One of my favorite things about going to the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes each year is what I call the hotel lottery.
With the huge event taking over virtually every decent hotel room in the French Riviera town known for catering to the rich and famous, it's always interesting to see which property we media guests get lucky enough to score a room in. Will it be the recently refurbished Hotel Martinez? Or one of the city's grand dames, The InterContinental Carlton Cannes or Hotel Barriere Le Majestic Cannes.
Personally, I've always been partial to The Carlton, Cannes, with its traditional luxury and panoramic views of the French Riviera. Another favorite is the Hotel Barriere le Gray D'Albion, a quiet, boutique four-star property that is a little sister to and around the corner from the Majestic, a quick walk to and from the main event at the Palais.
While I have yet to stay at the renovated Martinez (the public spaces are amazing!), this year I was among those trying out the new kid in town, the Croisette Beach Hotel, a refurbished former Mercure property that is now part of Accor's boutique soft brand, the MGallery Hotel Collection.
Like many of the lifestyle and boutique soft brand's launched in recent years, MGallery is one that straddles the increasingly blurry line between upscale and luxury. And with more than 100 properties now across Europe, the variety of the brand underscores just how subjective those definitions can be.
Despite its name, the Croisette Beach Hotel, opened in May, is off the main Croisette. There is no grand facade. And my view was a courtyard and a pool, rather than the French Riviera.
Still, I loved the hotel the minute I walked in, with its modern, simple but slightly funky decor and warm atmosphere.
I was hosted in a spacious two-room with suite with light wood floors and a contemporary white and gray color scheme highlighted with colorful throw pillows and few pieces of tastefully inconspicuous art.
A two-room with suite at the Croisette Beach Hotel in Cannes. Photo Credit: Jeri Clausing
My suite also offered all amenities and services of its traditional luxe counterparts, including 24-hour room service, robes, espresso machine and minibar.
Even more important, the hotel staff was attentive and the service impeccable.
No, there weren't any black-and-white clad waiters serving 25 euro-a-glass champagne at the lobby bar. But there was a lobby bar, where one could get a nice cocktail or glass of wine without breaking the bank.
What I liked best, though, was the comfortable, casual bohemian chic vibe that offered a true sense of place. It's a characteristic at the heart of the MGallery brand, and a reminder that today's definition of luxe truly does lie in the personal experience.