In the French hotel industry, the term palace is particularly reserved for certain establishments, in a strict sense, specifically being used to describe a luxury hotel. Since 2010, the title has been officially designated by Atout France as a grade classification of certain French hotels, around half of which are located in Paris. It is exclusively awarded to five-star hotels offering the highest level of service to their customers. At the end of August 2017, only 31 hotels out of 343 have been admitted to this category.
The term is used sometimes by other French hotels (at least in their commercial name; for example, the former in Paris) that do not yet meet the criteria defined by law.
List of French official Palace hotels
+ Classification in 2018 Name Labelization Location Inauguration Michelin star restaurantSome hotels have two or more restaurants, each having their own Michelin star(s).Le Meurice May 2011 Paris (1st)1835 Hôtel du Palais May 2011 Biarritz1893 Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat May 2011 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat1908 Plaza Athénée May 2011 Paris (8th)1913 Le Bristol May 2011 Paris (8th)1925 + Les Airelles May 2011 Courchevel1992 May 2011 Paris (2nd)2002 Cheval Blanc Courchevel May 2011 Courchevel2006 Four Seasons Hotel George V September 2011 Paris (8th)1928 + + Hôtel Byblos June 2012 Saint-Tropez1967 Hôtel Château de la Messardière June 2012 Saint-Tropez1992 June 2012 Ramatuelle2003Although the buildings were first constructed in the 1970s, the establishment had been abandoned before Michel Reybier acquired it in 1997. Reybier reopened in 2003 as 12 villas with 51 rooms. Finally, under the leadership of the architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, now a member of the juries, the establishment was transformed in 2009 into a luxury hotel, with only 7 rooms and 16 suites. Therefore, there is no continuity between the two managements. June 2013Paris (8th)1928 + July 2014 Paris (16th)2010 + Le K2 July 2014 Courchevel2011 Mandarin Oriental, Paris July 2014 Paris (1st) 2011 Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc July 2016 Antibes 1870 Cheval Blanc St-Barth July 2016 Saint-Barthélemy 1991 The Peninsula Paris July 2016 Paris (16th) 2014 La Réserve Paris Hotel and Spa November 2016 Paris (8th)2015 Hôtel Royal Evian November 2016 Evian-les-Bains 1909La Bastide de GordesNovember 2016 Gordes 2008 Les Sources de CaudalieNovember 2016 Martillac 1961 Les Prés d'Eugénie July 2017 Eugénie-les-Bains 1961 Hôtel de Crillon September 2018 Paris (8th) 1909 Hôtel LutetiaOctober 2019 Paris (6th) 1910 Cheval Blanc St-TropezOctober 2019 St-Tropez 1936 +
Notes
References
Sous la direction d'Alain Rey, Dictionnaire historique de la langue française deuxième édition, tome II F-PR, Dictionnaires le Robert, Paris 1998, 4.302 p. ainsi que Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales, Dictionnaire le Trésor Le guide Michelin rouge France, Monaco et Andorre 2012, Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand 2012. Léon-Paul Fargue, Le Piéton de Paris, Gallimard, Paris 1938 Rapport sur la création d'une catégorie « Palaces » parmi les établissements cinq étoiles du nouveau classement hôtelier, de François Delahaye et Pierre Ferchaud, avec la participation d'Alain Simon, septembre 2010 Marc Boyer, Histoire générale du tourisme du XVIe au XXIe siècle, Éditions l'Harmattan, Paris 2005. extrait
External links In French: Atout France – La Distinction Palace Distinction Palace officielle (publiée par Atout France) : ; ; 29 juin 2012; Les conditions d'éligibilité à la « distinction Palace » (document édité et révisé par Atout France) Les critères d'appréciation du jury (document édité par Atout France) Tous sur les 13 hôtels Palace en France - Situation - Actualités - Informations Palaces et Grands Hotels de France