Dynamic owners, charismatic general managers, devoted and generous teams . . . Heloise’s Choice places human features centre stage in its concept of hospitality.
Olivia Le Calvez, a woman of action and passion, has the gift of transforming each one of her favourites into successes. In 2002 she was enchanted by a shipowner’s mansion of the 17th century in the harbour of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. After two years of refurbishment, the Hôtel de Toiras opened its doors. It rapidly reached its consecration. In 2005 the hotel became a member of Relais & Chateaux and in 2010 the first five-star hotel of the Poitou Charente region. However, tireless Olivia did not rest on her laurels. In a little alley of Saint-Martin she discovered a new gem: a former private mansion dating back to the 18th century. She refurbished it and dedicated it to wellness and wellbeing. Opened in 2011, Villa Clarisse was immediately awarded four stars.
In parallel, her love of wine from the earth led her to a new adventure. In 2009 she acquired, together with her husband, a five-hectare vineyard in Puisseguin-Saint Emilion which they named after their daughter, Château Clarisse. Today the estate encompasses 20 hectares and its wines are served at the best restaurants in 20 countries around the world.
As a leading figure and benchmark in the international luxury hospitality industry, Didier Le Calvez has served in the most prestigious luxury hotels and palaces in the world. From the Plaza in New York to the George V in Paris via the Regent in Singapore, the Pierre in New York or the Bristol in Paris, Didier Le Calvez has demonstrated throughout his professional career his skills to elevate each property that he ran to the highest level of excellence.
In parallel, Didier Le Calvez acquired in 2009, together with his wife Olivia le Calvez, a vineyard of 5 hectares in Puisseguin-Saint-Emilion. Château Clarisse, is today an estate of 20 hectares whose wines are served in the most prestigious restaurants in 20 countries around the world.
In order to implement a project which had been maturing for some time, Didier Le Calvez partnered with his wife Olivia Le Calvez in 2017 to develop Ré-Consulting & Heloise’s Choice.
To revive an almost abandoned domain in the crater of the only volcano of Provence, rich in 1800 years of history, is probably a form of madness that would try to reason. This is the party that our family took, almost twenty years ago.
To revive a vast agricultural starts by reviving the earth. And if the earth has memory, it is not spiteful. Slowly, the vines produced beautiful grapes allowing us to hoist our wines to the best level, the almond plantation was reconstituted, the truffle was reborn.
To give life back is also to share an exceptional house which, since the beginning of the 17th century, had hardly undergone a transformation.
To share our passions, the wine, the almonds, the truffles, in the remarkable setting of such a beautiful place, is it not to make it live as it was thought, many centuries ago, as an experiment to share.
Pierre, Nicole and Bérengère GUENANT, the owners
British of Iranian origin, over the past 20 years he has built up an impressive portfolio of investments in fashion, restaurants, transport, real estate and hotels industry, gathered within the company Alitas.
After working for large multinationals such as Coca-Cola and Philip Morris, Javad Marandi moved into real estate development and investment.
Owner of the Sofitel in Brussels and the Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, he undertook an ambitious project and acquired the Chais Monnet in 2016 from the City Council of Cognac to renovate it into an independent luxury hotel. After two years of renovation, the hotel became the first five star hotel in Cognac.
As a enthusiast of great vintage wines and French gastronomy, he was delighted with the announcement of the Michelin star award ceremony which is going to be held in Cognac on 18 January 2021.
Owner of the Hotel Chais Monnet & Spa in Cognac
With more than 26 years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant industry, Emmanuel Brin joined La Villa Baulieu as Managing Director – Maître de Maison in 2018 alongside Pierre and Bérangère Guénant, owners of La Villa Baulieu.
His know-how and expertise are the result of his various experiences in Food & Beverage, Catering, Sales and Marketing. Following his study at the Institut Vatel, he is passionate about Food & Beverage industry and began his career at the Parc Floral de Paris as an Executive Assistant.
Endowed with a strong management ability and organizational quality, he continues in Events Management in Operations and Sales. He then joined the Concorde Hotels & Resorts group and stayed there for more than 13 years, ending as F&B Revenue Manager of the European headquarters. During his time at the head office, he was responsible for several international sales markets. Finally, he was Managing Director of the Villa Duflot, a member of the Les Collectionneurs by Alain Ducasse.
We love his passion for the terroir, his customer service and his contagious dynamism. Emmanuel meets all the clients individually and Heloise’s Choice admires this keen sense of service.
General Manager of the Villa Baulieu – Maître de Maison