Georges A. Chauve to open two new boutique hotels in Paris, France

French born, Georges Chauve is not new to the task of constructing and opening hotels. A veteran hotelier, he has opened 5 star luxury hotels in Hong Kong and in Japan and has reorganized and repositioned existing hotels over the past twenty years for International Hotel chains on three continents: Asia, Europe and the United States.

Now he is opening two hotels in Paris. In a partnership agreement with his Dallas based American family, Kathryn and Craig Hall of Hall Financial Group, the decision was made to purchase two hotels in Paris, France.

"Together with my family, we felt there was a real need for a friendly and personalized mid-market all-service boutique style hotel in Paris," explains Chauve.

"Today's boutique hotel is generally under 100 rooms with limited services, and most often, with a lower rate," comments Georges Chauve. "Our objective is to offer services found at larger properties, while still providing an attractive room rate and, most importantly, maintaining that personal touch of a family owned and run business."

"Travellers worldwide are sophisticated and they rightfully expect the best in amenities and in service. Providing individualized attention, comfort and security for each hotel guest is our main concern." Chauve added "Our properties are small enough to assure a personalized service to each of  our clients. We know who our guest is. Whether he or she be a frequent or infrequent visitor, we know from where they come, and what are their needs."

"In 2000, we purchased our first hotel in the Eiffel Tower district of Paris. The property was a small two star hotel built in the 1800's and in ruins. We approached Paris architect, Jacques Mechali, to toss around architectural ideas. We decided that the best solution was to demolish the property and reconstruct."

Chauve continued, "This was no easy task considering the landmark location of the site. After submitting several architectural designs and with the ultimate technical assistance of the Department of Urbanism for the City of Paris, a construction permit was granted."

Demolition, followed by the construction, began on the first property, Hôtel Le Walt, in July 2002. The hotel opens the 27th of August 2003. The facade of this newly built hotel remains in keeping with the classic period style of the left bank district of Paris.

"We purchased our second hotel, located in the same neighborhood in June 2001," continues Chauve. " We decided the best way to upgrade the new hotel was by completely re-doing the interior. It was a 'gut' job. We demolished the interior and kept the turn of the century facade." The property, Hôtel Le Marquis, opens on October 1st, 2003.

Hôtel Le Marquis and Hôtel Le Walt are situated on either side of the Champs de Mars. Both hotels are just a short five minute walk from the Eiffel Tower.

The Hôtel Le Walt has 25 guest rooms, 24 hour room service, restaurant and bar with garden service, weather permitting. 

The Hôtel Le Marquis provides 36 guest rooms, 24 hour room service, restaurant and bar with outdoor veranda service, weather permitting.

Continuing, "Whether a hotel property be 500 rooms or 25 rooms, the first investment to be made is in staff training. Guest satisfaction begins with the first contact; either over the phone when making the reservation or on  arrival at check in." He added, "That is what I consider intelligent hospitality. Meeting the guests' needs while making her, or him, feel comfortable and wanted is what our business is all about."

Our next priority is to provide top technology systems and overall comfort in each of the rooms and public areas. Because space is limited, we turned to decorator Paul Sartres to assist in creating a spacious feel in each of the guest rooms while still being able to comfortably provide the maximum in desirable amenities".

Georges Chauve and his American wife, Pamela, are hands-on managers . In early 2001, Chauve returned to Paris from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he was Vice President and General Manager of Allson Hotels and Resorts, and the Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel.

For nearly a decade, Georges Chauve served as General Manager for various 5- star hotel properties for the Renaissance Hotel group. Chauve's General Manager positions included the Renaissance Hong Kong; the Renaissance Sapporo, Japan; the Renaissance Melaka, Malaysia; and the Renaissance Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Appointed General Manager of the (now Sofitel) Le Grand Hotel in Amsterdam, Netherlands, he re-positioned this property as a leader amongst the city's luxury hotels. In managerial positions, Georges Chauve worked for over seven years in both operations and food and beverage for the Meridien Hotels in New York, Paris and in Newport Beach, California. He was briefly Director of the Hotel Crillon in Paris, France.

Georges Chauve is a graduate of the Lausanne Hotel School in Switzerland and his wife, Pamela, attended high school in Switzerland followed by Sarah Lawrence College in New York. Pamela began her hotel career as the Press Relations Director for the Parker Meridien Hotel in New York and, in the same position, opened the Boston Harbor Hotel. In charge of public relations, she later represented the Renaissance Hotel in Melaka, Malaysia. Pamela is the sister of Kathryn Hall, former U.S. Ambassador to Vienna, Austria.

Kathryn Hall, along with her husband, is the proprietor of Kathryn Hall Vineyards in Napa Valley, and has been involved in the California wine industry since her family first purchased a vineyard, the Walt Family Vineyards, 30 years ago. The hotels in Paris will have her wine on hand.

Craig Hall is a life-long entrepreneur and investor and is chairman and founder of Dallas-based Hall Financial Group. A Hall Financial affiliate owns the Radisson Hotel DFW South (Texas, USA). Other current hotel interests include a joint participation with Winston Hotels to provide mezzanine  financing for the Hampton Inn, Baltimore. Hall is also providing mezzanine financing to an affiliate of Circa Capital Corporation ("Circa") which owns six Holiday Inn Hotels located in various western US cities.