After leading the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo with talent and commitment since 2018, Louis Starck has been appointed General Manager of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. He officially took office on September 29, succeeding Olivier Thomas, who has moved on to new international opportunities. This highly experienced hotelier, who reshaped the image of the Hôtel Hermitage, brings to the Hôtel de Paris his acute sense of service, taste for challenge and teamwork, and his constant drive to “always do better.” A new era is opening for the historic palace on the famous Place du Casino.
A new chapter begins for the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo
Since September 29, Louis Starck has been at the helm of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, leading nearly 500 employees on average, following in the footsteps of another great hotelier, Olivier Thomas. “This is a moment of great pride, and at the same time I fully realize the responsibility and expectations that come with this position,” said Louis Starck upon taking up his duties.
As the flagship of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s Hotel Division and the jewel of Monaco’s hospitality scene, the Hôtel de Paris has occupied a unique place in the world of luxury hospitality for over 160 years. The legacy is vast, as is the challenge: to continue fulfilling the promise of François Blanc, founder of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer: “A hotel that surpasses everything that has been created so far […]”
Louis Starck takes charge of a thriving establishment, which recently welcomed new Pastry Chef Cedric Grolet, adding to an already rich culinary offering (Louis XV-Alain Ducasse***, Le Grill*, Em Sherif, Bar Américain). Accommodation is distinguished by its 5 stars, Palace designation, 3 Michelin Keys, and 5 stars in the Forbes Travel Guide. While the hotel regularly features in prestigious rankings, there is still room for improvement—proof of its commitment to continuous enhancement of experience, service quality, and offerings. “Growing the Heritage” is at the core of Louis Starck’s mission. A man driven by challenges, competition, and teamwork, he knows he can count on an outstanding team, especially his Deputy General Manager, Vincent Chasseignaux, and all his department heads.
Louis Starck: the journey of a passionate hotelier
A graduate in Management from the Strasbourg Hotel School and holder of an Executive MBA from Henley Management College, Louis Starck built his career between 1994 and 2004 in international hospitality, from Paris to London, via Muscat and Athens, in various hotels and hotel groups, including InterContinental. In 2004, he was appointed Hotel Director at Warwick Hotels & Resort on the Champs-Elysées in Paris. In 2008, he joined the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, an adventure that lasted ten years and shaped his experience while confirming his brilliant future in Monaco.
In 2018, he joined Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, taking over as General Manager of the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo. On the eve of the completion of the Hôtel de Paris’ major renovation program (2014-2019), the challenge was considerable: to continue developing the Hermitage’s results while the Hôtel de Paris was operating with reduced capacity—and beyond that, to give the Hermitage a strong identity capable of rivaling its newly transformed neighbor. Thus was born the concept of the “connoisseurs’ hotel,” turning the palace into a true haven for lovers of culture, art, and haute gastronomy. Under Louis Starck’s leadership, the Square Beaumarchais palace enriched its cultural and culinary offerings, in line with the heritage of the great artists who once frequented it, from Maria Callas to Joséphine Baker to Marcel Pagnol. Chef Yannick Alléno successively introduced two flagship concepts: the very Parisian Pavyllon with its Michelin-starred counter cuisine in 2022, followed by the very Japanese L’Abysse in 2024, elevating sushi to an art form and earning 2 Michelin stars in one go in 2025. The story continued in autumn 2024 with a major renovation program for the hotel.
The results speak for themselves, and the story goes on, with Laurent Guermont, Louis Starck’s loyal Deputy, now acting as Interim General Manager until the appointment of a new General Manager.
