Monaco is undergoing a Renaissance where a rush of new ideas and reopenings are making the destination more appealing than ever to visitors.
For those new to the destination, images of casinos and race cars may fill your minds – but Monaco is so much more than its traditional big-ticket experiences.
Monaco’s Renaissance is unique. It’s not Florence, Italy, in the 14th century. It’s not even Beyonce in 2022. This Renaissance is a pure amalgam of Monégasque culture that visitors can immerse in as they travel around the Mediterranean. Here are some of the way the nation is evolving to benefit travellers and locals alike:
Re-Greening: Did you know you can calculate your CO2 footprint of your trip to Monaco here? It’s just one of the many ways the compact nation invites travelers to participate in its commitment to sustainability, which includes a new eco-district called Maraterra and a commitment to no single-use plastics by 2030 – just six years away! Monaco’s culinary offerings reduce food waste thanks to ‘La Petite Boite’ initiative, and there’s even Terre de Monaco, a Monegasque organic urban rooftop farming project.
Re-Experiencing: For decades visitors flocked to Monaco for its casino, but a new Oceanographic Museum escape game is showing that experiences range far beyond rolling the dice. Experience a space-time journey aboard the Princess Alice II, the famous laboratory ship of Prince Albert I. Visitors will be challenged to carry out a mission based on Monaco’s unique Mediterranean coastal geography. Then there is Club La Vigie, set to open in June 2023, providing an adults-only daytime beach club with direct access to the turquoise sea via a private platform.
Re-Positioning Women: While Alain Ducasse is the local chef known worldwide, a host of female chefs in Monaco are changing the game.
Awarded in 2021 with the “Young Talent” prize by Gault & Millau, Mélanie Serre received their “Great of Tomorrow” prize in November 2022. She continues innovating and designing the 2023 menu at Elsa at Monte-Carlo Beach, reopened this spring.
Since December 2018, Claire Sonnet has been displaying all her talents as Front of House Manager at the three Michelin Star restaurant, Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. Sonnet, described by Alain Ducasse as “the first woman in high gastronomy in the world,” sees herself as an ambassador for his vision.
Victoria Vallenilla is not yet 30 years old and is head chef at Coya Monte-Carlo, the first woman to hold the position at the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer group.
Em Sherif is a story of women and family. Already a global presence with 16 establishments worldwide, the restaurant has now opened at the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo. Mireille Hayek created the brand and the executive chef in Monaco is her daughter, Yasmina Hayek.
Re-Openings: What is old is new again! Throughout 2023, the principality will welcome the return of Cafe de Paris, celebrating its grand reopening with a new menu plus two additional floors. Additionally, the iconic 5-star hotel, Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, has undergone a two-phase renovation under the guidance of French Interior Architect, Jacques Garcia, unveiled this spring.
Resources for Canadian travel advisors can be found at https://traveltrade.visitmonaco.com/. More information, news, and the latest developments can also be found at visitmonaco.com.
