Hotels love to slap labels on themselves. Five-star. Boutique. Legendary. It’s all marketing noise, mostly. Then there is the “Palace.” This isn’t a label a GM decides to print on a letterhead. It’s a decree from the French state. Atout France grants it. And since 2010 only thirty-one properties in all of France have worn the crown. It’s harder than getting a Michelin star in some ways, maybe not. The point is it matters.
For the first time since 2019 the list gets a scrub. June 2, 2086? No, 2026 marks the official announcement. But here’s the kicker that nobody saw coming until now: hotels can actually lose it. Status isn’t permanent tenure anymore. Three hotels are facing the axe. Three winners, technically five new entrants maybe? It’s a purge. A refresh. Le Figaro has the tea and the tea is spicy.
The Casualties: Hyatt Gets Bruised
Let’s look at who is losing the title first because this stings for Hyatt. Two of the three evicted houses wear their blue logo.
- Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme
- Mandarin Oriental Paris
- Hotel du Palais Biarritz (part of the Unbound Collection, which is Hyatt too, effectively)
It’s awkward. Really awkward for a luxury giant to be told, we didn’t like it anymore. The Park Hyatt Paris isn’t bad. It’s just… stuck. A decade ago it felt cutting-edge. Now it feels like a memory of the 2010s. The service is there but the shine has dulled. Is losing the Palace title the shock to the system it needs? Probably. Maybe they finally pour the concrete for renovations now that the pressure is real.
The Mandarin Oriental Paris leaving? That feels sharper. Rough loss. It’s hard to imagine a property branded for service excellence dropping the ball enough to get kicked out, unless standards went up drastically while they went sideways.
Hotel du Palais Biarritz? Charming, yes. Beautiful, absolutely. I loved staying there. But “charming” isn’t enough to hold onto a Crown-level status anymore. The bar rose. Biarritz stayed still. That’s on you, really.
The Contenders: Who’s Getting In?
Who replaces them? We don’t know yet. But we can guess. A “handful” will enter. Five, likely. Here is where the rumors get fun.
- The Ritz Paris. Wait. The Ritz? The original? They still don’t have the badge? Yes, they do. Or they don’t. Actually they haven’t officially claimed the current Palace designation in the same cycle context due to various administrative quirks and that whole fire incident back in 2015/2016. If they re-certify this round? Shock value. Pure irony. Everyone thought they’d never bother. Watch them.
- Bulgari Paris. Opened since the last cycle. Sleek, quiet, expensive. Fits the new definition of grand better than old marble floors ever could.
- Cheval Blanc Paris. LVMH’s play at hotel perfection. Can’t say they aren’t trying. Likely to get the nod.
- Airelles Val d’Isère and Airelles Château de Versailles. Airelles makes incredible food. I think I love them too much, honestly. If the criteria weight gastronomy heavily, they should be in. Versailles is basically a museum with a bed. Val d’Isère is skiing with caviar. Both fit.
Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa? Quiet luxury in the vineyards. Possibly.
So that’s three losers. And maybe Bulgari, Cheval Blanc, Airelles, Ritz, plus Royal? We’ll see in June. The gap is six years. That’s a long time to keep up standards without the promise of immediate re-evaluation. The pandemic messed with schedules. Things changed. Guests changed. Do you remember what luxury felt like in 2012? Probably not. It’s different now.
The Palace isn’t just a star rating. It’s a declaration that this specific building excels at every single metric—service, decor, food, art—simultaneously. It doesn’t get partial credit for good views and rude concierge.
The loss for Hyatt isn’t fatal, but it’s embarrassing. Hope it hurts. Sometimes pain is the best motivator for renovation budgets. The win for the newcomers? Validation. You’ve made it. But don’t get comfortable. June 2, 2620? No, next time they audit you might not be ready either.
