Hôtel Régina

Hôtel Régina is a historic luxury hotel on the Place des Pyramides in central Paris, directly opposite the Jardin des Tuileries and close to the Louvre Museum. The property opened in 1900 in connection with the Paris World's Fair, although its building was constructed on an earlier Second Empire-era structure. Its prominent location places it beside the Rue de Rivoli, one of the city's major historic thoroughfares, and near the gilded equestrian statue of Joan of Arc that stands in the square in front of the hotel. The hotel was developed by Léonard Tauber and his associate Constant Baverez between 1898 and 1900. Its name was chosen in reference to Queen Victoria, reflecting the political and cultural symbolism of the Entente Cordiale between France and Britain. From its beginning, the property was positioned as a grand urban hotel serving visitors to Paris, particularly guests seeking proximity to the Louvre, the Tuileries, and the ceremonial and cultural center of the capital. Hôtel Régina is part of Les Hôtels Baverez, a Parisian hotel group that also owns and manages Hôtel Raphael and Majestic Hôtel-Spa. The group traces its origins to Léonard Tauber and remains associated with the descendants of Constant Baverez. In the period covered by the available reference material, the group was run by Françoise Baverez and her daughter Véronique Valcke, while the Regina continued to operate as an independently identifiable property within the portfolio. A substantial renovation was carried out in the 2010s. The first phase was completed in summer 2014, followed by work on a second wing that began in October 2014 and was formally inaugurated on 29 September 2015. The renovation was reported to have an estimated cost of €17 million. In November 2014, a director identified in reference material only by the surname Piazzi was appointed. In August 2015, the hotel received a fifth star from Atout France, confirming its positioning in France's top luxury-hotel category. The property has 99 bedrooms, with some rooms offering views toward the Jardin des Tuileries or the Louvre. Its hospitality offer includes several food-and-beverage spaces: The Lounge Club beneath the arcades facing the Louvre, the Bar Anglais and its terrace, the furnished and planted La Terrasse Cour Jardin, and a tea room serving teas, chocolates, and pastries. The hotel selected Ladurée for its pastry offering, linking the property to a recognized French luxury food brand. Hôtel Régina also has a notable screen presence. The property has been used as a filming location for French and international productions since at least 1980, including The Lady Banker, La Femme Nikita, The Bourne Identity, Sagan, Female Agents, Cheri, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, and RED 2. This recurring use reinforces the hotel's identity as a recognizable image of historic Parisian luxury and period architecture.

Hôtel Régina occupies a prominent site on the Place des Pyramides in Paris, across the Rue de Rivoli from the Jardin des Tuileries and near the Louvre Museum. The square is associated with Napoleon's Egyptian campaign through its name, while the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc in front of the hotel provides one of the property's most recognizable external landmarks. The building dates from the Second Empire period and was developed for the 1900 Paris World's Fair. Léonard Tauber and his associate Constant Baverez carried out the construction between 1898 and 1900, with the hotel opening in 1900. The name Régina referred to Queen Victoria and conveyed the contemporary symbolism of closer Franco-British relations under the Entente Cordiale. Its location and grand-hotel format made it part of the established luxury accommodation infrastructure serving visitors to central Paris. The property later became part of Les Hôtels Baverez, a hotel group that also includes Hôtel Raphael and Majestic Hôtel-Spa. The group was founded by Léonard Tauber and is associated with the Baverez family through Constant Baverez. The available reference material identifies Françoise Baverez and her daughter Véronique Valcke as the group's operators or leaders during the period described. A significant modernization program took place in the 2010s while retaining the hotel's historic identity. The initial renovation phase was completed in summer 2014. Work on a second wing started in October of that year, and the completed wing was inaugurated on 29 September 2015. The total cost was estimated at €17 million. During the same period, Piazzi was appointed director in November 2014, and Atout France awarded the property its fifth star in August 2015. The hotel has 99 bedrooms, some with views of the Tuileries or the Louvre. Its public spaces include The Lounge Club under the arcades, the Bar Anglais with a terrace, La Terrasse Cour Jardin, and a tea room. The property selected Ladurée for pastries, adding a recognizable French patisserie association to its food-and-beverage offer. Hôtel Régina's architectural and Parisian character has also made it useful as a filming location. Reference material lists productions filmed there from 1980 onward, including The Lady Banker, The Blood of Others, La Femme Nikita, Same Old Song, The Bourne Identity, Sagan, Female Agents, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, Cheri, and RED 2. These appearances have contributed to the hotel's visibility as a cinematic representation of historic Parisian luxury.

• 2015

  Second wing inaugurated and fifth star awarded

  [1]Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org

  The renovated second wing was inaugurated on 29 September, and Atout France awarded the hotel a fifth star in August.

• 2014

  Renovation program advances

  [1]Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org

  The first phase of a major renovation was completed in summer 2014, and a second wing entered renovation later that year.

• 1980

  Begins documented film-location use

  [1]Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org

  The property began a documented sequence of appearances as a filming location, starting with The Lady Banker.

• 1900

  Hôtel Régina opens

  [1]Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org

  The hotel opened in connection with the Paris World's Fair and was named in reference to Queen Victoria.

• 1898

  Construction begins

  [1]Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org

  Léonard Tauber and Constant Baverez began developing the hotel building on the Place des Pyramides.

Historic Parisian five-star hospitality centered on heritage architecture, proximity to the Louvre and Jardin des Tuileries, and traditional French luxury service.

• Hotel accommodation · 1900

  Guest rooms

  Hôtel Régina offers 99 bedrooms in a historic central-Paris setting. Some rooms provide views toward the Jardin des Tuileries or the Louvre, making location and heritage architecture central elements of the accommodation experience.

• Lounge and food service

  The Lounge Club

  Located beneath the hotel's arcades and facing the Louvre Museum, The Lounge Club is one of the property's principal public hospitality spaces, combining the hotel's historic setting with lounge-oriented service.

• Bar

  Bar Anglais

  The Bar Anglais and its terrace are designed around an atmosphere associated with Victorian England, echoing the hotel's historical connection to Queen Victoria and its Franco-British naming symbolism.

• Terrace dining

  La Terrasse Cour Jardin

  La Terrasse Cour Jardin is a furnished and planted interior terrace offering an enclosed garden-like setting within the hotel.

• Tea and pastry service

  Tea Room

  Facing the Louvre, the tea room serves a selection of teas, chocolates, and pastries. The hotel has also chosen Ladurée for its pastry offering.

• 2015

  Pursue fifth-star classificationOther

  Background

  Following the renovation program, Hôtel Régina was positioned for recognition within France's highest hotel classification tier.

  Action taken

  Atout France awarded the property its fifth star in August 2015.

  Aftermath

  The classification formally confirmed the hotel's five-star positioning.

  Source

• 2014

  Undertake a major property renovationStrategy

  Background

  The historic hotel pursued a multi-phase renovation while continuing to operate as a luxury property in central Paris.

  Action taken

  The first phase was completed in summer 2014, followed by renovation of a second wing beginning in October 2014.

  Aftermath

  The second renovated wing was inaugurated in September 2015, and the total project was estimated at €17 million.

  Estimated renovation cost. €17 million estimated total cost (2014–2015)

  Source

1. 1Hôtel Réginaen.wikipedia.org