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Month: January 2020

Interview: Natasha Frost, Founder Pink Ribbon Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/01/2020

On 16th February, a wave of pink will sweep through the Principality as hundreds of people join the Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk to raise awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
Monaco Life spoke to founder Natasha Frost about this year’s event.
Monaco Life: The Pink Ribbon Monaco Walk is fast approaching, are you excited about this year’s event?
Natasha Frost: Absolutely. It is getting more and more momentum as the years go on, in fact it is hard to believe that we are already on our 9th walk. We are apparently referred to in some media as one of the “most anticipated” events of the year in Monaco, so I think that reaffirms the fact that the walk has become part of the calendar in the Principality, and I am very proud of that.

Natasha Frost and HSH Prince Albert of Monaco during a Pink Ribbon Monaco event in October

As the Pink Ribbon Monaco founder, how does it make you feel to see so many people come together to support the walk?
It is wonderful, and I think one of the main contributors is the fact that breast cancer awareness has really taken off. It is also the joint message about support, which is why I really started Pink Ribbon Monaco in the first place, to take the commercial aspect out of it and bring it back to its roots – this was of course back in the days before there was the whole women’s support movement, which is what we have now. But back then, when I was living in LA, my mum used to take me to these walks and I had never seen such an assembly of women supporting each other and helping each other out. It was much more than breast cancer awareness, it was a support group, and that is what I wanted for Monaco, and that is what it has become.
While this walk is for breast cancer, it doesn’t stop there. We have people with all kinds of cancer and many different reasons why they are getting together. It is also a family event, only five kilometres in distance, so it is a great excuse to go outdoors and get a bit of exercise.
©EdWrightImages

How many people are you expecting this year?
The highest we ever had was 400, but it depends so much on the weather. The walk this year has been moved to Sunday 16th February – the first weekend of the school holidays – so hopefully we can get people before they jet off on their skiing holidays. If the weather is nice, we are expecting around 350 participants.
For the people who can’t get there on the day, how can they support the cause?
People can donate or buy merchandise, and even a simple thing like following us on Instagram helps us incredibly in finding sponsors for our big events. Also, people can support the cause by simply spreading the word, encouraging people to get tested. Everyone should be taking advantage of the amazing breast cancer screening centre here in Monaco, which is free. There is no excuse not to do it. So, let’s talk about it, like the Pink Ribbon Monaco Page, donate, participate and wear pink!
Where does the money go that is raised through the walk?
In its early days, we never did fundraisers and money generated from our events was mainly re-distributed in other awareness campaigns such as conferences, pamphlets and the like. In the last few years though we have raised funds for the Princess Grace Hospital, and will continue to do so this year in new fields which will be announced shortly.
What are some of the best outfits you have seen participants wear over the years?
I think the funniest we ever saw was a grandmother and her three grandchildren dressed as pink flamingos, that was just fantastic.
The most emotional race was two years ago when it was pouring with rain, and those who were dressed up were drenched in a matter of minutes. There was so much powerful emotion in that walk because people who came, who braved the elements, were really there for a reason.
We are hoping we will get lucky with the weather this year, but that is something you can’t control, and besides, we have beautiful pink umbrellas we will be selling on the day!
©EdWrightImages

With so much awareness about early detection, why are these kinds of campaigns still necessary?
Some of the main reasons people don’t get checked is because of the taboo and because they are scared of hospitals. But going to hospital isn’t always a bad thing, it is just a check-up. So, let’s take away that fear and take away the taboo of talking about “women’s illnesses”.
What else can we expect from Pink Ribbon Monaco this year? Because you really raised the bar with your October documentary screening featuring Jodie Foster…
Well, we are already working hard on planning our October event and I can reveal, as a little teaser, that we are in discussion with another Oscar winning actress. We want to continue to present people who are glowing examples of how to inspire other women to crack the glass ceiling and help each other out.
Hopefully with the patronage of HSH Prince Albert once again, and another high-profile actress, we will continue to raise awareness about breast cancer screening and get the message out there.
Do you have a final message for female our readers?
Go and get tested, and encourage other women to do so too. Let’s all take away the fear of screening and understand that getting tested could save your life. You have an 80% chance of being cured if it gets detected in time. Your chances of recovery are great if you just nip it in the bud.
To register and donate, click here.
To like Pink Ribbon Monaco Instagram, click here.
Read also:

Jodie Foster headlines Pink Ribbon event in Monaco

Monaco Life speaks to Jodie Foster and Pamela Green

 
 

New Bahrain flight to be eco-friendly

by: Cassandra Tanti
24/01/2020

The Riviera will have a direct connection to the Kingdom of Bahrain thanks to a new flight offered by Gulf Air this summer. It will be the airline’s only line to France outside of Paris and will utilise the latest generation Airbus A321neo, among the least emissive on the market.
From 2nd July to 30th August, Gulf Air will connect Manama, the capital of Bahrain, to Nice Côte d´Azur airport every Thursday and Sunday. The flight will include a one-hour stopover in Milan.
The Kingdom of Bahrain is now one of three Gulf countries to have a regular line to the French Riviera. The others are Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. According to Dominique Thillaud, Chairman of the Airports of the Côte d’Azur, the addition of this new Gulf country “testifies to the attractiveness of our territory for a clientele of high-end leisure travellers”.
Gulf Air will charter the Airbus A321neo, a modern aircraft with up to 30% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to aircraft of the same category. They will offer 166 places, 150 in Economy class and 16 in Business class.
“This new route symbolises our strategy of combining the development of our network, to the benefit of the dynamism of our territory, and the preservation of the environment, through the use of the most modern and least emissive planes,” said Mr Thillaud.
 
 

New video shows the makings of land extension

by: Stephanie Horsman
23/01/2020

An incredible 12-month time lapse video showing the creation of Monaco’s mammoth land extension project has just been released.
Anse du Portier Monaco revealed the latest video update on their land reclamation project in Monaco this week, showing the caisson belt being created, closed and the first appearance of land.
The project has, in fact, just started the next leap forward with the announcement of the insertion of a thousand piles into the platform which will serve as foundations for future mega-buildings.

Huge concrete cylinders up to 1.8 metres in diameter are being inlaid into the land extension platform to create safe and stable foundations for the buildings that will eventually be built there.

Teams from subcontractor Sogefon, under the auspices of SAM des Aménagements du Portier, are in the process of installing the columns which are intended to mesh with the platform in varied ways, allowing for differences in the size and types of buildings to be constructed on them.

This feat of engineering explains how the 50 metre high building to be constructed by Italian Architect Renzo Piano will work. By using roughly one-sixth of the piles, about 150 of the 1,000 called for, he will be able to safely construct the 17-story “floating” seaside residences he has planned for the site.

Testing began last summer, and after finding the system a success, the rest of the caissons will be built.

During the test phase, it was found that two piles per machine per week were able to be implanted, exceeding expectations. The addition of a third machine will speed up the process even further, with the goal to be a completion date in 2022.  

The Monaco land expansion project will add six hectares of land to the Principality, allowing for the construction of much needed housing as well as commercial space. Completion is set for 2025.

 
Photo: A design image of the future eco-district of Monaco, courtesy Anse du Portier 

What will luxury look like in the new decade?

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/01/2020

Not long ago, electric lighting was considered a luxury. For that matter, so were mobile phones. But, notions of luxury often change with technological advancements and cultural shifts. With the start of the new decade, Lexus has shared key findings from its most recent research on the future of luxury, specifically – what will the luxury “must have” requirements be 10 years into the future?
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Lexus commissioned the study of more than 3,200 Americans from Gen Z to Baby Boomers. It found that ‘exceptional experiences’ and ‘quality’ top the list of demands. But new must haves have also entered into future luxury expectations, including time for the occasional ‘digital detox’, a desire to be unique and an increased focus on wellness.
Amazing experiences, exceptional quality 
Simply put, luxury has always been about exceptional quality and, more recently, experiences over possessions. They are the single most inherent features of luxury and are the top ‘must-haves’ for luxury brands, according to the study findings.
Most participants (56%), feel that luxury is better described as a lifestyle of experiences than a collection of belongings. This trend is projected to continue, as the majority of people (73%) believe that identifying luxury with experiences over belongings will be just as, if not more, important in the next decade.
Looking to the future, successful luxury brands will differentiate themselves with quality experiences and service, not just quality products. A full 86% of people expect luxury brands to provide exceptional experiences, from being highly responsive to customers’ needs, providing expert support, and focusing on the details; to the personal touch, such as knowing the customer’s name and preferences, and even attention to the sensory, such as scent, lighting and mood.
The new luxury: digital detox
People love their digital devices and will continue to demand and value technological advances that allow them to connect more seamlessly. That said, the dependency on these devices also has many feeling the pressure to be “plugged in” at all times. This might be why, in the next decade, almost three times as many people will associate luxury with the opportunity for the occasional “digital detox”—time to voluntary refrain from social media, news, email and the internet from time-to-time.
To know me is to love me: personalisation
Society wants personalisation to be built into the purchase process. Thinking ahead to the future, almost everyone (93%) expects to see just as much, if not more, features from luxury brands allowing them to make special requests. In fact, more than half (51%) are hoping to see additional tools and innovation supporting ways to customise their online luxury orders.
Having an impact: environment and sustainability 
Most people expect luxury brands to have environmentally friendly manufacturing processes (81%). More than seven in 10 also believe luxury brands should act like leaders on issues surrounding sustainability (71%).
And, they are open to innovative materials to help satisfy their demand for more sustainable manufacturing practices. In fact, nearly half (48%) look to see more original materials like faux leather and lab-grown diamonds in the future.
Scrutiny on how luxury brands embody “green” behaviour is expected to intensify. Looking into the future, this expectation as a luxury requirement increases by eight percentage points, with nearly a third (30%) saying it will be essential.
Some product categories are also held to a higher standard than others. Consumers are more likely to say being environmentally friendly is more of a “must-have” for luxury brands in categories such as beauty/cosmetics, food and beverage, and automotive.
An empowered way of living: personal enjoyment 
The concept of luxury goes beyond what is tangible, with many considering the freedom to enjoy oneself and focus on what’s important to be a luxury.
Those numbers are expected to increase in the next 10 years, with 51% saying time to enjoy oneself and 50% saying the freedom to focus on health and wellness will become even more of a luxury.
Looking further: the year 2050
Thirty years from now, it’s predicted that mind-reading technology, space travel and flying cars will be luxury symbols. Indeed, advanced technology leads the list in terms of what luxury is expected to look like in the year 2050. Top on the list are:

  • Devices for mind reading
  • Space vacations
  • Flying cars
  • Dream recording technology
  • Brain implant devices to aid memory

Meanwhile, items that are expected to be mainstream, affordable and accessible to most people by 2050 include:

  • Organic, non-GMO food
  • Clean air
  • The ability to occasionally disable personal digital devices so one can truly “unplug”
  • Medicine that is custom-made for patients based on their genetic information

 
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Princess Grace Garden at Philadelphia Flower Show

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/01/2020

A mini replica of Monaco’s Princess Grace Rose Garden will feature at this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show. The highly anticipated event will be themed ‘Riviera Holiday’ and will spotlight the life and legacy of Grace Kelly, the Philadelphian who became Princess of Monaco.
The Principality is once again partnering with the organisers of the 191st PHS Philadelphia Flower Show to deliver a memorable honour to Princess Grace, who was an ardent gardener. The mini Princess Grace Rose Garden in Philadelphia, created by American stylist Renée Tucci, will display several varieties of roses including the Princess Charlene of Monaco rose, as well as a replica of Princess Grace’s wedding dress and archival photos.
It is the second time that the Principality has participated in the flower show – America’s largest annual fair – after the ‘Gardens for the Senses’ in 1990, a theme dear to the Princess, says the Palace. The partnership commemorates the emotional ties which have united the Principality of Monaco with the city of Philadelphia since 18th April 1956.
On top of being one of history’s best-known Philadelphians, Princess Grace is also remembered for her great love of horticulture. The princess gardened ardently, and was the founder and first patron of the Garden Club of Monaco. She adored flower arranging and held classes on it. As the years went on, she became enamored of pressed flowers and making her own collages of them, some of which eventually became designs for stamps in Monaco.
At the same time, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation – USA branch – is organising a garden and biodiversity symposium on 4th March at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The theme of ecological gardening, respecting the environment and biodiversity will be addressed by experts including world famous botanist Dr Peter Raven and Dr Dennis Whigam, an expert in ecology and plants.
These events are designed to offer the general public an opportunity to gain a better understanding of the Principality of Monaco’s commitment to sustainable development and the protection of the planet.
The 2020 Flower Show runs from 29th February to 8th March.
 

Leclerc fans to get their own stands in Monaco and France

by: Cassandra Tanti
23/01/2020

He is undoubtedly Monaco’s man of the moment, and now fans of Charles Leclerc will be given their very own grandstands for both the Monaco and France Formula One Grand Prix.
Leclerc’s popularity skyrocketed after his incredible first season on the Formula One track with Ferrari which saw the 22-year-old secure two maiden GP wins. In addition to wowing fans across the globe, he has impressed the people who be in his home town, having been officially welcomed by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Palace, and receiving the Medal of Honour by National Council President Stéphane Valeri.
The Ferrari star has surprised everyone with his skill and tenacity, placing 4th on the drivers’ championship ahead of his teammate and achieving seven pole positions in the 2019 season. He even managed to delight Italian racing fans by giving Ferrari a win at Monza.
Ferrari’s shown its appreciation by awarding Leclerc a five-year contract until 2024, the only driver on the grid to have a deal for that long.
And the dream just continues for this young Monegasque. He’s now become the latest driver to have not one but two grandstands in his name.

Grandstand K at the Monaco Grand Prix

In Monaco, grandstand K – overlooking the harbour just before the piscine chicane – will welcome fans and, as a thanks for booking those seats, they will receive a goodie bag including a Charles Leclerc beach bag, t’shirt, signed cap and signed programme.
For the French Grand Prix, the dedicated Charles Leclerc grandstand will be situated on the start/finish line and is directly opposite the Ferrari F1 garage.
The official Charles Leclerc fan page shared the news on Twitter: