Entrepreneurship and a mind for fashion runs within the Zannier household. Born in Saint-Chamond, France, Arnaud Zannier began his profession as worldwide enterprise developer for one in all his father Roger’s footwear manufacturers after which launched his personal line of handmade sneakers. His subsequent step, establishing Zannier Hotels in 2011, has taken him off the crushed path to uniquely preserved locations with a want to do luxurious journey otherwise. We caught up with him to study extra about his philosophy and favorites.
Q
Your background is in style, what drove you to get into hospitality?
I’ve all the time preferred structure, inside design and good meals, so hospitality was all the time near my coronary heart. After working in London for 5 years with Kickers and operating my very own enterprise, n.d.c. made by hand, my father requested me to come back again to the household enterprise. But I felt there was nothing I may do higher than what they had been already doing, and I had in thoughts some concepts for a brand new hospitality method. I recognized what was a distinct segment at the moment: the concept that the way forward for luxurious is extra about moments and experiences than gold faucets and marble. In 2011, I bought a chance to buy the three-star Michelin restaurant La Ferme de mon Père in Megève, France, which saved its title however has been transformed right into a bistronomic restaurant and was just lately revamped for its tenth anniversary. I made a decision to launch my hospitality model and the Zannier Hotels journey began.
Q
What do you search for when selecting a location for a Zannier Hotels property?
Every opening takes into consideration the situation, the native tradition and the expertise our friends will be capable to reside, in addition to the emotion they’ll retain. But there is no such thing as a written technique on the situation choice standards. Most of the earlier openings had been the results of lucky encounters. Encounters with enterprise alternatives, after all, however above all, a spot. I give a whole lot of significance to the sensation one will get in a spot. I primarily based most of our institutions on the emotion that I felt when visiting these locations. I want to share this with others and this is the reason, at Zannier Hotels, we’re aware of the purity of a web site. We search for a spot with an untouched and genuine appeal, so we are able to create a discrete cocoon the place we are able to soften into the environment of the place and supply a novel expertise. It all the time begins with the native setting and a seek for timelessness, so the standard of service that we are able to supply feels each homey and flawless.
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Naturally, you like all of your properties, however is there one nearest and dearest to your coronary heart?
This is such a tough query to reply. Like “which of your children do you prefer?” I’m very pleased with all our lodges, and I take pleasure in visiting them often. But I have to say I’m very excited by Zannier Hotels Bãi San Hô, the newest mission we opened in December 2020. It is an unbelievable building, with 73 standalone villas in-built Vietnamese architectural types which might be discretely nestled inside 98 hectares of dense, endemic vegetation overlooking a protected coral bay. I’m all the time very excited to go to the property once more, and to expertise the deeply rooted Vietnamese tradition that’s genuinely mirrored. This was additionally the materialization of greater than 4 years of intense work, the most important mission ever for Zannier Hotels, and undoubtedly a profitable milestone.
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There’s a lot to absorb when visiting a spot for the primary time; what are among the particulars or experiences at your properties that we would not catch at first look however shouldn’t be missed?
The numerous excursions we provide at our properties are undoubtedly one thing you need to expertise. All the actions are distinctive and primarily based on the situation and tradition of the place. They are invites for a two-way encounter the place one learns from one other. Some of them are centered on wellness, others on nature, gastronomy, the area people, or cultural discovery. Our friends may go, for instance, on a ski safari in Megève, a scorching air balloon safari with Champagne breakfast in Namibia, or a neighborhood fishing and craft village exploration in Vietnam. At Zannier Hotels, we put personalization and experiences on the coronary heart of every idea to encourage life’s biggest tales.
Q
You’ve talked about one in all your favourite quotes is Cesare Pavese’s “We do not remember days; we remember moments.” What was a vivid second you keep in mind from one in all your latest travels?
Japan might be one in all my greatest journey reminiscences, for the meals and the wonderful customer support finishing a complete unbelievable expertise. I’ve been there thrice, however I actually wish to return with my kids and present them this glorious nation that I actually admire. I need them to find the unbelievable landscapes, tradition and gastronomy of Japan, and really feel the real simplicity and humbleness of the individuals there.
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Could you share any juicy particulars on what’s subsequent for the model?
We have a number of tasks within the pipeline, with an exhilarating upcoming mission in Europe deliberate for 2026. More might be introduced in a number of weeks. The second Nonna Bazaar might be a part of it. We can’t say the place but, however I can let you know it’s positioned within the northern a part of the Mediterranean Sea and will probably be beautiful. This might be our greatest mission up to now, with practically 100 resort rooms and a number of other meals and beverage retailers. We’re additionally persevering with the enlargement of Zannier Private Estates, with the opening on the finish of the 12 months of Le Campement, a five-bedroom villa positioned inside an impressive 5,000-hectare property in Mauritius. The model is often approached by buyers, and we stay open for brand new alternatives as resort operators.
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