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Team Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel

The Cap d’Antibes Beach hotel is a luxury five star hotel nestled between Port Gallice and Port du Croûton. This Cap d’Antibes hotel boasts two restaurants one of which is Michelin starred, a beach Wellness center and a beautiful private sandy beach.

This modern hotel is owned by the Ferrantes, an Antibois family. The Ferrante family first owned the Siesta Beach Casino restaurant in Villeneuve Loubet before buying the Hotel Juana, now owned by Marianne Estène-Chauvin of the Hotel Belles Rives. In 2003 they also bought the Maison du Pecheurs which was at that time a restaurant and a night club. A few years later they decided to build this hotel which they opened in 2009.

The hotel is a real family business and the Ferrantes are very hands on in the running of this place. Mr Ferrante works here on a daily basis as do his two sons and one daughter.

“Because of the families close connection to the business the team here feel like they are also part of that family rather than just employees of the hotel. That’s one of the nicest things about working for them.” Celine Risso – Director of Sales and marketing.

I love Cap d’Antibes went along to meet some of the people who work in the hotel and who are part of the hotels ‘family’ to ask them a few questions and find out why they love their jobs and why they love it here.

Kevin – Beach Bar tender

How long have you worked here for?

This will be my third season at the Hotel, I started back in May 2015. Before coming here I worked in Courchevel for two seasons, also behind the bar. Straight from school I went to do my BAC in Catering then after that I worked all over the south of France. Originally I am from the North of France but I came to work in South for the Sun.

What did you do while the hotel was closed?

While the Hotel was closed  I  spent time with my family in the North of France and I worked a little bit but mostly I relaxed.

What do you love about your job?

I love this job firstly because you get to meet lots of people and also because you have the sunshine and a view to die for. There are so many people from all over the world who come here that I get to pick up new languages and meet many different types of people. More than fifty percent of our guests are British so I get to practice my English while I am working which is good.

Olivier, Valet

How long have you been the Valet here?

This is my fifth season at the Hotel. In the summer time I work here at the Cap d’Antibes Beach hotel and for the winter season I go to Courchevel like everyone else.

Before coming to the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel  I worked on the other side of the Cap in another Relais Chateaux hotel called Imperial Garoupe.

When I started in this industry I used to work on reception but after a while I knew that I wanted a job outside so I decided to change roles for something not based in an office.

Have you ever damaged a clients car?

No! I have never damaged a car yet, touch wood. I am very careful of course but to be honest we don’t drive far we just park the cars.

If you could own any car which one would it be?

My favourite car is the Bentley. I only own a scooter but if I could buy any car I wanted it would be a Bentley with a Matt Grey finish. I think a Bentley is a very beautiful car with an amazing  interior. There are many other beautiful cars like Ferraris and Porsches but the Bentley is, for me, the best.

What did you do while the hotel was closed?

During the winter when the hotel closes I work in Courchevel. Last year I finished here on a Wednesday and started in the mountains on the Thursday. There wasn’t a break between the two jobs at all. That isn’t always the case though.

I also travel. Last year for example I went to Japan, which I love a lot, in fact I have been there five times already.

Next year I will probably visit somewhere else but I haven’t decided where yet.

Nicolas Rondelli, Head Chef of both restaurants

How long have you been the Head Chef here?

I have been head chef here since 2015.

Before coming here I was working in another Relais Chateaux Hotel in Grasse ‘La bastide Saint- Antoine’ with Jacques Chibois. There I had the mission to take the lead of the kitchen with Mr Chibois who remained the owner of the establishment.

What brought you to the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel?

I was born in Nice so it seemed natural  to come and work in a hotel like this and in this particular location. When I was young I used to come to Cap d’Antibes a lot, to walk or to swim or to hang out with friends so I knew the place well.

What do you love about your job?

For me it’s a passion so it is much more than a job.

When I cook I try to use all the influences from my life and my home so for example at Les Pêcheurs we make a kind of Salade Niçoise with red tuna from the Mediterranean sea. I try to use the best produce I can find in the area and I try to cook in a local way using local influences.

We have a lot of fish on the menu but we do also have some meat. The name of the restaurant is Les Pêcheurs after all so that influences the menu.  Our restaurant is also right next to the sea so we naturally have a fish heavy menu.

Where do you buy your fish?

I buy it  just in front of the hotel from Tony  a local fisherman in the Port. Every morning I start the day by going to see him and finding out what his catch of the day is.

Today his catch of the day was red mullet and les Bonite which is a little bit like a small tuna, I don’t know what it is called in English.

What’s your signature dish?

I have a lot of dishes which I like very much so it is difficult to pick just one. We have two different  restaurants at the hotel too with two completely different menus so there are many dishes to choose from. For me all of them are good.

The Gastronomic restaurant has one Michelin star and the food obviously reflects that while in the beach restaurant the menu is more relaxed.

What do you do while the hotel is closed for the winter break?

In the winter break I am usually still here working to some extent. Then I enjoy spending time with my kids and family. Last year we went travelling but this year we decided to stay in France.

During the break I am preparing for the next season, finding my team and reflecting on new and old menus and dishes. I also meet with other chefs from different hotels and restaurants socially and for work.

Who does the cooking at home?

During the winter season I do the cooking but during the seven months when the restaurant is open my wife does it, she is a very good cook too. I have learned many new recipes and things I hadn’t come across before from her.

If you had to choose your favourite dish ever what would it be?

I think it would be a dish my grandmother, Marguerite, used to cook when I was little. It’s simply a Daube Provençale which is essentially a beef stew with gnocchi or sometimes ravioli.

I think cooking was already a passion from a very young age but I  was always in the kitchen when my grandmother was preparing food so maybe that helped to develop my passion. I learned many tips and tricks from watching her in the kitchen that’s for sure.

It’s funny, now I work opposite the Île Sainte-Marguerite which shares my grandmothers name so I am reminded of her everyday when I am at work.

Ludovic, Beach Manager

How long have you been the beach manager at the hotel?

I have worked here for three years. Originally I am from Brest in Brittany but I have spent a large part of my life in Corsica. I used to have a very good job there in a famous beach restaurant and I spent many years living and working there.

What attracted you to work as a beach manager?

The first and most important thing is that I love to work outside. I also like my job because I am a little part of all my guests holidays. I am not important but at the same time what I do makes their stay special and I think they remember that.

Describe your typical day at work?

When I arrive in the morning the first thing I do is clean the beach. After I have finished that I put out the sunbeds.

Next I will prepare my day ahead. I take a look in my book and the reservations we have. After that I try to make something special for each guest. It’s my job to know what they like. For example some guests like to be in a certain spot on the beach. Some like to be on the right, some on the left. Some like the shade, some like the sun. I have to make sure I tailor to everybodys needs. Sometimes when we are very busy it can get a bit difficult to keep all the guests happy but I always do my best.  For the rest of the day I serve the guests and bring them drinks, food, fresh towels, anything they need basically.

Did you know this area before coming to work here?

Actually I had never been to Cap d’Antibes before but I had heard about it. I love it here, it’s a very pretty place. What’s amazing is that you meet so many people from all over the world here. It is very good for the mind. For me it is also a very safe place which is important when you have children.

What do you do when the hotel is closed?

In the winter I travel a little and often visit my friends in Corsica. Mostly I spend the break with my family and kids. I used to go to Courchevel for the winter season but I don’t do that anymore because of my children. We can’t move the whole family every winter to a ski resort so these days I stay here.

One winter break  I went on a fishing trip to Ireland with a friend of mine. That was beautiful. It was in November so it was  very cold as you can imagine, but I really loved that trip.

Is there anything you don’t love about your job?

No, Nothing. I love my job and I love my life!

Marie- Wellness Manager

How long have you worked here?

This is my third season in charge of Wellness at the hotel.

Before doing my current job I was also working in the deluxe hotel industry but as an events and sales coordinator for more than 10 years.

I changed direction because events go so  quick. You only have a fleeting relationship with your clients. They come, they have the event and then they are gone.  There is no longevity in the relationships.

I wanted to bring something more human and more deep to my relationships with the people I work with.

So I decided to re train which I did at the same time as I was working.

Which do you prefer, the events or the Wellness?

I loved my events work, you need to love it to do it because if you don’t  you can’t do it. It’s a lot of pressure and energy which can be overwhelming.

What I do now is the complete opposite. Maybe if I hadn’t been in events before I would have taken more time to reach wellness. It was the pressure of my previous job which drove me to look for something deeper and more calming.

Did you come straight here after your training?

Since 2010 I have been working with private clients and also in retirement homes. Now I work full time for the Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel but I still reserve time for my other clients throughout the year.

Are you from Antibes?

I was born in the north of France but I moved to the south with my parents when I was very little.

Now I am so happy to spend most of my time in Cap d’Antibes. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world so it’s a real privilege for me to work here.

What’s your signature massage?

It’s a massage of the face. We call it ‘Face of Plenitude’ which lasts for 1hr. It starts at the shoulder going to the neck, face and the scalp. For 1 hr you will enjoy the smell of damask rose which is a precious product and very relaxing. It’s a technique of traditional massage and shiatsu technique working on the meridians of energy which go through the face and through the scalp.

It is the most relaxing massage which I have ever received and I love to do it for my clients. In addition to the relaxing side of the massage you also have the replenishing effects.

I learned the massage over a year ago and I loved it so much that I wanted to bring it to the hotel.

Is there anything you don’t like about your job?

No Nothing. I love everything. I am very lucky to live with my passion, what else could I ask for?

Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel

10 Boulevard Maréchal Juin, 06160 Cap d’Antibes

Tel:04 92 93 13 30

To book a room, a meal or a Wellness spa treatment pop along to the Hotel website here

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