CANNES — Hotel Barriere Le Majestic has long been a destination for celebrities visiting Cannes, France, for glamorous events and elegant celebrations.
As the 2024 Cannes Lions Film Festival prepares to host A-list guests like Queen Latifah, Paris Hilton, Elon Musk, and Travis Kelce, Majestic staff spoke exclusively with Page Six about how they're catering to the visiting A-listers.
Gilles Bastoni, who took over from his father as head concierge in 2006, says he caters to any VIP request — “as long as it's not illegal,” he jokes.
“Basically, my job is to fulfill any requests my guests may have, as long as it's legal, of course,” he says.
From restaurant reservations [something that’s a] infinite possibilities [request]We can hire yachts, tickets to events, helicopters, chauffeured cars, dresses for special events…there is no limit.”
Bastoni said that while wealthy people who shell out more than $4,000 a night for a hotel suite can sometimes make outlandish demands, Hollywood's elite are usually “a little more provocative.”
That was the case nearly 10 years ago, when actress Marion Cotillard had a fashion emergency before attending the Cannes Film Festival and the hotel was tasked with retrieving a dress that had been left behind in Paris, a nine-hour drive from the lodge.
“I bought a dress from Paris for a celebrity, and it was forgotten, and she [Palais] “It was a staircase,” Bastoni recalls.
“She really wanted this, and as it turned out, she may not have even realized that it had been left behind in Paris,” the hospitality pro elaborates, “Basically, she needed it at a specific time to get changed in her room, so the company kind of panicked and had to find a solution, so they sent someone to Paris to go and get it.”
Although the job may seem stressful, Bastoni insists he enjoys the “adrenaline rush” that comes with it and says he enjoys seeing the smiles of approval from his stars that indicate a job well done.
“We had a big event for Pierce Bronson's wife. [Keely Shaye Smith] “A few years ago… there's always something about knowing who the person is, because he was a big celebrity, he was James Bond,” Bastoni added, recalling another memorable mission.
“And I always try to go the extra mile to make them even happier.”
Executive pastry chef Nicholas Morgaard also enjoys pleasing celebrities.
“I remember the French comedian Jean Dujardin, he was at the hotel last year for the film festival and asked me if I would do a cooking class,” the dessert guru says.
“Then I would go to the grocery market first, buy all sorts of things, and then when I came back I would make pastries. I remember making a strawberry panna cotta with something peach and lime.”
Ms Morgaard also enjoyed baking a special chocolate cake for French soccer star Kylian Mbappe.
“He came to the film festival in May, [made a] “I prepared a special cake for him,” the chef enthuses.
When it comes to cocktails, the hotel's Bar Director, Emanuele Balestra, has carefully crafted a signature Majestic drinks menu that combines his love of botanicals and aromas with speciality beverages to please all the senses.
Balestra has coached many stars in his career, but is reluctant to name them.
“To be honest, I've met a lot of people as a bartender. There are famous people who live in Monaco, and I'll go to their house and make a cocktail for them, but I won't tell you their name,” he explains.
“because, [for example]For example, Chuck Norris was a hero of mine when I was younger, but if he was sitting at a bar drinking whiskey, it's not OK to say, 'Oh, this gentleman drinks.' It's good to be respectful of your guests.”
