THE STARS OF THE FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE SHINE ON THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO
The Summit drew to a close on Thursday, February 28, after two days of educational and inspiring content, but above all of encounters between those who shape excellence in the world of luxury travel. |
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THE STARS OF THE FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE SHINE ON THE PRINCIPALITY OF MONACO
The Summit drew to a close on Thursday, February 28, after two days of educational and inspiring content, but above all of encounters between those who shape excellence in the world of luxury travel. |
Catégorie : Europe - Monaco - Économie du secteur
- Expériences exclusives
- Tourisme - Événements
Article rédigé par Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine le 28-02-2025
 Industry leaders were present at the Summit, such as Laurent Kleitman, CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, pictured here on the right
Crédit photo © Forbes Travel Guide
This second and final day kept all its promises, with a ballet of personalities punctuating the inspiring and enriching exchanges. After Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Company, had reminded the audience that luxury today is based on a combination of authenticity, experience and emotion, he turned the audience's attention back to the organizers of these two days, Forbes Travel Guide (FTG), which, in his view, offers luxury players legitimacy, not only in the eyes of their peers, but above all in the eyes of travelers. He concluded his speech by stressing that “the FTG's role has never been more meaningful than it is today”, and encouraging his colleagues to continue in the same vein.
Alison Grinnell, CEO, RAK Hospitality Holding and Sandeep Walia, COO, Middle East & Luxury, EMEA, Marriott International then gave an update on projects underway in the emirate and touched on the strongest trends in the Middle East region, whose potential seems far from fully exploited. As an aside, Sandeep emphasized the Ras Al Khaimah government's exceptional support for hotel groups, to accompany the country's tourism development. Referring to the Wynn, currently under construction, which will see the birth of the much-anticipated gaming casino, Alison Grinnell was keen to make it clear that RAK's aim is not “to become a gambling mecca, but to offer a complete entertainment package, to offer choice, to find experiences that customers want, not just to offer hotel rooms”.
After another round of awards, there followed a fascinating discussion between Shalini Hinduja, representing the owners of OWO in London, Stéphanie de Bouard-Rivoal, CEO and owner of Château Angelus, Bénédicte Epinay, President and CEO of Comité Colbert, and Laurent Kleitman, Group CEO of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Setting the scene with a definition of authenticity, which Laurent Kleitman sees in terms of emotion and dream, a balance between heritage and forward-looking vision, which Bénédicte Epinay considers crucial, recalling the importance of artisans in ensuring this balance. The panel then turned to the mix of innovation and tradition. Laurent Kleitman demonstrated how MOHG has been a disruptive brand since its inception, and continues to pursue its creative quest to surprise and move its customers, while remaining true to its Asian heritage. Stéphanie de Bouard-Rivoal underlined the fact that at Château Angelus, innovation is not marked by breakthroughs, but by continuous work to improve what already exists and what has been achieved, evoking the consideration of AI in a long-term strategic perspective.
After such exchanges, the audience was treated to announcements from Forbes Travel Guide, which unveiled its “Meridian” platform, a new tool for luxury travel players and their customers that could quickly become indispensable to them.
Participants delighted with the event
As participants returned to their educational sessions, we were able to gather a few impressions of the Monaco Summit. “There were countless opportunities to learn and discover, to forge powerful relationships, as the event was filled with the highest quality industryleaders", Eli Vinitsky, COO of Silverwing Travel, told us. "This is my first impression of the Forbes Travel Summit in Monaco, where I had the distinct honor of meeting HSH Prince Albert II at an intimate private event, where he shared his passion for both fostering economic growth in Monaco and preserving its natural environment. Another highlight so far has been joining Richard Leibowitz, Senior Vice President of Forbes Travel Guide, for an exclusive dinner hosted by SBM, where I learned about the rigorous evaluation process luxury hotels undergo to achieve their prestigious ratings. This experience has provided me with valuable insights that will undoubtedly enhance my expertise as a travelprofessional,” he described.
"For me, the strength of FTG is that it allows us to maximize the potential of our resources, to train them to extract the best from themselves. FTG is not only a management tool, but also a powerful marketing tool, as it is highly recognized in the United States”, summarized Marc Langevin, GM of the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman.
A gala evening under the stars
To bring the audience together one last time, FTG had chosen a prestigious setting, befitting the event and its princely setting. The Salle des Etoiles, the venue for the legendary Bal de la Rose, was chosen for the occasion. Under the Monegasque golds, participants enjoyed a festive evening, punctuated by the presentation of an Award of Excellence to chef Alain Ducasse for his work and his commitment to transmitting and pursuing a perpetual quest for excellence. A moment tinged with emotion, before chefs Mauro Colagreco, Yannick Alléno, Marcel Ravin and pastry-chef Cédric Grolet joined him on stage, under the benevolent and encouraging gaze of His Serene Highness Albert II of Monaco, present to the delight of the assembly. After this emotional sequence, everyone headed a few steps away from this room, to feast in the symbolic and exclusive setting of Jimmy'z.
The Salle des Etoiles was a fitting symbol for the conclusion of Forbes Travel Guide's The Summit, whose stars have become so precious, so meaningful, for hospitality players around the world. During the gala, Hermann Elger, the organization's emblematic president, invited everyone to the Principality of Monaco again next year.
 Hermann Elger, president of the Forbes Travel Guide, performed his role as host brilliantly throughout The Summit
Crédit photo © Forbes Travel Guide
 The Salle des Princes was the scene of a series of captivating speeches for the Summit assembly
Crédit photo © Forbes Travel Guide
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