Paris (AFP) – The historic Lutetia hotel in Paris, occupied by the Nazis during World War II and after liberation serving as a welcome centre for concentration camp survivors, was on Thursday taken over by luxury hotel group Mandarin Oriental. Situated in the centre of the Left Bank, the Art Deco institution was opened in 1910 and owes its existence to its neighbour Bon Marche, one of the first department stores in the world. Israeli real estate group Alrov, controlled by Alfred Akirov and his family, will retain ownership of the building. Originally baptised with the Roman name for Paris, the hotel will be renamed Mandarin Oriental Lutetia from Thursday.
The Akirov family and Laurent Kleitman, chief executive of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, took part in an inauguration ceremony on Thursday, unveiling a plaque on the hotel’s facade in the colors of the Asian group. Financial details of the management contract were not disclosed. A source familiar with the matter said it was a “very long-term commitment.” Kleitman said no major changes to the recently renovated establishment were planned. “We are delighted to support and work closely with Mandarin Oriental for the sustainability of the Lutetia,” the Akirov family said in a statement.
Marguerite Boucicaut, the founder of Bon Marche, had the hotel built to provide accommodation for her wealthy customers travelling up to Paris from the provinces for shopping trips. Situated in the centre of the Left Bank, the heart of the French intellectual scene, it became a hangout for celebrity intellectuals including Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Famous guests also included James Joyce, who worked on his epic novel Ulysses at the Lutetia, and French wartime leader Charles de Gaulle, who honeymooned there.
During the Nazi occupation of Paris, the hotel was requisitioned by the occupying forces and used to house the German intelligence. Upon the liberation of Paris in 1944, de Gaulle ordered the hotel to take in thousands of refugees. Post-war, it swiftly regained its reputation as a place to see and be seen. The five-star hotel was awarded the prestigious Palace distinction in 2019, after four years of costly renovations. The work was financed by the Alrov group, which paid 145 million euros in 2010 to acquire the hotel, sources told AFP at the time.
The 200-million-euro makeover allowed the hotel to spruce up its original frescos and stucco work, decking out the 184 rooms and suites in understated luxury. Some of the suites have been inspired by celebrities such as Francis Ford Coppola and Isabelle Huppert. Prices are out of reach for all but the wealthiest, with room rates starting at 1,500 euros per night.
© 2024 AFP
