A new French hotel group has crossed our radar, and it’s one to watch. Maisons Pariente is the brainchild of Patrick Pariente, the former founder of French prêt-à-porter brand Naf Naf, and his two daughters, Leslie Kouhana (president of Maisons Pariente) and Kimberly Pariente (artistic director of Maisons Pariente).
Leslie Kouhana, Kimberley Pariente, Patrick Pariente and Frédéric Picard // Photo by Andreas b Krueger
The family first entered the luxury hotel fray in 2013 with the development of L’Apogée Courchevel, an ultra-luxe alpine hide-out managed by the Oetker Collection. This was followed by the 2018 acquisition of Hotel Crillon Le Brave, a renowned Relais & Châteaux property at the foot of Mont-Ventoux in Provence, which is currently undergoing a full renovation before reopening on May 1 with a new gourmet dining destination. Next up will be Hotel Lou Pinet, which will open its doors in mid-May in Saint-Tropez after transitioning from a four-star to a five-star property. Other projects are in the pipeline in Méribel (December 2019) and the Marais district of Paris (2021).
The group’s philosophy? According to the official press release, the goal is to offer exclusive five-star hotels that are more akin to private houses, with generous spaces designed in a chic style, with discreet personalized service, for guests to recharge their batteries. There won’t be a “copy-paste concept” across the board; instead each hotel will have its own unique approach and identity. Industry veteran Frédéric Picard, who was at the helm for the opening of La Réserve Paris, will serve as managing director.