LE COUCOU MÉRIBEL, FRANCE

Posted in Projects on 20 March, 2024

Ski-in ski out in luxurious style from Méribel’s coolest offering.

At the foot of the Rond-Point des Pistes, Tignes, France, Le Coucou Méribel perches on the slopes in one of the resort’s most beautiful locations. Part of Maisons Pariente’s growing portfolio of luxury design-led hotels, the ski-in ski-out 5-star property offers achingly stylish interiors, rivalled only by the snow-covered mountains outside.

With the 2024 ski season well underway, Emma Kennedy catches up with Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Maisons Pariente, Kimberley Cohen to discover more about hospitality on the piste.

What was the inspiration behind Le Coucou, and Maisons Pariente?
I started Maisons Pariente in 2018 with my father and my sister with the ambition to create a hotel collection that was in line with our own expectations. We saw a gap in the market for hotels that welcome you as if you were at home. Key values of generosity and ultra-personalization are at the forefront of everything we do. No copy and paste. It is simply about creating the best customer experience.

Le Coucou began life in 2017 when we won a call launched by the city of Méribel for the construction of a hotel on land that was part of a ski slope at the time. We worked with a local architecture firm for the permits and with Pierre Yovanovitch for the interior design.

The hotel rubs shoulders with the snow-capped summits and overlooks the entire valley. It has 55 guest rooms, including 39 suites, two private chalets, direct access to ski-in ski-out slopes (the ski room opens directly onto the slopes, with a take-off terrace), three restaurants, one Tata Harper spa, a Kids Club and Teens Lab, and an indoor and outdoor pool.

How does running a ski hotel differ from that of a regular hotel?
Firstly, the ski season is very short – we only operate the hotel for four short months a year. Recruitment is often a challenge, and the weather certainly impacts a lot of our reservations!

What does preparing Le Coucou for the ski season involve?
The preparation actually begins when we close. Although the season is short, once it’s over, we have to do all the maintenance work. It is very cold during the winter and very warm during summer and therefore the materials age a lot quicker.

Alongside this, we need to find housing for all our staff, about 140 people in total. We only have 39 beds inside the hotel for our collaborators, so we need to source accommodation for the rest of our staff in the surrounding area. This can be a big challenge. We have started to acquire apartments and chalets to secure additional rooms for each season.

What are the daily logistical challenges of operating a hotel when you are located at 1500 metres altitude?
The snow is definitely a big challenge. When there is a storm, the trucks can’t go up the mountain and we can have shortage of some products inside the hotel. Our collaborators depend a lot on the ski lifts to access the hotel every day. If one is closed it can be a problem for them to come to work.

What does Le Coucou offer non-skiing guests – if there is such a thing?
There is so much to do at Le Coucou beyond skiing. The spa is definitely a great option, offering massages, indoor and outdoor swimming, a sauna or hammam. You can go to the fitness room with a stunning view overlooking the valley or take a pilates, yoga or boxing class with our instructors. We offer snowshoeing with a guide and a picnic, or there’s shopping in Méribel or Courchevel – just a 25-minute drive away. Personally, I love to go paragliding, but you’d have to not be scared of heights. And if you like speed, there’s the Snowmobiles and of course the sledge circuit is always fun to do with the kids!

Pierre Yovanovitch is responsible for the stunning interiors – which at a glance don’t appear to follow the typical alpine aesthetic. What is the guest response to the overall design?
We often choose to work with renowned residential architects rather than hospitality ones to ensure that our guests feel home from home. Pierre Yovanovitch worked on a reinterpretation of the classic repertoire of the Alpine style but gave it a contemporary look that is minimal, but warm and subtly original. Our guests really feel at home at Le Coucou and enjoy the comfort, the conviviality, and the familiar feeling that evokes.

‘The devil is in the detail’. What small details do you consider paramount at Le Coucou?
This is difficult to answer as there are so many tiny details – from the coat hook in the shape of an owl, to the little shelf on top of the toilet paper dispenser to put down your phone, to the warm and fluffy slippers. We enjoy adding personal touches and like to gift our guests’ useful items throughout the stay such as personalised ski socks.

What is your favourite area of the hotel?
The bathroom – I love to take a bubble bath after a long day of skiing. But I also love the convivial ambience of the bar, where after skiing everyone will gather for a generous teatime buffet and enjoy a crepe or a glass of wine and a game of Backgammon.

Are your team all keen skiers and if so, does this contribute to a strong ‘team spirit’?
Not all of them. Some have never skied before and learn during their free time. I think it’s the fact that they spend four months together that really builds the relationships between them. Also, some of them already know each other from working at our other hotels – Crillon le Brave in Provence or Lou Pinet in St Tropez.

What service does Le Coucou offer that goes the extra mile?
We are very proud of the ski room. The team will get you equipped every day. No need to carry your ski gear out, struggle to put it on or even remove your ski boots at the end of the day. Our team does it all for you. We have the latest equipment that is renewed every year, ensuring absolute comfort for our guests. Louis and his team are so kind, they remember the name of every guest and keep track of what you have rented from one year to another. The experience is incredibly smooth.

In three words, what makes Le Coucou so special?
Location: it’s simply unbeatable with the ski-in ski-out experience; Atmosphere: Always warm and welcoming; Food: pure indulgence!