Safe Harbor Marinas has finalised the acquisition of Monaco Marine, marking the American company’s first foothold in the European market and significantly expanding its global network of marinas and shipyards. The deal, completed on 31st July, brings Monaco Marine’s nine Mediterranean locations into Safe Harbor’s portfolio, which now totals 149 sites worldwide.
Founded in 1995 by Michel Ducros, Monaco Marine has established itself as a leader in superyacht servicing, with facilities in Monaco, Saint-Tropez, Antibes, La Ciotat, Marseille, Beaulieu-sur-Mer and Saint-Laurent-du-Var. The network is known for its expertise in maintenance, full refits and berthing for vessels up to 90 metres, catering to some of the most high-profile names in yachting.
strengthening global service capabilities
Safe Harbor, headquartered in Dallas, has grown rapidly in recent years, with its network now stretching from the United States and the Caribbean to Europe. The company says the addition of Monaco Marine enhances its capacity to provide consistent, high-quality service to the global boating community, while preserving Monaco Marine’s established reputation for excellence and sustainability.
reshaping the superyacht service landscape
Industry analysts say the deal marks a notable consolidation in the transatlantic superyacht services sector, combining Safe Harbor’s vertically integrated operations with Monaco Marine’s regional expertise. The move positions the group to meet growing demand for large-scale refit, maintenance and berthing facilities across both sides of the Atlantic.
Monaco’s Swiss community gathered on 1st August for their annual National Day celebration, hosted by the Club Suisse de Monaco and held in the beautiful gardens of Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort.
The evening began at 7pm with cocktails and Monégasque specialities, as Club Suisse de Monaco president Arik Röschke welcomed numerous new members alongside the evening’s guests of honour.
Attendees included Thomas Brezzo, President of Monaco’s National Council, and Nathalie Amoratti Blanc, whose presence highlighted the friendship between Switzerland and Monaco.
Swiss artist Monika Kaelin served as presenter and performed the national anthem, also delivering a speech to her compatriots. “Here in Monaco, the Swiss heart beats just as strongly as in Switzerland,” said Kaelin.
“We Swiss have a fundamental trust in our strengths and believe in our qualities. This was already proven by the immigrants in the 19th century, who helped to build Monaco and make it beautiful. Thanks to them, the Club Suisse de Monaco was also founded,” Kaelin added.
The musical programme featured violinist and singer Barbara Monte, followed by DJ Chabz with dance music. Additionally, Swedish signer Victoria Silystedt performed her song ‘Love it’ as another highlight of the evening.
The celebration continued well into the night and also included dancing, with guests forming a polonaise accompanied by a laser dance show by FullArt Event and acrobatic performances above the crowd.
In a sun-drenched ode to the Côte d’Azur, Brad Pitt lends his voice – and his visage – to a new campaign for The Gardener Gin, delivering what he calls a “love letter” to the French Riviera. This latest visual tribute, released in July 2025, intertwines cinematic scenery with a solemn yet lyrical narration that binds the spirit to the Riviera’s essence.
Against breathtaking panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline, Pitt begins: “The French Riviera is a beautiful and capricious muse,” his narration drifting over imagery of speedboats cutting through crystal-clear waters.
In closing, he intones: “This is the way of the French Riviera. This is The Gardener,” forging a compelling link between the region’s timeless glamour and the gin’s identity.
crafting a spirit steeped in terroir
Co-created with master distiller Tom Nichol and the esteemed Perrin family, The Gardener Gin was first unveiled at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. Distilled in France using organic botanicals, the gin marries juniper, angelica and coriander with fresh citrus from Provence—such as pink grapefruit, bitter orange, and lemon—capturing the fresh vibrance and aromatic depth of the Riviera.
The bottle’s aqua hue, inspired by vintage perfume flacons, was recognised with a Gold Medal in the 2024 Spirits Business Design & Packaging Masters.
pairing formula and lifestyle
To complement the campaign, The Gardener introduces a new cocktail — the French Riviera 75 — a citrus-led variation of the French 75 featuring its organic gin with Champagne, lemon juice and syrup, finished with orange zest.
This offering further enhances the gin’s identity as a liquid embodiment of the Riviera’s joie de vivre.
a trend rooted in authenticity
Though celebrity-backed spirits have become more prevalent in recent years, The Gardener Gin stands out by virtue of its authenticity.
The collaboration between Pitt, Nichol and the Perrins is less about star power and more about a shared artistic vision—translating a region’s terroir and lifestyle into a refined and organic London Dry gin.
In a market where such ventures are scrutinised for sincerity, this homage feels more nuanced, poetic and grounded.
The Princess Grace Foundation-USA has announced 18 Princess Grace Award winners and 12 Honoraria recipients for 2025, continuing its decades-long mission to support emerging artists who often go on to achieve extraordinary success.
This year’s recipients span theatre, dance and film, including directors and designers, choreographers, performers and a playwriting fellowship offered through partnership with New Dramatists. The award ceremony will take place on 29th October at the Plaza in New York City, presided over by Prince Albert II. Winners will receive cash grants of $15,000, while Honoraria recipients will receive $1,500.
This year’s Princess Grace Statue Award, recognising previous winners who have achieved continued excellence, goes to Isabella Boylston, principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and Sky Hoping, a MacArthur Fellow and filmmaker. Both will receive $25,000 unrestricted grants.
“The arts change lives and the nurturing impact of the Princess Grace Foundation on the development of so many young artists is immeasurable,” said Boylston.
The foundation has also launched its inaugural Princess Grace Artist Fellowship programme, offering $10,000 grants paired with coaching through the MAP Fund’s Scaffolding for Practicing Artists programme.
Dance Performance Award winner William Okajima – Photo by Alexander Diaz
2025 Award Winners
This year’s winners span all artistic disciplines. In theatre, recipients include Tramaine Raphael Gray, Christine Lyons, Germán Martinez, Dionne McClain-Freeney, and Taji Senior, with theatre honoraria going to Hamid Dehghani, Dina El-Aziz, Maleek Rae, and Roman Sanchez. Zoë Rhulen receives the New Dramatists Playwriting Fellowship.
Theater Honoraria Maleek Rae – Photo courtesy of the Princess Grace Foundation
Dance performance awards go to Madison Jenne’ Brown, Kayla Mak, and William Okajima, whilst choreography winners include Hannah Garner, Houston Thomas, and Christian A. Warner. Dance honoraria recipients are Anna Mains, Cyrie Topete, Marco Palomino, and Ogemdi Ude.
Choreography Award Winner Christian A Warner – Photo by Corey Hanes Photography
Film and animation winners include Isabela Fraga-Abaza, Luke Alexander Harris, Haisi Hu, Gabriella Mykal, Philip Thompson, and Fatima Wardy, with film honoraria awarded to Matt Feldman, Jared Hall, Karina Lomelin Ripper, and Loren Waters.
Film Award winner Fatima Wardy on set – Photo Courtesy of the Princess Grace Foundation
Prince Rainier III award
As previously announced by Monaco Life, Director Jon M. Chu, whose credits include Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights and the upcoming Wicked, will receive the Prince Rainier III Award, the foundation’s highest honour.
The award marks its 20th anniversary and includes a $25,000 grant to the recipient’s chosen charity. Chu, himself a 2001 Princess Grace Award winner, has chosen to direct his grant back to the Princess Grace Foundation itself.
Beyond the main awards, the foundation continues its commitment to nurturing young artists through the Grace Kelly Scholarships. This programme, created in partnership with the Educational Theatre Foundation, identifies and supports high school theatre students with four-year college scholarships paired with mentorship from Princess Grace Award winners, as well as one-time artistic training scholarships.
Foundation legacy
Established in 1982 by Prince Rainier III to honour his late wife Princess Grace of Monaco, the foundation has supported over 900 artists throughout its history.
Diana Kemppainen, the foundation’s president, said: “Each of these extraordinary emerging artists brings a distinctive voice and remarkable artistic technique. We look forward to supporting these artists as their careers unfold”.
Main photo credit: Dance Performance Honoraria Cyrie Topete, of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, in ‘Echoes of Our Ancestors’ by Maria Torres – Photo by Kristie Kahns
Le Méridien Beach Plaza installs bee houses to support local biodiversity
Le Méridien Beach Plaza has installed two mason bee habitats on its rooftop terrace as part of its ongoing environmental initiatives.
The hotel announced that it has partnered with French company Les Dorloteurs d’Abeilles to create the wooden nesting shelters, which are positioned facing the Mediterranean Sea. The initiative aims to support local biodiversity by providing homes for mason bees, which are crucial pollinators, despite not producing honey like their honeybee cousins.
Mason bees are solitary, non-aggressive insects that play a vital role in plant reproduction and fruit formation. Unlike honeybees, they don’t live in colonies but are highly effective at pollination as they move from flower to flower.
The mason bee habitat, photo by Le Méridien Beach Plaza.
Part of broader environmental strategy
The project builds on Le Méridien Beach Plaza’s existing environmental efforts, which include insect hotels, bird nesting boxes, a herb garden, and sustainable management of the hotel’s green spaces. The hotel’s location next to the Larvotto Marine Protected Area makes it particularly well-positioned to support both terrestrial and marine conservation efforts.
The bee habitat installation aligns with Monaco’s National Biodiversity Strategy, led by the Department of the Environment, which focuses on preserving natural heritage while raising public awareness about environmental challenges.
