Guillaume Rose, Director of Tourism, with Marie-Laure Marquet, International Relations at the Monaco Tourism Office. Photo: DR
A delegation from the Directorate of Tourism and Conventions (DTC), composed of Guillaume Rose, Director, and Marie-Laure Marquet, Relations with International Institutions, have taken part in the 22nd General Assembly General of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), one of the UN agencies, held in Chengdu, China.
All nations participating in the Framework Convention on the Ethics of Tourism adopted an agreement that sets out the responsibilities of all stakeholders in the development of sustainable tourism.
UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai stressed the objectives of the agreement: “The great transforming force of tourism on a global scale must be used to contribute to a better world. Sustainable development must also be promoted in all its five dimensions: economic, social, environmental, cultural and peace.”
Taleb Rifai will visit the Principality from December 6 to 8 to participate in the Peace & Sports Forum, which has the same objectives as the UNWTO. This will be a visit that combines perfectly with the actions of the Monaco Tourism and Convention Directorate in the field of sustainable development.
Carla Bruni will be back on stage at the Opéra Garnier Monte-Carlo on November 29, after having already performed here in 2013.
Talking about her new album, due out on October 6, Bruni recalls a conversation with songwriter David Foster.
”Have you ever thought of singing in English?,” he asked her in the spring of 2014, after a concert she had just given in Los Angeles.
Sing in English? Carla Bruni had already done so on her second album, No Promises (2005), putting to music the verses of Dorothy Parker and Anglo-Saxon poets of the romantic era. For the songwriter, the question was rather about her legitimacy to write in the language of Lou Reed. David Foster, also president of Verve – the American label of the French singer – insisted and then proposed to record a cover album.
After a long hesitation, Carla Bruni agreed.
While the French Touch generally describes Parisian electronic music of the 2000s, the term also has a wider meaning: it is an effortless elegance, a light sensuality, a “je ne sais quoi”. And on her new album, she gives even the most American of the pop hymns – songs that seem as far away from France as the Sunset Strip – this touch.
Of course, Foster’s arrangement has, according to Carla Bruni, brought “something grandiose to the music”. Melodic, warm but minimalist and often filled with malice, the cover songs have retained the universal charm of the original, while bringing a touch of sensuality, almost as if Carla Bruni and David Foster had written them themselves.
The French Touch album, scheduled for release on October 6, extends from rock classics (“A Perfect Day” by Lou Reed among others) to the old standards (“Moon River”, “Love Hurts , “Crazy”), but all the pieces share a particular quality, as Carla Bruni describes so accurately: “intimacy.”
The Third Edition of Top Marques Watches & Jewellery drew to a close last weekend after a three-day display of innovation, design and breath-taking beauty.
The annual event in the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo was also marked by overwhelming generosity – with more than €60,000 raised for the show’s sponsor, Monaco Disease Power.
Monaco Disease Power works with the families of children with disabilities, and money raised through a charity auction and tombola at the show’s Opening Cocktail will go towards the creation of a second residential home.
Photo: Top Marques
Photo: Top Marques
Photo: Top Marques
Photo: Top Marques
Photo: Top Marques
Photo: Top Marques
Prizes that went under the hammer included a Breguet watch donated by H.S.H Prince Albert II of Monaco, high patron of both Monaco Disease Power and Top Marques Watches & Jewellery.
Muriel Natali-Laure, President of Monaco Disease Power, said on Monday, October 2: “On behalf of the people and families affected by mental disability and autism, I would like to sincerely thank H.S.H Prince Albert II for his support, as well as all the donors for their generosity. I would also like to thank the organisers of Top Marques Watches, a partner and loyal supporter of Monaco Disease Power, who teamed up with us for this wonderful event.”
The ‘Pop-up’ watch and jewellery show took place from September 28 to 30 in one of Monaco’s most picturesque settings, the Salle Belle Epoque.
Highlights of the exhibition were haute horologer collections by leading luxury brands such as Greubel Forsey, Franck Muller, DeWitt and Tag Heuer. Also receiving wonderful reviews were timepieces by new brands HESJY and Nunzio La Vecchia, the latter more widely known for electric supercars than the intricate timepieces he was exhibiting.
The timepieces were showcased alongside stunning jewellery displays by Monegasque designers Jasré, H.R.H jewels and Sandra Bilboé Joaillerie, as well as an ethereal exhibition by artist Isabelle Arpagian, who creates artwork for castles and art collectors.
Monaco’s only exhibition dedicated to watches and jewellery was organised by the team behind Top Marques Monaco, the Principality’s premier supercar show held every April. It follows the same winning formula where all luxury items on display are for sale, with a number of significant purchases having been made during the show. Nunzio La Vecchia confirmed that he had sold six watches from his debuting collection with a price tag of €180,000 each.
Manoj Bairstow, Managing Director of Top Marques Monaco, said: “Top Marques Watches & Jewellery only began three years ago and I am very proud of how far the event has come in such a short amount of time.
“I thought this year’s exhibition was first class: the exhibitors were of very high quality and their stands literally sparkled in the stunning Salle Belle Epoque.
“I would like to thank everyone who participated in the show, as well as our partners La Société des Bains de Mer, the Directorate of Tourism and Conventions, Marzocco real estate, Elena Silvodaeva Exclusive and Villa Sandi, who provided the excellent wines for our cocktail parties.
“I would also like to send a massive thank you to everyone who gave so generously to our charity auction and tombola. In just three years of Top Marques Watches we have managed to raise more than €200,000 for Monaco Disease Power which I believe is a huge achievement by all involved. Thank you.”
The Fourth Edition of Top Marques Watches & Jewellery will take place from September 27 to 29, 2018. www.topmarqueswatches.com.
Meanwhile the 15th Anniversary Edition of Top Marques Monaco will be held from April 19 to 22, 2018. www.topmarquesmonaco.com
Photo: Direction de la Communicatin / Manuel Vitali
Minister of State Serge Telle has said that accelerated progress is being made to address the problems of faulty plumping and waste pipes at the Gardens of Apolline, the large residential complex occupied by Monegasques in the Condamine.
On Monday, October 2, the Minister of State, accompanied by Didier Gamerdinger, Minister of the Interior, Jean Castellini, Minister of Finance and Economy, Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, Olivier Lavagna, Director of Public Works, Albert Croesi, Head of Mission and Emmanuelle Nardo, Legal Officer, met the residents of the building to take stock of the measures initiated by the Government in order to face the unprecedented situation in the complex,
After a reminder that the purity of the water had been established, Serge Telle addressed the three main topics of the meeting: Firstly resettlement – Solutions have been found in consultation with each of the residents. Secondly, the repair work which will begin on February 15 , 2018, the Government having chosen to use a delegated contracting authority; and thirdly the legal proceedings initiated by The State has to reconcile the urgent repair work and the technical evaluations on the liability of claims.
The Minister of State concluded by saying: “Three months ago we were in reaction mode. I am pleased to see that we are moving forward now, and at an accelerated pace.”
Monaco’s basketball team visited Gravelines – Dunkerque on Monday evening for the third day of the Multiplex Pro A and didn’t come away disappointed. After a close-run contest, it was only in the fourth quarter that a gap opened up and the Roca Boys won 61 – 55 against a team that did well last season.
Admittedly, Monaco’s basketball players had gone into Monday’s game as the favourites, facing a team that had lost to Le Mans 103 to 63 and again last week at home to Dijon, 80 to 70.
The Roca Team had also lost against Le Mans (67 to 66) last week, despite leading by nine points (52-43) until 10 minutes from the whistle.
Last season BCM Gravelines – Dunkerque finished ninth in the play-offs and had qualified for the Leaders Cup, losing to Monaco in the quarter-finals.
The Roca Boys come home with another satisfying win against the northern team. The next fixture is at home to Asvel on Sunday, October 8, starting at 18:30.
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