Hotels and Spas

Like many palace hotels, the Majestic Barrière has given in to the ‘butler’ trend, to guarantee the comfort, day and night, of a few VIPs.

By Jerôme Dumur - Photos Lucien Barrière Cannes -  September 27, 2011

Since the opening of its second wing in May 2010, the Majestic Barrière, the famous hotel in Cannes, houses two exceptional suites: the Christian Dior and Majestic penthouses. Costing 30,000 and 38,000 Euros per night respectively, these prestigious apartments attempt to outdo each other in luxury to seduce their wealthy clients. An interior by the decorator for Dior, a private pool, butler services, etc.

What is a butler? A man entirely dedicated to the wellbeing of his clients, on call 24 hours a day. There are only two people

decided to treat 25 guests to a seven course dinner.  The menu features roast potatoes with caviar, but there was none left in the hotel kitchen. “I convinced the director of an excellent store in town to open up his shop in the middle of the night, and came back with 1½ kilos of the best Iranian caviar”. That's luxury...

morning, from a few clues, I guess which side the husband and wife sleep on so that, when night falls, I can place each one’s slippers on the right side of the bed. In general, we look out for habits, preferences and attentively observe our hosts’ behavior in order to anticipate their needs. Discreetly, in a manner that often goes unnoticed, butlers create the perfect illusion of a second home".

But this profession is not just about small gestures. The life of a luxury hotel also obliges the butler to respond to exceptional situations. A star left her evening gown, specially prepared for walking the red carpet, at home. “We chartered a private jet to go and fetch it in Barcelona.” A trivial story compared to the request of another client who, in the middle of the Film Festival, at 10pm,

with this profession in Cannes, both working for the Majestic Barrière: Gilles Carletto and Michel Martin. Knowledgeable about wine, the art of entertaining, how to polish handmade shoes or iron the most delicate fabrics, everyday they depend on a large wealth of knowledge in order to envelop their clients in a cozy cocoon. “Our hosts must feel at home, or just about, at the hotel", explains Gilles Carletto. We have a few tricks to achieve this. For example, my clients never wait for the lift. Before they leave their suite I hold it so that it’s waiting for them. Another industry standard, the first

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