital is an exciting playground. The agency Ma Langue au Chat has designed several itineraries in the form of treasure hunts in the major districts of the city and offers interactive clues using Internet, GPS and mobile phones. There are some interesting and varied subjects to choose from: ‘Mys- tères du Marais’, which takes place under the reign of Charles le Fou, the ‘Tableau caché du Louvre’, which has an artistic and cultural theme, the ‘Le crime des passages couverts’, where you discover the most unusual places in Paris, etc. The plot, clues, road map, itinerary and activities may be personalized. Immersion guaranteed into the mysteries of Paris … As for the company Balaville, it organizes urban orienteering trails for families and friends to do at their own pace while learning more about some of the most well-known districts of Paris: the Marais, Montmartre, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Ménilmontant, etc. Documentation for the itineraries is available in English for visitors who do not speak French. Paris Hors Piste offers a similar format: treasure hunts using a GPS in four Parisian districts (Montmartre, the Marais, the Parisian islands, the Louvre/ Tuileries gardens) and three museums (Quai Branly museum, Louvre museum and Orsay museum). Here again, road maps are available in English. Paris sur scènes organizes itineraries with clues in Montmartre, in the covered passages and in the main Parisian museums. Paris sur scènes also organizes tailor-made visits (Shopping Tour, Gourmet Tour, Déco Tour, etc.), with bilingual guides, and ‘Comme à la maison’ days, where visitors are invited to a Parisian apartment for a private lunch. Visites Spectacles offers offbeat theatrical type visits of Paris. They are organized and led

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 5 by costumed actors and bring the history of the city to life: in ‘the Spirit of Montmartre’ participants set off in search of the lovely Gabrielle, or set off to solve ‘The Riddle of the Covered Arcades’ from the Procope café. A highly-original way to discover these districts.

> BALAVILLE www.balaville.fr

> MA LANGUE AU CHAT www.malangueauchat.com

> PARIS HORS PISTE www.paris-horspiste.com

> PARIS SUR SCÈNES www.paris-sur-scenes.com

> VISITES SPECTACLES www.visites-spectacles.com Paris for sporty types // Paris offers plenty for sporty types. Fitness fans can see the sights while jogging their way around the city. Wel- licient offers Running Tours for visitors who wish to jog from one famous monument to the next accompanied by bilingual professional coaches who also give a guided commentary along the way. For those who prefer to cycle, VéloParis organizes original themed circuits (waterways of Paris, the Seine and canals; Paris by night, etc.) led by expert guides … > Several landmark sporting venues in Paris also offer guided tours. The Tenniseum at Roland-Garros, where the French open tennis championship is held each year, is entirely devoted to the history of French tennis. This multimedia museum presents the evolution of tennis through the centuries by using the latest technology. Tours > are given by a professional guide and visitors can also visit the behind-the-scenes including areas reserved for players and get a close look at the famous Philippe-Chatrier court! The Parc des Princes, the football ground of the Paris Saint-Germain team can also be visited: the pitch, players changing rooms, trophy room. As can the Stade de France, which hosts major football and rugby matches as well as mega concerts? The permanent exhibition space retraces the history of the stadium and great sportsmen that have played there; numerous cult objects (autographs, balls, sports shirts, etc.) are on display. The guided visit also includes access to the ground, the changing rooms and the official stands.

> À VÉLO PARIS www.veloparis.com

> PARC DES PRINCES www.leparcdesprinces.fr

> ROLAND GARROS www.fft.fr/roland-garros

> STADE DE FRANCE www.stadefrance.com

> WELLICIENT www.wellicient.com

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // in the spotlight // SEPTEMBER 2012 6 Conventions & incentives n°73 PARIS N E W S // SEPTEMBER 2012

ParisNews puts the spotlight on Parisian trade professionals who have recently joined the Paris Convention Bureau. Then zooms in on what’s new on the business tourism scene with a presentation of new offers, the main theme of this rubric. And to finish, a calendar of events features major events coming up in the next three months. They have joined the Paris Convention Bureau// Every month, numerous service providers, agencies, restaurants, hotels and events venues join the Paris Conven- tion Bureau. It is natural then that by way of a welcome, we present them and their particular services, expertise, etc. Hôtel Le Manhattan, at one of the gateways to Paris On the boundary of Paris, at Saint-Ouen, Le Manhattan*** is ideally situated between Sacré-Cœur and the Stade de France, close to the main route to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle airport and the Parc des expositions de Paris-Nord- Villepinte. Offering a warm welcome, the establishment has 126 bedrooms (including 26 singles) and offers all the services expected for a business trip to Paris. Le Manhattan has two rooms fully-equipped for meetings and receptions. The first, a modular 83 m2 area in two distinct spaces on the ground floor, can host 80 people. The second a 25 m2 area on the first floor can house 10 or so people for a working meeting. These two rooms benefit from natural daylight and have all the necessary technical equipment for a working meeting (overhead projector, paper board, etc.).

> www.hotel-le-manhattan.com Hôtel Legend, designer and cosy Warm colours, designer furniture and a modern and creative layout characterize the new boutique hotel Legend. Situated in the lively rue de Rennes in the 6th arrondissement, it is also within close proximity to Saint-Ger- main-des-Prés and the Luxembourg Gardens. The hotel offers spacious comfortable bedrooms and two classy suites. For business breaks, it has an equipped meeting room and all the necessary services (multilingual staff, Wi-Fi, etc.). > www.legendhotelparis.com Hôtel Le Dauphin, a few steps from La Défense Le Dauphin***, a hotel of charm and character, is located a few steps from the business district of La Défense, accessible by metro line n°1, which crosses Paris from west to east. Each of its 77 bedrooms, with a surface area of between 15 and 25 m2, has a personalized decor, with wood panelling and fabrics with warm colours, and per- fumed with one of five fragrances, chosen according to the taste of the guest (natural, tonic, relaxing, gourmet or sensual). The establishment is surrounded by a garden lit by Leds, which give the rooms a restful and particularly relaxing atmosphere amidst such an urban location as La Défense. > www.paris-hotel-dauphin.com Hôtel Hor, with view over the Paris rooftops Opened on 21 June 2012, the hôtel Hor, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, is ideally placed for direct transport links (metro and inter-urban train) between Paris and the two big Paris airports (Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle to the north, Paris-Orly to the south), towards the Parc des expositions de Paris-Nord-Villepinte or the Stade de France. Its landscaped terrace, where breakfast is served, offers a unique and green viewpoint of Paris. Some

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Conventions & incentives // SEPTEMBER 2012 1 of the 47 luminous bedrooms with their designer decor boasting clean lines benefit from a private terrace and a stunning view over the Paris rooftops. The hotel has perfect soundproofing, air conditioning in bedrooms and hypoallergenic parquet flooring. > www.hotel-hor.com Hôtel Le Crayon, like a guest house The comfortable and colourful Le Crayon*** has more of a guest house atmosphere with its pop art decor and designer chic. The 27 air-conditioned bedrooms are decorated in an original and individual style. Classed in 3 categories according to size, they have been designed in the style of guest rooms each with their own individual charm. Le Crayon is situated in the heart of the capital in the 1st arrondissement, a few steps from the Louvre museum and the Forum des Halles (close to major transport routes). It is an ideal place for an alternative poetic and offbeat break in Paris. > www.hotelcrayon.com Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, the sea in Paris The Aquarium de Paris in the gardens of Trocadéro is a constant source of wonder. Forty-three tanks holding 4 million tons of water are home to 500 species of fish and invertebrates and present around 10,000 spe- cimens excluding plant life. The Polynesian tank alone houses 600 types of coral and the big tank, through which runs an impressive tunnel, contains 25 big sharks of four different species and 3 million litres of water. This amazing place is also a particularly original venue for your events and can host from 100 to 2,000 people. Three spaces available for private hire are fully-equipped to organize showcases and press conferences, as well as business lunches and dinners, cocktail receptions and evening functions with dancing. These operations may of course be combined with a visit to the aquarium, plus the option of numerous services (cloakroom, valet parking, maîtres d’hôtel, security staff, DJ, audiovisual technicians, etc.). > www.cineaqua.com Calixir, bespoke caterer With 20 years experience in catering and organizing receptions, Calixir designs and takes charge of all the necessary preparations for a personal event like a wedding, for example, or a large scale event for several hundred guests. Calixir can also provide exclusive venues for the holding of these events, such as the Grand Rex, the Crazy Horse, the Institut du monde arabe or even the huge and sumptuous Quincampoix estate, in the Essonne. Would you like a string trio to add a charming touch to a dinner, a magician to delight your guests or an excursion in a quad to motivate your teams during a seminar? All these options feature in Calixir’s catalogue. Calixir can also organize culinary workshops as part of an incentive trip. Finally, it can provide you with a tray of cocktails concocted in its laboratory together with sweet or savoury products including organic products. > www.calixir.fr The latest members’ news // The Intercontinental Paris-Le Grand on smartphone On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the Intercontinental Paris-Le Grand hotel has introduced a multilingual application for use on iPhones and Androïd. The objective: reveal the legendary behind-the-scenes world of the great Paris palace to the public. It takes the user on a virtual visit of the hotel, the famous Café de la Paix, and the splendour of the Salon Opéra, listed on the inventory of historic monuments. You can also see the surrounding area and find commentaries about the boulevard des Capucines, the Palais Garnier opera house, boulevard Haussmann, the big department stores and rue Royale, while pinpointing them with the aid

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Conventions & incentives // SEPTEMBER 2012 2 of the telephone’s GPS. Finally, the application retraces the filmography of cult works for which the Interconti- nental Paris-Le Grand has served as a background.

> www.paris.intercontinental.com Eco package for the Les Fontaines estate The Fontaines estate at Chantilly, which belongs to Capgemini, plays host to more than 200 events each year that draw tens of thousands of participants from the biggest international companies. On the occasion of the London 2012 Olympic Games, the estate has devised and launched a unique package named Eco-Event, to give an eco-responsible dimension to events organized there. The offer includes the assistance of an eco-planner whose role it is to plan in advance a seminar where the impact on the environment will be optimized, then to give advice on entertainment and activities in keeping with sustainable development objectives. The Eco-Event also includes a dinner (or lunch) made from fresh local, organic or fair-trade seasonal products. A way of reconci- ling the pleasure of the senses and well-being. > www.les-fontaines.com Wecab®, shared taxi initiative Number one in Europe and the leading taxi company in Paris and the Paris Region, the G7 Taxis have launched Wecab®, a shared taxi service for airport transfers to reduce transport costs. The aim is to make taxis more affordable for more people – by using taxis collectively — whilst at the same time offering a more affordable and ecological mode of transport. Wecab® is accessible 24/24 and 7/7 by telephone or by Internet, in French or English, and it is possible to book a taxi up to 3 hours in advance and pay online. The user receives a confirmation and the details of their transfer by email or SMS. For its part, Wecab® organizes the pick-up of the passengers. The cost (up to 40% cheaper than a normal fare) reflects the saving resulting from the sharing of the transport. The places stopped at include the 20 arrondissements of Paris and most of the small towns in the ‘Petite Couronne’ inner suburbs, linked in both directions to Paris’s two international airports (Paris-Orly and Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle). > www.wecab.com They have been awarded their fifth star The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau is delighted to put the spotlight on three hotels in the capital which under the new hotel classification system have now gained a fifth star. The Hôtel de La Trémoille, tucked away in the 8th arrondissement, is one of these. The hotel has ‘Excel Place’ certification, a label for upscale hotel services. It offers elegantly decorated bedrooms (mouldings, chimney places, etc.), a spa and meeting rooms for from 10 to 20 people. The W Paris-Opéra, in the 9th arrondissement offers 91 upscale bedrooms and suites in the Haussmann style with avant-garde design. Double Michelin-starred Spanish chef Sergi Arola is in charge of the cuisine at the hotel’s restaurant. Finally, for meetings, receptions or banquets, the establishment has a room with a surface area of 41.5 m2. A third hotel to gain a fifth star is the Hôtel Pont Royal in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Famous American visitors like Ernest Hemingway or Henry Miller were regular visitors between the two wars, as well as Mirò and Chagall … New amenities in guest suites: Laura Tonatto welcome products, fresh flowers, books, two plasma-screen TVs, radio alarm clock and Hi-Fi. > HÔTEL DE LA TRÉMOILLE www.tremoille.com > HÔTEL PONT-ROYAL www.hotel-pont-royal.com > HÔTEL W PARIS-OPÉRA www.wparisopera.fr

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Conventions & incentives // SEPTEMBER 2012 3 Focus on two events professionals // Every month, the Convention Bureau focuses on a selection of professional events organizers, agencies or specific service providers in order to expand its network of contacts or simply to get to know them better. Here are just some examples … Elytour Paris, Paris à la carte A specialist in the organization of bespoke trips, the incoming DMC Elytour Paris offers its services in several languages including English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese, Russia, Hindi and Arabic. The agency takes full charge of a stay in the capital (FITs, foreign delegations, VIPs) and organizes numerous discovery trips for groups, congress attendees, companies, and original tours (on foot, by car, by boat, etc.) or themed tours on architecture, literature, fashion, shopping and gastronomy. These themed outings, led by professional guides, may be associated with guided tours of districts or unusual places such as the bridges, covered passages and museums of Paris or unusual religions. For business trips or incentive trips, Elytour can now devise specific events and activities with exclusive high-level services. > www.elytour-paris.com Flight Experience’s flight simulator Flight Experience is a unique service provider … Its Boeing 737-800 NG flight simulator, the only one to have a licence from the American aircraft manufacturer, represents the best in training airline pilots. A realistic experience guaranteed! Users are installed in a replica of this Boeing cockpit, with a 180 ° view. The sessions, pre- ceded by a pre-flight briefing, are supervised by a qualified airline pilot and give access to 24,000 airports and as many flight plans … Ideal for incentives, where concentration and team spirit will make all the difference. > www.flightexperience.fr Upcoming events // The Parisian business tourism calendar has long been punctuated by the numerous fairs and congresses organized in the capital. Since planning is all-important for business tourism professionals, the Paris Convention Bureau outlines some of the big upcoming events below. Save the date! Professional trade shows > SILMO 2012 – Mondial de l’Optique From 4 to 7 October 2012 Paris Nord-Villepinte – Viparis www.silmoparis.com

> FOIRE D’AUTOMNE From 26 October to 4 November 2012 Paris expo Porte de Versailles – Viparis www.foiredautomne.fr

> EQUIP’HOTEL From 11 to 15 November 2012 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – Viparis www.equiphotel.com

> HEAVENT PARIS From 27 to 29 November 2012 Paris Expo Porte de Versailles – Viparis www.heavent-expo.com

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Conventions & incentives // SEPTEMBER 2012 4 Congresses > 60th Journées françaises de radiologie From 19 to 23 October 2012 Palais des Congrès de Paris – Viparis www.sfrnet.org

> 15th Journées de l’Orthodontie From 9 to 12 November 2012 Palais des Congrès de Paris – Viparis www.journees-orthodontie.org

> 25th congrès français de rhumatologie From 9 to 12 December 2012 Cnit Paris La Défense – Viparis http://sfr.larhumatologie.fr

> JDP – Journées dermatologiques de paris From 11 to 15 December 2012 Palais des Congrès de Paris – Viparis www.jdp2012.com

See the full calendar http://convention.parisinfo.com/index.php/en/practical-info/event-calendar/

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Conventions & incentives // SEPTEMBER 2012 5 Paris seen by … No. 73 PARIS N E W S // SEPTEMBER 2012

This September, the Louvre Museum makes headlines with the opening of the new exhibition space devoted to Islamic art. Daring architecture, priceless collections, new museography, etc. Daniel Soulié, in charge of ‘museographic communication’, unveils the behind-the-scenes of this event for ParisNews.

You have been working on this new project for the Louvre Museum since it started. Are you a specialist on Islamic art? D.S.: Not really; however I had a good general education in archaeology and the history of art, which meant that it was not entirely foreign to me. At the Louvre, I can be called on to work on any period; for example, I could be asked tomorrow to work on 19th-century French furniture if they decided to re organize the layout of the galleries. As I am already very familiar with the museum’s collections, I know what can be done; I also know a lot about what the public want as for more than 20 years, I have been organizing the programme of activities for the public, talks, workshops, etc. I therefore know how the public react, what they know or don’t know, and what may be told to them.

What exactly have you worked on for such a huge project as this new department? D.S.: The scientific teams have spent the last five years writing a general cultural communication programme, around which we have devised a cultural communication charter which has enabled an ensemble of resources to be created: labels, wall panels, introductory texts, leaflets available in the rooms, audio guides, multimedia presentations, etc. The main part of my work in the department has been on writing: re-reading, correcting, and checking that the charter is being adhered to. I am particular concerned with making sure that everything is understandable, deleting complicated words.

On the subject of Islamic Art, people tend to know little about the geography, chronology, the arts, etc. One imagines therefore that you have had a lot to learn? D.S.: Of course, we work very closely with the museum’s scientific teams. They help us enormously. Our first work, for example, from the start of the project has been to target three types of public. Taking into account surveys, we have identified three types of priority public: the public in general, families, and finally, visually impaired visitors. From the beginning, curators were conscious that Islam was a civilization that the public was unfamiliar with, and with which they had many pre-conceived ideas. It was therefore necessary to simplify the chronological presentation of the collections, abandon a traditional display of one room/one dynasty — already many people do not know the dynasties of the Western world, so talking to them about Ayyubids, Fatimids and Seljuqs …! Neither is the public familiar with the extent of the territory occupied by Islam. The curators wanted something extremely simple, so rather than a presentation by dynasty, we have a presentation by four major periods, all the chronology having been simplified: 1. From the origins of Islam – even though we do not have a contemporary object from the time of Mohammed – i.e. the second half of the 7th century up to around the year 1,000. This period covers the whole constitution of the Empire, the Umayyads, the Abbassids, and the beginning of the Fatimids, great dynasties. It is the period when in a few decades, they succeeded in conquering an empire that extended from the Atlantic to the Himalayas, undoubtedly the largest empire ever created in so short a time.

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Paris seen by … // SEPTEMBER 2012 1 2. From the year 1,000 – the height of the development of the Empire, preceding a series of foreign intrusions into Muslim territory, such as the arrival of the Turks – up to around 1250 and the Mongol invasions. 3. From 1250 to around 1453, date of the taking of Constantinople by the Ottomans. 4. 1500 – 1800, period marked by three great empires: the Mogul empire in India, that of the Safavids in Iran and that of the Ottomans around the Mediterranean. All the history has been simplified around these four periods; the texts have also been simplified and kept as short as possible. All the cultural communication rests on a short panel giving a chronological and geo- graphic introduction, at the beginning of each period, with a multimedia map showing the developments and contraction of Islam during a given period.

What language is the panel written in? D.S.: For the first time at the Louvre, three languages have been systematically used: French, English and Spanish.

Not Arabic? D.S.: No. Of course, this question was raised, but we had to discard this possibility: in fact, only three languages are possible because of the amount of space available, and we choose the languages that were most spoken by visitors to the museum.

Apart from the introductory panel, what are the resources that are most helpful in finding your way around the collections? D.S.: We have structured our resources according to three scenarios. Firstly, we imagined a visitor with one hour to visit the department. Having read the introductory panel with the multimedia map, they have the keys with which to understand what is shown in the next section. Next, if the visitor has a little more time, around an hour and a half, they will look at the chronological panels, and there will also be an introductory text inside each display case: ‘What is it?’, ‘Why have these objects been put together in this display case?’ This text is also always translated in English and Spanish. Finally, for the visitor who has more time, but who is nonetheless not a specialist, there are labels object by object; we have also wanted to showcase an important object in each display case, with a detailed label about it. There are 25 media installations. The general audio guide of the Louvre has also been adapted; there are now nine languages available: French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Dutch, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. We have also created a ‘masterpieces’ trail for which works have a detailed trilingual label.

How many works are there on this masterpieces trail? D.S.: There are 24, which concern all the periods, all origins, all materials, all decors. What is the centrepiece of the department? D.S.: One of the most spectacular pieces is Pyxide d’al-Mughira, an object in ivory made in Spain at the time of the Caliphate of Cordoba, which is the most beautiful conserved Islamic ivory. An object of great historical, technical, and aesthetic importance. Another piece is the baptistery of Saint Louis, considered as the finest conserved Islamic object in metal. It is indeed an Islamic object, a Marmeluke piece, used for the christening of Louis XIII. This baptistery has been in France since at least the beginning of the 15th century.

What is the oldest piece? D.S.: Probably one of the objects from the excavations at Susa, in Iran, a site at which the museum carried out archaeological digs for 50 years, and which dates back to the 6th millennium BC. It continued to be used up to the medieval period, so we have objects from the Islamic period, of which some date back to the origins of Islam, almost contemporary with the arrival of the Arabs in Iran, i.e. in the years 640, soon after the death of Mohammed.

However no object is contemporary with Mohammed is it? D.S.: That is true, at least no piece can be identified as being so. To my knowledge, no such piece exists. It should be remembered that they were tribes; therefore there is no identifiable fabric, ivory or ceramics.

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Paris seen by … // SEPTEMBER 2012 2 The biggest piece? D.S.: We have a Marmeluke porch, which is quite an amazing story: it was sent to us around 10 years ago, in packing cases, without any identification, from the Musée des Arts décoratifs. It had been dismantled in Cairo in the 1880s and sent to Paris to be displayed at the Exposition Universelle of 1889 – that of the Eiffel Tower! And, in the end, it was never taken out of the packing cases. The Musée des Arts décoratifs had therefore sent us a puzzle, and the only thing known about it was that it was in Arabic. An art restorer worked for a long time on it after which she was able to tell us that we had a complete Marmeluke porch. It is not gigantic, but quite imposing; the public will go through it during their visit. We also have a wall of Ottoman tiles, a breathtaking reconstitution, 12 metres long and more than two metres high.

One would imagine that the Louvre Abu Dhabi is very interested in this new department? D.S.: Not really, because the Louvre Abu Dhabi has its own collections; among other things, a collection of Islamic art. It is a universal museum, with representative works of art from prehistoric times to the present day, from all places: pre-Colombian works, Western, Chinese and Japanese works, Mediterranean archaeology, African objects … It will in the end be much more varied than the Louvre.

You mentioned a trail adapted to disabled people? D.S.: Yes, from the beginning of the project, we wanted to create a tactile trail for visually impaired people, with the help of our patron of the arts, the Fondation Orange. It is worth mentioning that there is already a tactile trail at the Louvre, in the department of Western sculpture. Nevertheless, here, rather than a separate space, we have chosen to run this tactile trail through the collections. In other words, not isolate visually impaired people in a specific area but enable them to access the collections as a whole. We identified a theme, ‘the multiplicity of the decor in Islamic art’, and selected nine representative objects, to illustrate the collections as a whole. Each object has been associated with a tactile station with a text in Braille and in large print, a reproduction of the object in resin, and a sample of the material; for example, the Pyxide d’al-Mughira is shown with a sample of ivory (which we had to discuss with the customs authority, because the trade of ivory is illegal), and a detail of the decor: it has been enlarged and developed to show off to advan- tage the narrative decor, the plant decoration, the geometrical decoration, the epigraphic decoration, etc. For example, a decorated plate is reproduced with hollows and reliefs to make the decoration appear to the sense of touch.

So, does everyone have access to these tactile stations? D.S.: Yes they do, it is a trail that is perfectly adaptable to families; it makes it possible to touch objects, which children love to do, and it also simplifies the approach to works of art.

The architecture of the department is extraordinary; how do the architects and curators work together? D.S.: In fact, the technical requirement specifications, which allowed for the organization of the architecture competition, were partly written by the curators; the list of works had already been established before the first architectural projects came to light.

How did the collections find their place in the new exhibition rooms? D.S.: There are two areas, one on top of the other. The first, directly under the glass roof, presents introductory elements and the first period, with themed areas: daily life, the cemetery, writing, etc. Then, you go down to visit the 2nd, 3rd and 4th periods. It is below that the wall of Ottoman ceramics has been installed, as well as the Marmeluke porch.

Are there still many works in the storerooms of the Louvre? D.S.: Oh yes! For around every 3,000 works on display there are 20,000 in the storerooms. Among them, 5,000 or so Ottoman tiles. We also have a large amount of shards, but they are not very interesting to display. Many objects are doubles or in bad condition, and not displayed. A certain number of pieces have to be carefully preserved and cannot be displayed permanently, like for example carpets and fabrics, or even paper, which will be exhibited in rotation: painting miniatures are for example exhibited for three months before returning for three years into a totally dark environment.

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Paris seen by … // SEPTEMBER 2012 3 What are the other great collections of Islamic art in the world? D.S.: The biggest collection in the world, in terms of quantity, is the Museum of Islamic art in Cairo in Egypt. Next, Berlin, which has a mainly archaeological collection, because the Germans had archaeological digs 17th 18th 18th throughout the Middle East, which we did not have17th apart from Susa.19th The most famous collections, other 19th than Paris, are in Berlin, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, in New York, and also at the fabulous 9th 9th David Collection in Copenhagen, and then of course the collections of the National Museum of Damascus, the 8th 10th 8th 10th 1st 2ndNational Museum of Iran in Teheran, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul.20th 3rd 2nd 3rd What will be the next major project at the Louvre? 1st 4th 16th 7th 4th 11th 20th 6th D.S.: In a still rather distant future, there will be the creation of a 9th 11thdepartment based around the Byzan- 7th 5th 15th tine world and Eastern Christianity:16th the Byzantine Empire,6th Armenia, Ethiopia. For the moment, the pieces are scattered through12th the various departments of the museum; 5ththe Byzantine12th collections, for example, are disse- 14th minated13th through six different departments! The15th aim is to gather these collections into one single department 14th to reconstruct the Byzantine world, whose culture is an essential13th element in the history of the Mediterranean basin, and yet at the moment it does not have a real place at the Louvre.

Where could these collections be displayed? D.S.: The rooms under consideration are the former rooms of the Department of Islam, on the lower ground floor in the Richelieu wing. But these areas which are not very big need a total rethink. The collections need 18th 17th to be completed by acquisitions, by the deposit 17thof works from18th museums in other parts of France, from other Parisian museums,19th for example the Musée de Cluny has an important collection of Byzantine works, the 10th 10th 19th 9thMusée des Arts décoratifs too. 9th 8th 8th 2nd 1st 2ndOn a more personal note, what is your favourite department1st at 3rdthe Louvre? 3rd 11th 20th 20th D.S.: Without a doubt, the 15th-century Dutch paintings from around11th van Eyck and van der Weyden up to 16th 4th 7th 4th 7th Dürer [editor’s note; Richelieu wing, 2nd floor]; the Primitifs,6th the École du Nord. It is what relaxes me; a one- 6th 16th hour tour of these is all it takes for me to unwind. There are never too many people as they are on the 2nd 5th 12th 5th 15th floor — visitors always hesitate to go up, even15th though there is an escalator!12th 14th 14th > Dép13thartement des Arts de l’Islam 13th Musée du Louvre, Paris 1st Tel +33 (0) 1 40 20 53 17 www.louvre.fr/departement-arts-islam

18th 17th 19th 9th 10th 8th 16th 2nd 1st 3rd Département des Arts de l’Islam 4th 11th 20th 7th 6th 5th 15th

14th 13th 12th

Translated by Deborah Lindsay-Mc Geown

Parisnews // paris convention and visitors bureau n0. 73 // Paris seen by … // SEPTEMBER 2012 4