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A&K appoint Michael Wale as new CEO

by: Cassandra Tanti
30/07/2020

Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio have named Michael Wale as the new President and CEO of the Abercrombie & Kent Group.
Michael Wale joins the luxury travel company from Kerzner International, the owner of Atlantis and One and Only Resorts, where he was CEO. Before joining Kerzner, his career spanned almost 40 years with Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, culminating as President for Europe, Africa and Middle East, directly overseeing the operations of 250 hotels and resorts, for its 10 brands, in 60 countries. His new role will be effective 1st October 2020.
“With Michael, Abercrombie and Kent will start an exciting new chapter,” said Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio. “When guests book a holiday with us, they know we will guide them to amazing places, but the destination is a given. What they expect from us – and what keeps them coming back – is how we go the extra mile. Michael’s extensive experience in guest services and operations will take what A&K is known for to the next level.”
Geoffrey Kent added: “Michael Wale has a remarkable track record of steering leading luxury brands towards unequalled heights. We look forward to working with him to elevate Abercrombie and Kent’s profile and achieve even higher standards of excellence.”
Michael Wale is currently based in Dubai and will be relocating to Monaco. He will continue his association with Kerzner International as he joins the Board of the company.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Abercrombie and Kent at this pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Michael Wale. “I have travelled with A&K before and understand its distinctive approach to luxury experiential travel. I also look forward to working with Geoffrey and Manfredi, two titans of the travel industry, to build a bright future for our guests, partners and staff.”
Abercrombie and Kent is the world’s leading luxury and adventure travel company. Founded by Geoffrey Kent and his parents in 1962 as the first luxury safari outfitter, A&K’s award-winning travel services now extend around the globe to more than 100 countries on all seven continents.
Recent innovations include Inspiring Expeditions by Geoffrey Kent and Wings Over the World, regional journeys that combine the advantages of luxury small group travel with the comfort of privately-chartered flights.
Related stories:

Interview: Geoffrey Kent on the future of luxury travel

Interview: Geoffrey Kent, founder of Abercrombie & Kent, on how it all began

The best holiday destinations for 2020

 
 

Experience: New pop up terrace at Le Louis XV

by: Cassandra Tanti
15/07/2020

Just when you thought the award winning, three-Michelin star restaurant Le Louis XV had reached its pinnacle, it goes and offers something new and exciting for its privileged guests.
It was the perfect evening to launch the new pop-up terrace of Alain Ducasse’s Le Louis XV restaurant at the Hôtel de Paris. The warm glow of an early evening sun glistening off of a bustling new Casino Square, the hum of contentment radiating from the Café de Paris, a crescent of supercars lining the legendary Casino … for the first time in a long time, it felt like Monte Carlo was whole again.
This evening, we have been invited to experience something special. The Louis XV restaurant, famous for its gilded interior and terrace with compelling views, is cleverly offering extra space for guests this Covid year.
The terrace of the Salle Empire, normally reserved for events hosted in the glamorous ballroom, is now available to guests of the three Michelin-starred restaurant, exclusively for the summer.

It is the perfect setting for our evening, which begins theatrically with an array of seasoned morsels of seafood steamed a la table upon a bed of hot rocks.
The narrative continues to unfold with a delightful blue lobster in chilled melon broth and hints of lemongrass and ginger. This is perfectly paired with the pear and citrus aromas of a Côtes de Provence Clarendon white – a refreshing ascent for a five-course meal on this warm summer’s night.
The full flavours of a Provençal garden shine through on the second course – the chef’s interpretation of a vegetable minestrone, celebrating the spectacular simplicity of summer vegetables and the punch of crushed basil.

To follow, perhaps my favourite dish and wine of the night – Mediterranean bass coupled with a pop of sea cucumber, a silky purslane puree, sweet summer tomato, and a deliciously rich jus. The wine: a crisp and clean Chassagne-Montrachet white.
By this stage, my palate and appetite are both full and undeniably content, but it would be rude of me not to indulge in the fourth course of the evening: Guinea fowl from les Landes with baby girolles and potato foam. Its richness is cleverly matched with a 2004 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru red.
It is now that we are introduced to Head Chef Dominique Lory. The quietly spoken Frenchman has worked his way through the ranks of Alain Ducasse restaurants since 1998, taking full reign of Le Louis XV in 2013 and wholeheartedly embracing the long-standing philosophy of this world-famous institution: Mediterranean cuisine that is generous, simple and sincere.

Restaurant Director Michel Lang and Head Chef Dominique Lory

He is accompanied by Restaurant Director Michel Lang who orchestrates an impeccable service to the delight of a very demanding clientele. His dedication to Alain Ducasse and Le Louis XV for more than 27 years now is reflected in a staff who knows how to deliver the very best of French service with just the right amount of warmth to create a truly magical experience.
To end our menu this evening (although it is never really the end, is it?) is the famous Le Louis XV soufflé served with a creamy lemon thyme ice cream and a granita-laced panna cotta. A fruity Sauternes-Barsac from Château Coutet rounds out the degustation.
Finally, a bright green herb garden is wheeled to the table and we are invited to choose our infusion, freshly picked for our tea, accompanied by a selection of rich dark chocolates and homemade candies.
It is a fine end to what can only be described as an extraordinary evening, in an exceptional setting, with impeccable service and a cuisine that celebrates everything about the Mediterranean.
The fact that even more summer guests can now enjoy this privilege with the exhilarating atmosphere of the new Casino Square is simply genius.
See below for a full gallery of the evening, click on the pictures to enlarge…

Photos by Monaco Life, all rights reserved
 
Related stories:

Louis XV named ‘Masterpiece of the year’ by Gault & Millau 2020

Princely family inaugurates new Casino Square

 
 

Grimaldi Forum reaches major milestone

by: Cassandra Tanti
10/07/2020

The Grimaldi Forum team has celebrated its 20th anniversary with Prince Albert, a momentous occasion during which details of two upcoming summer exhibitions were revealed.
Prince Albert joined a large cohort of Grimaldi Forum Monaco (GFM) employees on
Thursday 9th July to mark an important anniversary not only for the congress and culture centre, but for Monaco.
Given the coronavirus crisis, it is perhaps not the party that everyone had in mind, however the GFM team were keen to give it a good crack.
It is this enormous team spirit which is at the heart of the success of the Grimaldi Forum, said Sylvie Biancheri, General Director of the GFM, which has been an “extraordinary human adventure, with a team which has largely been there since the start and which each new recruit enthusiastically joins.”
In fact, more than half of the workforce has been with the centre for more than 10 years, while 25% have been part of the team since 2000.
After the screening of a film on the history of the Grimaldi Forum, Sylvie Biancheri spoke about the incredible rise of the institution, which had achieved record figures in 2019 with a turnover of €24 million, 290,000 visitors and almost 120 events. This was on the back of five years of constant growth.
Building on these figures, it was said that the Grimaldi Forum Monaco remains optimistic about its future. Recovery is expected from September when a full calendar of events kicks off, including an exciting new hybrid concept utilising digital meetings.
Indeed, the centre is refocussing its commercial strategy, launching a 360° virtual reality tour of the venue before the end of the year – an innovative way to introduce people to its new 600 sqm terrace in September and the building’s upcoming extension into the new Marretera eco-district.
In terms of culture and in light of the disappointing cancellation of this year’s ‘Monaco and Automobile’ exhibition, the GFM has been able to confirm that next year’s summer exhibition will be dedicated to Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti, featuring the largest selection of works ever loaned by the eponymous Foundation. The following year, in 2023, the Grimaldi Forum will showcase the master of Impressionism: Claude Monet.
In the shorter term, the GFM will mark its official birthday on 20th July with a cultural retrospective devoted to all of the 20 summer exhibitions and musical events of the past two decades, which the public can see on the GFM social networks.
 
Photos: © Grimaldi Forum Monaco 2020 JC Vinaj
 
 

Live music returns to Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
09/07/2020

The government has further relaxed Covid-related restrictions in the Principality, a move that is being welcomed by restaurants and bars who are keen to boost clientele.
Following a ministerial decision on 26th June, the rules for musical ambiance and table spacing in restaurants and bars have been rolled back somewhat.
Since Monday 6th July, the required distance between tables has been reduced from 1.5 metres to 1 metre – not far from the standard.
Meanwhile, live bands and DJs can once again perform throughout Monaco, however there will be a sound limitation of 74 decibels in certain venues. As the chart shows below, this is quite low – equivalent to the sound of a vacuum cleaner.

Decibels chart, courtesy Lion Stone Events

But the sound restriction will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the operator’s request and assessed depending on the configuration of the venue and the type of live music.
 
Photo: Live events band Four Kicks, courtesy Studio Cabrelli
 
 

What property features are HNW house hunters looking for?

by: Cassandra Tanti
08/07/2020

From waterfront views to private pools, in-house chefs to wine cellars, the world’s super-rich home buyers have a slightly different list of property requirements compared to the average buyer.
Research from leading high-net-worth (HNW) mortgage broker Enness Global has revealed which luxury property features have seen the biggest surge in popularity since the start of the year.
Most popular property features 
Wherever you are buying at the top end of the market, the same property features appear to hold the greatest interest amongst buyers.
New-builds, a spa, a furnished property, a garage, a garden, a good view and a waterfront property consistently ranked in the top five features across London, Monaco, Singapore, New York, Honk Kong and Dubai.
A new property was of the greatest interest to buyers in London, Singapore, New York and Hong Kong.
In Monaco, unsurprisingly with space at a premium, homebuyers searching for a property with a garage was by far the most sought-after requirement, even double that of the next most popular search term: ‘new’.
Biggest increases in interest
However, while these traditional property features will always hold a strong level of interest, a number of additional features have seen a sharp uplift in buyer search interest so far this year when compared to the same time last year.
Sea views, a library, private pools, upgraded and modern homes, home gyms, a wine cellar, a chef, security, a games room and a sauna are some of the most common features to have seen an increase.
In London, searches for properties with upgraded specifications above and beyond that of the regular home have seen the largest increase (+67%), along with wine cellars (+50%) and home gyms (+28%).

Interestingly, in Monaco, searches for a sauna have seen a surge (+122%), with both a sea view (+77%) and a view in general (+45%) also growing in popularity, perhaps due to the fact that people were confined to their properties for a number of months this year.
In Singapore, homes with a games rooms have seen the largest uplift in interest (+118%), while in New York private pools (+245%), home gyms (158%) and wine cellars (+42%) have increased in popularity.
In Hong Kong, searches for homes with a garage (+731%), sea view (+205%) and library (+113%) have increased the most, with a sea view (+368%) and a library (+184%) also increasing in popularity in Dubai, along with private pools (+166%).
“For most of us, an affordable asking price and a pleasant property are the biggest requirements when house hunting, but this certainly isn’t the case when it comes to the super-rich,” says Hugh Wade-Jones, managing director of Enness Global Mortgages. “That said, even at the very top end of the market, homebuyers tend to prioritise the same key features as most of us. A garage, a garden, perhaps some furnishings and a pleasant view are the foundations of most property searches.”
“But above and beyond these basic needs, it’s interesting to see what has now grown in popularity with current buyers when compared to this time last year,” adds Mr Wade-Jones. “With the current pandemic impacting all of us, features to enhance health and social wellbeing are rapidly growing in demand. Today’s high-end homebuyer wants a clean, new home, with modern features and appliances. They want an enhanced level of security and they want health and fitness outlets such as spas, gyms and pools. Throw in a fine wine cellar and a games room and you’re ticking almost every box.”
 
Photo: Spacious villa in Provençal countryside

 
 
 

Digital forum showcasing local artists

by: Cassandra Tanti
04/06/2020

The 5th Monaco Artists Forum, featuring both amateur and professional artists in the Principality, kicks off on Friday 5th June and will take the form of a virtual exhibition this year.
The biennial event normally takes place at the beginning of June at the Rainier III Auditorium and is highly awaited by artists from Monaco.
The initiative, conceived by the Prince’s Government and implemented by the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, aims to support local artists and integrate them into the Principality’s cultural policy.
The objective, particularly pertinent during this crisis period, is to ensure continuity in terms of cultural programming and to offer an interesting alternative to its many participants.
Nearly 80 artists, amateurs and professionals, Monegasques and residents, present their work on canvas, expressing themselves in the fields of painting, sculpture, and photography.
Once again, the public will have an opportunity to vote online for their favourite work. The winner will be announced on 13th June on the home page of the website – www.forumdesartistes.mc – which will honour the work and its creator.
This virtual art gallery will be available until Friday 3rd July. A catalogue of the 5th Monaco Artists Forum will be available to download, as a souvenir of this exceptional forum.
Visit the social media sites to discover the participating artists:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Forum-des-Artistes-Monaco-100262665050818/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/forumartistesmonaco/