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Author: Stephanie Horsman

New Michelin Guide for hotels set to launch in 2024  

by: Stephanie Horsman
09/10/2023
michelin key

Recognised around the globe for its appraisals of fine dining establishments, the Michelin Guide is taking on another sector of the high-end hospitality industry: the world’s top hotels.  

Think of it as a sister guide to the original Michelin Guide, which was first launched back in 1926 and has become the gold standard when it comes to choosing an exceptional restaurant. There isn’t a chef around who would argue against the prestige of having a Michelin star – or two or even three – to their name, and it is hoped that this level of respect can be translated over to the world of hotels.  

OVER 5,000 HOTELS 

The team at the Michelin Guide have selected more than 5,000 accommodations in 120 countries to feature in the first edition, which will be known as the Michelin Key. 

“The Michelin Key is a clear, reliable indication for travellers,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide. “Just as the Michelin Star distinguishes those restaurants that are at the peak of their art, the Michelin Key recognises the most exceptional hotels throughout the world. It is also an acknowledgment of the teamwork of committed enthusiastic hospitality professionals.”  

FOUR YEARS IN THE MAKING 

Like with the restaurant edition, the judges recommend places that they consider to be “true destinations”, and the team has spent four years visiting potential establishments to list and collating the results.

The price points of the hotels will vary significantly, as do the styles, and readers will be pointed toward accommodations that stand out from the crowd. The evaluating criteria includes: displays of excellent design, craftsmanship and architecture, top notch service, comfort and maintenance, unique character, consistency between price paid and quality of the experience, and how the establishment contributes to the overall local landscape. 

The guide also strives to uphold three primary objectives, summed up as: “[guiding] travellers to boutique accommodations that offer much more than a room for a night; to precede or extend a gastronomic outing with a memorable hotel stay; and to allow people to choose, book and comment on stays on a single independent platform”. 

COMING SOON 

The team behind the guide are currently “in the field” and the first laureates of a ‘Michelin Key’ are set to be revealed in the first half of 2024.  

To read more about the guide, please click here.  

 

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Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer

Shortage of doctors and progress at new CHPG addressed by Monaco’s Health Minister

by: Stephanie Horsman
08/10/2023

From the supply issues of important vaccines to the shortage of available doctors and delays in making hospital appointments, Health Minister Christophe Robino has addressed some of the key challenges in the Principality. 

A press conference was held on Thursday 5th October at the Ministry of State in Monaco. Its purpose was a presentation of the work of the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health in the Principality, and Health Minister Christophe Robino led the discourse on the challenges currently facing his department as well as the advancements and progress it has made.

Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace 

High on the agenda was addressing the shortage of doctors at the Centre Hospitalier Princesse Grace (CHPG), which is most felt within the fields of general medicine, rheumatology, pulmonology, psychiatry and child psychiatry, according to the minister. 

Robino also made mention of the complaints he has received from members of the public, who say they are not able to book appointments in a timely manner. The minister said he is seeking to improve this in areas where there was a “proven need… particularly in gynaecology-obstetrics and soon in paediatrics”.  

He also touched on the building of the new hospital, which he says is on track to be ready for occupation in 2025 before the next phase kicks in, which will include the demolition of the old facility. It should be fully completed by 2031/32. 

Availability of vaccines 

Robino used the press event to announce that 3,000 doses of the latest Covid vaccine would be arriving in Principality the coming days, and would be available from the Centre Monégasque de Dépistage. 

He said that the vaccine was recommended given the “slight upsurge linked to the circulation of the Eris variant, [a] sub-variant of Omicron”.  

Additional inoculation campaigns due soon include those against flu and papillomavirus (HPV). On the list is also a monoclonal antibody jab called Beyfortus, which can provide protection against bronchiolitis. At the moment, it is only available in very small numbers – there are just 34 doses currently in Monaco – due to an issue importing the vaccine from France. 

“As part of the 2017 Health Cooperation Agreement [with France], we have discussions via diplomatic channels with the French authorities to benefit employees who are insured in Monaco,” said Robino of the current situation.  

France’s supply is strictly for the use of French social security beneficiaries, but 300 more doses are on order now for Monaco residents.  

Positive news 

In addition to these challenges, there have been many positive advances made over the past year in the Principality that give reason to celebrate. 

These notably included the creation of a dedicated Delegate for Disabilities within the Ministry. 

“We have decided to install a delegate within the disability department whose mission is to put in place a five-year plan to improve the inclusion of people with reduced mobility,” said Robino, who is set to make the formal announcement of his appointee, Lionel Galfré, on International Day of Persons with Disabilities later this year.   

Robino confirmed that the Monegasque government is looking at a bill that will extend paternity leave to 21 days for a normal birth and 28 days for special instances. Another will soon be discussed that will allow self-employed workers to take advantage of maternity leave benefits.    

Robino also said that a proposal to ban electronic cigarettes, similar to that being considered in France, is in the works.  

 

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Photo source: CHPG / Facebook

Monaco to relive its Golden Age with Centennial Ball in memory of Prince Rainier III

by: Stephanie Horsman
07/10/2023

The highlight of the coming month will undoubtedly be the Centennial Ball at the Casino de Monte-Carlo, but there are lots of other special events planned in memory of Prince Rainier III this October too. Here are all the details.  

Prince Rainier III, Monaco’s “Builder Prince” and the father of the nation’s current sovereign, Prince Albert II, would have been 100 this year. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy lives on all over the Principality, which was forever changed under his careful yet ambitious stewardship.  

Events held in his honour have been organised throughout 2023 and continue in October with a host of cultural and social dates.  

Rainier III par Lui-Même

Next month’s programme begins with a screening of a film directed by Yann-Antony Noghès entitled Rainier III par Lui-Même on 5th October at 6.30pm in Monaco’s Cinema des Beaux-Arts. The film is a biopic that uses personal sound recordings made by Prince Rainier to tell the story of his fascinating life in his own words. It will be shown in French with English subtitles. 

There will be another chance to catch the film on 25th October at the Théâtre des Variétés, also at 6.30pm.  

For the love of music

On 6th October will be the first part in a series called Rainier III et Le Musique: La Musique Savante, an event being touted as a “conference-concert”, which is set to take place at the Théâtre des Variétés at 6.30pm. 

The line-up features music therapy practitioner Raphaëlle Doublier speaking on the late Prince Rainier’s love of music and how he sought to bring a strong musical culture to the Principality.  

Works by Jules Lechner, César Scotto and Jean Françaix will be performed by a piano-cello duo, a solo pianist and a bassoon quintet from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo. Additionally, an extract from an oratorio by Monegasque poet and composer Léo Ferré, which was written at the Prince’s behest, will be performed. 

A taste of the golden years of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace 

Then, on 20th October, the much-awaited Centennial Ball will be held in the Casino de Monte-Carlo.  

This charity gala affair invites its prestigious guest list to relive the exquisite balls hosted in yesteryear by Prince Rainier and his beloved wife, Princess Grace. The party starts at 8pm and is being organised by Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.  

Read related:

Prince Rainier III documentary to be rolled out in cinemas across Monaco 

 

 

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Photo credit: Palais Princier de Monaco Archives / Georges Lukomski

Experts “gobsmacked” by September’s record high global temperatures

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/10/2023
september record temp

This September smashed the previous temperature record set for the month by 0.5ºC, making it the largest leap in temperature ever noted and leading scientists to argue that “the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical”.  

With one scientist, Zeke Hausfather from the Berkeley Earth Climate Data Project, calling the average temperatures of this most recent September “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas”, another has called for world leaders to step up their efforts to combat global warming, and quickly.  

“The unprecedented temperatures for the time of year observed in September – following a record summer – have broken records by an extraordinary amount,” says Samantha Burgess, Deputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the European entity that provides authoritative information about the past, present and future climate activity around the globe. “This extreme month has pushed 2023 into the dubious honour of first place, on track to be the warmest year and around 1.4°C above preindustrial average temperatures. Two months out from COP28, the sense of urgency for ambitious climate action has never been more critical.” 

Unprecedented temperatures  

Temperatures were up an astonishing 1.8ºC over preindustrial levels, and 0.5ºC on the previous records for the month.  

The average surface air temperature for the planet was 16.38ºC, nearly a degree above the average for 1991 to 2020.  

Weather patterns and carbon emissions blamed  

A flip from La Niña to El Niño and carbon emissions are being blamed as the primary drivers of what was the hottest September on record for the planet.  

El Niño is a climate pattern that sees the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, thus pushing air temperatures up.  

High levels of carbon dioxide emissions combined with El Niño have created a set of circumstances that has forecasters anticipating 2023 to be the hottest year on record, with 2024 possibly exceeding that.  

France, Germany, Poland and the UK all experienced record-busting warmth in September, while on the other side of the planet, many parts of Australia hit 3ºC to 5ºC above normal.  

 

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Photo source: BCF, Unsplash

Photos: Ancient Grimaldi strongholds in Calabria welcome Prince Albert with open arms

by: Stephanie Horsman
06/10/2023

Less than a year since his last visit to the beautiful Italian region, Prince Albert II of Monaco has headed back to Calabria on a mission to tour the newest members of the Grimaldi Historic Sites network.  

The Prince of Monaco regularly makes trips to the places historically linked to his family as a way of strengthening the cultural and community ties between the more than 125 towns and villages across France and Italy that were once connected to the Grimaldis. 

Prince Albert departed on one such trip from 3rd to 4th October, heading south to Calabria on a visit to three places that have now been welcomed into the fold of the Grimaldi Historic Sites network.  

Taurianova, Terranova Sappo Minulio and Seminara

On the first day of his trip, he visited Taurianova, a place ruled over by Grimaldis in the 15th century. There he met the mayor, Rocco Biasi, and together they unveiled the sign designating the town as part of the network.  

Also on the agenda in Taurianova was a tour of Palazzo Contestabile, ahead of a dinner with Biasi and the mayors of the other two destinations on his list – Terranova Sappo Minulio and Seminara – as well as the three former Grimaldi strongholds of Gerace, Cittanova and Molochio, which were visited by the sovereign on a similar endeavour last year.  

On 4th October, Prince Albert moved on to Terranova Sappo Minulio, where he met with Mayor Ettore Tigani and unveiled the sign making the village a Grimaldi Historic Site. The Prince was treated to a violin and piano concert at the Palazzo della Storia, dell’Arte e della Cultura and took a trip to the local church, the Maria Santissima Assunta. 

He moved onto Seminara in the afternoon, which was a Grimaldi-led town in the 16th century. Giovanni Piccolo, the mayor, joined the Prince as he unveiled the Grimaldi Historic Site sign at the town’s entrance and inaugurated a plaque that was placed at the town hall to celebrate his trip. Piccolo also made Prince Albert an honorary citizen.  

The Basilica Santuario Maria Santissima dei Poveri was the Monegasque Prince’s next stop, a church destroyed by an earthquake in 1908 and rebuilt in 1922. His day ended with a stop at the Calabria Ceramics Museum, “which traces the centuries-old history of this ancient tradition and craftsmanship which has made this village world famous”. 

Click on the images below to see more from his trip: 

 

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Monaco expertise at heart of Saudi Arabia’s luxe Amaala Yacht Club development

by: Stephanie Horsman
05/10/2023
monaco amaala

The Yacht Club de Monaco and Monaco Marine Management have offered their knowledge, assistance and expertise to the new Amaala Yacht Club development in Saudi Arabia.  

After a series of meetings between Monaco and Saudi representatives, the two highly sought-after coastal nations have a new project: the futuristic Amaala Yacht Club in the Triple Bay Marina.   

WORKING TOGETHER 

Monaco Marine Management (M3) and the Yacht Club de Monaco (MYC) are now set to lend their knowledge and expertise in running and operating a high-end marina and club to Saudi Arabia’s futuristic yacht club, the Amaala.  

M3 has been enlisted to help run the club, whilst the MYC has been entrusted to start a sailing school, create events and assist with training and recruitment. This comes after the MYC signed a deal in August with Amaala’s regulatory body to be give permission to host events in Saudi.  

WHAT IS AMAALA? 

The 7,900m2 club, designed by architecture firm HSK, is four storeys of pure luxury and graceful beauty.  

“Set within the Triple Bay Marina of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Nature Reserve, Amaala’s new Yacht Club is a keystone development with a captivating free-flowing structure that aims to create a one-of-a-kind meeting point between land and sea,” reads the club’s website. 

SUSTAINABILITY A CORE FOCUS 

Monaco’s strong sustainability credentials also attracted the eye of Amaala CEO John Pagano, who says, “We anticipate that Amaala will become an international hub for luxury yachting, and as such, the Yacht Club required a world-class design, influenced by the surrounding natural elements and Arabic heritage, and underpinned by our commitment to sustainability.” 

This is part of a bigger picture plan by the Crown Prince, who formed the Saudi Green Initiative as a way of promoting environmentalism and green energy, thus changing the image of Saudi Arabia as nothing more than one of the world’s biggest oil exporting nations to that of a forward-thinking destination.  

 

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Photo source: Amaala Yacht Club