EXCLUSIVE - THIBAULT DE SAINT-VINCENT, PRESIDENT, BARNES INTERNATIONAL: "THE FRENCH ART OF LIVING EMBODIES ELEGANCE"
Thibault de Saint-Vincent, the visionary founder and Chairman of BARNES, has redefined the landscape of international luxury real estate with his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence. |
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EXCLUSIVE - THIBAULT DE SAINT-VINCENT, PRESIDENT, BARNES INTERNATIONAL: "THE FRENCH ART OF LIVING EMBODIES ELEGANCE"
Thibault de Saint-Vincent, the visionary founder and Chairman of BARNES, has redefined the landscape of international luxury real estate with his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering commitment to excellence. |
Category: Worldwide - Interviews and portraits
- Exclusive experiences
- What's new? - Interviews - Industry leaders
Interview made by Sonia Taourghi on 2024-09-13
 Thibault de Saint-Vincent, Co-founder of Barnes Hospitality
Photo credit © BARNES Hospitality
De Saint-Vincent's journey from a young entrepreneur who realised early on that the conventional path of employment wasn't for him, to the chairman of a leading luxury real estate firm, is a testament to his innovative approach and ability to seize opportunities. His vision extends beyond traditional real estate services, embracing a holistic approach to luxury living. This is evidenced by BARNES' recent forays into hospitality, including the opening of BARNES House in New York, Maison BOISSIÈRE in Paris, and Un Moment BARNES in Mougins. These ventures showcase de Saint-Vincent's understanding that true luxury encompasses not just property ownership, but a complete lifestyle experience - from exquisite dining and art appreciation to personalised services that cater to the most discerning international clientele.
In an exclusive interview with Le Journal des Palaces, he talks about the path that led to this new hotel adventure, and the saga he envisages for BARNES Hospitality.
Journal des Palaces: How did Barnes Hospitality come about? To meet what demand?
Thibault de Saint-Vincent: BARNES is present in some twenty countries and in more than 100 destinations, in the finest international cities and the most beautiful holiday resorts. Our teams work with a demanding clientele made up mainly of entrepreneurs setting up or investing in these highly sought-after destinations.
We want to maintain a lasting, high-quality relationship with our customers, so the creation of a hospitality business was an obvious choice. At the beginning of May, we opened the first BARNES House in New York. This exceptional new venue on Park Avenue reflects the atmosphere of a sumptuous private residence. The programme includes two restaurants, a bar, five private rooms including a wine cellar, a speakeasy, a china cabinet, a penthouse and a rooftop terrace, all under the banner of excellence. All orchestrated by chef Daniel Boulud.
In Paris, our first luxury serviced flat residence, Maison BOISSIÈRE, also opened its doors in May. In the heart of the 16ᵉ arrondissement, 49 rue Boissière, a stone's throw from the Trocadéro, the Eiffel Tower, the capital's must-see addresses and its most emblematic monuments, BARNES' new hotel residence offers sixteen flats ranging from 45 to 150 m², including four exceptional units with large terraces and/or balconies. Designed in a distinctive art deco style, the flats have been conceived as peaceful, warm and unique places in which to set down your suitcases for a short, medium or long stay.
Since last July, Un Moment BARNES has been welcoming guests to Mougins on the Côte d'Azur, in a place dedicated to the art of living in all its forms. Guests can enjoy a culinary experience with a Mediterranean flavour in an elegant décor inspired by the South of France, and discover a wide selection of France's finest wines in the wine cellar.
Finally, this friendly place also houses an art gallery, which organises more than six exhibitions a year. In this timeless environment, far removed from the traditional atmosphere of an estate agency, BARNES consultants welcome their clients in a privileged atmosphere. ‘Un Moment BARNES’ will be a unique place to meet people, enjoy culture, make discoveries and exchange ideas.
You position yourself as an ambassador for the French art of living. What do you think it brings to the luxury hotel industry?
The French art of living embodies elegance, refinement and attention to detail, values that resonate perfectly with the expectations of Barnes customers and those of the luxury hotel industry. It brings a cultural and aesthetic dimension that enriches the guest experience, creating a sense of exclusivity and well-being that only the French art of living can offer.
Paris, New York, Mougins... Why start with these three cities?
Paris, New York and Mougins are important destinations for Barnes. Paris is the world capital of luxury, savoir-faire and elegance, and New York is the most important and dynamic city in the United States, and one of the world's greatest cultural centres. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to open our first Barnes House there in association with Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud. Lastly, Mougins, a timeless citadel on the Côte d'Azur, is renowned for its elegance and art de vivre. These three destinations, where Barnes has been present for decades, seemed an obvious place to launch our three new hospitality projects.
In such a competitive market, how do you plan to stand out?
We set ourselves apart by offering a wealth of cultural content. We are offering our guests exceptional venues that promote the Barnes values (Trust, Vision, Excellence, Elegance and Global Support) through initiatives (themed events, symposia, exhibitions, evening events and invitations to celebrities) in the following six cultural areas: arts and crafts; the art of conversation and critical thinking; gastronomy and wine; know-how; passion and entrepreneurship; philanthropy.
Three themes will be recurrent, with monthly events devoted to wine tastings and/or gastronomic discoveries, musical rendezvous and art exhibitions.
More and more groups are moving into the residential sector with independent projects or hybrid hotels. Your background is in real estate. What have you learned from this sector that is helping you in this new adventure?
Our experience in luxury real estate has given us a better understanding of the needs and expectations of the most demanding customers. Above all, all the exciting encounters we've been lucky enough to have had have enabled us to create places that are conducive to artistic creation and the promotion of beauty, excellence and expertise. The attention to detail, personalisation and innovation that we have learned from working with our customers enable us to offer them tailor-made experiences.
Your director, Tristan Delmas, is based in Dubai. Dubai comes first in the Barnes Global Property Handbook 2024, and you classify it as one of the ‘Cities of the Future’. How did you make this choice, and how will it influence your operations?
Dubai is a dynamic city that embodies the future of luxury real estate, with its avant-garde architecture, modern infrastructure and appeal to a wealthy international clientele. The choice of Dubai as the main location for our Director, Tristan Delmas, is a strategic one, as it allows us to remain at the heart of this evolution and to anticipate future trends, which will influence our actions in the future. ‘As an ‘expat city’ par excellence, Dubai seems to be perfectly suited to the expectations of these ‘digital nomads’, whose numbers are constantly growing around the world.
What type of clientele are you targeting?
We cater for a high-level international clientele. Our customers belong to a community of entrepreneurs. They are travellers, aesthetes with discerning tastes, who want an intimate experience in a personal and discreet setting. They know they will find men and women who share their interests.
What can you tell us about current projects?
We have a number of exciting projects underway, including the opening of new residences and hotels in key destinations, as well as the expansion of our personalised service offering. Each project is designed to offer a unique experience, adapted to the different destinations and meeting our customers' expectations.
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