Alice Marshall Public Relations • News from Michel Reybier Hospitality

News from Michel Reybier Hospitality

March 18th, 2021

Developed by the French entrepreneur, Michel Reybier Hospitality encompasses properties across France and Switzerland, including the La Réserve brand (Paris, Ramatuelle, Zurich, Geneva). The art de vivre philosophy of living one’s best life carries throughout the brand, from historic addresses to Nescens better-aging programs to Michelin-starred yet wholesome cuisine. There’s something for every type of traveler.

For the City Slicker

Not the Zurich You Think You Know: Despite being Switzerland’s banking capital, Zurich is fondly referred to as a ’boutique city’ and for years has been ranked among the world’s top places in terms of its quality of life. A government that is nurturing students and entrepreneurs through its universities and incubators has replaced bureaucratic barriers that hindered innovation. Formerly a hotbed of dissent, it was here that the Protestant Revolution began in the 16th century and the Dada movement was established in 1916. Zurich is once again being recognized as a culture hub as it was in the mid-20th century when Picasso and Chagall roamed its streets. Guests of La Réserve Eden au Lac, which opened in January 2020 following a two-and-a-half year restoration by Philippe Starck, receive city passes granting complimentary access to public transportation and discounts at the city’s world-class museums. The Brutalist Swiss National Museum is completing a multi-phase expansion helmed by Swiss architects Christ & Gantenbein. In October 2021, the veil will be lifted on a David Chipperfield-designed extension to the Kunsthaus art museum, doubling the footprint and making it the second largest collection of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art outside Paris. The expansion is part of a development plan for the city to create an ‘education mile,’ a trail of cultural buildings through the city. The area is already generating buzz with a new art quarter and galleries like Eva Presenhuber and Galerie Brome vying for prime spots near the museum. Switzerland is of course known for its chocolate and sweet-toothed travelers will appreciate the new Lindt Home of Chocolate, an immersive museum that opened in 2020.

Paris is Always a Good Idea: The saying is true, but the City of Light seems to be having an extra special moment right now. The highly anticipated Bourse de Commerce, the Tadao Ando-designed museum housing the Pinault collection, will open its doors to the public in the coming months. In other art news, the Musée Jacquemart-André will debut a Botticelli exhibition on September 10, 2021 – just off the heels of the artist’s record-setting auction at Sotheby’s. On the hotel front, Cheval Blanc will be unveiled this spring, the Marine hotel will open its doors to the public in July 2021 for the first time in more than two centuries, and Airelles Chateau de Versailles will welcome guests on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles. La Réserve Paris is designed by interior designer Jacques Garcia who lent his signature touch to the décor, with silk damask walls, velvet drapery and herringbone parquet floors. At 40 rooms (26 of which are suites), it is the smallest and only-French owned of the Palace hotels and feels like a private home – no wonder as the Haussmann-style building was constructed in 1854 and previously the residence of the Duc de Morny (step-brother of Emperor Napoleon III).

Flexibility is the Trend That’s Here to Stay: Say goodbye to those rushed breakfasts and last-minute packing on check-out day. Guests of La Réserve Geneva can now check in as early as 8:00am and check out as late as 8:00pm. The idea came about after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The hotel team was looking to do something proactive and positive during these otherwise challenging times when they have more inventory than usual. The value-add offer allows guests to access a room for 36 hours (vs. the standard 21 hours with a 3pm check-in and 12pm check-out). The floating check-in is at no additional cost and available for every room category; guests just need to give 48-hour notice before arrival. Other hotels getting in on the trend include Peninsula Hotels, Dromoland Castle in Ireland, and La Samanna, a Belmond Hotel, St. Martin.

For the Group Looking to Reunite

Pool? Check. Gardens? Check. Views? Check: Nestled within a Mediterranean jardin overlooking the Cote d’Azur is the cliffside retreat, La Réserve Ramatuelle. The Palace hotel will reopen on May 12, 2021, lifting the veil on a refreshed lobby, two Michelin-starred restaurant, and terrace with panoramic views of the sea. The 28-room/14-villa property was designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, one of the designers of Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Ideal for these Covid times, the villas seamlessly blend the indoors and outdoors with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. They range from three- to seven- bedrooms and each come with their own sprawling gardens and pool as well as front-row views of the Mediterranean Sea. Services that can be added on include: private chef, personal trainer, grocery delivery, and boat excursion.

Personal Pied- à-Terre: The La Réserve Paris Apartments overlook the Trocadero in the 16th arrondissement – meaning unbeatable views of the Eiffel Towel. The top floor apartments can be connected to create a nearly 4,000-square-foot pied- à-terre. The building has its own private street entrance and guests buying out the top floor would receive a key for private elevator access. The flats have a large kitchen and the pantry and wine cellar come fully stocked. Large balconies can accommodate intimate dinner parties prepared by a private chef. Furniture can be rearranged to guests’ liking and even a home gym and cinema can be set up.

Privacy is the Name of the Game: Located in the heart of a 200-acre vineyard in Bordeaux, La Chartreuse de Cos d’Estournel is the private residence of Michel Reybier. The Cos d’Estournel vineyard is one of just 14 Chateaux ranked as Second Growth in 1855. The Jacques Garcia-designed house is decorated in a mix of European antiques and Asian tapestries has six bedrooms and two suites; a library; dining room; hammam; indoor and outdoor swimming pools; and a wine cellar, of course.

For the Outdoor Enthusiast

300 Days of Sunshine: In Switzerland’s charming, car-free town of Zermatt, the iconic Schweizerhof hotel reopened in 2019 with a fresh look following an extensive, eight-month top-to-bottom renovation. Designed in an Alpine-chalet style, Schweizerhof is situated on the main thoroughfare of Bahnhofstrasse at the base of the Matterhorn. Oak walls and marble bathrooms in the guest rooms create a cozy, yet contemporary environment while fun touches like wooden hiking sticks, cow bells and comforters emblazoned with the Matterhorn lend a sense of place. While snow sports are available 365 days a year in Zermatt , there is plenty to do beyond skiing and snowboarding. When the temperatures rise, there are abundant trails for hiking and mountain biking. Fun fact: Zermatt is home to the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Speaking of heights, paragliding over the alps offers unbeatable views of the Matterhorn. The faint of heart might prefer to fly fish in the alpine lakes which are home to freshwater trout. It helps that Zermatt has over 300 days of sunshine. Since the town is car-free, horse-drawn carriages in town are available to take guests for a ride.

More than Just Wine: The 14-room La Maison d’Estournel in Bordeaux’s Médoc region has no shortage of outdoor activities; there is an ocean, rivers and vineyards nearby, after all. Experiences include fishing on the Gironde River, a private visit the oldest lighthouse in France still in operation, and biking along the Bay of Arachon followed by lunch in an oyster farmer’s hut. Adults can’t have all the fun so kids get in on the action too, with farming classes complete with friendly donkeys, sheep and chickens; street art workshops led by a local painter; and surfing lessons on the coast with a professional.

For the Wellness Junkie

An Urban Retreat: Located 10 minutes outside Switzerland’s second-largest city, La Réserve Geneva feels much farther thanks to its location within a 10-acre park on the shores of Lac Léman. With Europe’s largest alpine lake for its front yard, the property is more like an urban resort. At over 20,000-square-feet, the Nescens Spa is the largest in the city. The Nescens brand was developed by Professor Jacques Proust, a pioneer in anti-aging medicine, at Geneva’s Center for the Prevention of Aging at the Clinique de Genolier. Guests who participate in the signature Better Aging Programs receive a medical evaluation on their first day, meeting with a team of doctors and specialists. With the help of these professionals, guests will understand their own bio-individuality of aging from a genetic, dietary and psychological standpoint before receiving a personalized 4- or 7-day itinerary. The program is tailored to individual goals, incorporating three daily meals, personal training sessions and spa treatments.

Wellness, but Make It French: Like at the Geneva Spa, the multi-day Nescens programs at La Réserve Ramatuelle are bespoke and holistic, but this is a pick for the nature lover. There’s an emphasis on outdoor fitness here – and given the breathtaking setting overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, no one will wonder why. Think guided hikes along the coastline, swimming, and aqua cycling classes in the open-air pool. In addition to offering signature Nescens programs the spa also has Crème de la Mer treatments. The hotel’s restaurant, La Voile, was recently awarded two Michelin stars. Dishes adhere to the Mediterranean diet and highlight local, seasonal seafood and fresh produce and herbs alongside healthy fats like avocado and olive oil. Chef Eric Canino doesn’t on sacrifice flavor, though – this is France, after all.

News from Michel Reybier Hospitality

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