*Local Foreigner’s Brianna DeRose in Deauville*

The French take their hospitality seriously - this is the land of Auguste Escoffier and the Palace distinction, after all. And while every international brand worth its weight in butter has an outpost in Paris (and perhaps another one along the coast or in one of the 11 major wine regions), there’s no luxury brand that is as distinctly and inherently French as the Groupe Barrière. Founded in 1912 by François André, the Barrière family has built a portfolio of properties that are less about glossy international sameness and more about deeply rooted, unmistakably French spirit. The fresh-faced fourth generation, siblings Alexandre Barrière and Joy Desseigne-Barrière, are leading a major push onto the international stage.

“Barrière properties are well-known in France, but in the US, most of them have been more insider-y up to this point, because they’re often located in destinations that are deeply rooted in proper French culture,” says Local Foreigner’s Brianna DeRose, who is based in Paris’s sixth arrondissment. “Antibes, St Tropez… there are wonderful hotels in these places, but they’ve always been aimed at international travelers. But Deauville? That’s a stunning town, so full of charm and sophistication - and just so French.”

*Local Foreigner’s Brooke Lavery with her family in Paris*

Five Signature Barrière Properties to Know

Maison Barrière Vendôme, Paris

The group’s newest Parisian boutique has a prime location and 26 impeccably-designed jewel box rooms and suites, each named for a famous woman with a connection to Paris.

Le Carl Gustaf, St. Barthélemy

Perched above Gustavia’s harbor, Le Carl Gustaf offers access to St Barth’s without a rental car, and killer views over the island’s red rooftops to the harbor. Have the concierge reserve your complimentary beach loungers at their Shellona beach club (a Local Foreigner perk) and call it a day.

Le Majestic, Cannes

A front-row seat to the Croisette, Le Majestic is as much a stage for the Cannes Film Festival as it is a hotel. And the family is putting major resources into it, with an ongoing renovation distancing it from anything else along this stretch of coast.

Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges, Courchevel

With ski-in, ski-out Palace luxury in the heart of Courchevel 1850, Hôtel Barrière Les Neiges truly has the best location in town. Add to that an alpine Loulou’s, and you’ve ensured this is one of the most glamorous addresses in the French Alps.

Fouquet’s New York

Barrière’s first U.S. outpost has quickly become a Tribeca favorite, bringing Parisian glamour across the Atlantic. Expect Art Deco-inspired interiors and an outpost of the iconic Fouquet’s brasserie, a private cinema room, and the super chic Titsou speakeasy.

In fact, Deauville, a seaside town two and a half hours northwest of Paris, is where it all began for the brand. Known for its pastel umbrellas lined neatly across sweeping sandy beaches, Deauville has been called the “Parisian Riviera” and the “French Hamptons.” It’s also home to the American Film Festival, founded in 1975. Brianna was in town to attend the festival and get to know the hotels in the area, and particularly loved the history palpable in the walls of Le Normandy. (It was in this hotel, a year after it opened, that Coco Chanel opened her first boutique.) Its half-timbered façade and Toile de Jouy wallpapers are charming, and the location is an easy 75-minute drive to the iconic sites along the Normandy Coast. “After the premieres, we did a full Normandy day, went to Omaha Beach, and the weather was just so superb. To be on that beach—it’s something you can’t even imagine.

It was here, in the early 20th century, that the Barrière family was credited with pioneering the French seaside resort concept: integrated towns where guests could move seamlessly between grand hotels, restaurants, casinos, golf courses, and theaters. Today, the group spans 20 hotels in France and beyond, alongside restaurants and theaters, and includes legendary addresses like Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées. And Barrière is in the midst of a generational renewal - major renovations are underway at Fouquet's Paris and upcoming for Le Majestic Cannes as they’re updated to appeal to a new generation of travelers. The brand has embraced spa and wellness culture (partnering with Guerlain, Augustinus Bader, Decorté, Shiseido, and Biologique Recherche), as well as global expansion. Plus, the history and connection with French cinema—from Deauville’s festival to Cannes’ red carpet—adds another layer of glamour to its story.

Of course, Paris is a key piece of the puzzle, and the brand now has two hotels in the City of Light - the classic Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s Paris, on the corner of the Champs-Élysées and Avenue George V, and the insider-y Maison Barrière Vendôme, which opened earlier this year. “Fouquet’s lobby has just had a full facelift,” Brianna notes. “It has the momentum within the Paris hotel scene.”

Earlier this summer, Local Foreigner partner Brooke Lavery spent some time with her husband and three boys in the French capital before continuing on to Corsica. “Traveling with three boys under the age of 10 is crazy as it is, but we were also in Paris during one of the wildest weekends of the year - the Paris Air Show, Men’s Fashion Week, the Beyoncé concert - and it was 95 degrees. We arrived to Fouquet’s at 8:30AM off our overnight flight, walked into our suite, and just totally relaxed.” Located in the center of the Golden Triangle, the hotel has 101 keys, which makes it feel more personal than many of the palaces in the neighborhood. “We had this incredible suite with a dining table, and it was set with fresh orange juice and baked goods and a white table cloth. It felt like staying in someone’s home, just an incredibly hospitable welcome.”

The busy season also meant that traffic was snarling the major roads, but the Lavery family found unexpected ease by heading underground. “Usually we’ll have a driver when we’re exploring a city, because traveling with kids can be like herding cats. But given all the action, we just found ourselves hopping in the Metro from the stop across the street, and we could get anywhere in the city in 15 minutes. My goal for our quick trip wasn’t for a deep dive on French history or Parisian culture. It was simply to establish a mental association for my boys - what Paris looks like, smells like, tastes like. Since our trip, my 4-year old has made a reference to Paris almost weekly.”

Brooke and her family taking on Paris as the French do is a perfect representation of what the brand brings to the hospitality space, and looking at the other properties in the portfolio tells the story of how the French travel - from Le Majestic Cannes in the summer to Les Neiges Courchevel for skiing to Hôtel Barrière Le Naoura in Marrakech, Barrière’s reach extends across glam destinations close to home and a little farther afield. And when you need some sun, there’s a hotel waiting on St. Barth’s, a piece of France in the middle of the Caribbean. Local Foreigner’s Kelly Brennan says, “The Carl Gustaf is a perfect place for return travelers to St Barth’s because the location is great - you are right above Gustavia, with unbeatable views of the harbor, and unlike most other areas of the island you do not need a rental car. Town is just a short walk down the hill and Shell Beach is literally a three-minute walk.”

In an age where international hotel chains often blur into one another, Barrière stands out by staying resolutely French. Or, as Brianna puts it: “When you want an authentic experience, this is the brand that will probably speak best to what have traditionally been very French destinations.”