Photo: Pascal Billard © Palace Le Meurice
When a new face arrives at Le Meurice Palace, the discreet world of Parisian hospitality takes notice. A butterfly effect that could shape the Palace of tomorrow, just as it helped establish the one of yesterday in 1835. Appointed general manager, Frenchman Pascal Billard arrives at a pivotal moment as the bicentenary approaches. A date with history. What roadmap and what challenges lie ahead to preserve its standing? A wide-angle look with this leading hospitality specialist.
By Sabah Kaddouri
You recently took over as general manager of Le Meurice Palace, succeeding eighteen years under Franka Holtmann, the most French of Germans. What was your first decisive move?
Pascal Billard: My first decision was above all not to make one! I did not want to upset things by imposing changes as soon as I arrived. The hotel had been very well managed in the absence of a general manager for several months, and the teams are outstanding – I wanted to take the time to observe, to immerse myself, and to get to know everyone so I could form a precise picture of this emblematic place, so deeply rooted in Parisian life.
After that, one of my first objectives was to bring fresh momentum to the Management Committee and to develop a 2025-2035 strategic plan, including projects such as a revamped wellness offering, a bold bar concept and renewed momentum for the Le Dalí restaurant. In short: thinking about the Palace of tomorrow.
Le Meurice is one of those sacred places whose imposing history commands respect. As a grand witness soon to mark its 200th anniversary, is it not, almost against its will, expected not to venture into deep transformation so as not to alter its essence or unsettle its loyal guests?
Where do you draw the line?
Le Meurice has always known how to adapt to its time. Over the years, the hotel has undergone major renovations. Built on a rich historical legacy inspired by artists and thinkers, its aim has been to remain faithful to the spirit of 18th-century French design. It needed a subtly modernised elegance to appeal to today’s travellers. The project was built around the idea of luxurious comfort and a sense of wellbeing, combined with authentic works of art and lighting enhanced by shimmering fabrics. The intuitive technology is discreet and always there to serve the guest. We invite our visitors to appreciate all these exceptional details and to rediscover nearly 200 years of history through today’s eyes. I am convinced that the inspiration drawn from a great era in French history is reassuring for many, and not only in uncertain times.
When preserving historic places, measured choices are essential in order to retain their soul without distorting the property. We all know examples of hotels renovated by designers whose main goal was to leave their mark, but at the expense of the hotel’s historical identity.
The five-star property knows how to be daring… From its collaboration with Philippe Starck and Cédric Grolet to the filming of Kanye West and Jay Z’s “Niggas in Paris” video, the hotel plays with the codes. What is the next collaboration you are eager to bring to life?
There is indeed a project, and it is set to shake up the codes, but it is too early to talk about it – stay tuned, as they say!
We recently transformed one of our suites into “Suite 1835” (a reference to the hotel’s opening year), an immersive artistic installation created in collaboration with the Argentine design studio Things From, blending art, innovation and emotion. Looking ahead, our ambition is to keep nurturing this dialogue between past and present, so that Le Meurice remains not only a showcase for art, but above all a place where art is continually created and felt.
Another highlight was the exceptional series of dinners with artist Mathias Kiss, who presented a collection of works in collaboration with the silversmith Maison Christofle on the occasion of Couture Week in January – a dialogue between art and craftsmanship with Amaury Bouhours, Executive Chef of the hotel and head of the kitchens at the two-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Meurice Alain Ducasse.
What does the Palace of tomorrow look like?
It is the same as today, but better. We are conveyors of emotion, and emotions have no age! For Le Meurice, there is no need for revolution; a certain stability is, on the contrary, what reassures our clientele. We move with the times, adapting to the new rhythms imposed by our era, but never renouncing our past or our heritage. New technologies are everywhere, yet discreet. They do not replace people, but make service even stronger: connected rooms, AI-assisted concierge services, robotics to help with certain tasks, augmented reality to explore the hotel or the destination before the journey even begins…
In the ever faster world we live in, health and wellbeing are becoming almost symbols of prestige. Guests are looking for more than exceptional comfort; they want to improve their quality of life. The Palace of tomorrow is thus becoming a sanctuary of experiences where recharging, reconnecting with oneself and loved ones, becomes the very substance of “slow living”. These elements come together with accommodation to create a complete and, dare I say, perfect experience.
For those who have seen it all, what is the secret to preserving a sense of wonder?
Le Meurice holds a rich historical heritage, deeply rooted in art and culture. Faithful to the French spirit of the 18th century, it combines discretion with refined elegance. The attention paid to detail, artfully arranged in each room and suite, creates an authentic atmosphere. Waking up at Le Meurice, you know immediately that you are in Paris!
Ideally located opposite the Tuileries, Paris’s quintessential garden dating back to the 16th century, between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, Le Meurice has been a haven of peace for countless personalities since it opened in 1835.
What sets it apart, however, is not so much its décor as its staff! Guests know what to expect and are confident that employees will take care of them, will always be available to meet special requests and will ensure their safety. Dorchester Collection places people at the heart of its “We Care” approach, and its motto is “Cherished by guests, cherished by employees” – that says it all!
The special attention paid to welcoming our guests and making their stay feel like home can only strengthen our ties and build loyalty. We have created a Guest Experience department that does excellent preparatory research before a stay in order to personalise it. By way of example, one guest came to discover the hotel where his late uncle had been a regular 60 years earlier, so it was above all an emotional choice. The Guest Experience team discovered that the uncle was particularly fond of our bar and even had his own engraved glass bearing his name. We offered the nephew and his wife crystal glasses engraved with their initials and the Meurice logo. Needless to say, these guests were deeply moved by the gesture. It is things like this that have led some of our guests to come to Le Meurice for more than 30 years and even pass on their passion to their children and grandchildren.
What CSR initiatives do you want to pursue with your teams?
Sustainability in the luxury world is a complex topic, often highly theoretical, and our goal at Le Meurice is to bring it to life through concrete actions and a clear strategy. That is why we have a CSR manager who does remarkable work aligning us with the main European and UN frameworks, while also driving the small practical initiatives that make a real difference within the hotel. We have already made significant progress: thanks to a building management system, a substantial reduction in waste and changes to our menus, such as removing endangered species like eel from our gastronomic restaurant. We also work with demanding labels such as Écotable, which we have obtained for our gastronomic restaurant, Restaurant Le Dalí and our banqueting service.
Our efforts also extend beyond our walls: we encourage our suppliers to adapt their practices, working towards a charter of shared responsibility. For us, sustainability goes far beyond marketing; it is less about communication than about raising awareness and implementation.
In hospitality, we cannot impose choices on our guests, but we can guide and support them towards more responsible options that benefit everyone. Our responsibility goes even further: by embedding sustainable practices into our employees’ day-to-day professional lives, we help them adopt these habits in their personal lives, and by extension within their families and communities. As a result, our impact is often greater than one might think.
In this world where instability prevails, how do you deal with the repercussions on the Palace’s business? Luxury-sector professionals are particularly affected by the regional conflict in the GCC.
Paris remains a safe and highly sought-after destination. While it is true that the conflict in the Middle East has temporarily led to a slight drop in bookings from that part of the world, we now hope for a return of “revenge travel” once the conflict ends.
As a Palace, we are fortunate to have considerable resilience in the face of geopolitical events. Our priority is above all to preserve jobs and continue doing what we do best.
Switzerland, home to many “old money” fortunes, has just welcomed a large number of UHNWI from the Middle East. How can Paris – and a landmark such as Le Meurice – appeal to a clientele accustomed to ostentation and to a constant quest for novelty? In other words, “Dubai bling”.
When clients come to Le Meurice, they are above all seeking authenticity, and we ourselves are deeply committed to ensuring that Le Meurice remains authentic. It has always been part of its DNA and, while we naturally adapt to new technologies and the needs they generate, we remain proud of our heritage and traditions.
Our Middle Eastern guests – like all our other guests, of course – have been loyal to us for a long time and appreciate these values. And we are delighted that they now live in your beautiful country, which is so close to us and makes travelling very easy for them! We also appeal to guests in search of novelty, who always end up coming back to Le Meurice!
In 2024, the Collection opened its latest jewel, The Lana in Dubai, which is in a way the “Dorchester Collection 2.0”.
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