Three Luxury Hotels in France Lose Prestigious ‘Palace’ Status
Three of France’s most renowned luxury hotels have been stripped of their coveted “Palace” distinction following a review by the French Palace Commission, the authority responsible for awarding the highest honor in the country’s hospitality sector. The affected properties are the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome, Mandarin Oriental Paris, and Hotel du Palais in Biarritz. This marks the first time hotels have lost the prestigious designation since the Palace label was introduced in 2010 to recognize France’s most exceptional five-star establishments.
Indeed, France continues to be regarded among the most luxurious travel spots in the world due to its diverse culture, historical attractions, delicious cuisine, and luxurious accommodation options. Several palaces have been turned into luxurious hotels, where guests can experience the luxuries of past eras of France. According to reports, the three hotels have not managed to meet the necessary requirements to retain their title of palaces. Although some shortcomings were reported about the hotels by the officials according to the evaluation criteria, these hotels will keep their five-star status.
It has been reported by the French newspaper *Le Figaro* that it has become a huge success for the luxury hospitality industry. The number of palace hotels in France will be decreased from 31 to 27, and more than one-third of the hotels are located in Paris. The new list entitled “Palace Collection 2026” is expected to be launched by the Tourism Minister of France, Serge Papin, on June 2.
Industry analysts suggest that several hotels will get the title during this period of reevaluation, but it is still unknown which ones would manage to get the title. The Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome seems to have lost the title because the hotel has not invested enough in upgrades. Similarly, Hotel du Palais of Biarritz is known to have encountered the same issue. The Mandarin Oriental Paris is scheduled for a significant renovation soon.
Also, French media outlet *La Republique des Pyrenees* reports that the famous Hôtel Byblos of Saint-Tropez does not appear anymore on the list of the officially approved Palace hotels, but this information has not been confirmed yet by the French government. However, despite the reevaluation process, all three hotels still occupy places among the most luxurious in France.
