A jewel of the Cote d’Azur, revered by cinema stars, creatives, diplomats and presidents for decades, has returned to write the next chapter in its centennial history. The iconic Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel, part of IHG Hotels and Resorts’ luxury and lifestyle portfolio and owned by Katara Hospitality, reopened its doors on March 13.
The epitome of elegance and the Grande Dame of Cannes’ hotel scene, the property’s majestic Belle Epoque façade – framed by twin domes – has been breathtakingly restored giving new life to this historic gem. With 332 rooms and suites – 72 of which have a sea view – and 37 branded residences, the hotel has been reimagined by acclaimed French interior designer Tristan Auer, famed for his careful-yet-bold approach to heritage buildings and bespoke work for the likes of Cartier.
General manager Giuseppe Vincelli said: “We are thrilled to reopen the doors of this wonderful building and truly look forward to welcoming our guests, loyal and new. What we have in this building now is a stunning blend of heritage and modernity, between our legacy and the many innovations we cannot wait to unveil. This beauty of contrasts has been our leitmotiv. It mirrors that of this timeless Riviera elegance, and the effervescence of the world-leading festivals in the city. It creates a journey from the Croisette’s blissful hubbub to the ultimate sanctuary underpinned by true Regent service.”
The two-year grand-scale renovation skillfully preserved the hotel’s historic features including its legendary façade resulting in a modern-day masterpiece. The addition of two striking wings, measuring 20,000 square meters and home to luxury residences, envelop the rear of the property. This has created an enclosed garden landscaped with 22,000 plants and flowers, peristyle alcoves, sleek sunbathing decks, handcrafted cabanas and the largest hotel infinity pool in Cannes. In addition, the hotel also has a brand new 900m2 fitness and spa complex – The C Club – which includes a full-size boxing ring and state-of-the-art gym, yoga and Pilates studio.
Carlton Cannes, the reborn icon of the Riviera
Carlton Cannes is one of very few landmark hotels recognisable from a plane. The commanding silhouette stands as its own beachfront city block, overlooking the prestigious beachfront promenade, La Croisette. Located in the beating heart of the Cote d’Azur, Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel offers decadent surroundings complemented by indulgent guest experiences.
Amidst the unexpected harmony of Auer’s visionary design, guests will connect over uplifting curated moments, inspired by the beauty of contrasts where heritage meets modernity. Auer’s scheme seamlessly combines bold, contrasting contemporary installations with the historic fabric of the building.
Sleep and dream
Carlton Cannes has 332 luxurious rooms and suites, many with breath-taking views of the shimmering Mediterranean. Bay windows adorning multiple floors create perfect personal havens where guests can immerse themselves in the depth of the view.
Historic balconies, spacious terraces atop the new peristyle walkways in the courtyard garden, and a restored balcony on top of the hotel’s iconic front porch create more personal havens where guests can enjoy the vista from the privacy of their suite, with refreshments menus curated especially for that moment. Each room and suite contains a refreshment gallery featuring food and drink items, many of which are complimentary.
Iconic suites
Carlton Cannes has a collection of suites. The seventh floor of the hotel has four signature suites, dutifully named to celebrate the legacy of the property. These include The Katara Suite which pays tribute to the hotel’s thoughtful custodians, in addition to The Grace Kelly Suite, The Cary Grant Suite, and The Kirk Douglas Suite.
On the sixth floor is The Alfred Hitchcock Suite which is the exact room where the famous kiss scene between Grace Kelly and Cary Grant in the master of suspense’s ‘To Catch a Thief’ was filmed. In the other tower on the same floor, The Suzanne Lenglen Suite, pays tribute to the eponymous tennis legend, who famously played the Match of the Century at the hotel in 1926 – spreading the love for clay courts, which started here, leading the way for Roland Garros to become the only Grand Slam tournament played on clay.
Exclusive residences
One of the grandest additions to the hotel is the 37 elegantly designed residences, located in the two new wings. Ranging from 85 to 500m2, the residences were meticulously designed as lavish Mediterranean homes, with all the amenities for leisurely extended stays and access to all of the hotel’s services, including room service, pool and wellness centre. On the top floor is an exclusive 1,000m2 penthouse, with a grand 500m2 of living space topped by a private landscaped rooftop of the same size, which includes a private Jacuzzi.
Opulent dining and drinking
Carlton Cannes has three restaurants, three bars, a tea lounge and a cigar lounge all curated to provide a palette of experiences to wow even the most discerning of guests.
The Riviera Restaurant
Located overlooking La Croisette, the Riviera Restaurant is one of the most iconic meeting points on the seafront. Its Mediterranean elegance and vibrant atmosphere make it an all-day dining destination where discerning diners can gather from early morning through to late night to enjoy the best of traditional French brasserie cuisine.
It is a convivial space designed to embody ‘la joie de vivre’ whether indoors or on the famous elevated south-facing terrace overlooking the sea, with outside seating for 170 guests. The Riviera Restaurant also has a chef’s table, which faces the open kitchen, with seating for ten to 15 guests. The restaurant is overseen by chef Laurent Bunel.
Rüya
Launching in May 2023 just before the Cannes Film Festival, Rüya will delight diners with its wondrous take on Anatolian cuisine underpinned by the warmth of Turkish hospitality. This will be the first Anatolian restaurant to open on the French Riviera. Rüya will follow celebrated openings in Mayfair London and Dubai.
Carlton Beach Club
The Beach Club opened in 2020 having been renovated by Auer and offers a freshly revised perception of the Dolce Vita lifestyle. Regardless of the season, the Carlton Beach Club welcomes guests in a chic and relaxed setting, enhanced by a sprinkling of 1950’s French Riviera glamour.
Guests can either meet in the restaurant, on the beach, at the bar– or even better, on the world-renowned central pontoon admiring a uninterrupted panoramic view of the Mediterranean, the Esterel mountains and the Îles de Lérins. It’s the perfect place to enjoy one of the Carlton’s famous decadent brioche Homer lobster rolls or a cocktail inspired by rivieras around the world. The Carlton Beach Club is available for private hire.
Bar 58
Inspired by the hotel’s iconic address, Bar 58 will be the beating heart and soul of Carlton Cannes, hitting the spot with creative seasonal cocktails guided by a ‘farm to bar philosophy’. In addition, there will be fine liquors, champagnes and wines from around the globe served alongside delectable bites. The bar offers warm intimate sophistication and an elegant interior, featuring handcrafted Venini chandeliers and a bar top adorned with Raku ceramic, laid like a puzzle.
In the way the Carlton Cannes has done for many years, Bar 58 will be the place of high-powered discussions, new encounters and convivial moments, both indoors and on the terrace in the Mediterranean garden.
Camélia Tea Lounge
Aptly named Camélia, inspired by Camellia Sinensis, the botanical name of the tea tree, guests can explore teas from around the world. A fully immersive sensory experience has been curated paying homage to the transport and trade on the silk road – an iconic moment that gave rise to the exchange of cultures, and movement of ideas.
A Carlton tea master will cultivate personalised journeys for guests to help them discover various blends and pairings, according to their mood or moment. A space within Camélia is dedicated to the art of preparation, where tea aficionados can be a spectator, guided by the in-house tea master.
Meet and celebrate
Carlton Cannes now has a 1,800m2 subterranean conference centre.
The Croisette Salon (765m2), complete with natural day light and an eye-catching suspended living green wall, is the biggest hotel ballroom in Cannes without columns or pillars, and has direct vehicle access making it perfect for car launches or substantial event rigging. It benefits also from an adjoining foyer of 261m2.
For smaller gatherings, there are five meeting rooms (from 70 to 152m²) inspired by the Cote d’Azur, all duly named after towns and villages along the coast including Cap d’Antibes, Grasse, Mougins, Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
In addition to the conference centre, the Grand Salon has been painstakingly restored to create 384m² of luxury events space with direct views of the sea and the garden, and bold chandeliers crafted by artisans who also worked on the Palace of Versailles.
The Regent touch
The addition of Carlton Cannes to the Regent Hotels and Resorts portfolio marks an historic milestone. Regent Hotels and Resorts joined IHG Hotels and Resorts in 2018.
Tom Rowntree, vice president of luxury brands at IHG Hotels and Resorts, said: “The return of Carlton Cannes and the launch of the new era of Regent marks the next chapter being penned, where history melts into the future. Regent and the Carlton are coming together to characterise a spectacular long-lasting legacy. Carlton Cannes will incite curiosity for generations to come with forward looking luxury experiences. This hotel blends Belle Epoque joie-de-vivre, impeccable craft and the energy of the ultimate destination in the way only the Regent brand can.”
Chief executive officer Nasser Matar Alkawari, from Katara Hospitality – owners of Carlton Cannes, added: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with IHG to transform the Carlton Cannes into a Regent Hotel, providing an inspiring gateway from which to explore the wonders of the French Riviera. Our aim is to deliver the serene and sensational at every turn. Our significant and continued investment will ensure that the hotel will stand the test of time for many years to come.”
The opening of Carlton Cannes is an exciting addition to IHG’s growing luxury and lifestyle portfolio, which includes iconic properties in destinations such as Hong Kong, London, New York, Dubai, Paris and Singapore. Guests will also have access to a best-in-class loyalty program, IHG One Rewards, which is centered around its guests – giving them richer benefits and more ways to earn than ever before, all powered by leading technology on its new mobile app.
Carlton Cannes will join Regent Chongqing, Regent Shanghai, Regent Phu Quoc and the soon-to-open Regent Hong Kong in crafting the most refined experiences for modern trendsetters. This opening is set to be closely followed by Regent Bali and Regent Shanghai On The Bund in late 2023, as well as a to-be-announced North American location.
Factbox
Rooms with panoramic sea view start from €1,200 per night.
Address: 58 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France
Phone: +33 4 93 06 40 06
Website: ihg.com/regent/hotels/gb/en/cannes/ceqha/hoteldetail
All imagery unless stated otherwise copyright: Carlton Cannes, A Regent Hotel
