On Thursday April 15, France Revisited begins a 3-part series of video conversations with an expert in the luxury hotel industry in France. France Revisited readers can attend live via Zoom.
This launches what will be an on-going series of conversations between editor Gary Lee Kraut and guest experts in various fields with respect to travel, tourism, history and culture in France. We are particularly interested in the interplay between history, culture and points of interest for today’s travelers and armchair travelers. Registration information is sent out through the France Revisited Newsletter.
The series’ inaugural guest is Jean-Pierre Soutric, a leading French specialist and consultant on luxury hotels around the world. Born in Lourdes and based in Paris, Jean-Pierre follows in the footsteps of three previous generations in the hotel industry. His great-grandmother opened a hotel in 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War. Jean-Pierre has held marketing positions at leading hotel groups, including Four Seasons, with which he worked for 20 years. Passionate about history, culture, art and the evolution of French elegance and style through the centuries, he now works as a luxury travel and hotel consultant.
In three separate Zoom conversations, Gary and Jean-Pierre will discuss the history of luxury hotels in Paris (Parts 1 and 2) and on the Riviera (Part 3). Dates and times of Parts 2 and 3 to be announced.
Part 1 examines the creation and evolution of the first luxury hotels in Paris from 1855 to 1909, i.e. from the era of Napoleon III though the Belle Epoque. The conversation will be illustrated with historical and contemporary images of hotels created during that period that still hold their heads high today within the triangle formed by the Louvre, the Garnier Opera and Place de la Concorde, including the (Grand) Hôtel du Louvre, the Grand Hôtel (and its Café de la Paix, image above), the Meurice, the Regina, the Ritz and the Crillon. We will also discuss major historical events and famous figures associated with these hotels as well as the hotels’ contemporary bars and tea rooms.
Following the 50-minute presentation, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions via the Zoom chat feature.
In May, readers will be invited to attend Part 2 (from the Roaring 1920 to the Vaccinated 2020s) and Part 3 (the French Riviera) of this Luxury Hotel Series. Attendance for this Luxury Hotel Series is free for readers of France Revisited.
Upcoming conversations with other leading experts in their fields will also be announced in May.