La Cinq at Le George V. Courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
La Cinq at Le George V. Courtesy Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

New Paris luxury hotels pose an elegantly modern challenge



A pearl necklace (not mine) is hanging from a black ceramic hand, a guitar sits in one corner of the room and a framed picture is propped on the floor as if waiting to be hung. When I wake up I can't immediately see any of these things, though, because the huge, comfortable bed in which I am lying is adrift in the middle of the room - perfectly placed so when I get up to draw the curtains the light falling on me is at its softest and prettiest. As five-star hotel rooms go, it is the most eccentric that I have ever stayed in - and deliberately so. Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, which opened its doors in October, was conceived by Philippe Starck as somewhere that offer guests "a touch of panache, a hint of irreverence and lot of outrageousness". It's an ambitious yet fitting description of the overall effect.

"They're trying to eat our lunch, but we're not going to let them," Christopher Norton says, with a deep laugh. It's later in the day and I'm now sitting in the very grand La Galeri at Le George V, already established as one of the world's great hotels, where Norton is the general manager, watching the well-dressed and the beautiful parade past a backdrop of gilt-framed Flemish tapestries and heavy crystal chandeliers. Such is the quest for perfection that the 88-metre Flemish carpet, handmade in Spain, is replaced every nine months before it shows any signs of wear and tear.

Trying to ignore this sideshow, we're discussing the latest revolution to take place in Paris. For decades, six well-known names - Hôtel de Crillon, Le Bristol, Le Meurice, the Ritz, Le Plaza Athénée and Le George V - have dominated the hotel scene. Their names are synonymous with old-fashioned grandeur and a certain style, and occasional entrées onto the pages of novels have conferred a romantic status upon them. The big six are not just any old five-star hotels, and to confirm their status they have recently applied for "palais" or palace status, the new category being introduced by the French tourism authority.

There are five pretenders threatening to usurp the old guard though. Mandarin Oriental, Raffes with Le Royal Monceau, Shangri-La, the Peninsula and Starwood with W Opéra, are all trying to muscle in with their own ultra-chic offerings, not to mention the promise of exhaustive levels of attentiveness and courtesy to counter a reputation for Parisian hauteur when it comes to service. As a wake-up call for the establishment, it doesn't get much louder.

With the economies of Europe still unsteady, 2011 might seem an inauspicious time to embark on such expensive new ventures, but the opening of a hotel is years in the making, and perennially popular tourist destinations such as Paris or London are relatively safe bets. Added to that, the luxury market is the one that has held out best. Generally speaking, it is the grander, more expensive hotels that have showed the most resilience and it is the most costly, lavish suites that have been booked out.

Anticipation is currently focused on the Mandarin Oriental, which will open on July 1, assuming it is given the all clear by the Security Commission who are due to do their checks this month. Located on Rue Saint Honoré, one of the most fashionable streets in the world and within five minutes walk from the Louvre, it promises style and class with a double-height presidential suite billed as the finest in Paris.

On Avenue Georges V, Le George V is said to be the most recession-proof hotel in the world but competition is still cut-throat, and Norton is neither foolish nor smug enough to sit back and do nothing: Four Seasons, which manages Le George V, is currently redecorating every last bedroom. The work began last month and the well-known French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, responsible for its last facelift 10 years ago, has been recalled. The hotel's majestic but slightly cold and formal, gold and brown colour palettes are disappearing and being replaced by soft blues and creams. "We are taking a realistic and aggressive stance towards defending our number one slot," Norton says with determination.

He has an ally in the French government, which has introduced new measures to communicate excellence to confused guests. Only two years ago, it introduced a new five-star category to differentiate the top end from the more hum-drum four-star hotels. The French ministry of tourism is introducing a "palais hôtel" definition with an application deadline for those hotels wishing to be considered at the end of last year. But - and here is the catch - hotels had to be at least three years old to apply. The new hotels are furious at the French government, privately accusing it of colluding with the older, more established hotels.

"It's ridiculous. Either you are a palace hotel or you are not - why three years?" says Alain Borgers, the director general of the Shangri-La, which opened its inarguably palatial doors at 10 Avenue d'Iéna in December. "It's up to our guests to decide if we are a palace hotel, not the government." Built in 1896, as the home of Prince Roland Bonaparte (Napoleon's great-nephew), the new Shangri-La has been lovingly and painstakingly restored by its new owner. The main staircase, lounges, frescoes, wood panelling, gilding, chandeliers and marble fireplaces have been returned to their former glory. And what glory. Just across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the panoramic suite has the best views of that most iconic of Parisian landmarks, but Prince Roland's former bedroom, restored as the imperial suite costing €18,000 (Dh89,865) per night, faces the other way, reflecting the nonchalant attitude Parisians had to the monument at the time. Prince Roland would still feel very much at home here: many of the public areas feel more like a museum than a hotel, a point defended by Borgers. "It was a residence and now it's a hotel. But it's also a French monument, and we wanted to protect the history of the building."

Philippe Leboeuf, the former general manager of Claridges in London, who was poached by Mandarin Oriental to head up its new Parisian project, says the management considered going to Brussels to challenge the three-year ruling but decided against it. The Mandarin Oriental opted for the freedom of renovation rather than the confines of restoration. Only the 1920's Art Deco-style facade at the front has been kept; behind it everything has been rebuilt. Its vast inner courtyard planted with camellias and magnolias will be the place to be seen in this summer. The style promises to reflect its location, not its historic foundation. Unlike the design of Shangri-La hotels, where Asia meets Europe in everything from the staff's uniforms to its cuisine, the Mandarin management has made a deliberate decision to eschew more overt shows of Asian culture. "The staff will not be wearing kimonos. We will be very Parisian, very French, classy and stylish. Only the spa will be Asian," says Leboeuf. "It is very important to have a [local] sense of place."

In contrast, Starwood's W Paris Opéra, which is due to open in December on Rue de la Chaussée d'Antin near the Opéra de Paris, will play upon and celebrate its status as an outsider. "Its identity, positioning and targeted market is different from its competitors," says Marie Cazaux.

By that I assume it will transport W's unique customs and slightly crazy culture, though what Parisians will make of a concierge desk that is named and answers the phone "whatever, whenever" is yet to be seen. But had Starwood hoped to break the mould in a city known for stuffy institutions, it has been beaten to it by Raffles.

The placing of the bed in my room is not its only idiosyncracy. Le Royal Monceau has not so much been designed by Philippe Starck as curated. The original chandeliers are still here but corralled together above the staircase, hung at different heights. There is a modern art shop and an art concierge who will advise guests on what galleries to visit and who to see. An art curator supervises the team, and just as the concierge of the older hotels can reserve a table at a fully booked restaurant, he arranges access to private collections. All the art on show is part of the hotel's own private collection, but should you admire a particular painting or piece, the art concierge will introduce you to the artist so you can buy a similar work.

I meet Sylvain Ercoli, the ebullient general manager, in the lobby; only it's not the lobby but the Grand Salon and we sit on large pouffes right in the middle. The boundaries are purposefully blurred to create the feeling of a home, with the eating area spilling out into the reception area. The check-in is tucked away to the side near the entrance and opposite the lifts so that guests can arrive and go to their rooms without being seen.

"We want to make this hotel to Paris what Raffles is to Singapore. It has Parisian DNA," says Ercoli. "We are pushing the boundaries but in the context of good traditional service. We all come from traditional backgrounds and know the importance of getting that right."

The last of the newcomers is the Peninsula, which is slated to open early in 2013. As with Raffles and Shangri-La, it is the hotel group's first European outpost and brings with it a fearsome reputation for excellence. Little wonder then that the grande old dames such as Le George V are touching up the gilded furniture. But back at Le George V, Norton does not look like a worried man. The winners and losers of the new order will be defined, he says, not by the splendour of the buildings, historical significance, expensive spa treatments or experimental restaurant menus, but in a more personal way.

"A hotel is like love," says Norton. "It is the way it makes you feel which matters most. The guests are like women, they won't leave you unless they are unhappy."

If you go

The flight

Etihad Airways (www.etihadairways.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Paris from Dh3,945 return, including taxes

The stay

A double room at the Four Seasons Le George V (8000 65 0561; www.fourseasons.com) costs from €850 (Dh4,632) per night, including taxes. A one-bedroom royal suite costs from €15,000 (Dh74,910) per night, including taxes.

A double room at Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris (00 33 1 42 99 8877; www.raffles.com) costs from €780 (Dh3,894) per night, including taxes. The royal suite costs from €10,000 (Dh51,064) per night. One of three self-contained apartments, the "Ray Charles" costs €16,000 (Dh79,870) per night.

A double room at the Shangri-La Paris (00 33 1 53 67 19 98; www.shangri-la.com) costs from €725 (Dh3,950) per night, including taxes. The imperial suite costs from €18,000 (Dh89,865) per night, including taxes.

The Mandarin Oriental (00 33 1 55 04 80 21; www.mandarinoriental.com) is due to open on July 1. Double rooms cost from €765 (Dh4,122) per night, including taxes.

The Starwood W Paris Opéra (00 33 1 40 68 30 45; www.starwoodhotels.com) is due to open in January and the Peninsula (www.peninsula.com) will open on Avenue Kléber in the 16th arrondissement in 2013.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

The specs: 2017 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn

Price, base / as tested: Dhxxx
Engine: 5.7L V8
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 395hp @ 5,600rpm
Torque: 556Nm @ 3,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)

Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits

Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine

Storage: 128/256/512GB

Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4

Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps

Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID

Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight

In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter

Price: From Dh2,099

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Tree of Hell

Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla

Director: Raed Zeno

Rating: 4/5

Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Neo%20Mobility%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20February%202023%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abhishek%20Shah%20and%20Anish%20Garg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Logistics%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Delta%20Corp%2C%20Pyse%20Sustainability%20Fund%2C%20angel%20investors%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT

Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')

Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

MATCH INFO

Jersey 147 (20 overs) 

UAE 112 (19.2 overs)

Jersey win by 35 runs

Match info

Who: India v Afghanistan
What: One-off Test match, Bengaluru
When: June 14 to 18
TV: OSN Sports Cricket HD, 8am starts
Online: OSN Play (subscribers only)

Scoreline

Syria 1-1 Australia

Syria Al Somah 85'

Australia Kruse 40'

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
  • Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
  • Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
  • Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
  • For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
  • Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
  • Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
  • Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
  • Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
  • Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
  • Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.

Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Superliminal%20
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Pillow%20Castle%20Games%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20One%20%26amp%3B%20X%2FS%2C%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PC%20and%20Mac%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Qualifier A, Muscat

(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv) 

Fixtures

Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain 

Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain 

Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines 

Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals 

Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final 

UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia

The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: ten-speed

Power: 420bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: Dh325,125

On sale: Now

8 traditional Jamaican dishes to try at Kingston 21

  1. Trench Town Rock: Jamaican-style curry goat served in a pastry basket with a carrot and potato garnish
  2. Rock Steady Jerk Chicken: chicken marinated for 24 hours and slow-cooked on the grill
  3. Mento Oxtail: flavoured oxtail stewed for five hours with herbs
  4. Ackee and salt fish: the national dish of Jamaica makes for a hearty breakfast
  5. Jamaican porridge: another breakfast favourite, can be made with peanut, cornmeal, banana and plantain
  6. Jamaican beef patty: a pastry with ground beef filling
  7. Hellshire Pon di Beach: Fresh fish with pickles
  8. Out of Many: traditional sweet potato pudding
Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5