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Month: July 2025

MYS owner Informa Prestige acquires Art Monte-Carlo

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/07/2025

Informa, the international events and digital services group, has announced the acquisition of Art Monte-Carlo, strengthening its portfolio of branded luxury events in Monaco and consolidating its position in the Principality’s high-end cultural and lifestyle sectors.

The deal was confirmed on 7th July, the opening day of this year’s Art Monte-Carlo fair at the Grimaldi Forum. The event, founded in 2016, is now part of Informa Prestige, the company’s luxury and lifestyle division. The acquisition builds on Informa’s existing presence in Monaco, where it already owns and operates the Monaco Yacht Show, Top Marques Monaco, and luxury media brand BOAT International.

The company’s expansion reflects a clear strategy to develop branded experiences in key luxury sectors, positioning Monaco as a central hub in its global portfolio. With Art Monte-Carlo, Informa gains an established foothold in the contemporary art market on the Côte d’Azur, complementing its international art assets such as Art Miami and Untitled Art.

Informa deepens commitment to Principality

“Informa Prestige has been built around exceptional brands that create unique opportunities in the luxury market,” said Toby Moore, CEO of Informa Prestige. “Art Monte-Carlo has earned its reputation here in Monaco, the home of luxury, and is a perfect addition to our portfolio.”

The acquisition further cements a more than decade-long relationship between Informa and Monaco. The company now oversees more than 15 luxury brands across Europe and the United States, with Monaco at the core of its strategy. Informa is already the largest operator of live events in the Principality by footprint.

Fair continues with existing team and expanded support

This year’s edition of Art Monte-Carlo features 25 modern and contemporary galleries, alongside curated special projects and international publishers. The fair’s existing team will continue to lead its curatorial direction, now supported by Informa’s global infrastructure and access to adjacent luxury sectors including yachting, aviation, automotive, jewellery, and technology.

John Paton, Executive Chair of BOAT International, has been appointed Executive Chair of Informa Prestige, a move that aligns leadership across the company’s core luxury titles.

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Photo credit: Kyriaki Topalidou, Monaco Life

Art Monte-Carlo returns with international gallery showcase

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/07/2025

Art Monte-Carlo returned to the Grimaldi Forum for its ninth edition running until 9th July, brining together 25 international galleries under the high patronage of Prince Albert II. 

The modern art fair, hosted for the first time in the newly expanded space of the Grimaldi Forum, features both established and emerging galleries from across the globe. Director Charlotte Diwan described the event as reflecting “our ambition to establish a prestigious international art fair in the Principality”.

Returning prominent galleries include Almine Rech, Cortesi, Franco Noero, Moretti Fine Art and Van de Weghe amongst others.

A highlight of this year’s edition is the collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, coinciding with the opening of ‘Colours: Masterpieces from the Centre Pompidou’ exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum. The fair features a dedicated booth in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou, bringing together works from participating galleries around the theme of colour.

A special presentation on ‘Architecture of the Centre Pompidou, 1971-2030’ includes original architectural documents and a model of the institution’s upcoming transformation for 2030.

Model of the institution’s upcoming transformation for 2030, photo by Monaco Life.

Special Projects and Design

Renowned designer Pierre Yovanovitch serves as the guest designer for the 2025 edition, creating a 60-square-metre installation at the heart of the fair incorporating artworks selected from participating galleries.

Additional special projects include presentations from the Sigg Art Foundation and publishers JRP Editions and Taschen.

Inside the Art Monte-Carlo exhibition, photo by Monaco Life.

The fair also features an extensive talk programme with discussions on topics ranging from the creative vision of Maison Piaget to the architecture of the Centre Pompidou. Notable speakers include Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, who will reflect on 30 years of her foundation’s work, and presentations of Southeast Asian art institutions.

The fair serves as the centrepiece of the seventh edition of Monaco Art Week, which brings together 15 galleries and auction houses across Monaco.

Adult admission is priced at €20, with reduced rates for youth, students, and seniors at €10

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Main photo by Monaco Life.

Herculis EBS photography exhibition opens in Monaco

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
08/07/2025

A photography exhibition showcasing the iconic Herculis EBS meeting has opened in Monaco as part of the principality’s ‘Monaco World Capital of Sport 2025’ initiative. 

The Monaco Athletic Federation has organised the exhibition, which features 10 striking photographs from the athletics meeting. The display is open to the public in the Fontvieille commercial gallery and runs until 14 July.

The exhibition has been orchestrated with support from the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) and Monaco’s Domain Administration. Four photographers are featured in the display: Julien Garvi, Marta Gorczynska, Sona Maleterova and Dan Vernon.

The Herculis EBS exhibition, photo provided by Herculis EBS.

The Herculis EBS programme

The Herculis EBS meeting itself features a comprehensive programme of track and field events. The 2025 edition will include women’s competitions in 100m, 400m, 1,000m, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles and shot put, alongside men’s events covering 200m, 800m, 5,000m, 3,000m steeplechase, 110m hurdles, high jump, pole vault and triple jump.

Tickets for the athletics meeting start from €15 and are available through herculis.com

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Main photo provided by Herculis EBS.

 

Simon Delestre claims third consecutive Longines Global Champions Tour victory

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/07/2025

During a fascinating weekend Simon Delestre secured his third consecutive victory at the Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix du Prince de Monaco. Meanwhile, Antoine Ermann claimed the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.

The world number eight delivered an outstanding performance in the jump-off on Saturday evening, riding Cayman Jolly Jumper to finish in 32.05 seconds and win the €1.5 million prize. He beat Britain’s Harry Charles on Sherlock by a strong 1.84 seconds, showing the skill and speed that have made him a three-time Monaco champion.

The victory marks Delestre’s fourth five-star Grand Prix triumph of the season, following earlier wins ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Saut Hermès in Paris. The partnership has now won four of the seven top-level competitions they have contested since January 1st – a remarkable strike rate.

French double delight

France’s successful weekend completed when Antoine Ermann guided Odin vt Hanegoor to victory in the Monte-Carlo Casino Trophy.

Twelve combinations made it through to the jump-off from the first round, with Delestre third to compete in the deciding phase. “It’s difficult to find the words,” Delestre said after his victory. “Winning here is incredible. I had made it an objective but to actually succeed…I was third to go in the jump-off. I knew I had to do something incredible to hope to win.”

The Olympic bronze medallist from Paris 2024 described his tactical approach: “I took all the risks and couldn’t do any more anyway. At the finish, even though you can always be beaten, I knew that the podium, was assured and that we would be hard to beat.”

Delestre’s victory strengthens his position in the overall Longines Global Champions Tour standings and secures his place at November’s Super Final in Prague, when Grand Prix winners compete for the ultimate prize.

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Photo credit: Monaco Life 

Energy Observer docks in Monaco after seven-year global voyage

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
07/07/2025

The Monaco Yacht Club welcomed a remarkable vessel to its marina during the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge—the Energy Observer, the world’s first vessel to complete a round-the-world voyage in total energy autonomy. After seven years at sea, covering 68,000 nautical miles, it arrived in Monaco to demonstrate the possibilities of maritime decarbonisation. 

Speaking to Monaco Life, Nolwenn Guenan, the vessel’s 360 Communication Manager, explained the groundbreaking technology that powers the boat. “Energy Observer is a boat operating with a mix of renewable energies and hydrogen on board,” she said.

The technology that powered the global voyage

The boat stands as an example in marine propulsion, operating entirely on a low-carbon energy mix combining solar panels, wind turbines, hydropower, and crucially, hydrogen produced on board from seawater electrolysis.

The Energy Observer’s seven year voyage has taken it to more than 50 countries, making 101 stopovers across the globe. “The objective is to experiment, decrypt, and raise awareness about energy transition.” Guenan explained.

Solar panels on top of the Energy observer, photo by Monaco Life.
Solar panels on top of the Energy observer, photo by Monaco Life.

Next-generation vessel to push boundaries even further

The success of the original Energy Observer has paved the way for an even more ambitious successor. EO3, currently under development, represents the next generation of low carbon vessels, designed from the outset as a commercial ship meeting international standards.

This new vessel will feature an innovative energy system integrating multiple complementary technologies: a 180-square-metre solar array, four wing sails for propulsion assistance, and a revolutionary ammonia-based fuel system.

The Energy Observer’s presence at the Monaco Boat Energy Challenge gave visitors and contestants a glimpse into the future of zero-emission maritime transport.

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Main photo by Monaco Life.

European tourism grows modestly in Q2 2025 as long-haul markets and off-season demand drive resilience

by: Cassandra Tanti
07/07/2025

Europe’s tourism industry posted a stable performance in the second quarter of 2025, with international arrivals up 3.3% year-on-year, underpinned by growing off-season travel and renewed interest from China and the US.

Despite persistent economic pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, Europe’s tourism sector demonstrated steady resilience, according to the European Travel Commission’s latest ‘Trends & Prospects’ report. While the number of nights spent by tourists declined slightly by 0.7%, likely due to calendar effects such as a later Easter, international arrivals rose modestly — a sign that demand remains strong even amid elevated costs.

ETC President Miguel Sanz acknowledged the sector’s continued adaptability, urging destinations to invest in innovation and more sustainable, inclusive tourism models that meet the expectations of both visitors and local communities.

Sun-seeking travellers drive off-season momentum

Off-season travel continues to gain traction, particularly for sun and beach destinations. A surge in spring getaway searches — up 36% among European travellers — was largely driven by interest in avoiding peak-season heat and crowds. Destinations like Malta (+19%) and Cyprus (+16%) saw notable gains, while Spain and Portugal also benefited from this extended seasonal demand.

Meanwhile, Central and Eastern European countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, and Hungary experienced year-on-year growth in arrivals of over 14%, supported by improved air connectivity and a broader recovery from the pandemic and regional instability.

Tourist spending rises despite price sensitivity

Although travel-related costs have risen — with international flights to Southern Europe up 5% and package holidays up 7% — total travel expenditure is forecast to increase by 13% in 2025. The data suggests tourists are travelling more strategically, seeking better value while spending more on quality experiences. Destinations like Spain, Cyprus and Malta reported substantial revenue growth, particularly during the off-peak months.

US and Chinese visitors boost long-haul travel

Travel from the United States remains a bright spot, especially for destinations in Northern and Southern Europe. Overnight stays by Americans increased by 35% in Norway and 24% in Denmark, while Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece also saw strong gains. Lower airfares between the US and major European cities have helped offset broader economic concerns.

China’s return to the European travel map is also gathering pace. Arrivals from Chinese travellers are up in all reporting destinations, with significant growth in Croatia (+7%), Estonia (+15%) and Romania (+20%). The recovery is expected to strengthen further, aided by expanded flight routes and growing interest in Europe as a preferred destination amid global uncertainty.

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Photo of Malta, credit: CALIN STAN, Unsplash