Tell us about your background and your role at Villa Miraé?
"I started in the hotel and restaurant industry at the age of 16, joining the École Hôtelière de Gascogne in Bordeaux, while simultaneously working as a casual employee and on short-term contracts as a waitress.
After high school, I pursued specialized certifications in reception and bartending, which opened doors to prestigious establishments in Switzerland, such as the Lausanne Palace and the Beau-Rivage Palace, where I worked as a head waiter and bartender.
Between these seasons in Switzerland, I wanted to strengthen my English by spending a year in Wellington, New Zealand. I worked at the 4-star Rydges Hotel, where I progressed from commis to head waiter, while also managing the minibar and room service departments.
Upon returning to France, I completed an internship at the Hôtel Champs-Élysées Plaza (now Hôtel Elysia). There, I discovered front desk operations under the management of Michael Pouyer, Rooms Division Manager. I then joined the Savignac school for my third year of a Bachelor's degree in Luxury Hospitality Management.
During this program, I completed a six-month internship in revenue management at B Signature, while continuing to work as a casual head waiter at the Hôtel Champs-Élysées Plaza, which had recently joined the Inwood group.
Before finishing my year at Savignac, Michael Pouyer and Director Olivier Romain contacted me to join the team as a receptionist-concierge. I moved to Paris and held that position for over a year.
The Covid-19 crisis led to the closure of the establishment, a period during which the hotel reinvented itself to become the Hôtel Elysia. Upon its reopening, I was promoted to Front Office Manager. Less than a year later, I moved up to Rooms Division Manager, wearing three hats at once: Front Desk Supervisor, Front Office Manager, and Rooms Division Manager—a role I held for over a year.
Subsequently, the Inwood group developed a hub in the South-East of France, notably with a 5-star establishment in Cap d'Antibes. Olivier Romain invited me to join him in this new adventure. In June 2023, I took on the role of Deputy Manager at L’Impérial Garoupe.
After an initial season, the establishment closed for an eighteen-month renovation before reopening under a new identity: Villa Miraé. During this period, I also had the opportunity to serve as Operations Manager at the Hôtel Derby Alma for six months.
Today, as Deputy Manager at Villa Miraé, I assist Olivier Romain in his daily missions, ensuring the quality of the guest experience and their satisfaction. Simultaneously, I support department heads in their daily tasks and ensure smooth operational progress."
What made you want to move toward a role as transversal as Deputy Manager?
"I always knew I wanted to work in the hotel and restaurant industry. To be honest, I never questioned my career path.
At age 8, I told my parents with great confidence: 'I will be the manager of a 5-star hotel, with a grand marble staircase descending in front of the entrance.'
I am not a General Manager yet, and our stairs are made of Burgundy stone, but I think I am on the right track."
How has your journey within Inwood Hotels shaped your vision of the profession today?
"I joined the Inwood group on a permanent contract in 2019 at age 23, after an initial internship at age 20 at the former Elysia. The group has had a real impact on my career and my current vision of the industry.
Since 2019, I have had the chance to grow across three different Inwood establishments, always alongside the same director, Olivier Romain, who has largely contributed to shaping my work ethic and my vision of hospitality.
The Inwood group, more broadly, allowed me to discover a different approach: human and caring hospitality, where, although the guest remains the priority, the employee also holds an essential place."
Which details, in your opinion, make all the difference in the guest experience?
"It is the tailor-made touches that make the difference. At Villa Miraé, the guest is at the heart of our experience: we are committed to personalizing every stay by anticipating individual needs and preferences.
With only 35 rooms, we offer an intimate atmosphere that allows us to provide particularly attentive service. Villa Miraé was designed so that every guest can imagine it as their own private villa in Cap d’Antibes."
In your view, what makes the experience offered at Villa Miraé unique today?
"Each Inwood hotel corresponds to a specific lifestyle (art de vivre). Villa Miraé embodies the 'Art of Daydreaming'(l’art de la rêverie).
We offer our guests something that has become rare and essential: time. The Villa is designed as a timeless sanctuary between wooded gardens and sea views. Every detail was conceived with this philosophy in mind. The decor reflects the time dedicated to creation: the paintings (the flowers, the gilded sky in reception, or the wave in the Amarines gourmet restaurant) were entirely hand-painted by artist Antonin Lamoot. The ceramics in the rooms are also unique and handcrafted.
The same applies to our gastronomy: we take the time to create, adapting our menus to the seasons and breeding cycles, under the direction of three-star Chef Mauro Colagreco and our Executive Chef.
Finally, regarding the guest experience, we take the time to talk, to show them the garden, to get to know our guests, and above all, to recognize them."
In a few words, how would you define your vision of hospitality?
"Reflecting the spirit of Cap d’Antibes, Villa Miraé embodies discreet and intimate luxury, designed away from ostentation to offer an authentic and refined experience."