Presentation of the international guide 94 of the relais and castles that celebrate their 40 years. /// [different exterior and interior plans] Hotelier of Levernois (near Beaune) which belongs to the chain of relays and castles. Luxury hotel 0'25. [Different shots] helicopter landing in front of the hotel and hostess descending: she brings the new guides... 0'10. Interview Jean-Louis BOTTIGLIERO (centre-est delegate) 0'19. [Close up] guide 0'10. Interview Jean CROTET (hôtellerie de Levernois) 0'25. [Different plans] Jean CROTET in kitchen and restaurant room 0'17.
Marcel TILLOY founded the association "Les relais de Campagne" on May 12, 1954. Interviewed on the occasion of the release of his souvenir book "Les relais de campagne et moi", he returns to the birth of this project and explains what made the success of these hotels popular with a wealthy clientele. "I thought it would be easier to have a wealthy clientele in the countryside, where we could sleep," says Marcel TILLOY who thinks he was an ecologist before the time. It evokes the growth of the number of castles and residences that the association manages in the world. And about the establishment of Montreuil-sur-mer he has this reflection: "Where would they sleep these English of luxury if there was not this house of which I speak?"
Portrait and role of Régis BULOT, international president of "Relais et Châteaux". Focusing on the quality of services and enhancing the regional identity by offering customers themed tours, this will be the commercial policy of the new director of the association. Interviewed at the Moulin de l'abbaye de Brantôme of which he is the owner, Régis BULOT talks about the commercial policy of the chain "Relais et Châteaux": "The goal of the Relais et Châteaux is not to cover the planet but to select the best establishments that meet our criteria". He adds "We have a policy that is to say: sell our houses across our regions, so we want to create themes, make circuits... The customer who makes the "Relais et Châteaux", he wants to see the Périgord, Limousin, Alsace...he wants us to advise him..."
The hotel staff belonging to the chain of "Relais et Châteaux" met at the castle of Castel Novel for the presentation of the new paper guide. Mr BODINEAU, president of the association "Limousin-Périgord-Sud Ouest" exposes what the guide includes and its characteristics. He also explains what more or less luxurious hotel houses offer: "The common denominator of our chain is quality...in any case, I believe that we are the kings of value... We have a very loyal clientele".
The chain of luxury hotels "Relais et Châteaux" lies the statistics that say high-end tourism is not doing well in France. But despite this success, the rise in VAT, high inflation and a 30% tax on overheads risk endangering the lives of some hotels. Meeting with Jacques SOURISSEAU, owner of the "Manoir", former hunting lodge in Fontenay-Trésigny in Seine et Marne. Member of the association of "Relais et Châteaux", he has four stars at his hotel-restaurant and exposes the difficulties he faces. 'I will try to hold out as long as possible by maintaining the benefits. I would not want to go down in the quality of the service I offer to my customers," says Jacques SOURISSEAU, concerned about the future of his establishment. The report is illustrated with images of the "Manoir", its kitchens, its restaurant and a seminar room.
The economic aspect is addressed in this second part of the report devoted to "Relais et Châteaux": on idyllic images of hotels of the hotel group, journalist Jean-François ROBINET paints a glowing portrait of this association that attracts many tourists looking for stays in dream places and employs great chefs such as the Troisgros brothers, Charles Barrier, Michel Guérard to name but a few. Joseph OLIVEREAU, president of "Relais et Châteaux" talks about the turnover and jobs of the hotel chain. He evokes the fact that the hotel sector, which creates jobs, has difficulty recruiting staff: "The hotel industry no longer arouses many vocations," he says.
"Offering the most varied rest and leisure in a traditional setting" is what offers the group of hotel houses "Relais et Châteaux", born from the fusion of "Relais de campagne" and "Châteaux hotels" in 1975. Interview with Joseph OLIVEREAU, president of the chain that sets the rules to be part of the guide "Relais et Châteaux". Independent hoteliers must meet the charter of the five "C": character, courtesy, calm, comfort and cuisine. Images of hotels in the chain and guide pages.
At a regional meeting near Poitiers, Joseph OLIVEREAU, president of the "Relais de Campagne" exposes the merger project between his association and the "Châteaux hotels": it is this merger that will give birth to the chain of "Relais et Châteaux" in 1975. "We try to group ourselves with people of the same category as us better conquer the external markets, to better defend our profession and to be more representative in front of these large hotel complexes that are growing in France in a worrying way" he declares. According to him, the quality of services will always be there despite the merger of the two hotel chains and the number of customers will increase significantly.