Hoosta Magazine

The hotel de l’Abbaye is a haven of peace nested in the heart of Saint Germain des Pres. Lionel Guerpillon is the hotel general manager and appreciates the contact with the clients, a lived relationship, spontaneous and far from the standard welcome, and sometimes stuffy which you find in the high-end hospitality.

Hoosta : The hotel de l’Abbaye is above all a historical place, why is that ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « The hotel was bought by the current owners in 1973. It was a residence for Middle East students. The most interesting part is that the hotel was built on a former brood of the Seminar of the Carmes. Sometimes, a group of sisters come to the lobby to see where their congregation has been created. It is folk, and the Americans are delighted! »

Hoosta : How did you start working in the hospitality industry ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « I fell in the pot when I was young, just like Obelix ! Seriously, I have always wanted to work in this business. I started as a valet, then I started working at the hotel de l’Abbaye fifteen years ago as a receptionist now I am general manager. It is a delightful working place, just like the owners, I call it « The House ». This job is made by relationships: with the staff and with the guests with whom I love chatting. »

Hoosta : You have been working at the Hotel de l’Abbaye since 993, what changes have you brought ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « The decisions are taken by the owners and the various managers. The owners travel a lot and they bring back ideas of what is done elsewhere. We tr

ust each others and we move forward together for the future of the hotel »

Hoosta : What feelings do you want to share with your guests ?
Lionel Guerpillon « The hotel de l’Abbaye is a place where the emotion is essential, the guests find a rewarding experience. I don’t like standards and I try to share my discoveries with them. When a guest shows me a ready-made list of restaurants and asks me to book two gourmet restaurants or if a guest asks me to visit the Louvre, Orsay and the Quai Branly museums, I explain to him nicely it can’t be done, he won’t have enough time to visit three museums or have diner at two gourmet restaurants within the day…I make a point of suggesting the guests a stay which corresponds with their expectations, I chat with them and try to figure out what they like. Nothing makes me more satisfied than seeing a happy guest because of a good advice I give her or him. »

Hoosta : What are the advantages and the specialities of the Hotel de l’Abbaye ?
Lionel Guerpillon « The most pleasant thing is the quietness of the hotel which contrasts with the noisy rue de Rennes. It is really nice especially to hear the birds singing in the patio during the breakfast. The Hotel de l’Abbaye is cosy and it feels just like home. »

Hoosta : How makes the hotel de l’Abbaye a contemporary hotel ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « We offer the latest technology such as wireless Internet connection and LCD screen. We maintain a high quality level in this area. Another contemporary aspect is the friendliness, the simplicity, the easiness of speech, totally opposite of what the traditional bumptious hospitality industry is »

Hoosta : What would you wish to the Hotel de l’Abbaye ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « We have various projects, for example there are two rooms we want to merge in one, our standard rooms are going to be renovated soon. Our objective is for the hotel to stay a place with a high quality level which can evolve in a positive way without being pretentious. »

Hoosta : What are your favourite addresses in the neighbourhood ?
Lionel Guerpillon : « The restaurant la Maison du Jardin is very nice ; Chez Fernand is a typical « bistrot » ; La Méditerranée is a classic ; Hélène Darroze of course, but also Le Gorille Blanc and l’Alcazar that I love. »