Updated on July 08, 2026
Guillaume Ranvier joined Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer on 5 January 2026.
The new General Manager of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is leading one of the Resort’s most emblematic properties at a time of renewed momentum. While reaffirming the palace’s identity, he is overseeing the renovation programme for the rooms and suites and launching Gustave, the new bar beneath the Eiffel cupola.
After the Four Seasons George V in Paris, what made you want to join Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo ?
Guillaume Ranvier : When you manage luxury hotels, there is always a desire to lead an exceptional property, an iconic house. What I knew of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo was first and foremost its history. It has been part of Monaco’s heritage since the late 19th century. I was also familiar with its position within the hospitality ecosystem of the south of France, the international distinctions it has received over the years, the General Managers who have led it, and of course Yannick Alléno’s culinary signature. I have a very strong passion for gastronomy, so this is naturally a subject I pay close attention to.
How do you reconcile heritage with today’s standards of comfort?
Guillaume Ranvier : That is precisely the challenge: creating comfort, intimacy and modernity while respecting the spirit of the place. It is not simply about preserving history. It must be brought to life, made legible, and projected into the present. This is the entire purpose of the ongoing projects: the renovation of the rooms, the new Diamond Suites, and the opening of Gustave. Each of these elements contributes to the same ambition: restoring the Hermitage to its full place, strength and brilliance.
Gustave, opening beneath the Eiffel cupola, is one of the strongest symbols of this renewal. What does it represent for you?
Guillaume Ranvier: It responds to an obvious need. In a palace with 259 keys, it was inconceivable not to have a true bar offering, with a strong identity and a distinctive beverage signature. The hotel already offered a bar experience, but in a more hybrid form, between lobby, lounge and dining. What was missing was a clearly identifiable bar in its own right.
The project has also allowed us to enhance a magnificent space: the Eiffel cupola, located at the rear of the building. It is a heritage masterpiece that had not always been fully inhabited or revealed. Daylight passes through the glass roof, creating a truly unique brilliance. With Gustave, we are restoring its function, atmosphere and life.
The name naturally refers to Gustave Eiffel and the workshops that built this structure. But beyond the historical reference, the idea is to create a living, welcoming venue where hotel guests and local residents can meet.
So you want Gustave to become a meeting place between hotel guests and Monaco residents?
Guillaume Ranvier: Yes, absolutely. We do not want a hotel bar operating in isolation, serving only in-house guests. Gustave should be a crossroads, a place where Monegasque residents can come, meet, have a drink, explore a menu and enjoy the atmosphere of Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo.
With around 120 seats, we have the space needed to welcome these different clienteles and offer them a shared experience. That is also what palace life is about: being open to its environment, engaging with the city, and bringing people together.
The other major project concerns the renovation of the rooms. Where does the programme stand today?
Guillaume Ranvier: We are implementing a phased renovation programme that will continue through to 2030. The second phase has now been completed, with around forty rooms delivered at the end of May.
These rooms continue the direction set in the first phase, with the aim of modernising the product without altering the hotel’s identity. It is always a delicate balance. When renovating a property such as Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, you must introduce novelty and a sense of modernity while preserving the DNA of the place.
Seven new Diamond Suites are also enriching the hotel’s offer…
Guillaume Ranvier: They are essential in light of market evolution and the expectations of international clientele. When we consider the hotel’s inventory, the demand for suites and current luxury trends, it is entirely relevant to introduce this type of product.
But having a suite is not enough. What matters is the experience it delivers. In Monaco, at Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, a suite must offer something exceptional. These Diamond Suites enjoy extraordinary views over Port Hercule. They offer a genuine fragment of the Monegasque experience.
Luxury guests travel widely, see a great deal, and have access to rare experiences. The question therefore becomes: how do we offer them something they could not experience elsewhere?
What do luxury guests expect today?
Guillaume Ranvier: They seek exception, but not only in the spectacular sense. They want a life experience, authenticity, and the feeling of belonging to a story. Our guests tell us that what they love here is the sense of being part of something.
We therefore need to combine several dimensions: aesthetics, service, attentiveness, kindness, product quality, but also a very strong Monegasque identity. When a guest stays in Monaco, they should not feel they are in an interchangeable destination. They should feel they are here, and that what they experience here cannot be experienced anywhere else. That singularity is what we must preserve and amplify.
Are these suites designed as true private apartments?
Guillaume Ranvier: Yes, and this is a very important trend in luxury hospitality. Guests no longer just want a room, or even a suite in the traditional sense. They are looking for a place where they can stay, settle in, and feel almost at home, while still enjoying the service of a palace.
This is also the signature of interior architect Pierre-Yves Rochon: creating residences, places that feel less like a hotel and more like living in a private apartment. Even in a 30-square-meter room, we try to create this feeling, although it is naturally more evident in a suite with a living room, a study, a bedroom, and distinct living spaces.
How would you define the spirit of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo?
Guillaume Ranvier: The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is a rather intimate, discreet place, deeply connected to Belle Époque elegance and a certain idea of the art of living. It does not seek to be spectacular at all costs and embodies a form of refinement, restraint, and attention to detail. This is what must continue to be expressed.
You have just arrived in Monaco. How do you appropriate such a unique culture?
Guillaume Ranvier: First, you have to listen, read, learn, and meet people. I have taken a strong interest in the history of the Principality, the hotel, its architecture, and the Belle Époque period. I have also worked in several establishments from the same era, which helps to understand certain intersections, architectural logics, and ways of inhabiting spaces.
But beyond books and history, it is the teams that transmit the soul of a house. Design matters, materials must be of high quality, and the beauty of the place is essential. However, without service meaning the men and women who embody the spirit of the hotel it does not work.
What role do the teams play in this renewal?
Guillaume Ranvier: They are central. Ultimately, they are the ones who bring the experience to life. We can provide a vision, a tone, and a direction, but on a daily basis, it is the entire staff who embody the property.
The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo is often referred to as “The Hotel of Connoisseurs.” Those connoisseurs are first and foremost the employees. They know their craft, they know the house, they understand guest expectations, and they pass on their passion. Our role is to stimulate that energy, that enthusiasm, and that pride of belonging to a truly unique house. The guest immediately feels it.
The Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo welcomes a very international clientele. How does this influence your approach?
Guillaume Ranvier: Luxury hospitality is, by nature, international. We welcome guests from Europe, the United States, the Middle East, South America, and the Anglo-Saxon world. We are very proud of this diversity, as a hotel is also a place of encounters.
However, welcoming this clientele also means representing the Principality. We are ambassadors of a lifestyle, a heritage, and a certain idea of Monaco. This comes with responsibility. Guests leave with a memory, an emotion, and a perception of the destination. That is why the experience must be accurate, coherent, and deeply rooted in the place.
With the room renovations, seven new Diamond Suites, and Gustave, what ambition do you have for the Hermitage?
Guillaume Ranvier: The ambition is to further strengthen the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo in what makes it truly unique. We want to continue welcoming a demanding international clientele, but also attract new guests and, above all, deliver an experience unlike any other. The property must remain a house with a soul, a history, and a distinctive elegance. Yet this story must remain in motion. The renovations, the suites, Gustave all of these elements contribute to a single dynamic.
Our role is to ensure the hotel lives up both to its heritage and to contemporary expectations. To offer comfort, service, beauty, attention, and authenticity. And above all, to give each guest the feeling of experiencing something that fully belongs to Monaco.
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