Nestled along the left bank of the Seine, Hotel Pont Royal is a landmark hotel that offers the best of Paris’s quintessential literary and artistic legacy. A place where authors such as Hemingway, Miller, Fitzgerald and painters as Miró, Chagall, Buffet, met to put the world to rights over a cocktail (or two), the hotel has continued to shine a light on its illustrious past but with an added 21st century, luxurious touch.
With the small streets and galleries of the Latin Quarter just around the corner, and the chic boutiques of the boulevard Saint-Germain nearby, FOUR speaks to Frédéric Le Gallois, General Manager of Hotel Pont Royal, to find out what else this iconic hotel has to offer.
Tell us a bit about the history of Hôtel Pont Royal and what inspired its opening…
Hotel Pont Royal has been a legendary place since the roaring twenties when Americans enjoyed the Parisian intellectual life. Between the two wars, Hotel Pont Royal became one of the first cocktail bars of Paris. Mixing alcohols? What a funny idea or rather a fun idea. The despondent folk took offence, whereas people like Francis Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda took their habits there, as well as other “Americans in Paris”, to delight in the new unpublished beverages. The hotel was the also the authors’ hangout with guests such as Hemingway, Miller, Fitzgerald and painters as Miró, Chagall, Buffet, making it the place to meet the creative Paris.
Hotel Pont Royal joins in the legend of a mythical district, which immortalises a leading literary and artistic tradition since its construction in 1923.
Can you describe the hotel’s design and concept and the influence behind its aesthetic?
Hotel Pont Royal is in perfect harmony with the artistic and literary atmosphere of the Parisian district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The emphasis is on the warm atmosphere of a private residence, with hints of intimacy, where the lighting and music vary according to the time of day.
Carefully decorated by architect Alain Marcot, the 65 rooms and 10 suites combine French refinement with today’s technological requirements. Mahogany wood, wrought iron and travertine give the hotel a contemporary “Rive Gauche” (Left Bank) charm.
How did you find your way into hospitality management?
I originally wanted to become a dentist, but as I was born and raised in the hospitality business, I soon realised that was my path. So, I went to a catering school in Normandy and after graduating, started as a waiter in a 5-stars hotel in Paris. I was lucky enough to be tutored by amazing people who showed me the way and my potential to progress in this industry, which I gladly did by climbing the ladder and working in different environment and countries.
What makes the hotel so special in your opinion?
Hotel Pont Royal is special for many reasons but two main ones are its location and its history.
The hotel is in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, which is the quintessence of Paris. This is where, as a traveler, you can find the perfect balance between culture (keep in mind that St-Germain is where jazz is born in Paris, and where all the poets and writers were mingling in the 50’s), shopping, and getting the sense of being a true Parisian for a couple of days.
Then there is its history. The Hotel will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. Hence we have a duty of preserving the inheritance of a century of illustrated guests and service “à la Française” and leading the Hotel through the next decades.
Can you tell us about your favourite highlights of the hotel?
I have to be honest; I really like the view you can get from our Penthouse terrace. You can embrace almost the whole Paris, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sacré Coeur, and everything seems so close, you could touch it. And if the Penthouse is booked, which is often, I will sit in one of the vintage Chesterfield Club leather armchairs in our Signature Bar and get this feeling that Camus, Miles Davis and Hemingway are debating at the table next to me.
Tell us about the current experience of Hotel Pont Royal since you joined the management team, and its latest offerings?
When I joined, the Hotel was a bit asleep for the past few years. Of course, the pandemic enhanced this perception but there was one thing that was still there, still beating: the team. The dedication and the engagement of this team is unparalleled and helped so much in the hotel recovering.
It was then pretty easy to engage some changes like creating new Signature Suites (as some rooms were literally hidden gems), going back to our past connection with jazz by launching our Monday Jazz Sessions where you can live the magical of jazz music where it originally begun while sipping a cocktail, or allowing our guests to enjoy a nice lunch among Parisians from the area.
What do you think is the most important thing for guests when they book accommodation, and how do you factor this into the Hotel Pont Royal experience?
As most people do, we all look at the best place for our holidays or business trips. Once you have selected a couple of hotels, you will then look at the comments about the facilities and service. And that what makes you decide to book one hotel and not another.
Of course, we want our guests to have the best accommodation and amenities when they stay at Hotel Pont Royal, but we want them to live an experience and remember it. Investment in people, on personalities, is key to me. Whether they are from the industry or not our team members aim to make guests’ stays memorable. I therefore factor guests’ satisfaction, and the rest follows naturally.
Have you seen a difference in what guests are looking for from their travel/hospitality experience over the years? And if so, what?
They are two aspects that changed since we have been under lockdown for months. First is how travellers budget their travels. We don’t know what tomorrow brings so travellers will tend to enjoy more and really dare treating themselves.
The second aspect is the connection with people. It became so important after being able to see your closed ones only through a mobile or a computer. It makes a big difference on how travellers behave nowadays. They want to connect, they look for sincerity, they aim for valuable memories.
What do you think will leave the biggest impression on guests who visit Hotel Pont Royal?
When guests mention employees’ first names on their reviews, then it means that we have accomplished our mission. I think the view over Paris also leaves a real impression on guests, and this is often something mentioned in their reviews.
Any upcoming developments that visitors can look forward to?
Hotel Pont Royal is a place where things are happening. Next year will be the perfect opportunity to carry on with our jazz nights, launching some Literary events, with the Hotel Pont Royal Literary Award among them, and of course celebrating 100 years of existence. Stay tuned, we have more to come.
For more information about the hotel or to book a room, go to Hotel Pont Royal at www.hotel-pont-royal.com/en/ or email directly at reservation@hotel-pont-royal.com
