27/03/2019

INTERVIEW: Jean-Luc Naret, General Manager of La Réserve Paris

news-main-interview-jean-luc-naret-ceo-de-la-reserve-paris.1553514536.jpg Photo credit: Grégoire Gardette - La Réserve Paris

Vendom.jobs had the privilege of sitting down to an interview with Jean-Luc Naret, General Manager of La Réserve Paris and CEO of La Réserve Hotels, a recent palace in the of Parisian luxury accommodation landscape rapidly rated Best Hotel in the World by the very prestigious selection Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. He looks back on his career, mostly built alongside a few of the greatest names of luxury accommodation, but also on his vision, a sharpened sense of “what will be”. In this respect, we must mention, amongst other things, the exponential development of the remarkable Michelin Guides under his leadership (which increased their destinations from 6 to 28) and their subsequent entry in the digital age. His career has always been motivated by a passion for the hotel industry and an unswerving will to take it as far as possible.

Vendom.jobs – La Réserve Paris was rapidly renowned as a unique venue in the landscape of Parisian palaces and grand hotels. In your view, how did these establishments manage to define the shape of luxury accommodation?

Jean-Luc Naret – Primarily through Michel Reybier’s incomparable vision and assessment. He had a real passion about hotels. During his travels, he realized that most hotels did not satisfy all customers’ wishes. He appeared like a precursor and was able to outline for each destination – Ramatuelle, Geneva, then Paris – hotels completely adaptable to their environment. The example of Ramatuelle is particularly significant. Located in a superb, magnificent bay and designed by Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the hotel’s architecture is sober and modern and completely integrates the landscape. Most of all, it is open to the outside, an exceptional environment. Its main concept consists in forgetting that you are in a hotel – even if its rooms and suites are sumptuous, its incredible view can be admired from every corner of the hotel. In parallel, Michel Reybier had the idea of creating villas (like in Paris, with the apartments located place du Trocadéro). His idea was totally new and allowed him to anticipate customers’ expectations by making them feel at home whilst also enjoying all the services of a luxury hotel. La Réserve Genève also has an exceptional lakeside environment, unique in town, just in front of the Mont Blanc. Again, this hotel managed to satisfy customers who wished to stay in an authentic and warm venue (also thanks to Jacques Garcia’s decoration).

The bar 

The patio 

La Réserve Paris was indeed the most rewarded hotel and rapidly became one of the most sought-after palaces. When he purchased the Maxim’s Residence from Pierre Cardin (former private mansion of the duke of Morny), Michel Reybier created a wonderful hotel in an exceptional location in Paris, in front of the Petit-Palais and the Champs-Elysées’ gardens. His idea was to revive a mansion of old in collaboration with Jacques Garcia. Everything was designed in the Napoleon III spirit and style. This hotel has now the most elegant Parisian clientele, who feels at ease, at home. Though rather small (40 rooms), the hotel offers all the services one can expect from a palace: a smoking-room, a library, a brewery and a starred restaurant. Michel Reybier Hospitality created human-sized destinations totally customer-oriented.

The library 

V. J. – You worked within global-scope prestigious international groups. How and in which state of mind does one make the transition from historical companies to more recent or expanding companies?

J. - L. N. – First of all, I believe I was very lucky to always work for and together with people and not groups. I started to work as a GM when I was 29 at the One&Only Saint-Géran. At the time, One&Only was a small group. Kerzner trusted me and gave me the opportunity to work for a splendid palace in Mauritius. I based all my career on this relationship of trust with these people and on projects as well: from La Résidence Mauritius to the Sandy Lane, with His Highness Aga Khan and, of course, with Edouard Michelin. At every chapter of my career, I met men or precursors, like later Michel Reybier, who captured my attention and passion. I really longed to work for Michel Reybier.

V. J. – What is your personal driving force in your profession?

J. - L. N. – In a word: passion, of course! Passion for hospitality and handover. I often say that you make your real training when you are between 20 and 30 years of age. I sought this knowledge beside great people. At 21, I was lucky enough to be named train manager of the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express; at 23 I left for Bora Bora before coming back at 25 at the Bristol. During this phase of your career, the most important thing is to be able to associate your name with great names of hospitality in order to position your career. When you are between 30 and 50 years of age, I would say that you build your reputation. After 50, you work on handover. I have always cared about this concept: to pass on what I had the chance to acquire. I appreciate that my teams are sensitive to the fact that we work together that way. Generally, my objective was to work with teams that were already in place and try to make them grow or even move. To me, feeling in which context talents will be used best comes naturally, especially when I have to deal with new hotel openings. Teams that I left to pursue other interests often gave me the same thing, that is a poem of Apollinaire [“Venez jusqu’au bord”]. We are here to take people beyond the limits they set themselves. When you have a clear vision of what you want to do, you can take your teams with you and make them evolve, but without repeating the same things, always through innovation!

Prestige Suite 

Prestige Suite 

V. J. – Your various missions depict you as a visionary man of the luxury accommodation industry. What advice would you give a young professional who shares this passion?

J. - L. N. – Listen to your own interior voice: it will tell you if you are really suited for this profession. Passion is obviously an absolute condition. We work in an extremely demanding sector, which requires considerable personal sacrifice that you should not be afraid to face as we are lucky to work in an exceptional environment. Even if you don’t have many degrees in your pocket, the field we work in gives you formidable career opportunities if you have will. The luxury industry is a privileged profession. Consequently, my advice would be: be yourself and do all you can to work for unique hotels. We are all unique, and we all have the need for a unique recognition.

We should let the outside world inspire us to seek different visions in any field, to take us further and let ourselves be amazed; amazement is very inspiring.

V. J. – What is the biggest challenge you had to take up?

J. - L. N. – With no hesitation, the one that I have not realised yet! You always learn from your preceding challenge. I try to be a few steps ahead as much as possible and I always take my collaborators along with me. For this reason, I often organise seminar days to bring teams together. In these seminars, an exercise consists in overcoming a series of obstacles in teams of two people, one blindfolded. The aim is to entirely rely on your teammate. We must always keep in mind that when starting a new job, whatever the position, we are always the last in. It is impossible to integrate this trust with a title; you integrate it with a vision, the desire to share it and make people around us do well. Creativity and innovation are essential in our profession. The key for success is equal to the customer’s expectations “+1”: this is what will make the difference. We must understand and anticipate the action that will make our customer unique.

The smoking-room 

V. J. – What is your personal luxury?

J. - L. N. – I am very fortunate that never in my life had I to rely on an alarm clock to wake up. Wherever I am in the world, I awake naturally. I consider this gift as a very great luxury. I also tell myself that every morning I have the luxury to say I’m not going to work, but “I’m going to have fun”. I read once that if you choose your job in a natural way, you’ll soon realize that you will never have to work one single day in your life. It is important to let your passion guide you. My passion for hospitality regenerates itself every day. The aptitude to choose your career is also a great luxury.

Le Gabriel** 

 

La Réserve Paris

42 Avenue Gabriel

75008 Paris 

+33 1 58 36 60 60

https://www.lareserve-paris.com

 

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