Pascal Leprou, new General Manager of the Fairmont Hotel in Baku - Photo DR
TourMaG.com - Why did you take on the challenge of launching a new hotel in a destination like Baku?
Pascal Leprou: “I accepted the challenge for two specific reasons.
The first has to do with the project itself embodied by these three towers.
They are the symbol of the country’s desire to open its arms to Europe.
A project of this magnitude could have only been thought up by a visionary, the owner, and that is the second reason why I chose to accept this challenge besides the fact that Fairmont is the managing company.”
Pascal Leprou: “I accepted the challenge for two specific reasons.
The first has to do with the project itself embodied by these three towers.
They are the symbol of the country’s desire to open its arms to Europe.
A project of this magnitude could have only been thought up by a visionary, the owner, and that is the second reason why I chose to accept this challenge besides the fact that Fairmont is the managing company.”
TourMaG.com - How do you envision the evolution of tourism in the capital and what are the challenges to make Azerbaïdjan a touristic country?
Pascal Leprou: “The challenges are simple and like any country that wishes to open up to tourism (like Dubai last year), air transport and access to the country (visa) are two key and determining elements.
For now, leisure visitors come from East European countries (Russia etc…), neighboring countries and Turkey. The Middle East is a potentially important region.
Besides these aspects, Azerbaïdjan has all the ressources necessary to be seen as a tourism gold mine in the near future (ocean, beaches, mountains, important cultural sites.) A broad and specific advertising campaign will be necessary to make that happen.”
Pascal Leprou: “The challenges are simple and like any country that wishes to open up to tourism (like Dubai last year), air transport and access to the country (visa) are two key and determining elements.
For now, leisure visitors come from East European countries (Russia etc…), neighboring countries and Turkey. The Middle East is a potentially important region.
Besides these aspects, Azerbaïdjan has all the ressources necessary to be seen as a tourism gold mine in the near future (ocean, beaches, mountains, important cultural sites.) A broad and specific advertising campaign will be necessary to make that happen.”
TourMaG.com - What qualities make the Fairmont standout from the eight other existing (or soon to open) 5 star hotels?
Pascal Leprou: “The advantages of Fairmont are obvious, it’s a product unlike any other today, on all levels : architecturally, design-wise and product quality.
All our rooms are at least 55m2 with an acute interior decoration that was studied to the millimeter.
Our 70 Suites add to that by placing us as an “official” hotel anytime an important event takes place.
We have a wide range of dinning options and our conference center is considered the largest and most flexible in the city.
Our teams provide musical entertainment there everyday, and I would say, without being biased, that they offer the best service in town.
Finally, our Fairmont Baku in the Flame Towers is the lastest generation of what Fairmont wishes to develop in the future as part of its plan to expand the brand in Europe, like the recent buyout of the “Rey Juan Carlos” hotel in Barcelona.
Website: www.fairmont.com/baku
Pascal Leprou: “The advantages of Fairmont are obvious, it’s a product unlike any other today, on all levels : architecturally, design-wise and product quality.
All our rooms are at least 55m2 with an acute interior decoration that was studied to the millimeter.
Our 70 Suites add to that by placing us as an “official” hotel anytime an important event takes place.
We have a wide range of dinning options and our conference center is considered the largest and most flexible in the city.
Our teams provide musical entertainment there everyday, and I would say, without being biased, that they offer the best service in town.
Finally, our Fairmont Baku in the Flame Towers is the lastest generation of what Fairmont wishes to develop in the future as part of its plan to expand the brand in Europe, like the recent buyout of the “Rey Juan Carlos” hotel in Barcelona.
Website: www.fairmont.com/baku
