What’s new in Monaco in 2024?

18/01/2024

From the opening of Amazónico and a new fine dining Japanese restaurant to the exciting re-launch of Moods and a revamp of the wine cellars of the Hôtel de Paris, here is everything worth getting excited about in Monaco this year.

Stéphane Valeri, Deputy Chairman of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, gathered the press together on Wednesday evening in the Crystal Bar of the Hôtel Hermitage to take stock of a successful 2023 and reveal a year full of exciting projects planned by Monaco’s biggest employer.

In fact, it is here in this very bar where SBM will open a brand new restaurant, he revealed on Wednesday for the first time along with a number of highly-anticipated opening dates of other restaurants and nightspots in the Principality.

Fine dining Japanese at the Hôtel Hermitage

A thrilling addition to SBM’s culinary offerings in the Principality will be an intimate, fine dining Japanese restaurant within the heart of Monaco’s ‘Grande Dame’, the stunning Hôtel Hermitage.

The current Crystal Bar will give way to this new gastronomic destination, which will be orchestrated by multi Michelin starred Chef Yannick Alléno. Mimicking his winning formula in the Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, Chef Alléno will transport from his restaurant L’Abysse in Paris the two Michelin starred sushi chef Yasunari Okazaki to recreate for a Monaco audience their award-winning Japanese cuisine.

The opening is expected some time in July, while a new location for the Crystal Bar is still in the works.

Long-awaited opening of Amazónico

Situated above the completely re-built Café de Paris, which relaunched in November 2023, the Amazónico restaurant will swing open its colourful doors on 4^th April. With its infectious South American energy and Peruvian and Brazilian cuisine, paired with the ultimate location overlooking Casino Square, SBM is banking on Amazónico being a huge hit with locals and tourists.

Luxury boutiques in Place du Casino

By autumn, perhaps November, the redevelopment of Monte-Carlo will be complete with the opening of seven luxury boutiques near the Café de Paris. Among the famous brands will be luxury watchmaker Tag Heuer and world-famous jeweller Tiffany & Co.

The new Blue Bay

This is the first reopening of the year and it will take place in mid-February, confirmed Stéphane Valeri. The two-Michelin starred Blue Bay restaurant in the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, headed by Marcel Ravin, has received a complete make-over and will re-open as a destination deserving of the talents of this much-loved Caribbean chef.

Moods makes a comeback

It’s been a long-time coming, but on 17^th October 2024 one of Monaco’s most iconic nightspots will return to its original location in Monte-Carlo. After closing in April 2011, live music venue Moods will find a second life here, much to the delight of Monaco locals. In addition to live music, the ‘New Moods’ will also offer entertainment such as comedy, said Valeri, including English stand-up comedy.

Finger-food catering will be provided by two Michelin starred Chef Marcel Ravin.

Opening the Cellars of the Hôtel de Paris

Another exciting new announcement involves Monaco’s hidden goldmine… The vast wine cellars that tunnel beneath the Hôtel de Paris to the Hôtel Hermitage and house over 350,000 bottles of the finest wines. These legendary cellars, reserved exclusively for private events, will be renovated and opened to the public as a museum, with exceptional dinners, organised in partnership with some of the world’s leading wine brands, and guided tours to complete the offering.

50^th anniversary year for Sporting Monte-Carlo

The home of Monaco’s biggest concerts, the Sporting Monte-Carlo, will this year turn 50 and big celebrations are planned. Over the past five decades, the Salle des Etoiles has hosted the biggest names in the entertainment world, from Frank Sinatra and Whitney Houston, to Tina Turner and Elton John. Meanwhile, Jimmy’z nightclub is an institution unto itself.

We will have to wait and see what anniversary celebrations SBM has in store for this iconic venue!

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Basketball: Élie Okobo reinstated ahead of EuroLeague game against Real Madrid

by: Niki Borisova

18/01/2024

Shooting guard Élie Okobo has made a timely return to the AS Monaco Basket team ahead of an important EuroLeague game against Real Madrid on Friday 19th January.

An official communiqué announcing Okobo’s “reintegration” was released by AS Monaco Basket on Thursday 18th January.

“AS Monaco Basket is pleased to announce that Élie Okobo rejoined the group at the start of the week, after having resolved internally the problems which led to his suspension,” said a representative for the club. “The club management therefore made the decision to fully involve him again.”

The player had been removed from the line-up earlier in the month in light of a “violation of the Club’s internal rules” rumoured to be linked with a disagreement with teammate Donatas Motiejunas following the game against Olympiacos Piraeus on Thursday 4th January.

See more: Basketball | Roca Team confirms the temporary suspension of Élie Okobo

Not much more is known about the internal conflicts between the AS Monaco Basket and Okobo, but according to the most recent statement from the club, the pivotal player “is ready to give the best of himself to help the Roca Team achieve its objectives in the heart of a second part of the season which promises to be intense and exciting”.

As such, the 26-year-old Bordeaux-native will appear on court in the upcoming EuroLeague fixture with Real Madrid at the Salle Gaston Médecin in Monaco.

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Photo credit: AS Monaco Basket

Main roads to be closed during Sainte Dévote festivities on Friday 26th January

by: Niki Borisova

18/01/2024

Road closures and diversions for both drivers and pedestrians should be anticipated in the run-up to and during Monaco’s upcoming Sainte Dévote celebrations. Here’s what you need to know about getting around the Principality on Friday 26th January.

Ahead of its patron saint celebrations on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th January, a schedule of planned road closures and diversions has been released by the Monaco Government.

The measures are part of the security and organisational plans necessitated by the grand festivities, which will include a procession through the streets and the traditional ceremony involving Prince Albert torching a boat, but will only affect the first day of the event.

See more: How to celebrate Sainte Dévote 2024: a detailed schedule of events

To facilitate the influx of people attending the various parts of the programme held in the Port Hercule area, special security checkpoints will be established from 5.30pm onwards at key locations.

A designated public zone will be set up in Place Sainte Dévote for those attending the procession and the Blessing of the Most Holy Sacrament while another viewing area will be made available on the north side of the Quai Albert I for the boat burning ceremony.

Those using the railway station should note that pedestrian movements will be considerably restricted from 5.30pm onwards. The Sainte Dévote stairs will be closed at this time and commuters will be directed towards Rue Grimaldi for access to the station from the port area.

From 6.15pm to 7pm, the Route de la Piscine will be closed between Avenue J.F. Kennedy and the Jules Soccal jetty. Additionally, between 6.45pm and 7.45pm, temporary traffic blocks will be implemented on Boulevard Albert I, Avenue J.F. Kennedy and Avenue d’Ostende.

Transport and parking

Disruptions should be expected to the urban bus lines 1, 2 and 6 as well as the ZOU lines 607 and 80.

The government advises that some carparks may be impacted by the festivities, but that details will be communicated on-site.

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Photo source: Unsplash

Robert Laure named new President of AMAF

by: Stephanie Horsman

18/01/2024

The Monaco Association for Financial Activities (AMAF), an entity that acts as the professional body for authorised institutions conducting banking or financial activities in the Principality, has named Robert Laure as its new president. He succeeds the long-standing Etienne Franzi.

The AMAF is an employers union that unites those part of Monaco’s Financial Activities Control Commission, which is itself an “independent administrative authority responsible for supervising the conduct of financial activities in the Principality”.

The main objectives of the AMAF are: to represent its 90-strong members, 27 of which are financial institutions; to defend their interests; and to support authorities in actions that concern the sector.

Banking veteran Robert Laure has been selected to take up the reins as the new president of the AMAF, stepping into the shoes of Etienne Franzi, who had held the position for 25 years.

DECADES IN BANKING

Laure has worked in financial services for 43 years and was formerly the Vice-President of Julius Baer Wealth Management Monaco.

In the past, Laure was Deputy Director and Head of the Inheritance Management Services at Banca Commerciale Italiana Monte-Carlo, which merged in 1996 with Compagnie Monégasque de Banque (CMB). After the merger, he was appointed Delegated Asset Manager for Collective Investment Products, then Chief Information Officer as well as Executive Chairman of Compagnie Monégasque de Gestion, Managing Director of CMB and its Head of Funds and Discretionary Portfolio Management until 2021.

He is also the outgoing president of the ACI Monaco Financial Markets Association and Executive Vice-President-General Secretary of Mutual Aid Associations in Monaco.

Despite his busy schedule, Laure has, over the years, found time for charity work and has been involved in organisations such as MedFund, an environmental trust based in Monaco that is specifically dedicated to the financing of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean, and AMAPEI, an association that works for the protection of children.

FOCUS ON MONEYVAL

Of his new role, Laure has said that his priority will be focusing on Moneyval compliance. Moneyval is the EU’s governing body that assesses the observance of international standards to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Latest related:

Moneyval: Monaco makes public the companies, associations whose ownership is unknown

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Photo supplied

Davos 2024: Prince Albert II warns against culture of “neglect” towards climate threats

by: Elsa Carpenter

18/01/2024

With Prince Albert’s recent trip to Antarctic fresh in his mind, the Monaco sovereign travelled to Davos for the World Economic Forum this week to speak about the adverse effects of climate change and how it is “more necessary than ever to listen to what science has to say”.

Held between 15th and 19th January in Davos, Switzerland, the organisers of the 2024 edition of the World Economic Forum assigned themselves the task of “rebuilding trust” in the global community.

More than 200 conferences, debates and discussions have been scheduled over the course of the four-day event, which has attracted more than 100 state and government leaders as well as over 1,000 organisations and businesses. Monaco’s Prince Albert II publicly attended several, making his presence and personal insight known with some strongly worded comments – and warnings.

“Unfortunately, the alerts launched by the scientific community have not been enough to reverse a trend which indeed seems to be moving in the direction of a predicted catastrophe,” said Prince Albert, according to quotes published by Monaco Matin. “There is a form of neglect towards warnings given to us by scientists. This negligence and indifference are still at work today for other threats: the situation of the ocean, for example. Some of the threats can still be avoided: it is therefore more necessary than ever to listen to what science has to say.”

Fresh from a recent trip to Antarctica with his family, Prince Albert linked his own recent experiences with warnings from the scientific community regarding concerns about the threats melting ice sheets and glaciers could have on the world at large.

“While it is likely that melting ice will release methane and CO2, it is also likely that it will lead to the resurgence of ancient bacteria and viruses, against which we are not protected,” he warned. “This link between health and environment is crucial. It is crucial for our future because unknown threats could arise soon.”

High-level and high-profile meetings

Among Prince Albert’s engagements at the event was a meeting with Dorin Recean, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, that saw the two discuss potential business opportunities and partnerships.

“The Republic of Moldova is interested in intensifying bilateral collaboration, especially in attracting Monegasque capital,” Recean told the press. “In addition to the IT, wine [and] digital content sectors, we can offer a series of other important opportunities, such as the implementation of infrastructure projects connecting us with Ukraine and bringing us closer to the European Union.”

*Prince Albert II of Monaco is pictured with Dorin Recean, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova. Photo via Palais Princier de Monaco*

Another important element of the mission to Switzerland was Prince Albert’s attendance at an artificial intelligence-focused sessions at the Greek House, which also saw the active participation of Monaco’s Interministerial Delegate for Attractiveness and Digital Transformation Frédéric Genta.

‘AI as a Driving Force for the Economy and Society’ is a key theme of Davos 2024 and Genta took to the stage to discuss the role of AI and its impact on various states around the world.

“The emphasis was placed more particularly on the Monegasque model, which defines itself as both responsible and secure,” says a spokesperson for the Monaco Government. “The immense potential for development of AI in the fields of economy, health and education was also mentioned.”

Ocean-centric

During his time at the Forum, Prince Albert also attended a high-level roundtable event led by The Ocean Race Chairman Richard Brisius. The goal of the meeting was, according to its organisers, “to team up the public and private sector to support and scale up innovation, promote investments, mobilise scientific expertise, generate ocean data – among other aspects – based on shared resources, networks, knowledge and technologies”.

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Main photo via Palais Princier de Monaco

How municipalities across PACA are fighting back against fly tipping

by: Stephanie Horsman

18/01/2024

In a bid to crack down on the fly tippers and illegal dumpers who are sullying public spaces and natural hotspots across the region, municipalities such as Saint Tropez and Gorbio in hills above Monaco have started setting up strategically placed surveillance cameras to monitor affected areas and track down those behind the anti-social and damaging acts.

Every year, an estimated million tonnes of rubbish that could have otherwise been recycled or properly disposed of finds into way into the natural environment of France.

Flying tipping, the act of illegal dumping waste on public or private property, has become such a serious problem for some municipalities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region that they have decided to make a stand – and try to catch the perpetrators in the act.

Combatting the problem

In Gorbio, a small village to the north of Menton, the problem has been increasing in recent months, leading the town council to spend a not-insignificant amount of public funds on 16 video cameras to monitor concerned parts of the commune.

A special unit attached to the police and dedicated to combatting fly tipping has also been set up in Menton to tackle its localised problem.

Meanwhile, the Council of Saint Tropez is believed to have spent €20,000 on a system similar to Gorbio’s. The cameras have been erected in three known illegal dumping sites, as well as near communal waste collection points in order to monitor the correct disposal of rubbish. A common issue in Saint Tropez is the piling up of waste near to, but not actually inside, collection bins. So far, the popular seaside resort has reportedly caught 50 culprits.

If a person is caught fly tipping, the national standard fine for a successful conviction is €1,500.

Read related:

Four little-known French villages near Monaco that are worth a visit

Photo source: Markus Spiske, Unsplash

Day: 18 January 2024