Design when you hold us Laurent Dubois, the current general manager of the Hotel Moderne St Germain, owned by Sequana headed by Mr Gibon, has always been a fan of design. After hotel school in Lille, a maitre d’ experience in Lens and several seasons in the South of France, he became manager of the hotel reception at Albert 1er Hotel in the 10th arrondissement in Paris and then at the Hotel Guilhem, a Relais & Chateaux property in Montpellier. Two key positions that will lead to a hotel manager, for seven years now. The Moderne St-Germain Hotel is above all a family story, when Mr Gibon’s mother was the owner. First of the hotel group Sequana, three more were added (the California Hotel, Hotel Sully and the Hotel du Commerce), all in the same street! The eldest of the three had to show the example: the Modern Hote has to be design. Successful 180 ° turn, it is the only design hotel in the street and Laurent Dubois is very happy about it.
“You got the look” The design of the hotel was done by Anne Bruguière-Peyroux and Emmanuelle Thisy, in close collaboration with the owner of decoration. Laurent also put his personal touch. Wallpapers in corridors, chair bedroom, flower arrangements, the pink neon of the famous pink bunny in the room breakfast … it’s all him! And he is proud of it. The hotel is undergoing renovations, the 6th floor will be completed by April 2010; all floors within two years. The highlight of the hotel? Each floor has its own color and matching fabrics, and a facade that turn purple at night!
A real one Laurent Dubois is a true Parisian who likes to walk to St-Germain and rue de Buci. He admits that the Marais is really not bad either for antiques or flea markets, for cool trendy bars, and of course, for shopping. Because Laurent is a true shopping addict! His perfect day? Go to Ile St-Louis, back to St. Paul, rue de Sévigné, reach Place des Vosges and then join the rue des Francs-Bourgeois. From there, go to the Musée Carnavalet. Or go directly to the Pantheon (near the hotel), Notre-Dame, Institut du Monde Arabe, or the Jardin des Plantes. The advantage is that in Paris you can invent all kinds of days.
Viva Italia! But Laurent is primarily an Italian at heart. Even if he travels frequently and giving himself a weekend of relaxation or discovery in Amsterdam or Marrakech, Laurent Dubois likes to sing the sun of Italy. His favorite city? Florence in Tuscany, the climate, welcoming people, stones, paint, shopping (as always) and beautiful gardens in which to walk. Besides force to go to Florence, his favorite hotel is the Cavour, Laurent Dubois became friends with the owners.