Divers

🍴 To celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Michelin-starred Gordon Ramsay restaurant at the Trianon and the 15 years of the Waldorf Astoria brand in France, the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Versailles - Trianon Palace unveils signature creations by chefs Gordon Ramsay, Gabriele Ravasio, and Eddie Benghanem. Among these are a dish featuring Breton lobster with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and 100-year aged Giusti balsamic vinegar, and a dessert that reimagines the berlingot candy with fig, reflecting a blend of tradition and culinary innovation.

📢 Civitatis, a global platform for activities, guided tours, and excursions in French, has surpassed 30,000 partner travel agencies worldwide. This milestone was reached as Civitatis focuses on expansion, especially in Latin America due to its tourism and digitalization potential. The company's B2B growth has been exponential, jumping from nearly 23,000 collaborators in December 2023 to over 30,000 currently, highlighting the strategic importance of travel agencies to Civitatis' expansion model.

🐓 On September 25, L214 protested at La Boucherie restaurant in Angers at 12 pm, questioning the lack of transparency regarding their commitment to end the worst farming practices for chickens by 2026. This commitment, known as the European Chicken Commitment (ECC), was to be evidenced through published progress reports. The demonstration then moved to the company's headquarters in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou. Protesters placed a doormat reading, "La Boucherie wipes its feet on its commitment," and distributed flyers.

🎂 Le Peninsula Paris célèbre son dixième anniversaire avec des créations festives de la Cheffe Anne Coruble, comprenant une bûche de Noël "Hespéridée" et une réinvention de l'Heure du Thé. La bûche s'inspire des "Dancing Leaves" de la cristallerie tchèque Lasvit, reflétant 160 ans d'élégance de l'établissement et son inauguration en 2014. Elle allie vanille givrée de Bretagne, zeste de citron jaune, biscuit à l'huile de chanvre et d'olive, pulpe de citron, pâte de citron brûlé et bergamote, cheesecake au lait cru, mousse au lait ribot et citron d'Amalfi confit.

🏖️ Grandvalira Resorts in Andorra surpassed 173,800 visitors by September 15 during the summer season, showing a slight increase from the previous year despite sporadic rain affecting attendance. The Tristaina Solar Viewpoint emerged as a standout attraction with 60,000 visitors. Notably, new afternoon passes and extended hours at Mon(t) Magic Family Park and Mountain Park were well-received. The Tristaina viewpoint will remain open until November 3, accessible by the Creussans chairlift and weekend gondola.

🏛 Patrivia, a platform for booking visits to heritage sites like castles and museums, closed after 8 years. Launched in 2016, it raised €1 million in 2020 to digitalize lesser-known heritage spots. It featured over 500 sites and offered an unlimited "Pass Patrimoine". In 2020, Patrivia promoted domestic tourism with the "Cet été, je visite la France" campaign. Co-founder Christian Clarke de Dromantin cited inadequate funds for growth as the reason for the shutdown.

📚 Cultural and literary icons such as Voltaire, Diderot, and Rousseau, revolutionaries like Danton and Marat, and writers like Racine, Sand, and Camus have historically frequented the French cultural district that is home to major publishing houses like Gallimard, Le Seuil, and Grasset. The hotel Pont Royal and its director-novelist Frédéric Le Gallois continue this tradition with the monthly literary event "Les Rencontres du Pont Royal," featuring journalist and writer Olivier Barrot. Participants enjoy exceptional dinners paired with exquisite wines from L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, along with a gifted book from the celebrated author for a memorable experience. After hosting Jérôme Garcin in September, the hotel anticipates new illustrious guests.

🏖️ In Switzerland's Tessin region, Ascona-Locarno, on the shores of Lake Maggiore, blends Swiss identity with Italian "dolce vita." The area is known for its palm-lined shores, Ascona—"the pearl of Lake Maggiore"—and Locarno, with its Sanctuary, museums, and relaxing vibe. Key attractions include Ascona's historic center, "borgo," Piazza G. Motta, and the nearby Brissago Islands with their botanical park housing 2,000 subtropical plant species. Visitors can easily access the park by boat.

🏡 The Peninsula New York, an iconic Fifth Avenue luxury hotel, unveiled its complete interior renovation in January 2024, including 219 rooms and suites, communal spaces, and gourmet restaurants. The renovation, led by the award-winning New York studio Bill Rooney, also revitalized The Lobby, Reception, The Palm Court, and introduced the reinvented Pen Top rooftop lounge. Originating in 1904, the hotel's refresh embraces the Roaring Twenties' elegance, blending it with simple, delicate refinement. General Manager Samir Ibrahim emphasizes the renovation signifies a new era, enhancing their standing as a paragon of luxury in Manhattan.

🍴 Les Grandes Tables du Monde, an association of nearly 200 Michelin-starred restaurants in 23 countries, celebrates its 70th anniversary by launching L'Itinéraire, a new exclusive loyalty program. The program is a private digital community designed for international gourmets, offering unique privileges and intense culinary experiences. Members gain privileged access to tastings, private tours, champagne receptions, chef's tables, and priority booking for events and dining reservations across the globe. L'Itinéraire features five levels of loyalty unlocked by visiting member restaurants.