Nice Airport has announced a complete reopening of Terminal 2 this month in an effort to get holiday travellers safely where they need to be.
Nice Côte d’Azur airport fully reopened Terminal 2 on 1st December with a full roster of both international and domestic flights.
The airport now serves 55 destinations in 24 countries with 583 flights per week.
Amongst the 29 airlines operating out the airport, Air France and easyJet both have several destinations available for passengers.
EasyJet serves 41 routes from Nice including Paris, Lille, Bordeaux, Biarritz, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse domestically, and a host of international destinations such as Barcelona, Berlin, Amsterdam, Rome, Lisbon, Geneva, and London, to name but a few.
Air France will be flying several domestic flights to French cities such as Caen, Biarritz, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Paris, Rennes and Strasbourg several times daily.
Before flying, passengers are reminded that health regulations are still in effect and that masks are obligatory and social distancing is in effect at all times whilst in the terminal and on the planes.
For destinations that require negative Covid tests upon arrival, the airport is offering antigen testing at the airport. The testing room is available to all passengers from four hours up to 90 minutes before flying and is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 2pm. The tests are valid for 72 hours, fulfilling the requirement for most destinations.
The Monaco Town Hall has organised a number of “Covid safe” events to ensure a merry and bright Christmas for all this festive season.
Despite the current restrictions due to the health situation, the spirit of Christmas will be on full display this year in the Principality, though not in the usual way.
Since 20th November, residents and visitors have been able to enjoy the seasonal lights that illuminate each district after nightfall, giving a cheerful air to the chilly nights.
In addition, the esplanade of Quai Albert I is set to celebrate the magic of Christmas with nearly 250 fir trees and four attractions. There will be a carousel, duck pond fishing, a ride in the shape of a tree and another named the Caribou Ride-Santa’s Sleigh. The fun fair area will be open from 10am to 7:30pm from Friday 4th December to Sunday 3rd January.
The ice rink – a Monegasque winter staple – will also be open on 4th December at the Rainier III Nautical Stadium. With 1,000m2 of space, the ice rink takes five weeks to set up, but it is always worth the effort. Last year 28,674 skaters enjoyed the rink.
This year, the rules will be a little different, given the need to adapt to the health protocols, but fun can still be had. The rink can accommodate 200 people at a time and traffic must flow in a certain way as established by ground markers. Mask wearing is obligatory, and lockers and public areas will be disinfected regularly.
The rink will also host model-making mornings from 8am to 12pm on Sunday 13th December, 10th January, 24th January, 17th February and 21st February. It will also be the site of the Monaco skating championship on 6th March 2021.
For the smallest skaters, a 60m2 structure is being erected just for them. The ice rink will be open until 7th March 2021.
Princess Antoinette Park is also decked out in the spirit of the season for the first time. Christmas lights will be up until Thursday 3rd January and include a light trail and illuminated scenes, which can be enjoyed every day from 4pm until the park closes at 6pm.
New for this year, the Monaco Media Library is setting up workshops at the Metropole on the first three Wednesdays of December from 2pm to 6pm. The 2nd will feature a Christmas card workshop, the 9th is the Christmas Ball, and Christmas stockings feature on the 16th. The workshops are free, but space is limited so reservations are required. These can be made by emailing contact@metropoleshoppingmontecarlo.com or calling +377 92 16 77 01.
Boris Herrmann, captain of the Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco, aided in the rescue effort to find fellow sailor Kevin Escoffier after he was forced to abandon ship off the Cape of Good Hope.
No one said the Vendee Global would be easy, but for French sailor Kevin Escoffier it became downright impossible. Whilst sailing his yacht the PRB off the notoriously treacherous Cape of Good Hope some 840 nautical miles off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, Escoffier’s boat “folded in half” in swells reaching five metres in height.
The Frenchman was forced to abandon ship in a 35 knot gale and retreat to a rescue raft, after he promptly put out a call for help. Four competitors, including Boris Herrmann of Monaco’s Team Malizia, joined in the after-dark search for the missing captain.
Eventually, it was fellow competitor Jean Le Cam on the Yes We Cam who spotted and picked up Escoffier “safe and sound” at around 5:15pm European Central Time on 30th November.
Escoffier was in third place when he launched his distress signal.
During a radio session on Tuesday after the rescue, Boris Herrmann explained how the dramatic operation unfolded.
“I was very focused on my task and had a search sector that I had to search very closely – with 600 metres between passages. One passage took me an hour. So, it would have taken 15 to 20 hours to search the entire search field that was assigned to me. At this moment, of course, one realises how large the search field is and that one is looking for a needle in a haystack. I was very motivated and looked in all the right places as best I could.
“It was extremely cold with high swell and spray coming over the deck. But it was great to see that the regatta management diverted all the boats that were available nearby and that we were able to search together with a fleet. So, we gave luck every chance and luck finally led to Kevin being found. This is a great relief and now the tension is dropping. Of course, there is also a certain sadness and the thoughts are with him. I am already back to my normal race, but I am not yet back to where the race is with my head.”
Yacht Club of Monaco Vice-President and Herrmann’s fellow crewmate Pierre Casiraghi, who waited expectantly for news on his friend, was relieved at the outcome.
“It can all happen so quickly in these kinds of sea and wind conditions. It was a very delicate operation,” he said. “My main concern was to tell Boris to be extra careful in such an extreme situation. Above all it was important not to add to the crisis by creating a second one. What a relief to know that Kevin is now safe, and I salute Jean’s courage and experience which made this rescue possible”.
Race Direction, who launched the rescue mission, must now figure out how best to get Escoffier back to shore, as well as sort out how to manage the loss of racing time for those who were diverted.
One of Monaco’s finest palaces, the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, has closed its gilded doors. But do not fret. The luxurious hideaway has not fallen because of Covid. In fact, it will awaken even more spectacular than before. Managing Director Serge Ethuin tells us more.
When the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo was created in 1886, it was born out of the euphoria and prosperity of the Belle Epoque era, established on land that once belonged to Pope Leo XIII.
The international elite have always been attracted to its promises of excellence, luxury, and the art of living, as well as its positioning just metres from the famous Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Together with the Hôtel de Paris and the Hôtel Hermitage, the Hôtel Métropole forms an illustrious triangle of stunning palaces that are the ultimate symbols of luxury and charm.
Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo
Like its magnificent neighbours, the Hôtel Metropole has undergone a number of upgrades over the past 130 years, most significantly in 2003-2004, when the hotel blossomed into what we know and love today.
“The vision at that time was to associate the hotel with the best names in their respective fields – Joël Robuchon for the restaurant, Jacques Garcia for the design of the hotel, Karl Lagerfeld’s design of the pool area and, more recently, a spa by Givenchy,” Managing Director Serge Ethuin tells Monaco Life. “So, it was a structural transformation of the building which clearly is different to what will happen with the hotel in the next 18 months.”
On Monday 30th November, the Hôtel Metropole Monte-Carlo closed its doors to embark on a major renovation that has been in the pipeline for two years.
“We did not decide to close recently,” reveals Mr Ethuin. “We have, of course, decided that the current international climate is a further stimulation to anticipate what we wanted to do for 2021, 2022, and 2023.”
Managing Director Serge Ethuin
The renovation is set to take place in three stages. From now until mid-April 2021, the “back-end” of the hotel will be tackled – those crucial areas that guests never normally see but impact heavily on their experience. Most notably, the kitchens will be completely demolished and rebuilt.
“Renovation is very noisy. We decided to close the hotel because we didn’t want to affect that amazing experience that we are trying to give our guests,” says Serge Ethuin.
If all goes to schedule, the hotel will reopen in mid-April 2021 until the end of September 2021.
“There will be no major changes from a customer point of view. But we decided that we should not penalise the Principality of Monaco by having one of its luxury hotels closed during what will hopefully be the high season of next year.”
“Soft” renovations will continue throughout this time, “but only things that will not disturb the customer experience,” assures the managing director.
The most significant part of the renovation comes in phase three, starting on 1st October 2021, when the hotel will be closed for another six months.
Restaurant du Métropole Monte-Carlo / B.Touillon
“During this phase, we will tackle all the bedrooms – soft and heavy refurbishments – and we will create new exceptional suites,” says Mr Ethuin enthusiastically. “We are going to re-do the gastronomic restaurant completely, we are adding an extension to the Lobby Bar, and we are going to redo the Salon Mediterraneé, which is one of our two meeting and banqueting rooms.”
Once again, if all goes to plan, a refreshed Hôtel Métropole will reopen in April 2022, just in time for the commencement of the Principality’s major events.
“We hope to surprise our new and existing customers with a totally revamped product, but one that still retains the DNA of the hotel,” says Mr Ethuin. “We want to keep the same atmosphere, the same level of service and warmth, which has been part of the Métropole’s reputation.”
The designer responsible for that undeniable warmth and atmosphere is Jacques Garcia, who is charged with outfitting some of the world’s most treasured buildings. Seventeen years after he helped to reinvent the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, Garcia is returning to carry out this vast new project.
Suite Carré d’Or at the Hôtel Métropole / Studio Phenix
“The good news is that whoever loved Garcia’s design then, will hopefully love his next instalment, because it will retain that amazing Garcia signature,” Mr Ethuin tells Monaco Life. “This will be Jacques of the 2020s versus Jacques of the early 2000s.”
The managing director assures us that the warm, Mediterranean vibe of the hotel and its rooms will not be compromised, adding, “It is going to be surprising, fresh, new… but it will still be Garcia.”
Apart from the décor, another significant difference will be the addition of more luxury suites, reducing the number of rooms from 125 to 116.
The popular Lobby Bar will be extended, capitalising on a growing appreciation for the restaurant element of the hotel, which has seen an uptake in revenue of over 35% in recent years.
Lobby Bar
A new terrace will be added to the bar, capping off what Mr Ethuin promises will be an incredible new experience for guests. “I don’t want to give away too many details, but I can say that the bar extension is an amazing design – I have never have seen anything like this before.”
Regrettably, the hotel will be closing its spa, lobby, bar and restaurants during renovation, including the two Michelin starred Métropole Monte-Carlo, and one Michelin starred Yoshi.
“We fully understand that people will be disappointed, but our philosophy is that the Métropole is offering a global emotional experience, so we decided when we close, we will close everything, and when we reopen it will be with a global excellent experience again.”
There is one element of the hotel that will remain open however – the Met Café in the Métropole Shopping centre, which will come as welcome news to busy holiday shoppers.
Managing Director Serge Ethuin is also very proud of the fact that all 213 long-term staff at the Hôtel Métropole will keep their jobs during both closures, maintaining 75% of their gross salary with the support of the Monaco Government and the hotel’s holding company.
“It takes so much time to recruit talent and train them to the level we want to achieve; it would have been extremely difficult for us to furlough our staff, so I say clearly and loudly: there will be no layoffs or retirements,” says Mr Ethuin.
When the Hôtel Métropole does reawaken in April, it will hopefully be to a new world, one where vaccines have allowed travel to recommence and large events like the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tennis tournament and the Monaco Grand Prix to go ahead.
“We believe a vaccine will restore confidence, and as soon as confidence is restored and travel restrictions are partially lifted, we strongly believe our individual customers from around the globe will be in desperate need of travel,” reflects the managing director. “We don’t expect next year to be completely normal, but if we reach 70-80% capacity of a normal year, then it will be a good reason to reopen for the high season.”
In the meantime, we bid you farewell Hôtel Métropole, and wish you good luck for your “behind-the-scenes” make-over.
Photos provided by Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo
Business College formed to prevent plastic pollution
BeMed officially launched its Business College on Monday, supporting companies of all sectors and sizes in implementing concrete solutions to reduce plastic pollution at its source.
According to the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, this new step is a way to facilitate exchanges between companies across the plastics value chain, scientists and NGOs active in the field, to fight against plastic pollution in the Mediterranean.
The first members of this College – Veolia, the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer group, Chanel, Haribo and Carrefour – have already started work and are fully committed to its activities.
Each year, more than 200,000 tonnes of plastic waste are dumped into the Mediterranean Sea, the equivalent of 500 containers per day. With over three trillion plastic particles, the Mediterranean is one of the most polluted seas in the world.
Faced with this observation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the Tara Océan Foundation, Surfrider Foundation Europe, the MAVA Foundation and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) decided to create Beyond Plastic Med (BeMed) in 2015 in the form of an association based in Monaco. Its objective is to reduce plastic pollution by facilitating the implementation of effective solutions, by supporting and networking the actors involved, and by encouraging the sharing of experience.
BeMed has already supported 57 initiatives in 14 countries of the Mediterranean basin and the network grows each year through calls for projects. Beyond its financial support, BeMed aims to instill a regional dynamic by connecting organisations and encouraging the replication of effective actions.
To go further, BeMed created in January 2020 a College of Companies bringing together companies that are committed to putting in place concrete solutions to prevent plastic pollution in the Mediterranean. This College is unique in its kind because of its collaborative functioning and its Mediterranean roots. It is part of a desire to include as broadly as possible all the players in the plastic value chain – from production to the end of product life – to lead companies into a common dynamic of transition and reduction in plastic pollution.
The College relies on a committee of experts who provide scientific support for the actions carried out, as well as on the field experience of BeMed’s parent foundations and its network. During a two-day workshop on 30th November and 1st December, BeMed formalised the launch of its College during a press conference given alongside companies that are already members.
This workshop brought together the two working groups active within the College: The science/industry dialogue group, which aims to amplify companies’ knowledge in scientific matters but also to provide scientists with concrete feedback from companies. They explored the issue of the environmental impacts of the end of life of plastics.
Meanwhile, the pilot projects working group looked at developing an action plan to implement a pilot project in Marseille. It will aim to demonstrate by example that we can drastically reduce the use of single-use plastics in hotels. Stakeholders essential to the successful implementation of the project were also able to participate in the discussions.
The event also made it possible to welcome potential new members to the College. Therefore, with a view to the implementation of the project in Marseille and its eventual deployment in Tunisia, Marseilles and Tunisian companies joined the discussions.
By gradually expanding the group of companies involved, the College aims to integrate companies from different shores of the Mediterranean in a common dynamic of transition towards sustainable models to reduce plastic pollution on a regional scale.
(Press release) Photo credit: Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
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