Interview by Stacy Shoemaker Rauen, published in Hospitality Design magazine – September 2012 Issue

Since 1985, Hong Kong-born, American-educated, Parisian hotelier Grace Leo has made a name for herself managing, operating, and creating some of the most fashionable boutique hotels. From the Vidago Palace in Portugal to Bel Ami in Paris to the Cotton House in Mustique, each property in the G.L.A Hotels family is unique (she also does sales and marketing for Taj hotels), and they all benefit from her discerning eye. Now, she is taking on a hotel that’s a departure from the others: the business-oriented Millennium UN Plaza, her first hotel redevelopment venture in the U.S. and New York. Here, she discusses the importance of authenticity, the similarities between Jakarta and Caracas, and her role as producer and editor.

How did the Millennium UN Plaza project come about?

I have known of [Millennium & Copthorne Hotels'] chairman Kwek Leng Beng for years, who’s a very formidable businessman and a charismatic and brilliant person, but we never had the opportunity to meet. So we met last November in Singapore and got talking. He expressed to me that he had this project and it was very urgent to get it done. I said, « Well if you’d like, I can do an assessment for you and then we’ll go from there. » And that’s exactly what happened. We were hired in January, and our deadline is to be ready for the General Assembly of the United Nations in September. As you know, to do a renovation project, which requires total gutting out of a building, is a major piece of work to get done in this time-frame.

What’s your scope of the project?

I’ve developed mostly independent hotels – whether it’s the Montalembert [her first and one of the original design hotels in Europe], the Lancaster [also in Paris], or doing the Clarence for Bono and the Edge in Dublin. But this one is part of a group, a chain, if you will. We’re brought in as hospitality consultants, which means we don’t step on the foot of the operator. But I’m bringing a certain expertise, not only in the re-positioning of the entire product, but also my renovation skills. It’s a growing facet of my work as hotel companies are seeking a more holistic approach to re-inventing existing properties.
The question here is, how do we transform a hotel, which has been perceived more like a 4-Star, tired hotel, which has not had any kind of refurbishment in the last fifteen, sixteen years, and re-position it into a 5-Star hotel? Particularly, we’re dealing with the west tower with 153 keys. My vision as well as the chairman’s is to reopen as a luxury hotel within a hotel – it will be re-branded the ONE UN New York. We have a separate entrance, but shared public areas. So we are handling marketing, projecting a different image, and then, on the physical side, it’s literally guiding them through the whole exercise of the renovation and helping them project manage. Next will be the restaurant, a more extensive renovation of the lobby, and then the east tower, which contains the bulk of the rooms.

How is this different than any other hotels you have worked on?

The other hotels I have done are a little more intimate, architecturally more interesting. But this is quite interesting in its own right. The New York Times has written something about the renovation, and the writer’s take was that here is an interior that is almost completely as it was in the seventies, so should it be protected? I’m a great fan of mid-century furniture and I collect it, but in the other hand, you can’t keep certain interiors because they look too tired. And we would never get the kind of clientele that we want to go after if we don’t do something drastic.

Another new hotel in your portfolio with a dramatic interior is the Selman Marrakech.

It’s [designed by] Jacques Garcia. We didn’t get very involved on the design side because it was more or less decided. I have to say that compared to the Mamounia [another hotel in Marrakech by Garcia], which is of course a landmark and needs to be very garish because that was what it was before, this one is much more toned down. All the mosaic is black, white, and grey marble, beautifully carved and handcrafted – all of the craftsmen that Garcia used are the best in the country. For me it creates an emotion, no matter if you like it or don’t like it.

Creating an emotion, is that luxury today?

Authenticity is still very much key, at least it’s my philosophy. I really like when I’m creating a space that is relevant to where it is: the city, the culture, the language. And I always try to reflect whatever the art or architecture of the area is – what elements of the history can we bring back to the table? It’s funny when I read interviews in magazines and people are saying the same thing as me and then you see their hotels and they look totally corporate, like they could be anywhere.
So in New York, it has to look like it’s a New York product, and Selman should look like it’s in Marrakech. And now we are doing a hotel in Jakarta, the Hermitage Hotel. It’s located in Mentend, an exclusive tree-lined neighborhood which is adjacent to the heart of the city, full of beautiful historical mansions and house, including the embassy quarter where this hotel is located. It’s in one of the historical Dutch buildings, dating back to the thirties, so it has a bit or Art Deco architecture. I try to spin the story around that – we are collecting antiques that bring back the Dutch furniture – but we tried to create that without being overpowering either.
The owners picked interior designer Thomas Elliott of PAI Design who’s based in Jakarta and works mostly in residential, but he’s very used to building luxury houses for all these very wealthy people. It’s not the first time that we worked with designers that have never done hotels. It is a risk, but it’s one that we’re willing to take if we find that the designer actually listens to you and work with you through the whole thing. Look at Christian Liaigre. I started his career in the business with the Montalembert.

You are also working on the hotel Cayena in Caracas, Venezuela.

The hotel has been built on a site in the prestigious tree-lined area called the Castellana, adjacent to the business center of Caracas. It is full of low-rise buildings, formerly grand homes to wealthy families, and most of them have been converted to commercial use now. It is quite similar in setting and environment to the Hermitage – and both countries are oil-rich. Jakarta is on the verge of becoming a major metropolitan city, while Caracas has all the signs of a city highly controlled by government with a suppressed demonstration of individuality and wealth. Each will also undoubtedly be the first luxury boutique hotel protected from the hustle and bustle of the cities. For Cayena, I really had to search hard for that authenticity I was talking about before. So I went with the combination of some Spanish, some European, some Indian influences.

It seems you are still very hands-on, overseeing the process.

Yes, I’m passionate about what I do. I am a hotelier by training: I graduated from Cornell, but from experience I see myself as a movie producer – but I produce hotels. I orchestrate everybody’s efforts to make the vision a reality.
Right now the market is still soft. There’s not a whole lot of new construction, but there’s a lot of recycling going on. I don’t say that I’m recycling, which is not very glamorous, but I’m reinventing hotels, repackaging and re-positioning them, so that have a new lease on life. I’m not the designer, but I edit things. I think of Anna Wintour and The September Issue. She’s so brilliant because she edits exactly what goes into that magazine. And that’s what makes the difference – you chop out all the [unneeded] stuff and get into the essence of what needs to be in that magazine, or in the hotel. It’s not always the obvious choices. I think the problem with a lot of these boutique hotels is that they make it so predictable. I think one has to be a bit audacious.

1. Selman’s dramatic pool area
2. Black and white dominate at the Selman Marrakech
3. A rendering of the luxurious private dining room at the Hermitage
4. ONE UN New York room

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

Hotel Jules 49-51 rue La Fayette, Paris 9ème – Opéra
T: + 33 1 42 85 05 44. reservations@hoteljules.com - www.hoteljules.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

Vanity in leather 1450 VAT inc. On sale at Hotel Jules.

Hotel Jules 49-51 rue La Fayette, Paris 9ème – Opéra
T: + 33 1 42 85 05 44. reservations@hoteljules.com - www.hoteljules.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

Exhausted. Washed-up. Worn out. To recharge your batteries, you hopefully await the first flush of spring…we missed that…So then we look forward to the July heat…well that didn’t come either! And threatening storms, downpours, stormy winds, dragging out the same old excuse ‘ it’s below the usual seasonal temperatures’, as we are walking the dog through the town (north of the Loire), you’ve almost come to the end of our summer holidays, continually sporting a raincoat, morale flagging, stony faced, and an immense feeling of frustration. You have had a lack of sun, of heat and just summer feeling in general.

What you need is total relaxation and to be spoiled. Is that being selfish? Not at all, just a little bit of refocusing on yourself, both for you and for others (of course!!) You can never say this enough: if you feel good in yourself, you have a more positive outlook. The objective is therefore to let your mind wander with a relaxing massage – let yourself be carried away and really let go.

Let’s be practical about this: you’ll be heading for the southern sun (that you can see yourself doing). But not just any southern destination – you’ll be avoiding the packed swimming pools and overcrowded beaches. In any case to start with we want a place we can relax for a few days even if later we move on to find the nightlife. Direction Portugal. Direction Porto. Direction Vidago Palace. (A short hour’s drive from Porto). There you’ll arrive in a bright and luscious countryside. You’ll enter a park full of long-standing trees which form the backdrop for this beautiful building. The place where the building is located is an ancient spa, which needed little transformation into a luxury palatial hotel where you will take it easy, and enjoy the space for a few days.

There is a wonderful light, pure air, calming wind through the trees and a timeless atmosphere. There is a captivating luxurious feel, warm and friendly greeting and the feeling of having time to yourself. We eat well, we sleep well. We play golf. We swim a bit in the pool.

The Clarins Spa is the place where we will feel rejuvenated. For this reason alone, we will probably stay there longer than expected. Alvaro Siza Vieira is the famous Portuguese architect, known for his rigorous lines, that designed the building! An ultra modern facility in which there is a 2,500 m2 Spa (that alone is something). Inside is an invitation to relaxation, especially at the hands’ of the Clarins trained therapists’ expert care. The brand has found its own range of very effective wellness care.

We tried, amongst others, the Equilibre massage. An hour of impeccable massage carried out with a perfect technique, from which we came out practically levitating. Seeing as we don’t know how to walk on water we will go stretch our legs in the long indoor or outdoor pools. We can also paddle in the jacuzzi and finish it all off with a visit to the relaxation room. Then, return to your bedroom dressed in your white bathrobe (a private lift will make sure you will not be seen), get dressed, go down to the Bar, have a drink and chat with other people about the various treatments that await you tomorrow – in between a round of golf and lunch at the Vidago Palace Club House.

3 days & 2 nights (at least) will revitalize you. Say goodbye to rainy days, stay far away from me. And we bet that you will smile without even know why. That’s what we call relaxation!

Vidago Palace - Parque de Vidago, Apartado 16 - 5425-307 Vidago – Portugal
reservations@vidagopalace.com -  www.vidagopalace.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

She first worked in fashion with renowned houses (Dior, Ferré, Gaultier…) then in jewelry.
Driven by the requirement that make the best signatures and the passion for beautiful fabrics, Karin Sajo now uses her creative energy for her own brand: a collection of upholstery fabrics very inspired, extremely refined, meticulously made. Graphic or floral, they are real poems of drawings and colours: lagoon/storm, lilac/purple, red/crimson, black/taupe… a noble know-how. Magnificent. Karin Sajo.

Last trip, last hotel, last memorable travel experience or anecdote?
The Taj West End, a hotel made in the colonial style at the heart of Bangalore, surrounded by lush vegetation. This is absolute luxury, within a loud and vibrant town where day-in-day-out people work at putting together my creations.

What makes or breaks a hotel?
Being true to the coquette Parisian that I am – the size of the dressing room. But firstly everything rests on the quality of the staff. Lastly, there is nothing worse than anorexic or short curtains… such meager savings!

Ultimate definition of luxury?
To spend long hours barefoot in the hot sand whilst looking for shells and coral left on the beach by the sea.

A guilty indulgence?
Perfectionism. I have spent a long time trying to learn what is essential and I’m not cured yet!
As Picasso put it, “ It takes a long time to become young.”

A scent which takes your breath away?
There are so many! To name but a few, l’Iris and Pot Pourri by Santa Marie Novella, perfumes by Avant-Guerre, lastly N’aimez que moi and Nuit de Noel by Caron. On a completely different note, the smell of turpentine emanating from my father’s workshop. And for ones pallet, jams with flowers, roses, violets, jasmine… and acacia flower doughnuts.

A back handed compliment?
It’s good to receive and accept all compliments

Last thing you read before bed?
Decoration and Haute Couture by Hélène Guéné – Armand Rateau for Jeanne Lanvin an other Art Deco book. A book which is beautifully illustrated – I’m enriched by all the wonderful photographs.

Unforgivable swearword?
A Hungarian curse which turns the airwaves blue with its expression.

A question you hope we won’t ask?
What’s your favorite colour?

An addiction?
An unwavering addiction for Italy – Tuscany, Lake Como, the Amalfi coast, Venice. One of my very first memories of travel aged 5. In particular the lagoon’s water which came right up to the door at the back of our hotel. I worryingly thought that the building was floating on the sea like a raft.

Your last rant?
It’s not good for your health or for your morale, but sometimes it is necessary!

Your last helping hand?
The satin cotton and polyurethane yarn fabrics in my collection, for the young stylist Léa Peckre with which she won the First Prize in the 25th Festival de la Mode at Hyères.

Last thing you fell in love with?
18th and 19th century Porcelaine from Limoges and Sèvres whose finely painted motifs inspired my Toiles de Jouy drawings.

Favorite music at the moment?
When I’m driving in my car, everything played at full volume.

Current favourite website?
My own !

Discover the world of Karin Sajo:
http://www.karinsajo.com/

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

Even though Decouflé has been writing and producing since 1983 he is still young. The triple program offered at La Villette illustrates this. First, there is the exhibition Opticon, a gallery of interactive visual wonders displayed in a fairground atmosphere, a moment of pure magic under the huge metal frame of the Grande Halle. And then there is Panorama, a show bringing together excerpts from the ballets created by Decouflé in 2006, performed by young dancers. And in these, no doubt: the wonderment is intact.
Decouflé managed to dust off small anachronisms that were too 1980′s and to re – invent it them in a 2012 style. We enjoy each passage as a precious gem, admiring the multi-faceted talent of the performers, as time flies by. One regret: here, because of the principle of the show, even if the transitions are well-made, these are more as smaller stories that come together rather than a large narrative, which does not always leave time for the audience’s emotions to settle.

But what a pleasure, and what a joy! Discover the shows which bring together an exhibition and a show,
for all ages, for families and whatever language you speak!
Show and exhibition Decouflé at la Villette, until July 15.

Coming to Paris? Stay at Hotel Jules or Hotel Beauchamps and enjoy this show and exhibition while you are in the city!

Hotel Jules 49-51 rue La Fayette, Paris 9ème – Opéra
T: + 33 1 42 85 05 44. reservations@hoteljules.com - www.hoteljules.com

Hôtel Beauchamps 24 Rue de Ponthieu, Paris 8ème – Champs-Elysées
T: +33 (0)1-53-89-58-58. info@hotelbeauchamps.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

A dream Portuguese getaway at Vidago Palace
Rendez-vous in the north of Portugal, an hour away from Porto. Spend time catching up on some essential relaxation at Vidago Palace Hotel; take a break from your daily routine on the golf course, enjoy relaxing moments by the swimming pool and at the Clarins spa, or even take a stroll in a charming region.

The chic Lisboeta: Hotel Bairro Alto
An intimate atmosphere, personalised service, refinement and luxury are the ingredients of the success of this unique hotel, set in the lively Barrio Alto quarter. Thanks to its central location in the town, it is ideal for a short stay to escape the monotonous Parisian greyness and to sample the pulsating atmosphere of Portugal’s capital city. How do you visit Lisbon without leaving your hotel? A challenge you will happily accept thanks to a strategic choice: the Bairro Alto Hotel. All it takes is a visit to the top floor of the hotel. On the rooftop terrace you can sit facing one of the most stunning views of the city and of the Tagus – an ideal spot for a coffee, a cocktail or even a glass of champagne.

Wake up at Hotel Royal Riviera, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat
In need of a little getaway to the south? It would be a shame to pass up a stay at the Royal Riviera in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat… Be a guest amidst the elegance of a modern-day palace that reflects the rhythm of life and the historic feel of the Cote d’Azur of yesteryear. Its timeless chic is painted with bursts of turquoise, orange and olive green – it is a real treat for any guest. The newly renovated bedrooms by interior designer Pascal Allaman create a clear and bright atmosphere, which evoke the glamorous « French Riviera ». Luxurious, intimate and friendly, the Hotel Royal Riviera has established itself as one of the great destinations located between Nice and Monaco. It is the perfect escape for a few days to enjoy a high standard of service and a tranquil atmosphere, without being too jet-set.

Taj The Pierre: a legendary New York address.
Would you like to (re)discover the dynamic and multifaceted city? Located in the very chic upper east side of Manhattan, just around the corner from Fifth Avenue, this hotel has been extensively renovated and is the ideal place to make the most out of the Big Apple. After a day full of walks through Central Park, visits to the museums and some shopping, you will return to the calm of your ultra sophisticated suite.
New: for stays in Suites, a ‘Royal Attaché’ service promises you a flawless and personalized service!

Selman, Marrakech - an extremely successful project by a great Moroccan family passionate about pure-blood Arab horses. Discover the Hotel Selman Marrakech which has just opened its doors is just five minutes away from the excitement of the red city, which is a gateway to the Atlas Mountains. It is a charming hotel combining both luxury and intimate charm (56 bedrooms and 5 riads) in an Arab-Moorish setting created by the famous designer Jacques Garcia. Featuring 2 restaurants, one a gastronomic delight and the other located right next to the pure-blood Arabian horses. The hotel offers as an added bonus, its Chenot Wellness & Spa centre which is renowned for its innovative approach to allow you to recharge your batteries.
Special limited opening offer available until 1st September 2012: rooms available from 350 euros a night (per room for two), including your welcome and a limousine transfer to-and-from the airport, continental breakfasts and a personal tour of the hotel’s stables which have also been designed by Jacques Garcia.

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

Christophe Ernault a.k.a Alister, singer and recognized writer, and Laurence Rémila, member of Technikart magazine; are the brains behind ‘Schnock’, an amazing magazine causing a stir in Paris and in the rest of France for more than a year now.

Shnock, quarterly « for those aged 27 to 87″, sold in bookstores, does the impossible: it brings together classy Parisians, media nerds and real French culture lovers. How? For example by putting, former stars in a new light, showing that behind a dorky image they have had extraordinary lives, knew all about the corridors of behind-the-scenes power, raised confidences of the greatest, and often persevered, without the public realizing, in exciting forgotten pieces.  Of course, we have to admit that Schnock sometimes pays tribute to anarchists, but never too knowingly. And the magazine has a real way of finding the best forgotten French pop music or journalism. Respect, French language and culture all meet, along with ferocious humor and irreverence when needed, and a constant concern to shine a light on popular references.

For its third edition, Schnock has dedicated a large section to an iconoclast and a very popular artist, Jean Yanne. This feature includes interviews with his photographer Gilles Durieux, a friend and illustrator Tito Tobin, filmmaker Jean-Louis Bertucelli amongst others and amusing quotes on the slightly anarchistic actor/singer/producer/author/songwriter. There are also features which we love, such as the « Schnock of culture » – « how to dress Schnock? », which stands-up for retro clothing, alongside a summertime review of sunglasses, a superb article « against Powerpoint », and an investigation « on the trail of the RATP rabbit », followed by the confessions of a Schnock and cultural tips on how-to Schnock « at home, whilst reading & other leisure activities ».

To rediscover the hidden treasures of pop culture heritage and to have completely trendy conversations, Schnock is ideal reading material in a trendy hotel lobby! And since summer is around the corner, you’d better get the first two issues of the magazine, where we delightfully rediscover, amongst others, the fascinating Jean-Pierre Marielle and Amanda Lear. (it makes you laught? Read, you will be surprised!)

15 euros, in bookstores and on www.la-tengo.com.

Hôtel Beauchamps 24 Rue de Ponthieu, Paris 8ème – Champs-Elysées
T: +33 (0)1-53-89-58-58. info@hotelbeauchamps.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist

1. Make him relive the 60′s with a 2 CV tour in Paris during a weekend at the Hotel Jules.

2. For whisky lovers, head to South Africa for a lunch at the TAJ Cape Town followed by a Glenfiddich whisky tasting, where a lucky dad will win a 15 years aged single malt.

3. For those who prefer wine, there is always the Californian wine tasting at the Taj Campton Place in San Francisco where he will sample a variety of Pinots Noirs from the renowned county of Sonoma like a pro.

4. Last but not least, make him a maharaja at the Taj Lake Palace. Directly on the water, the hotel has concocted an ultra luxurious stay: from a sunset cruise to a private cocktail class, everything is planned!

Here are our 4 ideas that will make your dad forget he has not received a lighter!

Happy Fathers’ Day!

Hotel Jules 49-51 rue La Fayette, Paris 9ème – Opéra
T: + 33 1 42 85 05 44. reservations@hoteljules.com - www.hoteljules.com

Taj Cape Town - CNR Wale Street & St Georges, 8011 Cape Town, South Africa
T: +27 (0) 218192000. www.tajhotels.com

Taj Campton Place - San Francisco, California 94108, U.S.A.
T: +415 781 555. www.tajhotels.com

Taj Lake Palace - Lake Pichola, Udaipur – 313001, Rajasthan, India
T. +91 294 2428800. www.tajhotels.com

www.glahotels.com
G.L.A Hotels, the luxury hotels specialist