The arrival of Kimpton Hotels in France has been announced for next spring, the five-star design brand of the IHG groupwill undoubtedly be one of the flagship inaugurations of the Paris hotel industry in 2021. In the same way, for example, as the Cheval Blanc, LVMH's conversion of the famous Samaritaine into a luxury hotel. Coincidentally, there is a discreet link between these two openings, as the Kimpton St Honoré Paris is housed in the former "Samaritaine de Luxe", an annex of the department stores' opened in 1917 to cater for the upmarket customers of the Opéra district.
Behind the Art Nouveau facades of this listed building designed by Belgian architect Franz Jourdain, some period features of the department stores' have been preservedincluding its grand staircase. In his reinterpretation of the building, French interior designer Charles Zana also drew inspiration from theArt Deco of the 1930s to design elegant interiors. As for the 149 rooms and suites, they will have the feel of a chic, modern Parisian flat, with balconies and selected works of art.
Hotel residents and Parisians alike will be able to appreciate the identity of this brand, created in 1981 by Bill Kimpton. A pioneer of luxury boutique hotels, the brand has been recognised across the Atlantic for its innovative approach to restaurants and bars, notably with its "daily social hour. " Kimpton was the first hotel brand to offer an evening wine hour when we opened our first hotel in San Francisco in 1981. Bill Kimpton wanted a gathering place for guests to feel a sense of community and relax at the end of the day." describes the brand's website.
As well as encouraging these interactions, the Kimpton St Honoré boasts a cocktail bar both inside and on its rooftop, on the tenth floor, with 360° view of Paris and the nearby Opera House. On the ground floor, there is a Californian-inspired restaurant designed by Humbert & Poyet. The hotel also boasts a spa, gym and swimming pool.
After recent openings in Bangkok, Tokyo, Manchester and Barcelona, Kimpton Hotels is expected in Bali in 2021, with the brand also announcing other projects in Germany, Mexico, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong and the United States. Netherlands for the next few years.
