Rumors have circulated in Paris for weeks: Who’s in and who’s out of the elite club of Palace hotels?
Launched by Atout France in 2010, the coveted Palace distinction recognizes establishments that surpass the five-star rating, symbolizing the ne plus ultra of French hospitality. The independent Palace commission has been hard at work evaluating applications — both for new, aspiring applicants and those looking to renew their status (valid for three years) — leading up to the June 2 announcement.
The whole thing has been shrouded in secrecy, but someone spilled the beans: In mid-May French newspapers reported that some properties would lose their Palace status for the very first time (“A bombshell in the hushed world of luxury hotels,” proclaimed Le Figaro.).
The big reveal took place at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, a magnificent 19th-century mansion bequeathed to the state by Europe’s dynastic Rothschild banking family. Profuse with pomp and polish, the ceremony was overseen by Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who delivered the verdict on the 2026 Palace Collection, which now numbers 33. Papin equated it to the Palme d’Or award at the paparazzi-hounded Cannes Film Festival.
Six new properties have joined the reigning Palace queens: Hôtel Martinez Cannes, Cheval Blanc Paris, Bvlgari Hotel Paris, Fouquet’s Paris, Four Seasons Resort Megève, and Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa.
The audience of media and industry veterans nodded and nudged neighbors; the new laureates are not unexpected. Four Seasons already has a duo of Palaces in France, in Paris and the Côte d’Azur. For the Barrière family, the Champs-Elysées landmark joins their Courchevel ski resort (both official monikers have morphed into “Fouquet’s,” dropping Barrière). And the LVMH luxury conglomerate scored twice with the Bvlgari Hotel Paris and the Cheval Blanc Paris, both of which debuted in 2021.
Of course, every awards show has its snubs: I was left wondering about the Carlton Cannes, IHG’s jewel of the city and film festival circuit since its renovation completed in 2023.
Parisian hotels still dominate the Palace distinction with a total of 13 in the city, followed by the Côte d’Azur/Provence region (9), and Courchevel (7). This is the first time that Champagne has graced the list.
“This Palace distinction is a sublime recognition of the efforts made by our team over many years,” said Michel Cottray, general manager of the Hôtel Martinez, part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. “Learning that we have met the requirements fills us with joy. It is a great source of pride to join the exclusive circle of Palaces in France. After several years of waiting, the Palace distinction is finally making its debut in Cannes and we are very honored.”
But mon dieu, what about the quartet that lost their Palace distinction? Incumbents are not safe from scrutiny, and the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, Hôtel Byblos-Saint Tropez, Hôtel du Palais Biarritz, and Mandarin Oriental Paris got the axe. Atout France is tight-lipped about the decision, only noting that the hotels failed to meet the requirements as determined by the 12-person Palace commission during the evaluation process, which included site visits and an interview. The check list of criteria is pages long — service and gastronomy play a key role, as does the balancing act between heritage and innovation. Yet in the end, the deciding factor is subjective.
More than a place to sleep, Palaces are “true cultural mediators,” to quote Christian Manteï, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atout France. France is the world’s No. 1 tourist destination, and the Palace distinction is a showcase of excellence in hospitality. For luxury travel advisors like Hazel Boone of Maryland-based Someday Vacations, who’s experienced many Palaces first-hand, the label is a selling point, “a useful tool to help clients differentiate between luxury properties in Paris.”
Manteï noted that the fact that hotels can lose the Palace distinction speaks to its credibility. Downgraded hotels could potentially rejoin the elite Palace ranks in the future.
But will they reapply? The Ritz Paris, which initially failed to snag the Palace distinction before its epic restoration unveiled in 2016, supposedly “opts out” from the application process, instead citing its existing star power and global name recognition.
Perhaps some properties would rather let the guests be the judge.
The full list of Palace hotels in France is as follows:
Paris
- Bvlgari Hotel Paris
- Cheval Blanc Paris
- Fouquet’s Paris
- Four Seasons Hotel George V
- Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel
- Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Dorchester Collection Paris
- La Réserve Paris - Hotel and Spa
- Le Bristol Paris
- Le Meurice, Dorchester Collection Paris
- Mandarin Oriental Lutetia Paris
- Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris
- Shangri-La Paris
- The Peninsula Paris
The Alps
- Airelles Courchevel, Les Airelles
- Cheval Blanc Courchevel
- Fouquet’s Courchevel
- Four Seasons Resort Megève
- Hôtel Royal Evian
- L’Apogée Courchevel
- K2 Palace
Côte d’Azur / Provence
- Airelles Gordes, La Bastide
- Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière
- Château Saint-Martin & Spa
- Cheval Blanc St-Tropez
- Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel
- Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc
- Hôtel Martinez Cannes
- La Réserve Ramatuelle Hotel, Spa & Villas
- Villa La Coste
Southwest, East, and Caribbean
- Les Prés d’Eugénie
- Les Sources de Caudalie
- Royal Champagne Hôtel & Spa
- Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France
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