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Day: 30 July 2020

New measures to combat rise in Covid

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/07/2020

The government has laid out its plans to combat the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the Principality, including mandatory testing for all tourists arriving from high-risk areas.
Minister of Social Affairs and Health Didier Gamerdinger and Public Health Inspector Eric Voiglio held a press conference on Thursday 30th July to take stock of the current health situation in the Principality and announce its new round of measures.
It was revealed that the number of positive cases detected in Monaco recently were largely isolated cases of people returning from high-risk areas, sometimes outside of Europe, as well as people from neighbouring communities or those vacationing on yachts.
Testing tourists
In an effort to prevent travellers from bringing the coronavirus back in to Monaco, the government is urging residents not to travel to “high risk” locations – those that are listed and updated regularly on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) website.
Residents who still wish to travel to these destinations are “strongly advised” to be tested for Covid-19 upon their return to the Principality.
Meanwhile, tourists who are coming to Monaco from zones with high infection rates – both within and outside of Europe – and who are staying at a hotel in the Principality, will be required to provide the results of a PCR test that was taken within the last 72 hours. If they cannot do this, they will be tested on site and placed in two-week quarantine pending the results, which are usually achieved within 24 hours.
While providing an extra barrier of security, the measure allows the Principality to continue to welcome visitors from all areas.
According to Didier Gamerdinger, hotel guests are already accepting these measures freely.
The same measures will apply to athletes who will arrive in the Principality for the Herculis EBS meeting on 14th August.
Screening continues
Since the government’s mass serological testing campaign wound down and was handed over to five doctors, eight pharmacists and nurses throughout the Principality, a total of 680 tests have been conducted so far.
‘Monaco Safe’ label
Meanwhile, 78 businesses in Monaco have asked for and received the ‘Monaco Safe’ label, including the Grimaldi Forum. To ensure everyone continues to comply with the government’s strict standards, checks are regularly conducted by authorities during the day at stores, and at night in restaurants and bars.
Mandatory masks
Despite all the positives, there have some areas of concern for the government, namely in queues, where people have been observed standing too close to each other and not wearing masks. As a result, the government has made it mandatory now for masks to be worn by people standing in queues, especially at bars and large venues such as the Stade Louis II for the Herculis meet.
Supporting search for vaccine
The government is also closely monitoring research into a vaccine, said the minister for health, as several avenues are being considered, including a vaccine by Astra Zeneca and another by Moderna which has entered into phase three of trials. Prince Albert, it was revealed, actually met with the president of Moderna in recent weeks to follow progress made.
However, until a vaccine is found the message remains the same to the people of Monaco: wear a mask, practice social distancing, and avoid travel to high-risk areas.
 
 

A&K appoint Michael Wale as new CEO

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/07/2020

Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio have named Michael Wale as the new President and CEO of the Abercrombie & Kent Group.
Michael Wale joins the luxury travel company from Kerzner International, the owner of Atlantis and One and Only Resorts, where he was CEO. Before joining Kerzner, his career spanned almost 40 years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, culminating as President for Europe, Africa and Middle East, directly overseeing the operations of 250 hotels and resorts, for its 10 brands, in 60 countries. His new role will be effective 1st October 2020.
“With Michael, Abercrombie and Kent will start an exciting new chapter,” said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. “When guests book a holiday with us, they know we will guide them to amazing places, but the destination is a given. What they expect from us – and what keeps them coming back – is how we go the extra mile. Michael’s extensive experience in guest services and operations will take what A&K is known for to the next level.”
Geoffrey Kent added: “Michael Wale has a remarkable track record of steering leading luxury brands towards unequalled heights. We look forward to working with him to elevate Abercrombie and Kent’s profile and achieve even higher standards of excellence.”
Michael Wale is currently based in Dubai and will be relocating to Monaco. He will continue his association with Kerzner International as he joins the Board of the company.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Abercrombie and Kent at this pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Michael Wale. “I have travelled with A&K before and understand its distinctive approach to luxury experiential travel. I also look forward to working with Geoffrey and Manfredi, two titans of the travel industry, to build a bright future for our guests, partners and staff.”
Abercrombie and Kent is the world’s leading luxury and adventure travel company. Founded by Geoffrey Kent and his parents in 1962 as the first luxury safari outfitter, A&K’s award-winning travel services now extend around the globe to more than 100 countries on all seven continents.
Recent innovations include Inspiring Expeditions by Geoffrey Kent and Wings Over the World, regional journeys that combine the advantages of luxury small group travel with the comfort of privately-chartered flights.
Related stories:

Interview: Geoffrey Kent on the future of luxury travel

Interview: Geoffrey Kent, founder of Abercrombie & Kent, on how it all began

The best holiday destinations for 2020

 
 

Barclays partners up to protect the seas

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/07/2020

Barclays bank has teamed up with the Blue Marine Foundation to help with their goal of making at least 30% of the world’s oceans protected, and the rest sustainably managed, by 2030.

Barclays and Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), an institutional partner of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, have banded together to save our oceans. By creating marine reserves, restoring habitats and establishing models for sustainable fishing practices, they are taking bold action to ensure the oceans remain living entities for future generations.   

The partnership involves a three year and €5 million commitment to conservation efforts around the world. Specific programmes include the creation and maintenance of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030, developing architypes of sustainable fishing practices to be followed by the other 70% to show fisher communities the benefits of low-impact fishing on their hauls and on the environment, and working toward restoring damaged marine habitats to revive and protect vulnerable and threatened species.

Over three billion people worldwide rely on seafood as their primary source of protein and 10% depend on fishing-related industries for their livelihood. The ability of the ocean to “perform” is under threat by global warming, acidification, overfishing, and massive amounts of pollution. If the rate of degeneration keeps up at its current pace, global fisheries will collapse by 2048.

Many leading scientists believe we only have a decade to address the ocean crisis before the harm is irrevocable. 

By putting in place sea sanctuaries and implementing better practices, the chances of the ocean’s survival are far greater. Improvements in fish populations up to 670% have been witnessed in marine protected areas, proving that these measures do work.

 
 

Update on local businesses

by: Stephanie Horsman
30/07/2020

The Retail Trade Observatory has met for the first time since lockdown was lifted to discuss the actions taken by the government to jumpstart business as well as what local merchants are doing to make Monaco an attractive retail centre.

A meeting of the Retail Trade Observatory brought together players from across the spectrum of the Monegasque trade sector as well as representatives of the National Council, the Town Hall, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, the Monegasque Real Estate Chamber, IMSEE , the Association des Industries Hôtelières de Monaco, the Union of Merchants and Craftsmen of Monaco, and the State Services concerned by this sector on Wednesday, 29th July.   

Minister of Finance and the Economy Jean Castellini chaired the meeting as those present reflected on the current state of affairs and to discuss themes that had been of concern before the crisis began.  

The meeting gave the government a chance to lay out the measures it has been implementing in the past weeks in favour of economic recovery and making the commercial venues of Monaco the most enticing possible for customers.  

It was also an opportunity for the participants to take into account the arrangements that should be put in place, in the short, medium and long terms, in order to give new impetus to Monegasque trade and food services.

The meeting concluded with Mr Castellini wishing to give support to those businesses impacted by the health crisis and to confirm the need and commitment to put solid measures in place, as well as financial stimuli, to get the Principality’s commercial sector back on its feet.

 
Photo: ©Direction de la Communication / Michael Alesi
 
 

Interview: New kid on the block, Alan Walsh

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/07/2020

Monaco Life catches up with Alan Walsh at his new gallery in Monaco, where the worlds of vintage racing and Riviera glamour intersperse to bring brightness back into an uncertain world.

With his wife Emily and giant poodle Alfred, Alan burst onto the Monaco art scene in June, his bold Pop Art/Art Deco screen prints illuminating from the new gallery space on Rue Grimaldi.

Alan had planned to showcase his racing-themed selection during this year’s Grand Prix, but then the coronavirus hit and Monaco’s main event was cancelled. Still, the artworks serve as a relevant link between this UK-born artist and Monaco’s long history with motor racing.

Monaco Life: You have some very clear themes in your work here – glamour and racing. Where did the inspiration for these come from?

Alan Walsh: My father was a race car engineer, so I grew up in racing. When mum finished work on a Friday afternoon, we would drive to a circuit that dad was racing at, and to entertain me there were pencils and pens in the back of the car, as well as magazines – racing and fashion magazines, like Vogue.

My mother would also drag me around shopping and I would always go and look at the watches and jewellery. So, I also have an attachment to shopping and fashion.
But I didn’t ever want to be a fashion illustrator or anything like that, I wanted to create a combination of fashion and racing.

So that’s where my influences come from, and the same things still inspire me today.


How do you describe your art?

What inspired me as a child is Andy Warhol’s Pop Art. I was also influenced by the advertising surrounding racing, a lot of it was French alcohol advertising, like Martini. There were a lot French illustrators doing that at the time. So, my influences were a mixture of Art Deco advertising and Pop Art. That’s why I use Pop Art colours with Art Deco illustrations.

I get ideas from a lot of old magazines and books, which my wife and I collect. I love ripping apart old magazines and creating mood boards. Also, the French Riviera has always inspired me – the colours of the sky and the sunsets, the lovely pinks, yellows and blues. Just being here for me is inspirational. I don’t have to go through magazines as much now as I did, for example, when I lived in Australia. There is so much inspiration here, my brain can’t keep up.


What’s been the reaction since you opened the gallery in June?

It is an exceptional year so with regards to targets, we have had to be a bit more realistic. But the first weeks have been great. Our very first customer was from Paris and brought a picture, so it proves that people are travelling again, while many others are local customers. I also have buyers from London and America who have seen us on Instagram.

The Monaco Grand Prix was going to be our big moment but its cancellation has also given us time to find our feet with things like couriers and logistics, so when we do get hit next year with three GPs and the Monaco Yacht Show, we will be ready.

I believe that people are looking to have their lives brightened up again. So many people have said to us that one of the things they learned during lockdown is that they need more art on their walls, after living in the same house for a few months straight or looking at the same picture. My work is all positive colours, bringing brightness to the world again.

Emily and Alan Walsh

Why did you decide to establish a gallery in Monaco?

In 2014, I set a goal of setting up a gallery in the French Riviera, in the place that has inspired me since I was a child.

I spent 16 years in Australia and while I was there, I collaborated with Formula One Monaco Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo and Blue Coast Brewing to launch Ricciardo’s No. 3 lager. That’s when we started coming here to see where we were going to live. We eventually made the move in August 2019 and we decided on the Principality because I had this connection with Monaco through motor sports. Plus, it is more international here than the French Riviera.

We chose this particular space because we didn’t just want a gallery, but an experience. I have a studio out the back where people can watch me making a picture, have a glass of wine with friends, and have the possibility of buying it. We want to do events, for example, with a guest speaker from motor racing, and create a motor racing themed picture, which people can take home. So, we want to make a unique experience, and this space allows us to do that. Plus, it is right in the centre of Monaco.

It has taken me three galleries to get here. I even slept on a pile of screen printed t’shirts in the first one because I couldn’t afford a gallery and an apartment. But Emily and I have come a long way together. We work well as a team.


Where do you see your future?

For the next few years I just want to focus on Monaco, because the last few years I have spread myself so thinly over so many different projects. I also have a partnership with the Hotel Martinez in Cannes, so that’s this base covered. Some collaborations with other brands would be nice, but I’m keen to just keep this gallery for now. We love this area and we want to be here long term.

What other themes can we expect to see in your gallery?

Over the past weeks, I have seen Port Hercule filling with yachts; I see the trails behind those boats and think “That will make a nice picture…”

I would also like to do some cycling pictures, a collaboration with someone local. So, GP, boats, and cycling – all of these things interest us and they are part of the Riviera and Monaco. It makes sense to stick to subjects that are relevant to Monaco because this is where we are, and we love it here.