A stone-laying ceremony took place on Friday, 7 October, to mark the start of works to create the first five star hotel in Cognac, France, aimed at transforming the city into a global gastro-tourism destination. Leading the ceremony were the British entrepreneur and project financier Javad Marandi, the mayor of the city of Cognac Michel Gourinchas and the architect of new building, Didier Poignant.
Scheduled to open in 2018, the heritage site is based in the former Monnet Cognac cellars which will be transformed into a luxury hotel, spa, restaurant and retail boutique complex unlike anything else that exists in the region. The 15,000m2 hotel complex will offer a modern take on traditional French luxe. It will also be a destination for tourists to sample local delicacies including the greatest Cognacs, all of which are produced nearby, Perigord truffles, cheeses and beef/pork/veal from nearby Limousin, distinctive local Pineau des Charentes wines – and of course the great wines of Bordeaux, which is just an hour away.
Speaking about the project, Javad Marandi said: ‘I am immensely proud to be part of this project and to be here today to celebrate this important milestone. The city of Cognac attracts tourists and business travellers from across the world every year. Cognac itself is one of the world’s most well-known luxury spirits, and can only be created here. The new hotel and restaurants will encourage more international visitors to travel to this historic and important city.’
The stone-laying ceremony follows the official deed signing ceremony in June, formally marking the start of the project that will restore the site location at Avenue Paul Firino Martel, based in the former family cellars of one of the principal architects of the European Union, Jean Monnet. The five-star hotel is designed to appeal to tourists travelling to the region to visit sites of interest including the Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Rémy Martin and Camus distilleries.
The project will include:
- Five-star hotel : 100 bedrooms and suites, 14 apartments, two restaurants, jazz bar and lounge, 400m2 conference room, four meeting rooms, and a pool and spa.
- Six boutiques which will be rented to French brand retailers
- A cultural meeting place commemorating Jean-Gabriel Monnet’s life and achievements
The €60 million investment will be financed personally by Javad Marandi who has a long track record of bringing hotels to market across Europe.
The project is due to be completed in Spring 2018 – 130 years after the birth, in Cognac, of Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, whose family owned the cellars.
The tourist and business interest of the project has been confirmed by a feasibility study carried out in December 2014 by the MKG Group, an expert with an experience of more than 30 years in the hospitality and tourism industry. Some 120 new jobs will be directly generated at the hotel complex.
Cognac is situated in southwest France, an hour’s drive from the international airport and wine tourism hubs of Bordeaux, and a short drive from the tourist destinations of the Dordogne.