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Day: 23 September 2019

Monte Carlo Ocean Gala’s jaw-dropping auction list

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

 

An astounding list of auction items and lifetime experiences will go under the hammer at this week’s Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean. Among 36 of the most impressive lots ever seen in the Principality are Prince Albert’s customised DaVinci Hyper electric supercar, his personal electric powerboat and a magnificent Giberg Niura sapphire watch, items which alone could fetch close to a million euros.

The final auction list of 36 lots has just been announced and it reads like the ultimate wish list. But if the jaw-dropping auction wasn’t enough to impress, there is the long list of celebrities who will be headlining the event, not to mention an appearance by human-like robot Sophia AI.

The third annual Monte-Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean is set to be held on Thursday 26th September on the terraces of the Opera House. Presided by HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and founded by Global Fundraising Chairman Milutin Gatsby, the gala will conclude a week of activities dedicated to the health of our Ocean. In bringing together global philanthropists, policy makers, business leaders, scientists and celebrities, Prince Albert and his foundation will once again take the lead in bringing solutions to scale and address the existential crisis facing the world’s Ocean and its impact on our climate.

HSH Prince Albert II, HSH Princess Charlene, Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry with a host of performers at the gala © Eric Mathon Palais Princier

Guests of the gala will be treated to a star-studded evening that will include performances by Gwen Stefani, Andrea Bocelli and 70’s favourites Kool & the Gang, while Robin Thicke will host the extravaganza after-party at the ultra-chic private lounges of the Monte Carlo Casino.

Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman, Uma Thurman and Andy Garcia will serve as Masters of Ceremony, while film legend Robert Redford will be honoured by the Prince for his outstanding career and exceptional commitment for environmental protection.

DaVinci Hyper electric supercar edition 1/1 customised personally for HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco

Guests will be encouraged to put their hands in their pockets to support the foundation’s worldwide initiatives in favour of a sustainable Ocean, but in exchange they will be receiving some of the most incredible auction items ever seen in the Principality.

Auctioneer Simon de Pury will have the great privilege in offering up to the highest bidders the Sovereign Prince’s customised DaVinci Hyper electric supercar, a collector’s Aston Martin V8 vantage ‘X-Pack’ engraved by the Prince, a first edition of The Great Gatsby signed by Robert Redford, plus the Prince’s gorgeous personal electric powerboat.

The Great Gatsby – first edition book signed by Robert Redford

A vintage Rolex Submariner watch owned by the Prince, a stunning Giberg Niura ladies sapphire encrusted watch made exclusively for the gala, a sculpture of perennial favourite Mickey Mouse by The Marbleman, and a ceramic owl fashioned by Picasso are also on the block.

Magnificent Giberg Niura sapphire watch

But it doesn’t end there. Several once-in-a-lifetime experiences are also up for grabs, including a private, fully catered dinner for 33 at the Château de Versailles worthy of Louis XIV, an exclusive evening at the Eiffel Tower where it will be closed to all but the winner and their guests, an Arctic expedition in 2020 with HSH Prince Albert II himself, a magical day and evening with Italian singer Andrea Bocelli at his Tuscan home or in Miami, and “the ultimate” Hollywood Oscar Week with Prince Albert II of Monaco.

All proceeds from the evening help the foundation to pursue and scale up its priority programs that include the creation of marine protected areas, mitigating the impact of climate change on the Ocean, and the fight against sea plastics and pollution.

 

Written by Cassandra Tanti and Stephanie Horsman

 

 

Fautrier takes new position with Prince’s government

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

Prince Albert has appointed Bernard Fautrier as Special Adviser on Environmental Issues. The placement means he will stepdown from his position as Vice-President and CEO of the Prince’s foundation, and hand over the reins to Olivier Wenden.

In environmental terms, it is an important week in the Principality. On Wednesday 25th, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will unveil its special reporton the ocean and the cryosphere. The following day, the Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Oceanwill take place, with Nicole Kidman as emcee, alongside Robert Redford, Uma Thurman and Andy Garcia as headline celebrities supporting the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

In this setting, it was announced on Monday that the foundation will have a change of direction. According to a statement, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which has fought tirelessly for the protection of the planet and Oceans since 2006, indicates that, by Sovereign Ordinance 7673 dated 9th September, the Prince has appointed Bernard Fautrier as special advisor on environmental issues, effective from 1st October.

So, after being at the helm of the Prince’s foundation since 2006, Bernard Fautrier will next week begin a new mission for the Prince’s government, albeit in the same environmental context as the work he has conducted so far.

Continuity is therefore the key word for this shift, as Olivier Wenden has been the Executive Director of the Foundation since 2014, a position that allowed him, among other things, to contribute to the development of philanthropy and institutional partnerships with Bernard Fautrier.

 

 

Marine mission launched by Prince Albert II Foundation

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

A new drone-supported sea mission has been launched by the Prince Albert II Foundation and the Monaco Exploration Society to study marine mammals and environmental impacts.

The three month long study, which will focus on cetaceans such as Sperm whales, Risso dolphins, and Cuvier whales, will be supported by two 20 metre surface drones that will track the movements of marine animals over a 2,200 kilometre stretch of sea, running along the Ligurian current which spans from Toulon to Genoa via Corsica and the Balearic Islands.

These species, who have the capability to travel to extreme deep water locations, are of great interest as they have sophisticated communication systems, making tracking and recording of their actions possible.

The state-of-the-art drones are fitted with special high-tech microphones called hydrophones for use underwater, and they allow 3D tracking of the cetaceans over a six kilometre radius going as deep as 2,000 metres. They are completely self-sufficient and “clean”.

Bertrand de Lesquen, director of Marine & Oceans Magazine, is coordinating the mission along with operational director and designer of the Sphyrna drones Fabien de Varenne. Professor Hervé Glotin from the University of Toulon will serve as scientific director.

In total, a dozen scientists will join the mission to ensure proper collection and analysation of the data collected along the way.

The mission commenced in Monaco on 20th September and will end its journey by the middle of December, when it will return to the Principality.

It is the first time that a broad moving study of this kind has ever been attempted over such a large swath of sea.

 

 

Prince Albert II joins World CleanUp Day efforts

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

Monaco’s first World CleanUp Day was a great success, with 150 people taking part, including HSH Prince Albert II, in five targeted clean-up areas throughout the Principality.

Those who turned out for the 8am start were given the choice of taking on one of five organised events, choosing land or sea-based options. There was something for all, including a hike from the Tête de Chien and a 7km walk/run along Plage Mala from Decathlon. 

Due to a heavy swell, the Stand Up Paddle CleanUp and Suncy CleanUp activities were canceled but were replaced by a Beach Cleanup on the Larvotto beach which gathered about fifteen participants.

Prince Albert II joined in for the Stars ‘N’ Bars-organised walk, where he contributed by picking up waste found along the route to Larvotto, which marked the end of the course.

Photo: Mairie de Monaco

The goal of the event was, of course, to collect as much rubbish as possible whilst enjoying a morning in the great outdoors. In total, nearly a tonne of waste was collected in the Principality including countless cigarette butts, a large quantity of plastic and glass bottles, cardboard packaging, wire mesh and even wooden pallets and chairs.

© Direction de la Communication / Manuel Vitali

At 11:45am, all the participants gathered on the beach to weigh what had been collected, then celebrated by having a group aperitif offered by the Mairie.

The Monaco event mirrored action that was taking place across the globe simultaneously on Saturday. World Clean-up Day was created a decade ago as a social-action programme in the battle against litter. It is now celebrated in 158 countries on the third Saturday of September and has 18 million people partaking. France boasts 200,000 active participants.

Monaco’s contribution, in its first ever attempt, saw a fantastic turnout and a solid base to build on for next year’s event.

 

SBM to expand gaming at Monte Carlo Casino

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/09/2019

The Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) will redevelop its historic Monte Carlo Casino in 2020 in an effort to boost its appeal to a wider audience. The announcement was made at the Ordinary General Meeting last week, against a backdrop of further financial improvements for Monaco’s largest employer.

Monte Carlo Casino

“This is a redeployment of games across the rooms,” said Pascal Camia, SBM’s Director of Gaming, at the end of the shareholders’ meeting held on Friday 20th September in the Conference Centre of One Monte Carlo.

In late 2016, the SBM entrusted Mr Camia with the high-end repositioning of this historic sector, which accounts for 41% of the group’s turnover.

“We will create a terrace for fun players and make (the machines) more accessible,” he said, referring to customers who are not common players and are perhaps deterred by the 19th century decor of the imposing Europe hall, with its elaborate woodwork and gilding.

The gaming room inside the Monte Carlo Casino

These works, preceded by a complete refurbishment of the lighting, will go hand in hand with the planned closure of one of the Principality’s three casinos, the Sun in the Fairmont hotel, in 2022.

Investing in more targeted slot machines and the continuation of specialist dinners and events at the Casino are also planned.

During the financial year 2018/2019, the SBM achieved a turnover of €526.5 million euros against €474.6 million euros in 2017/2018, an improvement of 11%. The €51.9 million increase over the year was the result of increased revenues in all business segments.

Since 1st July 2019, growth in the hotel and rental activities has continued, with the complete reopening of the Hôtel de Paris and an increase in rental income from the new One Monte-Carlo real estate complex.