Built as a romantic gesture to woo actress Brigitte Bardot, Hôtel Byblos in Saint-Tropez was opened in September 1967 by renowned Lebanese billionaire hotelier Jean-Prosper Gay-Para. A few months after opening, it was sold to another Lebanese businessman, Sylvain Floirat. It would later become glitterati central of the French Riviera, culminating in the rock ‘n’ roll wedding reception of Mick and Bianca Jagger in 1971.
In recent years, however, its image as party central has evolved, under the leadership of Antoine Chevanne, Floirat’s great grandson.
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“When I arrived at Byblos in 2001, at the age of 28, as general manager, it was indeed very much known as a ‘party hub.’ Many guests came primarily to experience [Byblos’ on-site night club] Les Caves du Roy during the high season.”
Almost instantly, Chevanne realized the team needed to work on enhancing Byblos’ image and make some changes.
“Over the next 15 years, we worked to transform Byblos into a destination in its own right, a place guests choose for the hotel itself, not only for the nightclub. It was essential to build a strong identity and appeal for the hotel beyond Les Caves,” he said.
During that period, the team renovated and enlarged many of the rooms. In 1967, the hotel had 104 rooms and today, it boasts 86 expanded rooms enhanced for luxury and comfort. Byblos also established major partnerships, notably with Sisley for the spa and with celebrity chef Alain Ducasse, for its culinary offering. “Today, Byblos is truly a one-of-a-kind property,” he said.
A Summer of Newness
This spring Chevanne brought that vision even further. The five-star hotel is gearing up for a summer of fresh design and wellness. To start, it just unveiled eight renovated suites by Parisian architect and designer Laura Gonzalez. The new designs follow the first four suites she designed in 2025. Gonzalez imbued the new rooms with handcrafted details like patinated wood, woven fiber rope and light sand stones, as well as hues that reflect the French coastal landscape.
Chevanne said Byblos is special because every sojourn is unique but yet feels like coming home.
“Guests return year after year, to revisit a favorite room that feels like their own, or to discover a new space that showcases the hotel in a fresh way. The recent partnerships with Laura Gonzalez highlights Byblos’ commitment to offering unique experiences, where each room becomes a different sanctuary, reflecting the designers’ signature style while retaining Byblos’ strong DNA,” Chevanne mused. “The greatest compliment a guest can give us after a renovation or major transformation is to say: ‘It feels like it has always been here.’ At that moment, we know we have succeeded.”
Paris-based Gonzalez, who also has a gallery in New York City, has been a recurring figure in hospitality. In February 2024, she teamed with Dries Van Noten and creative director Oliver Leone for the interiors of Paris’ Hotel Hana. In November, she unveiled her designs for The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Miami which is being developed by Miami-based Swire Properties.
A Wellness Escape
A departure from the wild party days of the late ’60s and ’70s, a focus on nature and wellness is palpable at Hôtel Byblos, starting with a new herbal infusion by chef Nicola Canuti enhanced by tagetes, verbena and spearmint grown in the hotel’s very own vegetable garden.
Wellness is a major focus for the property, Chevanne said, explaining that plans accelerated three years ago, when they introduced a more holistic dimension to the spa program.
Byblos Spa by Sisley now features two new treatments: a customized spa treatment tailored for men, featuring a recommended skin care routine using Sisley’s men’s range, and a new reflexology lymphatic drainage and reflexology massage to rebalance energy, improve circulation and provide a sense of lightness.
“Byblos does not simply follow trends. It evolves with the times and with its guests. We have adapted our offerings to reflect our clients’ changing lifestyles. Today, reiki, yoga, sound baths and other mindful experiences are extremely popular with our clientele,” he added.
The hotel has introduced a new fitness center, designed to combine performance, comfort and excellence. It will be equipped with the latest machines created by Italian architect Antonio Citterio, as part of Technogym’s newest collaboration, offering an optimal environment for comprehensive workouts.
In terms of summer vibes, the energy will be high at Byblos Beach Ramatuelle season, setting the tone with new fashions like its third collaboration with Orlebar Brown with a new swim short and the addition of an exclusive women’s swimsuit collection by Maio.
Three new concepts led by executive chef Nicola Canuti will be available at its three food and beverage concepts — Il Giardino, the B Lounge and its rooftop Sky Bar — Byblos Beach. Its new chef, Allan Gonthier, will introduce a seasonal menu, drawing inspiration from the region’s vibrant flavors, the menu will feature locally sourced ingredients with a focus on light dishes to deliver beachfront elegance.
Romance in the Air
The potential of romance at the hotel, Chevanne, attested, has never waned. Some of his most beloved memories of the hotel date back to his childhood, when bartenders would lower cocktails directly down to guests in the pool using an improvised tray tied to a rope from the balcony. On one occasion, in a gesture of chivalry, a group of Italian friends threw roses to a woman sitting at the pool bar from the large bay windows of the Presidential Suite.
“At Byblos, this kind of story happens often. Anything is possible, as long as it does not infringe upon anyone else’s freedom.”
