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THE FORBES TRAVEL GUIDE CHAIRMAN'S CLUB MAKES ITS PARIS DEBUT (France)
Following the success of its Summit in Monaco, the American guide continues its European expansion with the launch of its Chairman's Club Dinner, organized on Sunday 31 August in the stunning setting of Maison Baccarat — Ducasse, located in Paris's 16th arrondissement. |
Category: Europe - France - Exclusive experiences
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Article written by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on Wednesday 03 September 2025
 The event, launched in Paris, is reserved for a very select few
Photo credit © Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine / Journal des Palaces
Six General Managers come together to embody French excellence
Among the guests were Julien Bardet, future General Manager of the Lutetia – Mandarin Oriental, Vincent Billiard, from the Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, Julien Gardin, from the Hôtel Fouquet’s, Nicolas De Fols, from the Raffles Royal Monceau, who is leaving for the Shangri-La Paris, Riccardo Ortogni, from the JK Place Paris, and Laurent Herschbach, from the Ritz Paris. Six General Managers gathered to celebrate the French art of living and represent hotel excellence.
Welcomed by the two leaders of FTG, by Sarah Louise, director of the Summit, and Sienna Burks, representative of the entity in Paris, as well as by the teams of Maison Baccarat - Ducasse, the guests marvelled at the creations of this French institution before heading to the ballroom, which had been decorated for the occasion.
Designed to be intimate and ultra-personalised, this dinner brought hoteliers and wealthy travellers together in an atmosphere conducive to forming lasting bonds.
“The hotels here in Paris are like pro sports teams, and these gentlemen are the coaches and owners of those teams,” Hermann Elger enthusiastically emphasised in his speech, comparing General Managers to iconic figures in sports.
From Paris to Cognac, a tailor-made itinerary for ultra-privileged guests
Featuring cuisine by Alain Ducasse and exceptional food and wine pairings, the evening was met with enthusiasm by the guests. The GMs engaged in unprecedented dialogue with these exceptional travellers, alternating between personal anecdotes and official representations.
“Bringing in the brands and qualified customers is a natural evolution of bringing our network together for even more powerful engagement,” Hermann Elger told the Journal des Palaces during this exclusive evening, reaffirming the FTG's desire to increase its influence outside the United States.
This dinner was part of a more comprehensive immersion into the world of Forbes Travel Guide for the selected travellers. For its first edition, the Chairman's Club took place from 30 August to 1 September in Paris, before continuing in Cognac, at the Logis.
FTG is already planning other stops for this exclusive format, from New York to London, via Dubai and Hong Kong. A series of events that aims to combine hotel excellence, art de vivre and exceptional encounters.
 The first Chairman's Club Dinner took place in the prestigious ballroom of Maison Baccarat - Ducasse
Photo credit © Forbes Travel Guide
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