Disneyland Paris is Europe’s number one tourist destination and is known for its revolutionary and fun approach to the hospitality experience. With his wealth of experience in various marketing and communication positions with luxury and upscale brands like Accor, Le Méridien, Dolce Hotels, and Lucien Barrière, Xavier Louyot, the Director of Product Hotels & Resorts and Franchise Integration at Disneyland Paris, is leading the operations at Disneyland Paris with great expertise. In this interview, Xavier Louyot shares his insights on the unique features of Disney hotels, the key to a successful entertainment hotel, and what makes the Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel so important to the hotels offer, especially for visitors from the Middle East.
Disney is a master of entertainment; how does this translate over to hospitality?
At Disneyland Paris, we are developing and implementing a revolutionary and fun approach to the hospitality experience. The latest example is the acclaimed Disney’s Hotel New York® – The Art of Marvel. Disneyland Paris is focused on providing our GCC guests with the best possible experience every step of the way. Each of our 7 hotels are the perfect place to enjoy the destination providing families coming from GCC exciting new offerings with our favorite Disney stories at the heart of the hotel experience.
What is the look and feel of Disney hotels, what distinguishes them?
Disney hotels are much more than just a place to sleep. Guests who stay in these hotels are immersed in their favorite stories. Each property has its very own theme and personality. Beyond the many benefits such as early access to Disney Parks, proximity to Disney Parks and even encounters with Disney Characters, guests staying at a Disney hotel are immersed in beautifully designed environments. The 4-star Disney Newport Bay Club is designed as a majestic seaside mansion with charming 1920s nautical details, and the 3-star Disney Sequoia Lodge is a comfortable forest lodge surrounded by lush pines and sequoias, both ideally nestled on the shores of Lake Disney, and short walk from the Disney Parks.
What’s the key to a successful entertainment hotel?
Family entertainment is at the very core of our Disney Hotels. Guests are able to dive right into the action at exclusive and unique locations in each Disney hotel. A good example is the Super Hero Station at Disney New York – the Art of Marvel, where the family party can meet their favorite Super Heroes. Here, they can also take action shots in one of the many immersive and exclusive settings propelling them into Marvel movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, Ant-Man, The Avengers, Thor, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. Entertainment can also be enjoyed at the Marvel Design Studio, a creative space for families and the place to unleash their inner creative genius and learn how to be a Marvel comic book artist with tutorials to draw many inspiring Super Heroes.
Why is DHNY so important in your hotels offer especially for visitors from Middle East?
The Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel is a true “laboratory” for our Disney Hotels futures, and as Walt Disney himself once said: “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” This hotel is unique because of the strength and subtlety of our Disney stories – here, it’s Marvel – and of course it’s also thanks to our Cast Members. This hotel immerses the definitive experience for Marvel fans from the Middle East in the vibrant culture and energy of New York City along with Marvel Super Heroes and their stories. This is the world’s first hotel dedicated to Marvel artwork. The hotel features one of the largest collections of Marvel art in the world, with more than 350 pieces of artwork, including 50 exclusives, never-before-seen ones. More than 110 artists from Marvel Comics, Marvel Studios and more have been assembled for this incredible collection. Guests interested in learning more about the stories behind the artwork are invited to call upon the “Art Guardians,” a selection of specially trained Cast Members with specific knowledge on them.
What kind of premium services/products can you offer?
Key to the Magic is our Casts : the heart of hospitality is the greeting and all the attention we give to our guests, young and young at heart alike! From refined lavish decors to ultra-comfortable lounges and suites, our Disney Hotels offer a collection of Clubs (Empire State Club, Compass Club, Golden Forest Club) which accentuate the vacation with exclusive benefits and enhanced magic : the perfect balance between privacy and personalization in a sophisticated and uniquely Disney warm environment. A great example is the Disney Hotel New York the Art of Marvel : this four-star hotel reflects Tony Stark’s sophisticated, upscale New York urban tastes. Each room features Marvel artwork and offers the utmost in comfort, high-tech services and amenities. Guests who choose an Empire State Club room or suite will enjoy additional premium services such as a separate private reception area, complimentary valet parking and access to the Empire State Lounge, an elegant and exclusive hotel-within-a-hotel space. Here, guests can enjoy breakfast, drinks and sweet and savory snacks all day, or share in delicious experiences such as “The Art of Tea Time.” The suites are themed either to Spider-Man, the Avengers or Marvel Super-Heroes. Not to forget to mention our beautifully themed table bars and restaurants at each our our hotels, such as the Manhattan or the Yacht Club Rwhich complete the experience in the most magical way. In addition, our Guests can book their very own Disney VIP Tour in the parks, where a guide takes them where they want to go whilst telling stories about everything Disney.
Could you give us a little information regarding Disneyland Hotel?
Disneyland Hotel is undergoing a complete refurbishment to become the first Disney hotel to celebrate a royal theme. After its reopening, our flagship icon will immerse guests in a fairy-tale kingdom inspired by the bravery and kindness of heroes and heroines from beloved Disney stories. This enchanting reimagining of the hotel is sure to surprise and delight both loyal and new Guests in search of refined décor, magical touches and impeccable service at Disneyland Paris.
