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Month: March 2019

Athletes en route to Abu Dhabi

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/03/2019

A group of athletes from Monaco is currently on its way to Abu Dhabi to compete in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. They’ll be one of 170 countries to take part and will be looking to beat Monaco’s last medal haul of 23 in Los Angeles.

© Manuel VITALI / Direction de la Communication

Aimed at people with intellectual disabilities, the Special Olympics takes place every two years, alternating between the Summer Olympic Games and the Winter Olympic Games. More than 7,000 athletes will be taking part in this edition in the United Arab Emirates from 14thto 21stMarch.

Representing the Principality of Monaco will be 25 athletes and eight coaches. They’ll be competing in seven different disciplines: cycling, swimming, athletics, table tennis, tennis, horse riding and judo. There are 29 disciplines in all.

“This delegation is composed of regulars at major competitions but also promising newcomers,” said Marco Muratori, head of the delegation. “The goal is to achieve great performances, and it is hoped that the medals will follow. One thing is certain: they all want to win!”

Four years ago, the Principality won 23 medals including seven world titles at the Los Angeles Games. The Monegasque delegation set off on Friday to the UAE and will participate, initially, in an educational and cultural program that will allow them to discover Abu Dhabi.

© Manuel VITALI / Direction de la Communication

A few days before the big departure for Abu Dhabi, the Monegasque delegation received some important backing from staff and the U19’s at the Academy of AS Monaco. After a unified football match, Frédéric Barilaro’s protégés gave the athletes the prize money to be used for the Special Olympics World Summer Games. It is part of the Connecting Values initiative that was established by AS Monaco three years ago.

This year, the Monegasque delegation will be dedicating their medal wins to Philippe Calmes, the first SO Monaco athlete, who passed away in September 2018. The initials of “Philou” will appear on the athlete’s t-shirts in addition to the partners’ logos.

The Special Olympics is an international organisation created in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Schriver, the sister of US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy. It promotes the practice of sport for the intellectually handicapped. In the Principality, Special Olympics Monaco was created more than 35 years ago by Mireille Calmes.

Monaco Disease Power annual gala

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/03/2019

Preparations are underway for the annual Monaco Disease Power Gala, which will be taking place at the Yacht Club of Monaco in April.

Monaco Disease Power President Muriel Natali-Laure with HSH Prince Albert in 2017

For the past 12 years, the Monaco Disease Power association has facilitated many projects for children and adults with autism and mental disability, as well as their families.

Among their achievements is the creation of the Centre Aéré, construction and opening of the respite accommodation facility ‘House of Amelie’ in 2013 and its extension in 2018, the implementation of the Rally of the Heart, and the organisation of the first Monegasque Conference on Autism and Mental Disability in 2017.

Under the patronage of S.A.S. Prince Albert II,  Monaco Disease Power only receives funding from donations.

The annual Monaco Disease Power Gala will be held at the Monaco Yacht Club on 23rd April 2019.

 

 

Monaco’s Silversea lands four critics awards

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/03/2019

Monaco based Silversea Cruises has taken out four first place wins in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards on Wednesday. Among the accolades, Silver Galapagos was voted Best Shore Excursions and Best Value-for-Money.

Silver Galapagos was built in 1990 and is actually the smallest in the fleet

The awards are based on consumer ratings and reviews posted to Cruise Critic over the past year. The world’s largest online cruise community, Cruise Critic features more than 350,000 cruise reviews, covering nearly 700 ships.

“At a time when travelers have a seemingly unlimited choice of which cruise to take – from the biggest and flashiest, to the most intimate and luxurious – there’s never been a better time to cruise,” says Colleen McDaniel, senior executive editor of Cruise Critic.

“But that also makes ship selection more important than ever. What’s really special about our Cruisers’ Choice Awards is that they’re based solely on ratings from cruisers themselves. And with so much changing in the cruise industry year after year – new ships, refurbishments, redeployments – these awards serve as a true finger-on-the-pulse of the industry, highlighting which ships are best serving their customers’ needs and expectations in real-time.”

Voted the best Overall Ship in 2019

The awards cover four ship size classes: large (2,000+ passengers); mid-size (1,200 to 1,999 passengers); small-mid size (400 to 1,199 passengers); and small (fewer than 400 passengers).

Silver Galapagos took out the following wins:

  • Best Overall Ship (Small Ship Category)
  • Best Public Rooms (Small Ship Category)
  • Best Shore Excursions (Small Ship Category)
  • Best Value-for-Money (Small Ship Category)

Silversea Cruises is a privately owned mid-market cruise line with its headquarters in Monaco. It was founded in 1994 by a joint venture made up of V-Ships of Monaco and the Lefebvre family of Rome and pioneered all-inclusive cruising with its first ship Silver Cloud. They have a total of nine all-suite ships, and Silversea Galapagos, built in 1990, is the smallest.

Viking Ocean Cruises, which was established in 2015, racked up 10 first-place awards.

Britain’s billionaires are on the move

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/03/2019

A third of British billionaires have reportedly moved to countries like Monaco over the past decade in order to avoid paying taxes. According to an investigation by The Times, 28 out of 93 British billionaires, or 30%, have moved or are in the process of relocating.

Many billionaires are ditching London for Monaco

Last year, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, one of the wealthiest men in Britain and founder of the Ineos chemicals group, was revealed to be moving to Monaco and working with accountants on a legal tax-avoidance plan that experts say could deny the British Treasury up to £4bn.

The Times reports that there are now 6,800 Britons running 12,000 UK firms from low-tax jurisdictions, including the Bahamas, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the Channel Islands, Monaco and Switzerland.

Many of those who left the UK have been awarded honours or hold titles, with a viscount, one baron, six knights and one dame among the billionaires.

By becoming non-UK resident for tax purposes, the super-rich can avoid 38.1% in UK income tax on dividends and 20% in capital gains tax on the sale of shares. Although HMRC said it did not have official figures on how much this costs, past estimates have suggested the UK misses out on £1bn of tax a year from those living in Monaco alone.

Austria reveals its assets ahead of the MEB to Vienna

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/03/2019

Around 50 entrepreneurs from the Principality are being encouraged to support Austria and join the Monaco Economic Board’s Trade Mission to Vienna in May. The group were told at a special meeting organised by Advantage Austria, the official representative of Austrian business abroad,  that there are many similarities between the two countries.

Christian H. Schierer, Director Advantage Austria France & Monaco; Phillippe Ortelli, MEB Vice-Chairman, Erwin Strutzenberger, Deputy Director Advantage Austria France & Monaco

“Here in Monaco, the Alps literally plunge into the sea. If we follow the line of peaks we arrive in Austria at the other end of this mountain chain that unites us,” said MEB Vice-Chairman Philippe Ortelli, as he welcomed Christian Schierer and Erwin Strutzenberger, Director and Deputy Director respectively of Advantage Austria France and Monaco.

The two countries have much in common in terms of stability, security and even clean streets, but the similarities in business are also numerous. With a population of 8.7 million, Austria is the fourth richest country in Europe and has enjoyed sustained growth in recent years, with unemployment at only 5.9%. The country’s prosperity relies on an SME fabric of excellence and innovation selling into niche markets abroad. Flagship brands like Red Bull, Porsche or Swarovski top the billing, but the driving force are the “hidden champions”. For example, 20% of the technologies used in Airbus planes are Austrian.

Due to its geographical location, culture and history, Austria naturally turns to Central and Eastern Europe. It hosts more than 1,000 regional coordination offices in this area. Meanwhile, employee/employer relations are governed by a social contract based on dialogue which means strikes are practically non-existent.

The aim of the meeting was to convince entrepreneurs from the Principality to join the MEB on its Trade Mission to Vienna from 13th to 15th May 2019. The trip has been organised by Isabelle Berro-Amadei, Monaco’s Ambassador to Austria. “We want contacts to be converted into contracts,” said Christian Schierer. “Clearly, our business models are designed to get along,” added Philippe Ortelli.

Christian H. Schierer, Director Advantage Austria France & Monaco, presents the Energy Globe Award Monaco 2018 to the managers of Stars’N’Bars for their ‘Ban Plastic Straws’ project

At the end of the talk, the Austrians presented the Energy Globe Award Monaco 2018 to the managers of Stars’N’Bars for their ‘Ban Plastic Straws’ project. Organised by the Energy Globe Foundation, which Advantage Austria supports, the awards recognise projects aimed at protecting the environment. This is another issue the two countries have in common.

Plans are in full swing for the Trade Mission which includes a business forum, and will put Monegasque and Austrian entrepreneurs in direct contact.  Thanks to Team Monaco, the delegation will also enjoy a performance by the Monte-Carlo Opéra at the Musikwerein, featuring Cecilia Bartoli and the Baroque Ensemble of Les Musiciens du Prince.

 

Operation #8MarsMonaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/03/2019

Monaco’s photographic campaign behind Operation #8MarsMonaco has been officially inaugurated.

© Direction de la Communication – Michael Alesi

On Thursday 7th March, Celine Cottalorda, Technical Adviser and Delegate for the promotion and protection of women’s rights, and photographer Anthony Alberti, otherwise known as Mr One Teas, launched the photography which is currently displayed on the facade of the Ministry of State.

Composed of 76 black and white portraits, it honours everyone who is participating in the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights, which was established in October.

“I was keen to highlight the women and men of the Committee but also those I have met and supported since its inception,” said Céline Cottalorda.

The people photographed were invited to choose a chalk board bearing one of the following inscriptions: Together, March 8, United, Rights, Struggle, Equality, Respect and Women.

Prince Albert agreed to participate in the campaign, while the government says the Minister of State, President of the National Council, the Mayor of Monaco and Government Councilors and Ministers are all eager to contribute to the success of the #8MarsMonaco operation.

“My goal,” said Alberti, “is to create real smiles from those who have chosen the values ​​they want to represent.”

In order to reach a wide audience, the photographic work has been available in various media: in the press, on Monaco Info and on the social networks of the Prince’s Government under the title # 8MarsMonaco.