BA Humbug

Hello,

<I'm not sure if this is in the right forum, but this service usually goes hand in hand with luxury hotels, so I thought I'd try here. Apologies if I overlooked a better forum, please feel free to move.>

Does anyone have a hotel they would like to nominate with the best hotel in Paris? There is a private museum I would like to visit but have not had luck in my last few stays (which are Le Meurice, Le Bristol, and the Ritz before the renovation closure). I have also tried using the Vertu concierge service from my friend's phone (no luck), and Air Canada's concierge service in Paris (total failure)

I have tried emailing and calling them myself, but was informed that it is not open to the public. However, I know it's open to people with the right connections, as some press types have been able to get in previously.

Questions:
1. Is the Four Seasons George V worth trying (the decor, service, etc interest me, but not so much as their concierge)? Is it really a step above the ones I have tried already?
2. Would it be inappropriate to book the hotel conditional on their ability to get me into this museum? I don't like the idea of bargaining like this, but I normally wouldn't consider the George V as I already have an established relationship with Le Meurice and the Ritz. I would make a small exception if the FS were to be able to get me in.
3. I'm also entertaining the possibility of a short stay in London (Stafford Hotel) and making a Eurostar day trip to Paris, as I've read that the hotel's concierge was able to arrange a private trip to the Buckingham Palace to visit the Queen's Vermeer painting.
4. Are there other concierge services I can try using I don't know about? I do not have an Amex plat/centurion and can't justify the increase in annual fee as I don't use its services that much so that option is out.

All suggestions are appreciated!
mattking2000

nba1017

I think scale of business plays a role here. If you were to write the GM of the George V noting how important this gallery is to you and that in return for securing entry he could count on you shifting X number of nights at rate Y from Le Meurice over the year, he might have his press department make a call on your behalf. Having said that, I don't know what X/Y are or if you'd like to do so.

I'm not sure that the regular concierge desk is going to be any more or less effective at the George V than the other hotels; it may very well be that a smaller hotel with a uber-connected concierge could have more luck. Do you have a "local" concierge whom you have a close relationship with? That person could conceivably make calls to other Les Clefs D'or members in Paris to see if what you're looking for is possible.

Kagehitokiri

you need to think about how much you are willing to pay
so you could stay anywhere and come in by train

you could tell quintessentially youll join if they can do it

http://globalblackbook.com/
http://globalblackbook.com/about-us/...obalblackbook/
they were previously behind mint lifestyle and a rare world

can TAs comment on area Destination Management Companies?
(what ABG is referring to)

in this case there is a subset of that/guides/etc - art specialists, including buyers
(so guides, specialist travel agents and then art world)
and in this case and others - does museum/etc have partners/donors/alliances?

from latest 'best agent' coverage (i wonder if prior years ever included art specialists) >
2012 super agent http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...ravel-agents/1
2012 france http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...ravel-agents/2
2012 culture/education http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...avel-agents/13

2011 france http://www.cntraveler.com/travel-tip...-finder/france >
http://www.cntraveler.com/travel-tip...robert-preston
could try contacting these for example >

Azzedine Alaia "hotel" http://www.3rooms-10corsocomo.com/

Hotel Particulier Pourtales http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post17349455
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19788427-post557.html - has its own collection incl in rooms?

http://www.lareserve-paris.com/en/

http://www.thoumieux.fr/#/en/hotel-thoumieux/

have you experienced that with clefs d'or?

general >
FS concierge http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post13552815
concierge http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/luxur...l#post11954571

ABG

Without knowing what you are trying to get into its hard to comment 100%. Nonetheless, its a decent opportunity to mention what Virtuoso calls "Onsites" which are inbound tourism companies with generally, as they are Virtuoso members, access to all the behind the scenes stuff. There are several for Paris which I'm sure you could access with some googling on your own or with the help of various Virtuoso TAs. Also speaking to various GMs in Paris might help too. A recent behind the scenes Hermes Tour for my clients was put together by a Paris Hotel GM. Speaking to Frank at The Stafford might actually open some doors too... Good luck in your quest!

BA Humbug

Thanks, but unfortunately I do not have any "local" contacts other than the ones I already mentioned. I think it might just be a stroke of bad luck on my part; as you said, an uber-connected concierge might just have the ticket that others do not.

Wow, thanks for all the resources! I think I would rather try to actually be in Paris rather than commute from another place, but Global Black Book looks promising.

Thanks ABG, I didn't know about this before! I've sent you a PM.

Kagehitokiri

CNT had description, but T&L also listed him. as agent.
hes also one of virtuoso's 4 france partners. as DMC/etc. ah since 2009. more recently.
anyone (incl TAs) have experience with him?
interesting first CNT testimonial (i excerpted, below description) is by author of introductory virtuoso piece >
http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/virt...php?startid=84 (at least the client magazine one)

i guess i should have left in the part about being able to google DMCs >
http://www.google.com/search?q=desti...paris+virtuoso
3 links from first page of results >
1. http://lb.ec2.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/v...startid=18#/52 (virtuoso "onsite" directory - DMCs etc)
these are the 4 listed specifically under france >
- aristo's tours paris - looks like originally/primarily a limo company
- decouvertes inc and sarl - fair amount online incl http://www.decouvertes.fr/content/an...t-expert-paris
- france by europanache = bob preston http://www.europanache.com/
- lafayette travel >
2. http://www.globaleventspartners.com/partners.php?ID=58
interesting they dont say "sales volume", which smaller luxury operator(s) might win
3. http://www.imexamerica.com/vex-2012/exweb.php?uid=221826&back=partners-list.php$$uid=217649

the hotels i mentioned >

Hotel Particulier Pourtales - same person behind new raffles, only 8 rooms with its own (modern) art collection possibly including in rooms

Azzedine Alaia = fashion designer - only 3 rooms
thoumieux = popular (still?) restaurant - only 15 rooms
la reserve - only 10 rooms, highest entry price excluding pourtales

(mostly/presumably) unrelated but interesting - http://www.lafayette-travel.com/nort...-to-paris.html
if commensurate price and furnishing, thats pretty impressive. i wonder who.

rfrost

I'm not sure the George V concierge will be able to do any better for you than the others (several years ago they were unable to get me a ticket for a ballet gala), but it's certainly worth a try--I like the idea of an approach through the GM, though.

speedbird001

Best Concierge in Paris-- Adrian at the MO. He was formerly at the GV for many years.

NYBanker

Where do you want to go?

Groombridge

I just returned from a stay at the Mandarin Oriental Paris and completely agree that the best concierges I've ever experienced in Paris, by far, are at the Mandarin Oriental. The concierge team at the GV was not performing at a high level when I was there -- failing to provide us with accurate information multiple times, not handling basic requests like advance museum ticket purchase, etc.

(As an aside, I was totally impressed by Mandarin Oriental Paris. It is not just the best Mandarin Oriental I've visited, but was the most polished and perfect hotel experience I've ever had in Paris -- particularly the breakfast service, which I know had been a problem in the early months of the hotel. The breakfast is now sensationally good -- prompt, warm, helpful, efficient service on each of the 4 mornings we ate there -- and wonderful food and beverages.)

luxury

Julien, the Chef Concierge at MO Paris, is outstanding having been trained at FSGV for several years under Roderick. Adrian, the Assistant Chef Concierge at the MO, also ex-FSGV, is a serious foodie and is my go-to person for the best food recs in the city. This team is probably the best small Concierge team in Paris....

Kagehitokiri

so Groombridge stayed at FS when MO concierges were there. maybe they were on vacation.

while at FS interesting adrian got more discussion here than chef roderick and assistant chef julien.

still senior clefs d'or ?

and is thoumieux (Jean-François Piège) still "current" ?

vuittonsofstyle

I agree. Nice to see all those ex-George V faces, too.

luxury

No, Roderick is not Secretary-General of Les Clefs D'Or International currently but he is an important player in Les Clefs D'Or France. He knows many many many people at many many many hotels in Europe.

The current S-G of Les Clefs D'Or International is Michael Romei, Chef Concierge, Waldorf Towers in NYC (and a friend of mine )

Yahillwe

Love Adrian, and he knows his restaurants very well. ^