Four palaces in the Alpes-Maritimes have joined the “select” circle of 5-star hotels. This was announced by Hervé Novelli, Secretary of State for Tourism, on Monday, August 3, during a stopover in Cannes. The newly distinguished establishments are the Hôtel Impérial Garoupe in Antibes Juan les Pins, the InterContinental Carlton Hotel in Cannes, La Bastide Saint-Antoine in Grasse, and the Hotel Negresco in Nice. This wave of awards follows the hotel classification reform initiated by the Secretary of State since January, aimed at attracting new upscale clientele.
For Gilbert Hirondelle, director of the Impérial Garoupe, “this distinction is obviously a source of pride.” He finds it all the more satisfying as his hotel is the first to be labeled as 5-star in Antibes. However, he believes that among his clients, “very few come because it is a starred hotel.” For Mr. Hirondelle, this novelty will, however, make it clearer to them since customers have difficulty distinguishing between starred and non-starred establishments.
The four newcomers now bring the total number of 5-star hotels in France to 26, four of which are located on the French Riviera. Indeed, the Le Cap Estel hotel in Eze, the Royal Riviera and the Grand Hotel in Cap Ferrat, as well as the Mas de Pierre in Saint-Paul de Vence had already received their fifth star in 2009. This distinction confirms the luxury tourism vocation of the Alpes-Maritimes department.
And the list will likely continue to expand since the Eden Roc in Antibes and the Château Saint-Martin in Vence are also claiming the 5-star label. Moreover, the Secretary of State for Tourism has encouraged as many hotels as possible to submit their applications. Through his actions, Hervé Novelli aims to modernize the French lodging offer.
The Novelty: A Less Restrictive Points Counting
The new classification grid ranges from 1-star for modest hotels to 5-stars for high-end establishments. The creation of the fifth star should enable France to assert its place on the international luxury tourism stage. According to Gilbert Hirondelle of the Impérial Garoupe, the creation of this new standard in France will “restore balance compared to abroad where a 5-star classification already exists.”
New criteria for awarding have, of course, been set by the State. They involve requirements much above the old 4-star Luxe category, such as more spacious rooms, air conditioning, and equipped with technology (computer, internet connection, printer, and fax), as well as highly dedicated staff (reception staff available 24/7, speaking at least two foreign languages including English, personalized welcome, assistance in settling the client, etc.). Finally, living spaces must be at least 90m².
The Novelty: the classification operates on the basis of an average. Each criterion contributes a number of points and the range of criteria is very wide. Thus, there is no established standard. If a criterion is not met, the hotel is not necessarily disqualified and can make up for it in other elements. “The old classification grid was more restrictive. Now, for example, a 5-star may be awarded even if it does not have a SPA thanks to the point counting mode,” explains Gilbert Hirondelle. A methodological guide is even made available to hoteliers wishing to apply for the 5-star title.
Thus, in the future, with the number of luxury hotels existing in the department, 5-stars are likely to abound under the azure sun.
