A Look InsIde the LIfe of omer AcAr

Special Feature
Special Feature
A Look Inside the Life
of Omer Acar
written by
M a r i ss a C a n d e l a
A
seventeen-year hotel management veteran, Omer Acar’s life reads like an adventure novel.
The current chapter? General Manager of the five-star Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris,
located just minutes from the famous Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysées. A historic
landmark in The City of Lights since 1928, it reopened in October 2010 as a new generation palace after a dramatic two-year transformation. Prior to Acar’s arrival in September 2011, there
were some remarkable stops along the way.
Le Grand Adventure
luxury
personified
132 THE AFFLUENT TRAVELER | Special
Feature
it wasn’t too difficult a transition; many of the same
Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, and fluent in Turkish,
guests who vacationed in Hawaii also lived in L.A.”
English and French and some basic German, as a
Acar’s next position was Director of Food and
young man Acar decided to pursue a career in
Beverage at Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt
architecture. However, as someone who thrives off
by the Red Sea. Acar participated in the opening
the energy of others, being with mostly drawings
of the hotel and afterwards, its rapid expansion of
did not suit his personable nature. So Omer shifted
eleven outlets.
career gears and decided to go on to study Hotel
The seasons changed, so Acar then brought his
Management in Switzerland then Business
talents and experience to Harrods in London as
Administration in Hawaii.
Director of Catering for Harrods Holding group. After,
Acar’s dazzling career took off like a jet. His first
he managed the legendary Ritz in Paris for almost five
hotel position was Assistant Restaurant Manager at
Hotel Halekulani in Honolulu,
Hawaii. He then moved up to
“Being surrounded by the iconic Windows Lounge,
Restaurant Manager at the Four
celebrities, Hollywood icons and studio bosses
Seasons in Maui. With his natural
made this an exciting career move...
flair for hospitality, each restaurant
and bar flourished. After five years,
years. Then came an entirely new venture, a place he
island fever prompted him to take a position at
deems “today’s palace:” Le Royal Monceau – Raffles
The Four Seasons Beverly Hills in Los Angeles, where
Paris. Although each past hotel holds a special place
he quickly advanced to Assistant Director of Food
in his heart and each has afforded him greater experiand Beverage.
He commented, “Being surrounded by the iconic
ence and knowledge in the field, his latest enterprise
has been most exceptional. To fully understand why,
Windows Lounge, celebrities, Hollywood icons and
one must take a look inside…
studio bosses made this an exciting career move, but
Special Feature | Winter / Spring 2013 133
Special Feature
Sculpting the Setting
<
French Sophistication
Le Bar Long — for this space, French
designer Philippe Starck wanted to
break with convention, the repetitive
face-to-face layout between patrons
and a bartender moving behind a bar.
This is a place where people stop, talk,
read and enjoy the great classics of
luxury hotel bars or chic tapas, all
served with original cocktails.
Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris was completely
transformed in 2008 by famous French designer
Philippe Starck. The majestic hotel radiates the
elegance and prestige of European culture, yet it’s far
from stuffy. Red carpet and red lanterns beckon you
in. In Le Grand Salon, sumptuous art deco design is
rich with warm wood, dramatic pillars, white leather
couches and distinctive lampshades generously blessed
with strokes of paint. More artful lighting hangs in the
form of chandeliers with delicate swooping beaded
crystal strands and ovals that hang like aristocrats’
earrings. It is home to art and culture in all its forms,
ideal for the contemporary traveler in a city like Paris.
clothing, accessories and unique items is a popular
In one of two restaurants called La Cuisine, a
Paris shopping spot.
painting entitled A Garden in Paris by French artist
And, there’s the largest indoor pool in Paris
Stéphane Calais graces the ceiling. Below, playful
located in The Spa My Blend by Clarins. Surrounded
graffiti’d plates lay before guests. The bustling Le Bar
by pure white walls and sparkling mirrors, the pool is
Long is the central spot in the hotel, with shiny steel
an ethereal, cloud-like vision. In a recent interview, Acar
shelves adorned with cobalt, ruby and emerald
commented on its unique line of skin care products.
glass, a long communal table and comfy seating that
“In the spa, the beauticians can test and analyze
invites you to come in, sit down…have a coffee,
the humidity level and condition of each client’s skin
cocktail or conversation.
and formulate customized body creams for their
Two restaurants open up to the garden, which
specific needs right on the spot. A month’s supply is
changes in mood throughout the day. Its
centerpiece is a beautiful fluid pond; always
Along with the art bookstore with over 700
in motion like the city itself. A giant scrolled
titles, there’s an on-premise art gallery
steel sculpture of a teapot by artist Joana
dedicated
to premiere exhibitions in Paris...
Vasconcelos, reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, flanks the magical spot. Sit on a bench
and read a book from its bookstore La Librarie des
provided, and if more is needed the creams can be
Arts, enjoy al fresco Italian cuisine from Il Carpaccio,
shipped anywhere in the world.”
or just soak in its splendor.
Finally, the 149 luxurious rooms and suites each
Along with the art bookstore with over 700 titles,
have a Paris apartment vibe, warmly decorated with
there’s an on-premise art gallery dedicated to premiere
parquet floors and different collectible items, such as
exhibitions in Paris, as well as a collection exhibited
an acoustic guitar, original art and more. The beds are
throughout the hotel and inside the rooms. There is
unexpected — enormous, more rectangular in shape,
the 99-seat, state-of-the-art theatre, Le Cinéma des
plush and dressed in crisp, embroidered sheets. White
Lumières – Katara Screening room, for movie premieres marble bathrooms contrast with Baccarat crystal
and press conferences. The sound studio is ideal for
floor-to-ceiling mirrors, making guests feel as if they’re
composers and singers. The “concept store”/fashion
standing inside a diamond. But just like art, beauty
boutique, Le Royal Eclaireur, with hand-selected
must have a soul as well. Enter emotional luxury.
Want a taste of the real Paris art scene before your visit?
La Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris has an extremely popular art blog called artforbreakfast.com,
filled with videos and interviews and updated information.
Special Feature | Winter / Spring 2013 135
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Concierge Connection
137
Straight to the Heart
He commented, “Le Royal Monceau – Raffles
Emotional luxury plays an important role for Acar and
Paris, under the leadership of Katara Hospitality
the entire team at Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris.
Hotels Group, is truly unique in that our amazing team
But what is it exactly?
— from the owners, to operators, to employees — has
Along with perfecting each detail with wonderful
great synergy. Once that teamwork is established, the
food, ambience and service, they strive to create
dedication to quality and focus on perfection, the
unique experiences and customized surprises to elicit
guests clearly see it. We do our utmost to make the
smiles from guests not just during their stay, but also
hotel an excellent place to work.”
through fond memories years down the road. It takes
And in today’s instant information world, no
careful planning and a bit of homework to do so,
matter what’s going on in the hotel at any given
even checking celebrity guest Twitter statuses to find
moment, lateness is never an option.
out their favorite foods and items. But it’s not just
“It’s all about being fast and efficient. If we are
celebrities who get the royal treatment.
replying to a question in one hour, that means we
Acar remarked, “Let’s say you booked a car with
have been 59 minutes late, regardless if I’m in a
us to meet you at the airport. Your vacation begins
meeting or tending to a guest. My day must be
the moment you exit the plane. You’ll be greeted
planned as such to provide that all. It’s a fine line. You
by a chauffeur who will guide you right to the
front of the passport queue. Breeze right
“It’s all about being fast and efficient.
through, and a plush car will be waiting to
If
we
are replying to a question in one hour,
whisk you right to the hotel. Or, if you
that
means we have been 59 minutes late...”
happened to get married in Paris the night
before and arrive in the morning for your
honeymoon, you may be surprised to see your
have to be great in each area, and if you figure out the
wedding pictures waiting in your room when you
recipe for it, it’s great fun.”
arrive along with fresh orange juice, coffee and
With all the knowledge and skill gained over the
warm crispy croissants from the Picasso of pastry,
past 17 years, it seems he’s got the work end down
Pierre Hermé.
pat. The hardest part, he says, is juggling work with
“Perhaps you reserved the Ray Charles suite, the
home life and separating the two. Spending quality
very same one he used to stay in Paris, you may be
time with his “wonderfully understanding wife” and
met with notes of ‘Georgia on My Mind’ playing on
two young sons in a 24/7 business can be challenging,
the grand piano as you enter. If you love a specific
especially since he wants to be present to welcome as
type of art, let’s say photography, our art concierge
many guests and VIPs as possible.
can arrange to get you an interview with the artist, visit Acar mused, “Being ‘in two places at once’ can be
his private gallery or arrange to buy a particular piece.
quite challenging, but with good teamwork both at
These are just some examples. You don’t have to
work and at home, the balance can be achieved.”
demand these kinds of additional services at La Royal
Monceau – Raffles Paris. Providing emotional luxury is
And the adventure continues.
what we aim to do.”
Teamwork at Work...and At Home
The passion for what Acar does is palpable. And making
things extraordinary for each guest is something he
takes quite personally, motivating each staff member
from the front and back of the house to excel. Each
month, minus other managers or directors, Acar sits
with the line employees from each department and
listens to their suggestions and input, discussing ways
to make things even better. Although time consuming
in an already busy schedule, by doing so he learns a
great deal about the hotel, its employees and the
great value of each individual.
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Giving Back
Since graduating from the Hotel Management School
in Switzerland, Acar became advisory board member of
the Swiss Education Group (SEG), which owns and
operates six hotel schools in Switzerland. Acar also
enjoys the pleasure of sharing and teaching.
He commented, “I relish the opportunity to sit with
students and give them a real-life glimpse of what life is
like in the hospitality industry. Giving back to this school
I graduated from years later is indescribable — it’s fun
and exciting.”
The Suite Life
Le Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris’ suites will satisfy
even the most discerning guests. Consider the
signature Ray Charles Suite — located on the hotel’s
top floor, this suite was inspired by the legendary soul
musician, who was a frequent guest.