Offering the ultimate in French luxury and refinement to discerning guests, the family-owned Hotel Le Bristol Paris has been bestowed with the status of a palace
IT'S now official. After having been awarded its fifth star in June 2010, Hotel Le Bristol Paris – long-established as one of the leading luxury hotels – has now become the first French hotel to be officially granted ‘palace’ status, at a ceremony held recently at the Pavilion Gabriel, in Paris.
Secretary of State Frédéric Lefebvre presented the first ‘Palace’ plate personally, to Didier Le Calvez, chairman and general manager of Le Bristol.
Hotel Le Bristol Paris is the only European family-owned palace, having belonged to only two families since it opened in 1925. Le Bristol has been part of the ‘Oetker Collection’ since 1978, with the Brenner’s Park in Baden Baden, the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes and the Château Saint Martin & Spa.
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The Bristrol’s Panoramique Suite, Saint-Honoré Suite and the Restaurant Hiver (below) |
Le Bristol represents the ultimate in French luxury and refinement, notably through its gastronomic restaurant, managed by top three-star chef Eric Frechon.
Le Calvez, a reference in himself, has been active in the international luxury hotel industry for 35 years, 18 of which were with the prestige Four Seasons Group, in which he was vice-president.
Throughout his career, from the New York Plaza to the Singapore Regent and including the Pierre in New-York and the Four Seasons George V in Paris, Le Calvez has proved his ability to transform all the hotels he has managed into an example of excellence.
With exceptional financial support from the Oetker Group, in 2009, Le Bristol launched a large-scale renovation at a cost of more than €100 million ($142 million). The Matignon wing was opened in September 2009, the renovation of the 36 rooms and suites in the garden-side wing was completed mid-2010, the total renovation of 45 rooms and suites was due to be completed by the end of May 2011 and the gastronomic restaurant, newly decorated under the supervision of Maja Oetker and Pierre Yves Rochon, and which opens out on to a 1,200-sq-m French-style garden, will reopen in July 2011.
The spa is being enlarged for July 2011 and is becoming multi-brand, with notably the highly awaited and exclusive presence in Le Bristol of a luxury brand whose name will soon be revealed, together with ‘By Terry’ cosmetics and ‘The Organic Pharmacy’ brand.
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A children’s space will also be established.
Two signature suites are being created, which will open in June 2011: the Honeymoon Suite, which will occupy the entire top floor of the hotel, with a superb panoramic view over Paris, and the Imperial Suite of 300 sq m.
“In a highly competitive environment, this distinction will valorise exceptional hotels like Le Bristol on the international scene,” says Le Calvez. “This award wouldn’t have been possible without the confidence and the regular investments made by the Oetker Group since 1978 and Le Bristol’s staff, who work hard to be the best, every day.”
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He continues: “The ‘Palace’ status enhances French influence abroad and confirms Le Bristol’s position as an exceptional hotel. We are very proud to be the first to be awarded this distinction.”
The hotel is also gaining even greater international recognition having been the setting for scenes in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, which recently opened the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.
The star-studded cast includes Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Adrien Brody and Carla Bruni. Elements of the movie were filmed at Le Bristol, including scenes in its amazing Panoramic Suite, the prestigious lobby and shots of the hotel’s famous entrance.
Le Calvez says: “We were thrilled to assist Woody Allen, the cast and crew during the making of Midnight in Paris last summer and are delighted that Le Bristol featured alongside such a distinguished cast.”