January 2006
Luxury Paris hotel hits back at collusion fine
Luxury Paris hotel Le Bristol hit back at France's Competition Council on Monday, saying the 81,000 euro ($95,070) fine it received for sharing information with its rivals was based on contentious assumptions.
Le Bristol was one of Paris's six most opulent hotels that the council fined a total of 709,000 euros last week for sharing information on prices and occupancy, which it considered damaging to competition.
Le Bristol hotel said in a statement late on Monday that it reserved the right to lodge an appeal at the Paris Appeals Court against a decision it considered "unfounded and unjustified".
"The Hotel Bristol considers in fact that the decision is based on an abstract and contentious view of the market ... and an erroneous interpretation of the practices of its protagonists," it said.
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Novelli goes gastro
High profile French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli is going gastro with plans to open a chain of gastro pubs in the Home Counties, starting with the White Horse in Harpenden. Novelli's company has formed a joint venture with two local businessmen with a view to opening 10 further pubs.
The White Horse will open as a restaurant in January, with the bar opening at the end of November. Novelli recently hit the headlines after he dramatically walked out of his Herfordshire restaurant Auberge du Lac, after a public falling out with company directors.
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Michelin stars – New York vs London
What a shock !!!! There has long been rivalry between the great cities of London and New York, but now the competition has been stepped up with the publication of New York’s first Michelin guide, which has controversially seen the Big Apple overtake London in the number of Michelin stars it boasts.
Last week the city’s culinary movers and shakers rejoiced as an astonishing four restaurants were awarded three stars, compared to London’s one, three star restaurant, Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road.
A further four New York restaurants were given two stars, and 31 restaurants received one star, taking the total to 51. London currently sports 41 Michelin stars, including four restaurants with two stars, The Square, Le Gavroche, Pied à Terre and the Capital Restaurant.
"Travelers from across the globe have long considered New York to be one of the world's most exciting travel and culinary destinations," said Jim Micali, chairman and president of Michelin North America, Inc. "The arrival of the Michelin Guide will enable visitors, as well as New Yorkers, to enjoy this wonderful city to the fullest."
According to Jean-Luc Naret, director of publications for the Michelin Guide, Michelin decided to publish its first North American guide in New York because of the city's reputation as one of the world's leading fine-dining and lodging centers, on par with international destinations such as London, Madrid or Paris.
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Pubs, Clubs and bars to open longer
Relaxed licensing laws that will allow pubs, clubs and bars to extend their opening hours come into effect in England and Wales today. However, it is estimated only about one third of venues will be extending their opening hours, and only a small percentage will get 24 hour licenses.
The new licensing law has been welcomed with open arms by the British Beer and Pub Association, who say, "What we're actually seeing is that at last in this country adults are going to be treated like grown-ups and given a little bit of choice about having a social life beyond 11 o'clock at night."
Job of the month
Executive Sous Chef, Spain
Revenue Manager, United Kingdom
Banquetting Sous Chef London, UK
Chief Engineer, Pacific Islands
Chef De Cuisine, London UK
Director Of Finance, UK
Chef De Cuisine, French Alps
Executive Chef, Singapore
Assistant Head Sommelier, London UK
Assistant Executive Housekeeper, BVI
Staff Movements
Elena Bruno will be taking over the General Manager role at Sir Rocco Forte's Hotel de Russie in Rome from Martin Elsner , who was recently appointed to the position of pre-opening General Manager Germany for Rocco Forte Hotels.
Astrid Bray has been appointed Director of Business Development at the Carlton Tower and the Lowndes Hotel, in London . Bray joins the hotels from the Conrad London where she held the position of Director of Sales & Marketing since 2002.
Bernard Decaix is the new Executive Pastry Chef at Mohamed Al Fayed's Harrods after a brief time in Cyprus . Decaix was previously the Executive Pastry Chef at Pudong Shangri-La Shanghai.
Gilles Humeau has joined the Four Seasons Resort Provence as Director of Marketing. He comes from the Grand Hotel InterContinental in Paris.
Marie Laure Akdag is the new Director of Sales and Marketing at the Grand Amsterdam Sofitel Demeure Hotel. Akdag was previously a Director of Sales and Marketing at the Hotel de Crillon and Director of Sales at the InterContinental Amstel Amsterdam.
Jean-Pierre Bagnato has been appointed Executive Chef of the Mark New York. Bagnato was most recently Chef Patron at Margaux at the Kowloon Shangri-La Hotel.
Myriam Kournaf has been named General Manager of the Hotel Montalembert in Paris replacing Alexandre Forgeries.
Isabelle Gainche has left her post of Director of Sales and Marketing at the Palais de la Mediterranee in Nice to take as similar position at St. Tropez' famed Hotel Byblos.
Alain Bachmann is now the Food and Beverage Manager at Rocco Forte's Lowry in Manchester.
Jean-Francois Rouquette has joined the Park Hyatt Paris Vendôme as Executive Chef replacing Christophe David who has transferred to the Park Hyatt Chicago. Rouquette was previously the Chef de Cuisine at the Hotel Scribe in Paris. |
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