→ Press file 2015/2016 – Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris LUXURY PARIS 1 → Press file 2015/2016 – Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris Luxury is a universal dream that draws inspiration from heritage, where what is rare and exceptional predominates, and over which time has little hold. Paris is a city that has captured the world’s imagination, and which is proud of its amazing preserved, unique and timeless heritage. Since the 19th century, Paris has attracted the big luxury houses, has inspired designers and has fascinated the world with its architecture and magnificence. The addition of the gastronomic meal of the French to the Unesco ‘List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ in 2008, and a ‘Palace’ distinction, created in 2010, have LUXURY further increased the city’s prominence making it one of the world’s most sought after tourist destination. Upscale Parisian itinerary. THE NEW CODES OF LUXURY HOTELS PARIS In 2009, the French hotel classification system was updated and included the creation of a new five-star rating, a veritable gauge of appreciation and comparison, notably for foreign clientele. The five-star rating is a widely-used standard abroad; it facilitates comparison between equivalent hotels throughout the world and now enables hotels in Paris and throughout France to promote the upscale amenities and services that have given them a global reputation. In 2010, the palace ‘distinction’ was introduced to distinguish a handful of exceptional five- star hotels that embodied exceptional characteristics, and whose excellence merited some official recognition. Among the objective criteria, the conditions for eligibility include an initial length of time of activity after opening or renovation, the presence of a concierge service and permanent restaurant facilities, a gastronomic restaurant, a multilingual team, a spa and minimum surface area for guest rooms. After a visit to the hotel together with a report given by each member of the committee and a meeting with the candidate establishment, one or several plenary sessions decide on whether or not to attribute the ‘Palace’ distinction, following the subjective criteria of the members of the panel. The whole procedure is carried out according to specific regulations. The brand has been filed internationally and the plaque has been produced by the Monnaie de Paris, a prestigious institution and member of the Comité Colbert. Eight Parisian hotels have been awarded this distinction, Le Meurice, The Plaza Athénée, Hôtel Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme, The Four Seasons Hôtel George V, Le Bristol, and the Royal Monceau Raffles Paris; they contribute to the spread of French culture and underline the attractiveness of France as a destination. > ‘Palace’ hotels Le Meurice hotel In 1771, Augustin Meurice, founder of the hotel, developed a new style of ‘hotel’ accommodation in Calais to attract British clients. Some years later, in 1818, after the success of this inn, he opened a second hotel in rue Saint- Honoré, at the terminus of the stage coach arriving from the North, to offer services that would simplify the life of English-speaking travellers such as the settlement of administrative formalities, making available rooms for conversation, a bureau de change, and English- speaking staff. Le Meurice hotel moved to its current address – 228 rue de Rivoli - in 1835, in a new luxury building opposite the Tuileries Gardens, which was promptly a great success with its aristocratic clientele. It was extended and renovated several times in the course of the 20th century. 2 → Press file 2015/2016 – Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris Under the newly-appointed Franka Holtmann, Le Meurice underwent new renovation work in 2007 to adapt, what was the first of Paris’s palaces, to the standards of luxury demanded by international clientele. Philippe Starck subtly redesigned the ground floor spaces. He modernized the Grand Siècle decor of the three-starred restaurant (restaurant le Meurice Alain Ducasse), as well as the restaurant Le Dalí, the Bar 228 and the hall, calling on the expertise and excellence of artisans and master craftsmen to restore to their original state majestic mosaic and original frescoes in the ‘Pompier’ style from 1907. LUXURY As a tribute to Salvador Dalí, the most emblematic of guests at Le Meurice, he created several hundred pieces of furniture for the Restaurant Le Dali reflecting the fanciful and eccentric world of the painter; his daughter Ara Starck produced the monumental fresco on the ceiling, by hand. The Bar 228 has been given a cosy and hushed atmosphere evoking gentlemen’s clubs and thus harking back to the English origins of the hotel; today, William Oliveri serves the Meurice Millenium cocktail with pink champagne here, created to welcome in the new millennium and PARIS celebrate the reopening of the hotel after 2 years of work. Set around an interior courtyard, the Spa Valmont for the Meurice offers all the efficacy of upscale Swiss cosmetics via personalized Valmont face and body care treatments. All of the 160 bedrooms and suites, decorated in Louis XVI, have been fully refurbished by Charles Jouffre to whom we owe the magnificent Grand Foyer at the Palais Garnier Opera House. On the first floor, three lavish suites reflect the essence of 18th-century style and include the largest presidential apartment in Paris, with 425 m² of living space. Also of note: the Marco Polo suite under the eaves, in exotic wood and furnished with fine fabrics and an open bathroom with marquetry and marble, and Napoleonic drapes. The ultimate suite: situated on the 7th floor of the hotel, the Belle Etoile suite (275 m2) affords a breathtaking view over Paris. Children are welcome and fun activities are offered in the Tuileries Gardens, boat trips on bateaux-mouches on the Seine, as well as an exclusive treasure hunt at the hotel and an original trail around Paris. 228 rue de Rivoli, Paris 1st – M° Tuileries – Tel +33 (0)1 44 58 10 10 – www.lemeurice.com The Plaza Athénée This palace reflects continuity and change, by imagining the circulation of daylight within the establishment. Each space has retained its codes. The lobby, like other living areas, was designed by Bruno Moinard and inspired by light: a huge circular rug, printed with reflections from the chandelier, original watercolours by the designer embroidered onto the backs of armchairs, platinum-coloured seats to reflect and spread light. In the gallery, holograms recreate the sweet creations of head cake and pastry chef Christophe Michalak, in glass display cases; see for example the religieuse au caramel et beurre saleé. The Plaza Athénée has been extended to incorporate three other buildings and create bedrooms, suites and function rooms including the Organza Room, the Collection Room and the Creation Room. A sublime haute couture spirit for the Haute Couture Room, where understated extravagance in the detail is in harmony with the architecture. This majestic ballroom has a vertiginously-high sculpted ceiling and is lit by seven chandeliers and bathed in natural daylight. The carpet on the floor is based on a watercolour by the designer and evokes flowing ball gowns. Blown glass mirrors on the walls reflect the room ad infinitum. The new bar at the Plaza Athénée, designed by Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku, enhances the listed 18th-century wood panelling with a bar in transparent resin, ceiling with wreaths of fabric and curtains with fine thread. The bar with its bespoke techno-lounge music has 3 → Press file 2015/2016 – Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris become a chic meeting place, where international stars mingle incognito with trendy Parisians. The whiteness of the Alain Ducasse restaurant with its ceiling hung with Swarovski crystal drops is mixed with oval chestnut table tops. The cuisine includes fish, cereals and vegetables from the Potager de la Reine vegetable garden at Versailles. On entering, semi-covered banquettes set the scene to respect the intimacy of guests who are seated and in the evening a spectacular cabinet de curiosités appears from behind a retractable wooden screen with pieces from the Comité Colbert. LUXURY The guest rooms and suites, refurbished by Marie-José Pommereau, have been conceived as veritable private apartments. Vintage sourced objects and reedited fabrics, contemporary touches to bed canopies with subtly creased hangings for a classic world with a difference. On the lower ground floor is the Institut Dior, named in honour of the couturier and aesthete who moved to avenue Montaigne in 1947 and who organized fashion shoots and parades at the palace; not to mention the creation of the ‘Plaza’ dress, to seal their common history. The Relais Plaza, a chic brasserie, has been given a new look by Bruno Moinard on the theme PARIS of transatlantic liners with confidential upper deck, roaring twenties light, and extended bar for the comfort of guests. Ipad for room service in guest rooms, in an initiative in favour of sustainable development, bar QR code, to order from a distance or book a table directly with a mobile phone … the legendary Plaza Athénée, palace on avenue Montaigne has stepped with ease into the connected 21st century. 25 avenue Montaigne, Paris 8th – M° Alma-Marceau- Tel +33 (0)1 53 67 66 65 - www.plaza-athenee- paris.fr Four Seasons Hotel George V The Four Seasons Hotel George V was built in 1928 by a rich American, who in order to attract upscale clients from transatlantic liners, opened reception offices in Cherbourg and Le Havre. In April 1930, he introduced an exclusive air taxi service to link London, Berlin, Madrid, Cherbourg, Deauville and Le Touquet. The Hôtel George V was the setting for major historic events, when it was turned into a branch of the Société des Nations in 1929, or privatized during the press conferences of French and American presidents.