The Prince’s Government has delivered its vision of Monaco’s digital transformation, which has been developed over the past 12 months. The priorities of this strategic program, titled ‘Extended Monaco’, are to serve the quality of life in the Principality, offer a new cycle of economic prosperity, and increase the value of public service.
The ‘Extended Monaco, Smart Principality’ program was presented at the Yacht Club of Monaco in the presence of Prince Albert II on 30th April.
“Monaco in a digital world, it is a country whose size is its strength, it is an asset to make even more efficient, more sustainable, more human our economic and social model,” said Prince Albert.
The Inter-ministerial delegate for Digital Transition, Frédéric Genta, outlined the fundamentals of this digital strategy: “Extended Monaco is the foundation of our future growth, growth that needs foundations like the 5G, the Sovereign Cloud, the optical fiber … “.
Extended Monaco is designed to attract businesses and activities through the development of new technologies, such as blockchain, using innovative financing methods. To become the world leader in environmental ICO (Initial Coin Offering), the State is funding the first ICO dedicated to the production of a new documentary film by Luc Jacquet, Oscar winner of the ‘March of the Emperor’.
‘Extended Monaco’ will also apply digital simultaneously to all public policies, such as health, education, and smart city initiatives. “We will train the digital generation of children, digitally. Our education is a strategic asset for our future because in a digital world, value is based on intelligence and knowledge,” said Frédéric Genta.
To improve the user experience in their interactions with various government bodies, the objective is to also dematerialise 100% of administrative procedures by the year 2022.
The Extended Monaco program will be fully implemented over the next three years.
This week, we take a look back at the stories that helped define Monaco in 2019 and the headlines that drew the most attention from our readers.
It was a year full of innovation and positivity, as the Prince’s Government pushed ahead with its digital transition program and efforts to make the Principality as technologically ‘smart’ as possible.
From a giant solar park inaugurated on the top of the Grimaldi Forum, to a groundbreaking report on climate change, Monaco was also at the forefront of some important sustainable movements this year.
Throw a few weddings into the mix, and the inauguration of One Monte Carlo, and it’s safe to say that 2019 will go down as a good year in the Principality of Monaco!
Fashion and Lifestyle contributor Isabella Marino reveals the Christmas charm of Monaco and takes us to the trendiest places in London this festive season.
December is the craziest month of the year, the month that flies away in one blow. It feels like you just got back from the summer holidays but suddenly you see Christmas decorations on the street, and you realise it is soon the end of the year. The schedule gets filled with social events, gifts and outfits need to be chosen, and trips need to be organised.
Every city has its own charm during the festive season and Monaco this year created an idyllic atmosphere. Hot air balloons were soaring above Place de Casino, Hôtel de Paris transformed its patio into a fairy-tale Christmas village with the installation of five glasshouses. In the evenings, the central glasshouse played host to a pop-up restaurant for private dinners.
Casino Square this Christmas
Local retailers opened their own pop-up chalet in Avenue de Monte Carlo.
I spent this magic month in the glamourous Principality and escaped to London during the weekend to enjoy the spectacular storefronts!
Bubble Party at One Monte-Carlo
On 12th December, SBM organised a Bubble Party, where I enjoyed some night- shopping and Champagne. The event was hosted by all the boutiques within the luxury district of One Monte-Carlo. To set the mood, a DJ and a saxophonist were performing. I felt very spoiled by Chanel who generously gifted me a beautiful green wallet on chain.
Christmas tree charity auction for ‘Action Innocence Monaco’ For the past 15 years, a Christmas tree auction to benefit the association ‘Action Innocence Monaco’ has been organised in the lobby of Hôtel de Paris. Like every year, 37 trees were decorated and donated by leading brands and retailers in Monaco. The money raised during the auction is supporting the prevention of online paedophilia. The event has become an annual tradition for adults and children in Monaco and this year, the foundation raised over 200,000 euros, under the orchestration of auctioneer Julien Vincent Brunie of Christie’s and under the hammer of Maître Escaut-Marquet.
‘Action Innocence Monaco’ trees in the Hôtel de Paris
Xmas SOS
Like many others out there, I always end up buying gifts last minute so I will share with you my top boutiques where you will always find something if you’re running out of inspiration:
Brunello Cucinelli: I am in love with the kids collection this year – in case you need to buy a gift for a new-born or your nephews! It is a mini version of the adult collections. Brunello Cucinelli is a great choice for a classic man or woman. Scarf and gloves are always appreciated, and the quality is exceptional.
Visit the flagship store in Avenue des Spelugues with pret-a-porter and the store inside the Metropole Shopping centre dedicated to kids.
Hermes: We all love to unwrap the orange boxes! For women you can’t go wrong with a bangle bracelet (they can always change the size) or a scarf in silk or cashmere. For men you can always opt for a belt or a chic cashmere hat, and for a couple you could always go for home accessories.
Sabrina Montecarlo: you can always find something nice here. People always need something for their home and Sabrina is offering a wide range of brands. The staff is very friendly and they will be able to guide you.
Visit the pop-up chalet for tableware for the festivities and the boutique in Boulevard de Moulins for a full selection of home decoration.
Chanel: I am personally a great fan of Chanel and if your friend or wife feels the same, then I would recommend you buy a pair of earrings, a pearl necklace or a pochette if you want to be generous!
Festive weekend in London
From glittering Christmas decorations and magnificent storefronts, to crowded shopping and glamourous pre-Christmas parties, there is nothing more exciting than spending a weekend in London before the festivities. This is how I spent 24 hours in the capital…
I love to promenade in Mayfair, up to Bond Street, because it is cosy, charming, people are elegantly dressed and they have the best restaurants, hotels and boutiques. My favourite hotel to stay at is the Connaught Hotelfor its convenient location, the atmosphere, bar and the cuisine by famous chef Jean-George. Even if you don’t sleep here, it is a great way to start your day with a chic breakfast or to sip on a drink at the bar before dinner.
After a fulfilling breakfast, is time to burn it off with some shopping and window scrolling! Bond Street has the most impressive flagship stores and Christmas decorated storefronts – even 5th Avenue can’t beat London. Wandering around Bond Street is very romantic, and you can breathe in the festivities. You can’t miss Cartier and Ralph Lauren mansions.
I am very passionate about Alexander McQueen, so I simply had to pay a visit to the new flagship store where, on the top floor, the fashion house is devoting an exhibition space to the archives of its different collections over the years, baptised Unlocking Stories. The aim is to inspire fashion students, exposing mood-boards, sample material and videos, to demonstrate the savoir-faire of the couturier.
I love Selfridges for shopping, rather than Harrods, which I find more confusing. The department store has the best selection of brands and not only big luxury brands, but a wide range of emerging designers from around the world. I really like the display as well.
After walking for kilometres, I always stop by my absolute favourite café in town, Ottolenghi Belgravia, for heavenly cakes and muffins. It’s located in the cute and peaceful Motcom Street. Indulge in a moist blueberry-crumble muffin and a carrot and walnut cake.
For a British-chic seafood lunch, my favourite is Scott’s in Mount Street. There’s a great crowd, from businessmen and women, to families and couples. I love to sit by the seafood bar and eat the grilled seafood platter and baked butternut squash.
London is the city with the most private members’ clubs. Arts Club is the best choice for a lunch with friends and to enjoy tasty and creative food.
One of the restaurants on my top list in the world is the exclusive private club Harry’s Bar. This legendary place is famous for its beauty, sophistication, intimate ambiance and exclusivity. The food is a culinary experience, in its own simplicity – Italian cuisine where you only eat what is fresh from the season. The holiday period is even more spectacular, with baubles filling the ceiling.
The most exclusive and famed private members’ club in the world is Annabel’s, with its lavish and expensive décor, and where women spend half an hour in the fabulous powder room to take pictures. You can spend a whole evening in this mansion, starting with drinks in one of the bars, followed by dinner in the garden or at the Mexican restaurant, and ending on the dancefloor of the club.
Entrance of Annabel’s wearing Alexander McQueen total look and Chanel purse.
I’ve been invited to many birthday parties here. Every room is different and you can privatise a room to host a party with your friends, including the glamourous Rose Room for ladies birthdays and the Silver Room for gentlemen’s birthdays!
The Silver RoomWearing Alexander McQueenThe Rose RoomWearing Saint Laurent.
There is something particularly special about cocktails designed for the colder, winter months.
“Winter is an exciting time for delicious drinks because there are so many options,” says Nico Timmermans, founder of cocktail catering company The Buckrider. “From a hot or creamy cocktail, to the addition of spices, smoke and herbs, festive cocktails are complex but surprisingly easy to prepare.”
Monaco Life has teamed up with The Buckrider to bring you our top cocktail recipes that are sure to impress your guests – tried, tested and perfectly balanced. Make yours the best festive party this year!
Smoked Manhattan
Smoked Manhattan
A smokey cocktail is delicious but also ads a bit of drama to impress guests. You can also make this drink without the smoke.
Ingredients
60 ml Woodford bourbon
30ml Red vermouth (Carpano’s Antica Formula or Martini Rosso)
1 bar spoon of maraschino cherry juice. We use Luxardo or Amarena Fabbri.
Method
Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass or a jug filled with ice, stir for about 30 seconds and serve in a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with 1 or 2 maraschino cherries on a tooth pick.
Smoke
When smoking the drink, simply ignite a small pile of hickory wood and place a coupe glass directly over them. Allow to sit while you combine the drink.
French 75
French 75
A well balanced and refreshing champagne cocktail to start the evening.
Ingredients:
40ml Gin
20 ml Lemon juice
20 ml Sugar syrup
Dry Champagne
Method
Shake all the ingredients except the Champagne and double strain into a flute. Top with Champagne and garnish with a lemon twist, or no garnish at all is also fine.
Brandy Alexander
Brandy Alexander
An after dinner classic! This drink was very popular in the early 20th century. The powerful cognac cuts through this delicious creamy cocktail which also features a hint of chocolate. The garnish of freshly grated nutmeg perfectly finishes this fine cocktail.
Ingredients
30ml Cognac
30ml Cream
30ml Cacao liqueur
Method:
Shake all ingredients and double strain into a chilled coupe glass.
Grate nutmeg on top of the drink before serving.
Mulled Wine
Mulled wine
Picture a nice warm mug of mulled wine in front of a cracking fireplace while watching a Christmas movie. Now that we have set the mood, follow this recipe and enjoy the best mulled wine you have ever tasted!
Ingredients:
200gr Caster sugar
1 Orange (1 peel and all the juice)
1 Lemon (1 peel)
1 Lime (1 peel)
1 Vanilla pod
6 Cloves
1 Cinnamon stick (break in half)
1 Nutmeg (finely grated)
6 Star anis
100ml Spiced rum
2 bottles Red wine
Method
Set the rum and 1.5 bottles of wine aside.
In a big pan, add the sugar, the juice of one orange, a large orange peel (twist to release the oils first), and do the same with the lime and the lemon. Add the juice of one orange, cut the vanilla pod in half, scrape out the seeds and add everything to the pan. Also add the cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, star anis and half a bottle of red wine. Let it simmer until the sugar dissolves.
Bring to the boil to create a thick syrup.
Add the rest of the wine, let it simmer for 5 minutes and take off the heat.
Add the rum, stir and serve in a mug. Garnish with a twist of orange and star anise or cinnamon stick. Make sure you rub the orange twist on the rim of the mug to release the beautiful aroma while drinking!
Penicillin
Penicillin
Considered a modern classic, this cocktail was created by an Australian bartender named Sam Ross. The Penicillin combines smoky flavours with sweet honey and spicy ginger.
Ingredients:
50ml Bourbon
15ml Honey syrup
15ml Ginger syrup
20ml Lemon juice
Honey syrup:
Mix 2 parts honey with 1 part warm water and whisk until blended. Keep refrigerated for up to 2 weeks.
Ginger syrup:
200ml Water
400g Caster sugar
250g Ginger (around 2 large pieces of ginger thinly sliced)
Bring all ingredients to the boil in a small saucepan, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let sit, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes. Double-strain into a jar. Keep sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
For a stronger ginger flavour, grate some ginger into a small strainer and extract the juice by pressing it with the back of a spoon. Add to the syrup according to your taste, being careful not to make it too strong.
Method
Shake all the ingredients and double strain into a whisky glass filled with ice. Garnish with candied ginger or with a slice of lemon and fresh ginger. This recipe calls for a bar spoon full of a nice smokey Islay Scotch, we use Laphroaig.
Tips and explanations:
Shaker:
If you don’t own a shaker then use a kilner jar, for example, or any container with a tight lid. Simply add the ingredients with ice and shake for about 10 seconds.
Bar spoon:
A bar spoon is a long-handled spoon used in bartending for mixing.
Chilling a glass:
While you combine the ingredients, you can either fill a glass with ice and discard the ice before serving, or wet a glass and place it in the freezer.
Double strain:
To double strain, place your regular strainer in/on the cocktail shaker and hold a fine mesh strainer by its handle over your glass.
AS Monaco ended the year with a veritable festival of goals against Lille and a fourth match undefeated in Ligue 1, giving them solid hopes for the return phase in January.
Despite a convincing start, the Red and Whites found themselves behind in the 13th minute, when Ikoné played in Osimhen who beat Lecomte to open the score. But AS Monaco reacted quickly. In the 23rd minute Ben Yedder intercepted a Lille pass in the middle of the field and found Gelson in the right of the area. The Portuguese did not hesitate against Maignan and equalised with force.
Having held their ground well up to this point, LOSC began to crumble and AS Monaco quickly took advantage. Just before the half hour of play, Aguilar ran up the right wing after a good pass from Gelson. His cross found Baldé’s head but left Maignan no chance of firing the ball under the bar. The Red and Whites reversed the score and did not stop there, despite excellent work from Lecomte at the end of the first period to repel two shots from Osimhen and Bamba.
On returning from the locker room, LOSC tried to react but were picked off a third time in the 52nd minute. Aguilar was once again at the heart of it with a perfect cross for Baldé, whose header was this time saved by Maignan. Ever opportunistic, Ben Yedder followed up and smacked the ball into the goal. AS Monaco made their breakthrough and went on to secure the match in the 64th minute. Gelson managed to reach Golovin, who was defended by Fonte but passed the ball to Aguilar who was in good position facing the Lille goal. Altruistic, as always, set up Ben Yedder for his double, achieving the fourth Monaco goal.
Far from being satisfied, the Red and Whites drove the point home at the very end of the match. Despite a penalty denied in the 77th minute following a handball from Gabriel, it was on a free kick that the fifth goal came in overtime. From the left side, Golovin put the ball in to the far post, where Glik threw himself at the ball and scored the last ASM goal of 2019.
With a final score of 5-1 and fourth game undefeated, AS Monaco has solid hopes for the return phase, which kicks off on 11th January against PSG at the Parc des Princes.
Photo: AS Monaco Official
Hotel and Restaurant sector continues with strong growth
The hotel and restaurant sectors of Monaco have shown strong growth for the fifth year in a row.
Recently published statistics for the year 2018 by IMSEE, the official statisticians of Monaco, show that hotels and restaurants are the second largest private employers in the Principality, representing 8.4% – or €513.6 million – of the annual GDP, and 5.2% – or €746 million – of total sales figures, excluding financial and insurance activities.
This translates to this sector being the sixth highest contributor to the GDP and seventh in terms of sales figures respectively.
With 305 establishments, 195 employers and nearly 7,800 workers, it is certainly an important part of the Monegasque economy and is second in the private sector only to scientific and technical activities, administrative services and support. The vast majority of those employed are French nationals, followed by Italians, though Monegasques represent a significant percentage. In fact, almost 45% of Monegasques employed in the private sector work in either a hotel or restaurant. They also tend to be in their mid to late 30’s or early 40’s and have made careers in this industry, leaving it fairly stable.
Hotels in the Principality brought in nearly €1 million more than just five years ago and restaurants can boast a jump in sales during the same period of roughly €300,000. That’s an impressive 11.9% total increase over 2017, with hotels being the dominant earners of this sector comprising 71.5% of money coming in.
The massive gains are due in part to the reopening of the Hôtel de Paris and the completion of renovations at the Hôtel Columbus, which allowed Monaco to welcome more visitors, but also due to an economic agent used by the Principality that has consolidated the financial declarations of the different divisions under the heading Hotels and Restaurants. It is also noteworthy that over 80% of the hotel offerings are in the four or five star range, meaning they will have price points above the average.
On the downside, there were fewer total establishments in this sector than the previous year, with 23 closings and only 16 new openings, but the loss didn’t translate to lower sales overall. Another shortcoming is the number of women employed in these industries. They represent only 30% of workers compared to 40% in Monaco’s overall private sector work force.
All in all, though, things are on the ups for the hotels and restaurants of the Principality, with continued growth forecasted for the future.
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After walking for kilometres, I always stop by my absolute favourite café in town, Ottolenghi Belgravia, for heavenly cakes and muffins. It’s located in the cute and peaceful Motcom Street. Indulge in a moist blueberry-crumble muffin and a carrot and walnut cake.
