The French tourism department announces this month a new category in the hotel classification system that supercedes 5 stars. Eight hotels inFrancehave been awarded the new distinction: “Palace”.

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is the only hotel on the Cote d’Azurto hold the new elite palace distinction. Four hotels in Paris awarded palace status are The Bristol, The Meurice, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome and the Plaza Athenee. Additional palace hotels in France include the Hotel du Palais in Biarritz, Les Airelles and Le Cheval Blanc in Courcheval.

In order to qualify for palace distinction: hotels must first gain 5 star status by complying with 246 stringent criteria involving an anonymous overnight visit and strict evaluation and inspection. 127 hotels in France have earned 5 stars under the new French classification system that began two years ago. A jury made up of leaders in the fields of art, culture, business and media have been appointed by the French Minister of Tourism to carefully asses and choose hotels that stand apart in service excellence, facilities, historic significance and exceptional characteristics that merit the label of palace.

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, situated on 18 acres of sea-front gardens, is an excellent example of the new palace standard. The Grand-Hotel has been a landmark on the Cote d’Azursince it first opened over one hundred years ago in 1908 and has recently completed a renovation and extension project in 2009. The hotel features 73 rooms and suites, including 8 sea-view suites with their own private swimming pools, a private villa: Villa Rose-Pierre, 3 restaurants including 1* Michelin Restaurant Le Cap and a destination spa. The Grand Hotel’s Club Dauphin is known to be one of the most beautiful pools in the world with poolside dining, breathtaking views of the Mediterranean and a resident swimming instructor, Pierre Gruneberg, who is celebrating his 60year anniversary at the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat this year.

Mr Marc Leveau, Resident Manager of Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat , “We are proud to receive this new honour and recognition. The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is a grand dame that has lived through 2 world wars and has welcomed great personalities of many generations who return year after year to a place where they feel at home. “

- Ends -

About Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is a legendary ‘Grand Dame’ of the French Riviera, celebrated for over a century as a magnet for elite tycoons, aristocrats, film stars, politicians, artists and writers.

Following the completion of a complete renovation in 2009, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is celebrating a new era with a new sea-front wing, The Residence- designed by renowned architect Luc Svetchine and decorated by internationally acclaimed designer Pierre-Yves Rochon who also re-designed all public areas - featuring eight new suites: each with its own private swimming pool and spacious terrace overlooking the sea and sixteen deluxe sea view rooms with private terraces.

Many existing guest rooms in the historical building have been transformed into larger suites and feature reproductions of artwork from French artists including Picasso, Cocteau, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani and Rodin.

Convenient for attending such star-studded international events as the Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival, the iconic 5-star hotel is just a 25-minute drive from Monaco, 50 minutes from Cannes and 30-minutes from Nice International Airport.

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

For more information and room rates, visit: www.ghcf.fr.  

For further information or high resolution images, please contact:

PR Representatives - Asia

Minnie King / Agnes Li / Stephen Allington

Grebstad Hicks Communications

Tel: (852) 2810 0532

Fax: (852) 2525 7972

Email: minnie.king@ghcasia.com / agnes.li@ghcasia.com / Stephen.allington@ghcasia.com