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Paolo Bianchi Appointed as Executive Chef at Les Grandes Alpes Private Hotel in Courchevel 1850

Aspire Executive Lounges, Swissport's global airport hospitality brand, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality, the world’s leading and award-winning membership body for hospitality professionals. Aspire Executive Lounges becomes the first business partner from the airport lounge hospitality sector to join the Institute of Hospitality. Aspire Executive Lounges, the fast-growing Swiss brand in the airport hospitality business, has joined the British Institute of Hospitality (IoH), the world’s leading membership body for professionals working and studying in the hospitality leisure and tourism industry. Aspire Executive Lounges is the first business from the airport lounge sector to become a member of IoH. The collaboration will foster an exchange of expertise and insights: IoH will benefit from Aspire's expertise in airport hospitality, while Aspire, by sharing its wealth of experience with IoH members, can extend its professional network to the hotel and catering sectors and hospitality management schools. “Our vision for Aspire Executive Lounges is clear and simple: We want to deliver a guest experience that is similar to what our guests are used to from their preferred hotels, meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of today’s travelers,” says David Collyer, Global Vice President of Executive Lounges at Swissport International AG. “We strive to deliver an unparalleled experience and set a benchmark that transcends our industry, redefining excellence across the hospitality sector. The Institute of Hospitality is a great network to exchange insights and experiences, and to learn from others in the hospitality sector, which will help us bring our vision to life.” Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality: “Our aspiration at the Institute of Hospitality has been to develop and grow our membership, the number of countries we operate in, and the number of hospitality sectors represented within our organization. With that in mind, it is a natural partnership for us to welcome Aspire into our family, and to learn from their teams, who serve travelers with passion and dedication. As two organizations with similar values, we look forward to collaborating in promoting high levels of excellence within our profession.” With over 30 years of experience, Aspire Executive Lounges is Europe’s largest brand in the airport lounges sector. In 2023, Swissport welcomed more than five million customers worldwide at over 69 lounges in 20 countries. The airport hospitality brand recently opened new lounges at Toronto City Airport in Canada, and Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in Finland. Aspire Executive Lounges recently created a new lounge concept in partnership with the airline alliance oneworld. The first oneworld branded lounge was launched at Incheon Airport in Seoul, Korea, in December 2023. Aspire Executive Lounges is owned by Swissport International AG, the global leader in aviation services, serving airlines at 286 airports in 44 countries across 6 continents
Written by Amy

Paolo Bianchi appointed as Executive Chef at Les Grandes Alpes Private HotelLes Grandes Alpes Private Hotel in Courchevel 1850 is delighted to announce the appointment of Executive Chef Paolo Bianchi.

Joining the team ahead of the upcoming ski season, Bianchi will lead the culinary team at Les Grandes Alpes, reimagining the menu at Le Bizan restaurant – the hotel’s Japanese restaurant, and drawing upon his Italian routes to evolve the extensive in-room dining offering.

Bianchi joins Les Grandes Alpes after two years as Sous Chef at acclaimed Japanese restaurant, Zuma in Rome. His experience and culinary achievements are expected to bring a new dimension to the hotel’s food and beverage offerings, with a promise of combining modern Japanese cuisine with Mediterranean fusion, using local influences as a basis.

The 32 year-old Chef’s career has taken him across the globe, starting in Paris cooking alongside the critically acclaimed Alain Ducasse at Le Jules Berne located at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.  He then travelled to Dubai to further his passion for Asian fusion cuisine at Jean-George Kitchen at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach.

Commenting on his appointment, Bianchi said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Les Grandes Alpes. This is an exciting opportunity for me to draw on my two passions: Japanese cuisine and my Mediterranean roots, and creating a fusion between the two.”

Nicholas Granger, General Manager of Les Grandes Alpes further comments on Bianchi’s appointment stating, “We have been fortunate to have worked with the highest calibre of Chefs and Bianchi is no exception. He has worked with some of the best chefs in the industry, and his creativity and drive are second to none. With Paolo at the helm, we hope to continue to set the standard in dining excellence at Les Grandes Alpes.”

An original feature of Courchevel 1850, Les Grandes Alpes Private Hotel offers a contemporary chalet experience with ski-in, ski-out access, in the centre of the prestigious ski village. Les Grandes Alpes is home to 5-star hotel amenities including Le Bizan restaurant, Bar Bellini and in-room dining with dedicated butler service. The flexibility of the luxurious accommodations caters to couples groups and families alike.

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Amy