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Day: 5 June 2020

Casino de Monte-Carlo reopens with new safety measures

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/06/2020

The dice are rolling once again at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, after the coronavirus crisis forced its closure for the first time since World War II. 
To understand more about how Monaco’s most famous landmark has adapted to strict health requirements brought about by Covid-19, Monaco Life spoke to Pascal Camia, Executive Vice President of Gaming Operations of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
 
Monaco Life: The 2019-2020 fiscal year was impressive for SBM’s gaming sector, with an 8% increase in revenues – or €239.8 million, slot machine sales up by 11% to €113 million, and table games turnover increasing by 5% to €113.5 million. What contributed to this increase?
Pascal Camia: As indicated by the SBM Deputy President Jean-Luc Biamonti in his press conference of 28th May, we were, until the first week of March, experiencing a record year. It was a year that marked a return to growth after numerous investments made in all sectors of activity of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Group, including gaming.
In terms of gaming, this investment consisted of revitalising, in particular, the offer and positioning of Monaco’s casinos – a strategy that was initiated by Mr Biamonti five years ago and supported by our 1,000 employees. The challenge – to adapt gaming in Monaco to the international evolution of the industry, customers and their expectations.

Executive Vice President of Gaming Operations of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer Pascal Camia, © Michael Alesi/Direction de la Communication

In order to achieve this, we put people at the centre of our strategy with a new managerial approach; we identified new customer profiles and determined their expectations; we further developed our strong High Roller customer base, especially from Asia; and we diversified by welcoming ‘Fun Players’ – local and international players looking for entertainment at table games and machines in a stimulating and fun setting (bar, music, light…).
We also thought of the non-players – those who simply want to see the legendary Casino de Monte-Carlo, purchase a souvenir at the shop and a refreshment at the Café Rotonde, or try their luck at a slot machine in the Renaissance lounge – all with the aim of generating additional turnover.
So, we repositioned and adapted our casinos to offer ‘The luxury of gaming’ at the Casino de Monte-Carlo for international customers, Fun players and High Rollers.
We developed our High Rollers offer through invitations to very exclusive evenings honoured by the presence of the Princely family and tournaments with high prize pools (€1 million) – these are unique experiences that cannot be bought. We also linked this offer to events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix.
For the Fun Players, our offer is focussed on the heart of the Casino of Monte-Carlo, in the legendary Europe Hall, and outside these walls with the concept of nomadic casinos offered on the Blue Gin terrace at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, for example, bringing the game to the players.
We also introduced the concept of ‘The Casino that loves you’ at the Café de Paris Casino to seduce local customers from Cannes to San Remo with a dedicated offer including VIP evenings, free parking, and special attention throughout the experience.
It is a successful strategy which has been recognised by our peers. The Casino de Monte-Carlo was voted Casino of the Year in 2019 and 2020 at the Global Gaming Awards (during the ICE in London). This year, we also received the Award for ‘Best UK & Europe 2020 game operator’ awarded by the International Gaming Awards (London).
How much of the casinos’ clientele is international?
Our clientele is mainly international at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, coming from Western Europe, Russia, the Middle East, the Americas and Asia.
At the Café de Paris Casino, the clientele is mainly local.
Despite the reopening of the French border on 15th June, things will not immediately return to normal. How will this affect the casinos?
We know that the situation will be difficult for the Casino de Monte-Carlo until the borders reopen, or even beyond that for a few months depending on the evolution of crisis. However, we remain optimistic about European customers.
We expect local customers to return to the Café de Paris Casino from this first weekend of reopening (5th June).
Staff during the opening of the casinos on Friday 5th June, © Michael Alesi/Direction de la Communication

What protocols have the casinos put in place to ensure the safety of guests?
Our ambition is to become the safest destination in terms of health in Europe. For this, thanks to the impetus of Deputy President Jean-Luc Biamonti, who participated in the Games Strategy Committee during confinement, we worked on a precise and complete reference document on health measures for the casinos. This document was given to the authorities who allowed us to open our casinos in phase three of the deconfinement.
This is not the case for table games in France and for all establishments in Italy and Great Britain.
We have therefore implemented a protocol on different axes:
. New layout of game rooms with more space between tables
. New arrangement of players at game tables
. Limited number of players at each table
. Reduction of the slot machine section
. Positioning of plexiglass walls between each player around the tables and between the slot machines
. New customer flows in the casinos to avoid people crossing and to control flows
. Provision of sanitary kits to staff and customers
. Wearing of a mandatory mask
. Staff training in these new measures
Do you think Monaco’s low of rate of infection and strict hygiene controls in general will put the casinos in a good position to welcome international guests once again?
This situation is indeed reassuring for customers. We already had the image of a “safe” destination, and the way the crisis has been managed in the Principality will strengthen this image of Monaco as a cocoon, a bubble.
With all the security measures implemented in our establishments, on a human scale – with our sense of hospitality and customer safety as a priority – Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer is not only the most exclusive destination in Europe but also the safest. And that goes for the games.
Casino de Monte-Carlo now overlooks a newly-designed Casino Square, © Michael Alesi/Direction de la Communication

What do you think of the newly renovated Casino Square, which no longer allows cars to pass in front of the Casino de Monte-Carlo?
The square is a huge success and its architecture, while reviving its origins, is part of the new urban planning patterns of world capitals. Today, public space is being returned to pedestrians. The areas given to the automobile in the 20th century are gradually being replaced by that given to pedestrians and strolling. This is what the new Place du Casino offers with its 3,000 m2 of secure space.
However, it was important to preserve the specific features of the square with, in particular, access for our VIP customers by car in front of the entrance to the Casino de Monte-Carlo. It was also important that these VIPs be allowed to park their beautiful cars in front of the establishment.
These two specificities of the Casino de Monte-Carlo have been preserved. But our customers will feel even more privileged now because access to the Casino de Monte-Carlo by car is exclusively reserved for them.
 
Top photo: © Direction de la Communication / Michael Alesi
 
 
 

Gyms set for 15th June reopening

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/06/2020

Monaco gyms will be allowed to reopen on 15th June if the facilities meet the health standards put forth by the government.

Though gyms across the border in France have been reopened, Monaco decided to take a more conservative approach, leaving them out of Phase three deconfinement. The idea was to keep watch on the evolution of the virus, and if containment seemed to be effective in other areas, then gyms would be included in the next phase.  

It seems that the Principality has had sufficient success that the government is comfortable with the reopenings.  

“It seems to be completely under control. The last positive case dates back to Saturday and, according to the provisional results of the mass screening of the population, only 2.5% of the residents were in contact with Covid-19,” said the government in a statement. 

It should be noted that this is not a blanket reopening. There are strict conditions which must be met by the facilities in order to be allowed to open their doors again. All current health department requirements must be met, and gym goers will be placed on a list which will be kept for two weeks in order to trace and isolate any possible positive cases and their contacts. It is recommended that reservations be made beforehand to avoid waits, as there will be limits to the number of people allowed inside each room.  

For now, showers and changing rooms will not be accessible, so visitors must arrive in their gym kit ready to go. Toilets will be available, though. Finally, those using equipment must disinfect them after each use.

 
Photo: Pixabay
 
 

Border crossing confusion continues

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/06/2020

Despite the 3rd June reopening of the Italian border, crossings are still fraught as Monaco and France have yet to do the same, causing confusion, long waits and frustration for commuters and casual travellers alike.

The race across the border into Italy after months of total lockdown was a welcome shift after the strict confines of the coronavirus epidemic. People gleefully streamed across the frontier to visit friends, do a bit of shopping or go to a favourite restaurant. 

All good, right? Well… not exactly.

The rub is that border control measures have not ended in neighbouring France and Monaco, so whilst getting into Italy is no problem, coming back can be. On the first day of the Italian reopening, massive traffic jams into France and Monaco were reported, some as lengthy as four kilometres long with cars taking well over two hours to make it to the other side.

The situation was bad enough for the Prefecture of the Alpes-Maritimes to issue a press release. They reminded people that, “France has not yet reopened its borders, the police continue to carry out checks to verify that the people wishing to enter the national territory correspond to exceptional cases. It therefore remains essential to have the derogatory international displacement certificate to present in the event of an inspection.”

The perfect storm created on that first day was brought about by several factors. The French people excited about going to Italy combined with the pre-existing control measures in the fight against illegal immigration and the return of those who had been trapped across the border due to the health crisis made for a nightmare scenario at the border.  

After the difficulties of the first day, Monegasque and French border agents have streamlined their approaches, easing controls for nationals of both countries in order to prevent these scenes from re-occurring.

As a reminder for visitors going into Italy, depending on the municipality, masks are obligatory in the streets, in cars with people who do not live in the same household, on public transport, in restaurants and in shops. Gatherings of people are prohibited unless they stand two metres apart and food shops require both gloves and masks before entry.

 
Photo: Border between France and Italy, Pixabay
 

Interview: Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality CIO Rinat Guy

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/06/2020

Monaco Life interviews Rinat Guy, speaker at this month’s Transition Forum, about Tel Aviv’s similarities with Monaco and her role in helping to position the city as one of the leading urban destinations in the world by 2030.
As Chief Innovation Officer of the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Rinat Guy directs a strategic task force in charge of positioning the city as Israel’s international Innovation City.
Ms. Guy’s guiding vision is to foster an inclusive spirit of innovation, where all members of the entire urban ecosystem engage in collaborative initiatives that can be potentially implemented and scaled with the aim to address city challenges and improve the quality of life and the human urban fabric.

Tel Aviv-Yafo. Photo credit – Courtesy of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Barak Brinker

Monaco is in the process of becoming a Smart City. Do you see any similarities between Monaco and Tel Aviv?
People, processes and technology are the three elements which impact the success of smart city initiatives. Cities must recognise the needs of their residents, understand what drives the city’s economy, and create policies and targets which meet the needs of its residents, business owners and visitors.
Tel Aviv’s smart city initiatives are all facilitated by free citywide Wi-Fi in public areas and serve to improve municipal services, enhance residents’ quality of life and create the conditions for sustainable urban development. Above all they exemplify the city’s active, intelligent role in employing technology to heighten civic engagement and ensure a city which is accessible and responsive to all.
Tel Aviv and Monaco are both committed to the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group affirming the commitment to tackle climate change now in order to ensure a clean and more sustainable future. Both cities also have a warm and sunny climate and are welcoming in the sense that residents spend most of their time outdoors, in cafes, meeting people and networking – creating excellent conditions for a thriving start-up ecosystem.
What start-ups does the municipality prefer to support and why?
In recent years, TLV has also emerged as one of the world’s leaders in technology and innovation. There are 2,000 start-up companies at any given moment in Tel Aviv, which means it has the highest density of start-ups in the world, per capita or per square mile. Many start-ups cannot gain government support; they are not mature or big enough. The bureaucracy to gain funding is too complicated, time consuming and too expensive for a seed start-up. The Municipality of Tel Aviv has a significant role in supporting those start-ups and more specifically start-ups dealing in clean tech and quality of life related initiatives. Every two weeks, representative of the municipality meet start-ups to understand their needs and help them where possible, from providing them with access to municipal co-working spaces, access to municipal data, access to municipal experts, and of course, aid with tax benefits.
How important is it to recruit foreign entrepreneurs?
Over the past decade, our city has been experiencing a unique phenomenon: from a local economic hub, serving mainly the Israeli market, Tel Aviv has become an international hub, attracting talent and companies from all over the world with a clear focus on the creative and technology industries.
If we want to maintain our position in the start-up world the key is to also cooperate with others, bringing different cultures to the brainstorm. We help foreign entrepreneurs to find their way to integrate, to get their visa, and vice versa.
Tel Aviv-Yafo. Photo credit – Courtesy of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Barak Brinker

Can you tell us more about ‘Silicon Wadi’?
Tel Aviv is known as the ‘Silicon Wadi’ for a good reason. It is a relatively small city, located in the Middle East, which makes a substantial impact on the global start-up ecosystem. Tel Aviv became a global hub regardless of a complicated geopolitical situation in the area. The impact its high-quality ecosystem has on the economy is well noted. The high-tech sector is the country’s number one export industry and it contributes by generating tax revenue both from its success stories: the Exits, and the high salaries to its employees.
Tel Aviv has been ranked the world’s second ‘most innovative city’ as part of the Wall Street Journal magazine and Citibank’s City of the Year contest. What did this mean for the city?
Tel Aviv-Yafo today is a city characterised by inviting and welcoming public spaces, personal security, a thriving cultural and arts scene, public institutions – such as schools, kindergartens, community centres, cultural institutions, welfare institutions, religious institutions and more – at the highest standard. Nature has given us a flat, small, almost rainless city – which makes wandering around it wonderful. We did everything else with hard work: we built up Rothschild Boulevard, which runs through the city, as a main business artery; we have invested huge sums in upgrading the beach, parks, streets and squares; we have put a lot of effort into a policy of encouraging nightlife and no less important – in the personal safety of residents; we invest heavily in cultural institutions and in artists themselves. And the result is that Tel Aviv-Yafo is a very fun city for young people today, and where the young people are, is where the businesses are. The most important element of the story, the secret ingredient, is the spirit of the city and its values, and this is what brings those accolades and awards.
Your team seems to place a lot of emphasis on listening to the people in the community, through initiatives such as ‘I have an idea’. Why is this important?
Tel Aviv made a strategic decision to empower the process of innovation, expand it, and create municipal platforms to engage with as many people as possible. It is the concept of “harnessing the potential of the entire ecosystem”, in other words: social innovation. Not only do we improve the city and the quality of life for residents, but we foster the spirit of cooperation as a community by empowering the human fabric. This in turn will result in a cohesive, resilient community.
I believe we must harness the entire ecosystem – private to public sector, as well as engage with municipal employees and the community. There is great gain in doing so.
Why are you passionate about urban innovation?
Through urban innovation I believe it is our duty as public servants to harness idea contributions and input from all the stakeholders in the urban ecosystem to care, preserve, develop our cities and provide the highest quality of life for the taxpayer. By doing so we instil the merits of accountability, cooperation, engagement, belonging, influence, equal opportunities, inclusion and social responsibility, with one central goal in mind: to build a more cohesive and resilient society.
I get my personal fulfilment by providing the platform and empowering the people to take an active part in this process. The ultimate satisfaction and drive for me is when I see a project born from the people and successfully implemented by the people, and the feedback and feelings of value I receive from the people. This is exactly the hope and culture change that motivates me to believe in urban innovation
Tel Aviv-Yafo. Photo credit – Courtesy of Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, Barak Brinker

Can you tell use more about Hackatons?
The Municipality hosts a variety of hackathons, both for municipal employees and for entrepreneurs from Tel Aviv and around the world. The main goal is to find and implement solutions for urban challenges that the city faces. For example, our most recent hackathon addressed coronavirus-related challenges faced by cities around the world. Participants had to suggest ideas and develop technological solutions for social and logistical problems such as, “how can the chances for business to overcome the crisis be evaluated?” and, “how can cities assist vulnerable populations during this crisis?”, and lastly, “how can public order and cleanliness be maintained while reducing the spread of the virus?”.
I see Tel Aviv’s aim is to position itself as one of the world’s 20 leading global cities. Why is this important and how close is the city to achieving that goal?
Tel Aviv Global & Tourism is a municipal company that reports to the Mayor’s Office at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality and was established exactly for that goal. It facilitates the global quantum leap taken by the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo in creating economic and tourism growth. The focus of the company is on tourism, economic development and international communications, which involve collaborations with numerous departments at City Hall, including the Media and Marketing Administration, International Relations and others. In light of the vision of the Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Mr. Ron Huldai, the company manages municipal-national initiatives designed to position the city as a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, a global brand and a leading tourist destination. It also develops and encourages marketing projects that generate interest and curiosity about the values and outputs of Tel Aviv-Yafo and the people living in the city.
Tel Aviv’s vision is to be one of the leading urban destinations in the world by 2030. In the past decade, Tel Aviv-Yafo has taken a significant quantum leap as a tourist destination and has enhanced its standing as a global city that draws millions of tourists and visitors every year. In the coming decade, tourism management in the city will aim to achieve the vision while relying on three key growth drivers.
 
From 28th May to 25th June, Transition Forum is livestreaming interactive discussions with innovators, business leaders, policymakers and investors on scaling up climate action. Monaco Life readers will receive 15% OFF tickets with the code TF20-Monaco. For more information, visit the website at transition-forum.org
 
Top photo credit: Noa Guttmann
 
 
 
 
 
 

New senior appointment at Barclays Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
05/06/2020

Barclays Private Bank has strengthened its team with the appointment of Olivier Franceschelli, who joins as Head of Private Banking in Monaco.
Mr Franceschelli will lead the Monaco business to drive Barclays’ ambitions in the Principality by delivering tailored services and solutions to high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients in the region. He has extensive knowledge and experience of delivering success in the private banking sector and the Monégasque market, having previously held the position of co-Business Head at CFM Indosuez in Monaco, leading the bank’s Relationship Management teams.
“I’m excited to be joining one of the top private banks in the region and the longest-serving foreign wealth manager in the Principality,” said Olivier Franceschelli. “As part of a major global financial services provider, I believe that Barclays has the right to win in Monaco and I’m thrilled to take part in its continued success and growth.”
Jean-Christophe Gerard, Head of Barclays Private Bank Europe and Monaco, added: “For Barclays in Monaco, Olivier’s arrival marks the next chapter of our almost 100-year history in the Principality, where we continue to bring the full capabilities of a universal British Bank to our clients. Reinforced by Olivier’s expertise, we’ll continue to deliver our leading banking, credit and investments products and solutions to our clients.”
 
 

National Council calls for extention of recovery plan

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/06/2020

With the worst of the health crisis in the rear view mirror, the National Council and the government are looking to jumpstart the economy through continued financial aid and cautious continued reopenings.

A few months ago, as the powers that be in Monaco were knee deep in how to keep the population safe from the Covid epidemic, another urgent situation arose. The economic fallout and resulting concerns of a total lockdown were just dawning on everyone, so the National Council and the Prince’s government joined forces to create a Joint Monitoring Committee dedicated to sharing proposals for the best way forward in those difficult times.

A €350 million package was agreed upon to assist the economic actors and employees of the Principality when certain sectors of the economy were simply not allowed to function as usual. These funds came with strings attached and controls were put in place to sanction those who could unfairly benefit from the economic solidarity measures put in place by the state.

Today, what happens post-confinement on both a social and economic level are being examined and the Joint Committee is again looking for solutions to thorny problems.

For example, currently there is a 30th June cut-off for aid to those who were eligible during the crisis period. The Council has asked that there not be an abrupt stoppage, but rather a more degressive approach, so that those having a difficult time getting back on their feet can have access to help for as long as needed until things are once again “business as usual”.  

The government had put forth a plan in a similar vein, but the Council says the plan is not as ambitious as it could have been, so it is asking for a few tweaks. The trick here is that the allotted sum voted on not be exceeded whilst still ensuring those who need aid are able to access it. 

The National Council is also asking that certain deconfinement measures that are currently in place start to be eased in accordance with the plans of neighbouring countries. Relaxation measure to be considered include the reopening of sports halls, cinemas, parks, fitness centres and kindergartens, as well as a less strict dealing with restaurants, where advance reservations are required and distances between tables are greater than in France.  

In a statement released by the Council, they state their purpose: “For elected officials, Monaco must be a model of economic recovery and constantly stay one step ahead. Rather than saving appropriations yet voted and therefore available to support economic actors in Monaco with a view to recovery, the National Council must work to develop new types of revenue for the State in different sectors of the economic activity.”

 

Top photo: courtesy National Council of Monaco