SimplyAbuDhabi XLI

T he world-renowned, iconic Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo is in a new chapter in its storied history. In the centre of Monaco, the area around Place du Casino has undergone a huge transformation, giving rise to a new Monte-Carlo, with the Hôtel de Paris Monte- Carlo at its heart. It’s a metamorphosis aimed at giving an even greater sense of definition to François Blanc’s dream of “a hotel that surpasses everything created up to now” and of perpetuating the legend in the 21st century. A magical hotel at the forefront of the luxury hotel sector Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was built in 1864 on the arid Plateau des Spélugues, when Monte-Carlo was barely taking shape. Thanks to support from Prince Charles III and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers, the billionaire François Blanc took a big gamble and decided to entirely change an area of the city covered in olive trees and lemon trees into an opulent venue for luxury – the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. For visitors travelling from all over Europe to discover the new face of the Principality, he had a hotel built on the model of the Grand Hôtel in Boulevard des Capucines in Paris. Affluence in all its splendour, the international elite rushed to stay - Kings, Princes, Heads of State, Ministers, the very best from governances, industry, science and the arts. Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, along with Casino de Monte-Carlo, established the foundations of the “resort concept”. Over the years, it has been modernised on numerous occasions to meet the demands of the international clientèle. In 1909, the hotel was entirely renovated, when the architectural style of the Belle Epoque was adopted in Monte- Carlo. From its renovation to its extraordinary history, its life has been marked by visits of countless VIPs, world-renowned artists and celebrities. From the Prince of Wales, the future Edward VII, Alexandre Dumas, Jacques Offenbach and Winston Churchill, to James Bond (where the cast of Golden Eye stayed) and artists and stars of the stage and screen, including Sarah Bernhardt, Charlie Chaplin, Maria Callas and Salvador Dali. Errol Flynn also celebrated his marriage there in the Salle Empire. During the 1950s, the world came to visit the Princely Couple, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, where the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo soon became a favourite venue for the Princess. Continuing the story: A metamorphosis starts in 2014 Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo continues to be admired by guests from all over the world and bears witness to a lifestyle that harmoniously combines tradition and contemporaneity. A new page in its history began with the renovation of its interior spaces and bedrooms, the creation of two exceptional Suites and the launch of ÔMER, a new restaurant by Alain Ducasse. A multi-phase renovation, which included the Rotunda, Beaux-Arts wing, and Lobby and Bar Américain, was part of Monte-Carlo’s reinvention for the 21st century. Simply Abu Dhabi | 279