Why Paris' favorite fashion week hotel is always on our radar

The Ritz Paris — one of TPG’s favorite hotels — isn’t just a famous name ... even if many famous faces have passed through its revolving front door, especially during fashion week, which is currently underway in Paris.

From Princess Diana to Madonna and many a fashion editor during Paris Fashion Week, the Ritz Paris team knows a thing or two about hosting high-profile guests. But the iconic Paris hotel — which includes the Versailles-comes-to-Paris Suite Imperiale, listed as a national monument by the French government (it can be yours for the night starting at 40,000 euros or $41,227) — is more than flashing cameras and fashionistas at check-in (though it does rival Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista in terms of Vogue appearances).

Before its heyday as a Fashion Week mainstay, the 142-room, storied property at 15 Place Vendome opened in 1898 and quickly won over the likes of Coco Chanel, Ernest Hemmingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charlie Chaplin (many of whom have suites named after them). But luxury these days is a lot like fashion: One day, you’re in, and the next day, you can be out. Further, there’s always a new high-end hotel opening up in the City of Light that's trying to capture soaring interest in one of the most visited cities in the world. After all, it’s not just Americans flocking to Paris these days because of a love for “Emily in Paris.”

So — how do they keep up?

The value of anticipatory service

The Ritz Paris team goes to great lengths to make sure this hotel is always in style ... like the Hermes bag many people are on the waitlist for at the boutique around the corner.

Oh, but guests of the Ritz Paris aren’t meant to mingle with the hoi polloi in a line at Chanel or Hermes (an unfortunate reality these days for luxury shopping in Paris).

Let the hotel take care of that for you.

“When you're sitting at the Ritz, what other door can we open for you, because now, in front of each [luxury] brand, you have queues,” Laurent Herschbach, general manager of the Ritz Paris, said during an interview with TPG at the International Luxury Travel Market conference in Cannes, France. “You need to have contact with the right person to open these doors for these guests because they don’t want to wait anymore. They want to spend money. The service we provide is to anticipate the needs of our guests."

Time can be the ultimate luxury, and why waste any of it just to get your foot in the door of a luxury goods store in Paris? Further, no time is wasted on arrival when you stay at the Ritz Paris. Team members can meet guests on the jetway of an arriving flight and whisk them through a priority lane at customs. Further, guests of the Ritz Paris won’t be waiting around for a room to free up at check-in.

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The hotel team caps occupancy at the property to make sure there is always an available room, no matter what time a guest arrives. Further, the hotel’s floating check-in and checkout model means guests can stay as late on their departure date as they’d like.

Staying in vogue in food and fashion

It's certainly more than high-end services that keep things fresh at the Ritz Paris. The hotel reinvents menus at its storied bars and restaurants, including at Bar Hemingway under the tutelage of head bartender Anne-Sophie Prestail.

Come for the literary history at this 25-seat bar, and stick around for a Les Bulles Dorees, a cognac- and pear liqueur-forward cocktail. Or, splurge for the bar’s world-renowned sidecar, created by then-head bartender Frank Meier in 1923 and composed of prephylloxera Grande Champagne Cognac from 1834, Cointreau and fresh lemon juice — all yours for just 3,000 euros ($3,086).

The Ritz Paris also gets experimental with its menus, including a biodynamic menu that explores the power of stars and nature. Expect more florals, fruits, leaves and root influences off this menu to provide a “pure” essence to your dining and drinking experience, from lobster tartlets to a corn whiskey and liqueur with freeze-dried corn and popcorn. Of course, the Ritz Paris still has ample opportunity for classic dining, fine dining and drinking throughout the property at venues like Espadon and Bar Vendome.

How to book

Future guests can always book directly through the Ritz Paris booking channels, but the hotel is also featured on travel booking portals for premium credit cards associated with American Express and Chase.

The Ritz-Amex relationship has been underway for 40 years, and the hotel was an early addition to The Edit by Chase Travel. Benefits slightly differ when you book a stay via American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Edit.

Both platforms include breakfast, room upgrades (when available) and other perks associated with a Ritz Paris stay, such as the floating check-in and checkout times. But where Chase cardholders can enjoy airport transportation services, Amex cardholders get a $100 food-and-beverage credit to use during their stay.

“We're very happy to have these two programs on board,” Herschbach said.

Guest rooms at the Ritz Paris start at 2,100 euros ($2,160) per night.

Related reading:

• Best hotel credit cards
• Best hotel rewards programs in the world: Which one is right for you?
• The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison