Sommet Education partners with Forbes Travel Guide at The Summit in Monaco
The principality of Monaco recently welcomed over 750 hospitality leaders from 90 countries for Forbes Travel Guide's 2025 Summit, marking the event's first international conference. This premier gathering on the luxury travel industry's calendar featured symposiums, learning sessions, and elegant soirées throughout the glamorous destination.
Global Expertise and Royal Welcome
Held at the stunning Grimaldi Forum, the Summit officially began with a welcome from H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, who discussed his great-grandfather's environmental legacy and his own commitment to sustainable tourism during a conversation with Emmy-winning reporter Peter Greenberg.
Forbes Travel Guide CEO Hermann Elger introduced the company's expanding family of brands, including Atelier CX and the newly announced BOND.CO.LAB, designed to streamline high-profile brand collaborations.
Industry Insights and Memorable Moments
Thought leaders explored multiple facets of luxury hospitality:
- Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, chairman of Abercrombie & Kent, shared insights on meaningful travel
- Leaders from emerging destinations like Saudi Arabia's $64 billion Diriyah project and Ras al Khaimah in the UAE presented ambitious tourism development plans
- A distinguished panel discussed "Timeless Allure: Navigating Legacy and Innovation in Luxury," with Mandarin Oriental's CEO Laurent Kleitman defining luxury as "dreams through desirability and emotions through relationships"
Sommet Education Panel Discussion
Sommet Education was proud to partner with Forbes Travel Guide at The Summit and host a panel discussion titled "Reimagining Luxury Hospitality Leadership Through Academic Co-creation". The panel featured distinguished industry leaders exploring the future of luxury hospitality education and talent development. Moderated by Dr. Eleonora Cattaneo, Professor of Luxury Management and Director of MSc programs at Glion Institute of Higher Education, the panel brought together Benoît-Etienne Domenget (CEO of Sommet Education), Guy Chatillon (Luxury Expert and former President/CEO of Van Cleef & Arpels EMEA), Vincent Billiard (Regional Vice President at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and General Manager of Hôtel de Crillon), Pierre-Louis Renou Glion Alumnus (General Manager of The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel), Katrin Melle (Regional VP DEI & Talent for Hyatt in the Europe, Africa, Middle East Region), and Isabelle Siné Glion Alumna (Deputy Director of Training, Careers, and Internal Mobility at Monte Carlo Société des Bains de Mer). The discussion focused on talent identification and retention, balancing tradition with innovation in luxury operations, cross-industry learning from luxury retail, and strengthening academic-industry partnerships to prepare the next generation of hospitality leaders who can deliver exceptional experiences across cultural boundaries.
Celebrating Excellence
The Summit concluded with a glamorous gala at the Sporting Monte-Carlo's Salle des Étoiles, featuring performances inspired by James Bond themes. The evening's highlight was the prestigious Award of Excellence by Baccarat presented to legendary chef Alain Ducasse. Prince Albert II of Monaco was present to honor Ducasse's lifetime achievement, recognizing the chef's extraordinary contribution to culinary excellence and hospitality.
Ducasse, whose culinary empire spans multiple Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide, was joined on stage by prominent chefs who studied under him, including Yannick Alléno, Mauro Colagreco, Cédric Grolet, and Marcel Ravin. This remarkable gathering of culinary talent underscored Ducasse's profound influence on global gastronomy.
The evening ended with the exciting announcement that the Forbes Travel Guide Summit will return to Monaco in 2026, cementing the principality's position as a premier luxury hospitality destination.
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