Anouk and Louis Solanet, founders of Orso Hôtels, a brand new model of unbiased Parisian inns.
When Anouk and Louis Solanet opened their first Paris property, Hôtel Rochechouart, in early 2020, it was simply 5 days earlier than the French capital went into lockdown. Two years later, the married couple have now launched seven boutique properties throughout town and established their elegant Orso model as a uncommon discover within the crowded world of hospitality.
You’ve stated that, with Orso, you intention to return to “the misplaced artwork of hospitality.” What do you assume is lacking from up to date hospitality? We prefer to assume that we’re setting a special tempo for an business that’s change into too reliant on standardized experiences, too hooked up to know-how, making an attempt to remodel the visitor expertise right into a digital one. We worth “old style” hospitality, the place we strike the proper stability between laid again and complex. We consider ourselves as visitors earlier than hoteliers, so we persistently draw from our private experiences to convey Orso to life in a playful, approachable method.
The restaurant at Lodge Rochechouart, the model’s flagship.
I learn that you’re very cautious in regards to the merchandise utilized in your inns. How do you choose them? What’s essential to you in selecting product companions? One of many first concepts we had once we created the Orso model was to give you our personal line of facilities to place in all our inns, and to make them accessible for buy. We had been impressed by Louis’s Corsican roots and our travels to create a perfume that reminded us of coastal summers.
In Corsica, wild fennel is commonly reduce contemporary alongside the aspect of the highway. That’s why we determined to place massive fennel branches on the entrance of every Orso lodge.
We additionally prefer to discover the neighborhood we quiet down in to seek out the proper artisans to work with. We attempt to avoid providing the identical, commonplace merchandise.
A view a WC at Lodge Orphee.
In lieu of concierges, Orso inns have hosts. What does that function appear to be? Why did you need to do that in a different way? Recruitment is an actual, day by day problem. We prefer to assume that our workers does their greatest to stay considerate, pleasant and approachable, irrespective of their function. We like seeing them as hosts as a result of we delight ourselves on welcoming visitors into what ought to really feel like their dwelling away from dwelling.
To raise the expertise, we’ve got a couple of easy issues we provide our visitors:
-Contemporary baked cake upon arrival -Curated Orso metropolis information with a choice of addresses (all inside strolling distance of their inns) -Orso signature cocktails
A bed room at Lodge Wallace.
How would you describe the design of your inns? Is it related all through the totally different areas, or distinctive to every spot? Very distinctive to every spot. Every lodge has been a collaboration with a special designer (or duo). For Lodge Rochechouart, we labored with Festen Structure due to their understanding of the Artwork Deco model. For Le Wallace, we needed the discerning eye of design duo Hauvette & Madani, whose background is principally in residential work. For Lodge Ami, we selected the Nordic and minimalist strategy of Gesa Hansen. We take cues from the constructing’s unique structure and the encompassing space to pick out the perfect designer to inform a brand new story every time.
However every lodge is a member of the Orso household. They’re all distinct, however nonetheless bear a resemblance that connects them. Every lodge additionally has a shock: Le Wallace’s rooftop Nordic bathtub, Lodge Orphée’s underground steam room, Lodge Rochechouart’s dancing membership, and so on.
The restaurant at Lodge Orphee.
What excites you about Parisian hospitality specifically? Why did you need to be part of this market? We’re enthusiastic about Paris coming again to life after the pandemic. We determined to launch our enterprise and open our first inns in 2019 and 2020, so we’ve come a good distance. And to see how keen each locals and guests are to be part of this rebirth of hospitality could be very humbling. Paris is our dwelling and we need to see it thrive and supply visitors a real and welcoming expertise, particularly after this very isolating interval.
The salon at Lodge Wallace.
Do you’ve gotten any plans for different cities sooner or later? Whereas we’re at the moment very a lot rooted in Paris; the aim is to start increasing the Orso model, each in France and in Europe. Whereas we are able to’t speak about particular areas simply but, we are able to say that we need to proceed to decide on initiatives that drive us, the place the place, individuals and design all come collectively to inform a very compelling story.
A bed room at Lodge Orphee.
