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 of her favorites into success. In 2002 she was enchanted by a shipowner’s mansion of the 17th century in the harbor of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. After two years of refurbishment with Pierre-Yves Rochon, the Hôtel de Toiras opened its doors. Between 2005 and 2021, the hotel was a member of Relais & Châteaux and then took the decision to manage it totally independently. In 2010, the Toiras became 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 with Pierre-Yves Rochon and dedicated it to wellness and well-being. 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 worldwide.
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.
A graduate of the Lycée Hôtelier de Dinard, Maxence LIGNEUL has 9 years’ experience in the luxury hotel industry, working for prestigious establishments such as La Réserve Ramatuelle Hôtel Spa & Villa 5*, the K2 Palace in Courchevel and the Ultima Collection group as Property Manager at Megève and Corfu and Deputy Operations Manager at Courchevel Belvédère.
Maxence Ligneul will bring first-rate expertise and a breath of fresh air to the Hôtel de Toiras.
Michel Guérard, the 3-Michelin star chef and owner of the Relais & Châteaux Les Prés d’Eugénie, is the inventor of the slimming cuisine and the uncontested initiator of a responsible cuisine, which has definitively changed the relationship between nutrition and gastronomy.
In 1974, he joined his wife, Christine Barthélémy, in Eugénie-les-Bains, a thermal village in the Landes. Understanding the needs of his new clientele, Michel Guérard created, in 1975, the Grande Cuisine Minceur®.
The restaurant Les Prés d’Eugénie – Michel Guérard has been awarded its third star in the Michelin Guide since 1977.
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