Gulf Insider - June 2022

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

Interview with Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts JUNE 2022 | ISSUE 201

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Contents June 2022 Issue 201

10 06

The Art Revolution

08

How does St Christopher’s School prioritise mental health and wellbeing?

18 Simply unparalleled online presence that connects the region’s most inspired communities.

10

What is the Importance of Giving Back to the Community?

12

What is inquiry-based learning at Canadian School Bahrain?

14

How will a globally recognised financial service really benefit you?

16

The automotive industry is getting back on track

18

The BMW i4 Changed My Opinion About EVs

20

Four Seasons Hotel: A Landmark of The French Riviera

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Comment...

Publisher & Editor in Chief

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Editorial Contributors

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Photography

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The multi-award winning Arabian Magazine

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The Art Revolution Interview with Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts JUNE 2022 | ISSUE 201

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Gulf Insider June 2022

5

Cover Feature

THE ART REVOLUTION Changing our perceptions of the art world forever.

I

n an exclusive interview, Gulf Insider and Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts, look back at the recent NFT MENA Exhibit and where it is headed, and talk about the significant advances in the world of art.

How did the recent NFT MENA Exhibit event contribute to pushing forward Bahrain’s crypto and art industries?

This was the first event in Bahrain for crypto and the first exhibition dedicated for NFTs in the region. We have focused on showcasing the utalisation of this technology in the art industry. Bahrain is known to be a regional leader in many aspects, including in the crypto and art industries. We had many international 6

Gulf Insider June 2022

companies from the crypto and traditional media world participating in the event, giving workshops, panel discussions and helping in bridging the knowledge gap to attract more users of this technology - be it cryptocurrency or NFTs. We had companies like Binance and MBC Group as sponsors, alongside some local partners like Tamkeen, Radio Bahrain, Benefit, EDB and many more which contributed to introducing and thus, expanding the crypto space to more people within the Kingdom.

What do you think is the superiority of NFTs to traditional experience in the field of art?

Beauty of the art is always in the eye of the beholder. I would not use the

word superiority. Every new medium or technology that can demonstrate artistic talents adds to the field. Each and every one of them has its pros and cons, and NFTs are no different.

NFT is a new technology that will provide many solutions in many industries, not only art. Currently, they provide two immediate benefits to existing artist. First, the digital artists can finally protect their ownership and have a proper way to monetise and sell their art. Second, the artists can add royalty to their work, whereby anytime and everytime that artwork gets sold, it automatically sends the royalty back to the artists without human interference through something called smartcontracts attached to the NFT, and that is in perpetuity.

Cover Feature

NFTs could be considered a latecapitalist tool to sell immateriality as if it was an object. In your opinion, does this distort the work of art or enhance it?

Majority of the people from the earlier generations link ownership to physical items. It is only natural as this was how we were brought up and how we have always done things. But the world is changing. All you need to do is look at the youth of today. They buy virtual items in video games, and the idea of a virtual ownership has become natural to them.

NFT is a new technology that will provide many solutions in many industries, not only art. Currently, they provide two immediate benefits to existing artist.

many new types and styles of art that this technology has allowed the artists to explore and produce. As an artist, of course I am very enthusiastic about it. From an investment point of view, I would say it is still early and chaotic at this point, but the potential is definitely there especially with the crossutalisation between the NFT technology and traditional art.

As you look at the NFT space, what genres of work or which artists are you most excited about?

Things are gradually changing – just look at money for example. We hardly use any cash anymore, which was not always the case. The same thing happened when credit cards were introduced, it was very new and people were skeptical about it. Now, it’s very natural.

The human being evolves and will keep evolving.

All types of art can capitalise on the NFT technology. Digital art now became more ogranised and is treated like artwork, which opened a huge opportunity for millions of artists to showcase their talent. This wasn’t doable before.

The hype for NFT technology is overwhelming: you see immense enthusiasm and investment by collectors, curators, artists, and professionals. Given your experience, are there any elements of the new field that concern you, or do you fully share in this enthusiasm?

The success of the event was overwhelming. It gave the opportunity for local artists and businesses to learn and network with industry leaders.

We are aiming to have the event on an annual basis in the region.

Where is NFT MENA Exhibit headed?

How do you see this event evolving in the region?

I do appreciate the emergence of Gulf Insider June 2022

7

Pupil & Culture

HOW DOES ST CHRISTOPHER’S SCHOOL PRIORITISE

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING? Gulf Insider speaks to Jamie O’Dowd, Assistant Head Teacher at the St. Christopher’s Senior School about their Enrichment programme, the importance of having happy students, and students’ mental health and wellbeing.

C

an you briefly tell us about the school’s Enrichment programme and the recent changes that have been made?

The Enrichment programme is our version of PSAG. We deal with aspects of the child’s education that has to do with their moral, social, and cultural education – the kind of things that are not covered in the standard academic lessons.

The improvements we have made include increasing our focus on a child’s wellbeing and mental health.

There’s an old belief in teaching that if a student does well at school, they will achieve good grades, get a good job, and then they will be happy. What the industry is having to rethink is that – first and foremost – we need to ensure that young people are happy. Happy students achieve well in school. They achieve good grades, which will result in them getting better jobs and being happy.

What has been the response from the students since this programme has been implemented?

Students have been fundamental in the redesign of Enrichment. We’ve consulted them at every stage and they told us that they wanted the skills and techniques to ensure that they could positively impact their own and other people’s happiness and wellbeing.

Too often, mental health coverage in schools is about the negative end of the mental health spectrum, looking at the 8

Gulf Insider June 2022

Jamie O’Dowd conditions that can arise when mental ill health occurs. What we’ve tried to do is change our program to ensure that all students – regardless of their current mental health – have the skills needed to positively impact their own and others’ mental health and wellbeing.

We find that they’re using the language and specific terminology to do with wellbeing and mental health with much more confidence. They’re more aware of the impact of their words and their actions on each other. It is now becoming a common language within the school that we all refer to.

When did mental health and wellbeing initiatives begin in St Christopher’s and why?

Student wellbeing has always been highly prioritized at St Christopher’s.

All the events we do outside of a classroom are to ensure that our students are happy, such as sports day, music and drama performances, dress up days, parties, and proms.

The redesign of the Enrichment was done to just give this an explicit name and focus. We followed an evidencebased practice called positive education which prioritises wellbeing and mental health, and puts it at the very heart of

Pupil & Culture

education to ensure all the learning that it follows is conducted in the best environment for the child.

Are there any similar programmes for the lower levels?

A slightly different format of Enrichment is also offered in the junior school, because of their age. We empower them at this stage so that they come up to senior school with the skills needed to quickly adapt to the language of positive education.

We survey all of our students to make sure that they know what their

addition to that, we’ve redesigned our form time activities.

We have a weekly “Wellbeing Wednesday” where we expose students to different techniques and skills they can use to positively influence their own wellbeing, such as meditation, yoga, breathing, stretching, positive emotions, and positive relationships, which sometimes includes just enjoying, having fun, and celebrating the diversity at the school.

Our school counselors provide learning and educational resources outside of the normal clinical sessions that they have with students.

They’ve made great connections with practitioners across the island to ensure that we’re getting the best advice and access to these services for our students.

During our recent children’s mental health week, we had guest speakers, including the Royal Bahrain Hospital, nutritionists, and psychologists.

We’ve also recently signed up to the Carnegie Mental Health Awards for schools, which would allow us to have a proven framework by which we can test our own practices and policies to ensure we are designing and creating a world class mental health and wellbeing environment for both staff and students.

What sort of feedback have you received from parents on this initiative?

We find that they’re using the language and specific terminology to do with wellbeing and mental health with much more confidence.

character strengths are. Quite often, schools focus on the area of a child’s character that needs improving. What positive education focusses on is: What do you already do really well? Why are you an individual and wonderful? How can we celebrate, use, and nurture that in the classroom?

What other ways is the school committing to supporting wellbeing and mental health?

The school has recently redesigned its whole curriculum. We call it the “future ready curriculum”. One entire strand of the curriculum is wellbeing. In

Parents have been fundamental in the redesign of the Enrichment programme. We involved them from the beginning, when we decided to reevaluate. What they shared with us was insightful because they prioritise and value their child’s wellbeing just as much as they do their education. If you ask most parents what they want for their children, their answer is of course, for them to be happy. Education and success come after.

This matches with our new belief which is: wellbeing should be at the heart of what we do.

For more information on St Christopher’s School, call 1760 5301 or visit https://www.st-chris.net/.

Gulf Insider June 2022

9

Pupil & Culture

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY?

John Maguire, Executive Headmaster at the British School of Bahrain shares the importance of giving back, developing compassion and humility within the school, and how they strive for a positive impact globally through charitable projects.

A

school truly at the heart of a community is one that gives back. No longer can private schools sit as ‘islands’ detached from their local surroundings. Outstanding schools should be an integral part of the community and use their position to improve the lives of those around them while nurturing within all of their students the importance of community spirit, philanthropy, and charity.

The British School of Bahrain (BSB) was founded over 26 years ago and has grown tremendously since. The school’s early beginnings relied on the local community, and the school has continued to nurture its position within Bahrain and the global community ever since. At the heart of the school’s educational provision are its characterforming values, of which Community is one of the core values. These values underpin BSB’s ongoing development as one of the leading schools in the Gulf region.

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Gulf Insider June 2022

Pupil & Culture

BSB has over 90 different nationalities within the school and, therefore, can boast the most diverse student roll in Bahrain.

Community-based initiatives are aplenty within the school, including environmental and society-based projects. The monthly Big Beach Clean is a popular and worthwhile initiative.

An innovative partnership with Bahrain Precast Concrete has seen the school take this even further by recycling all of the collected plastic from Bahrain beaches into outdoor furniture. Many of the school’s social projects are expertly led by the students themselves, and the school has a thriving collection of committees that all aim to do good in their local community. Through these events and programmes, all students within the school develop compassion and humility. A recent migrant workers charity appeal collected over 750 shoeboxes filled with essential items for local migrant workers. These were distributed by senior students within migrant camps and were greatly appreciated.

BSB has over 90 different nationalities within the school and, therefore, can

boast the most diverse student roll in Bahrain. In fitting with this international nature, the school also strives to make a positive impact globally through charitable projects such as its business programmes designed for rural Nepalese farmers as part of the Race4Good initiative.

The positive impact the students have had on their local communities has been recognised by several institutions, including three students recently receiving prestigious COBIS awards for their work in their communities.

It is a delight to see that The British School of Bahrain, which was founded with its roots in Bahrain, is now growing with the global community.

For more information on BSB, visit www.britishschoolbahrain.com

Gulf Insider June 2022

11

Education

WHAT IS INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING

AT CANADIAN SCHOOL BAHRAIN? Inquiry-based learning engages students in their lessons and activities which helps them to foster a deeper understanding of what they have learnt and to make key connections to previous and future learning.

K

eep inquiry-based learning at the core of your child’s learning process

A certified offshore school offering the British Columbia, Canada curriculum (BC Curriculum), the Canadian School Bahrain (CSB) understands the power of positive education.

Students are being developed to become confident in their culture, and empowered to achieve academic excellence through nurturing moral values: integrity, responsibility, respect, and courage. They are being guided to 12

Gulf Insider June 2022

become engaged thinkers, and ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial ethos.

What is the BC curriculum?

Offering a balanced, concept, and inquiry-based approach that is studentcentered – the BC Curriculum is an internationally renowned education program that teaches students through fostering a lifelong love of learning.

Its core competencies are integrated into all learning, namely: communication, critical and creative thinking, and personal and social responsibility.

Education

CSB is also the first private school to begin a hands-on learning experience in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Bahrain Authority of Cultures and Antiquities.

Graduates from the program receive a BC Certificate of Graduation called the Dogwood Diploma, which is internationally recognized. It is equivalent to a secondary school/Tawjihi certificate.

How is CSB moulding their students?

CSB students are taught “how to learn”. They are encouraged to use their inquisitive minds, learn from experiences, and apply them to everyday life.

As part their curriculum, they focus on the importance of matters such as Social Responsibility and taking care of our environment – with activities like the beach cleanups.

CSB is also the first private school to begin a hands-on learning experience in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Bahrain Authority of Cultures and Antiquities. The students learned the ins and outs of archaeology at the Janabiyah Burial Mounds. They dug and carefully extracted buried artifacts which they later put together in the reconstruction phase.

CSB is located in Diyar Al Muharraq. For more information, call 66644234 or visit www.canadianschoolbh.com

Gulf Insider June 2022

13

Money & Business

HOW WILL A GLOBALLY RECOGNISED FINANCIAL SERVICE

REALLY BENEFIT YOU?

Here’s how Arab Financial Service’s (AFS) globally recognised payments solutions are changing transactions as we know them... term. At AFS, we wanted to make sure we offered a hub with enough features and products that is highly secure, and above all, easy to use – to best suit the future needs of our clients.

Of course, it is gratifying to see our work being recognized, but what I am most excited about is that we have been able to provide our clients with the quality service they require.

How will AFS enable digital transformation in the region?

G

ulf Insider speaks to Samer Soliman, Chief Executive Officer, Arab Financial Services on the future of online payments, digital banking, and how transactions will evolve in the coming years.

AFS has recently been globally recognised as a Leading Payments 14

Gulf Insider June 2022

Innovator and Best Payments Solutions Provider, and your product AFS Go! has been named the Best New Payments Solution for MSMEs, in 2022. What does this mean for your clients?

Choosing the best payment solution is not always an easy task. There are many things to consider when choosing a payment platform that are crucial to the success of any business in the long

AFS is a technology-led organization.

To lead and enable digital transformation effectively, we have actively focused on our innovation, digital capabilities, and on identifying business potentials.

To enable digital transformation in the region, it’s clear that we needed to create new business models alongside new products and services that deliver value and drive business growth.

To name a few recent initiatives, we launched mobile wallets in Bahrain with a leading telecommunications company and in Oman with banking and telecommunications partners. This was followed by a partnership with Discover Network to open acceptance of Discover & Diner cards in Bahrain exclusively on our PoS terminals – a first for the Kingdom. We also enabled tokenisation of ila Bank’s card to allow payments via NFC without the presence of a physical card and introduced more than 350 API’s that empower our platform and can be consumed by Fintech enablers.

Money & Business

In my opinion, we are starting a new era of faster payments and Open Banking.

How will your strategy shape the future of banking?

and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Kingdom?

Our strategy is centered around our vision to power the digital transaction transformation across the region. Our mission is to be the partner of choice and to offer better, faster, more secure products and services, innovative and integrated digital payments, and fintech solutions that help our customers grow their business.

As payments and technology increasingly come together, AFS is partnering with likeminded organisations to lead this change to deliver more streamlined, more

There are over 90,000 MSMEs in Bahrain and they are grossly underserved digitally. AFS Go! includes 3 solutions – eShop (dedicated website with payment gateway), In-Store Payments (PoS solutions including ‘bring your own device’ option) and a Digital Payroll (to serve unbanked workers).

It is a single touch solution designed to be smart, highly secure, capable of handling multiple transactions in seconds and an optimal payment solution for MSME’s and entrepreneurs of all sizes.

You have embraced technology in your organisation long before many others.

How do you see online payments and digital banking developing in the near future?

In my opinion, we are starting a new era of faster payments and Open Banking. Financial institutions and merchants are increasingly looking for a payment hub that is efficient, reliable, offers great value, and provides consumers with an array of choice when making payments.

Online payment and digital banking are going to become even smarter, more rapid, and more versatile in terms of offering payment methods that include multiple choice between cards, wallets, account-to-account, and of course, accompanied by some value adds such as Loyalty Card Program, Dynamic Currency Conversion, and buy-now-pay-later options – all in one unified hub.

There are a lot of developments in the finance sector right now. What excites you the most and how do you see things playing out in the next 5 years?

integrated, and more secure payment platforms that drive business growth and financial inclusion.

Can you briefly tell us about your digital solution bundle AFS Go! and how it supports the growth of Micro, Small,

The answer is easy! Metaverse, its expansion, and how companies are going to embrace the approach is something I truly look forward to seeing evolve over time.

For more information, visit www.afs.com.bh

Gulf Insider June 2022

15

Automotive

THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS GETTING BACK ON TRACK

Rashid Z. Alzayani, Director of Alzayani Investment talks about recovery in the wake of the pandemic, the importance of exploring alternative means of sustaining dealerships, technology revolutionising driving experience, and outlook on EVs in Bahrain.

W

hat’s the current state of Bahrain’s car market, and how were sales affected during the two years of the pandemic?

It is no surprise that the global pandemic had a big impact on the automobile industry, as it did with many other sectors across the country. The peak of the crisis was a particularly powerful blow, with lessened demand due to national restrictions and decreased individual mobility. That said, things are looking up again as restrictions ease and the economy resumes its vigour. Demand began growing as of last year and sales are once more on the rise, so we are excited about the year ahead.

Supply chain issues created by the pandemic have affected our stock allocations, which in turn had an impact on our sales volumes. As a result, we now have a strong order bank waiting to be filled. With the supply chain issues now largely resolved and demand growing, we expect our sales figures to return to pre-pandemic levels as supply catches up to demand.

How does Zayani Motors position itself in Bahrain’s competitive auto sales market?

The mission of Zayani Motors is to provide its clients, both commercial and non-commercial, with the highest possible quality of products, sales and after-sales services. We are proud to lean on over two decades of

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Gulf Insider June 2022

distinguished operations, unwavering dedication and recognition in the form of awards, accolades and, of course, business success.

product offering comprising stylish and premium luxury vehicles alongside our well-established passenger and commercial vehicle brands.

What differentiates the brands you offer from competitor brands?

How has the technology and quality of new cars improved over recent years?

We pride ourselves on being attuned to the demands of the local market in both the commercial and noncommercial spaces. Mitsubishi and MG are mainstays of the market known to guarantee advanced performance, reliability and a competitive price range.

With our introduction of Chinese luxury auto brand Hongqi to the Bahraini market, we now have a truly unique

We live in an age of rapid technological advancement and car tech is certainly making great leaps.

Features like advanced driver assistance systems, smartphone connectivity, mobile apps and 360-degree cameras used to be part of the luxury motoring industry, but they are now common in affordable cars. This enhances the driving experience and improves safety.

Automotive

The mission of Zayani Motors is to provide its clients, both commercial and non-commercial, with the highest possible quality of products, sales and after-sales services.

The world is increasingly focusing on EVs (Electric Vehicles). What are your predictions for EVs in Bahrain?

Sustainability is one of the guiding principles of Bahrain’s Vision 2030, and the increased migration towards EVs is aligned with achieving that objective.

There are two key components to the success of EVs – the quality and availability of product and the infrastructure that allows it to flourish.

In terms of product, Zayani Motors is bringing in models such as the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV lowemissions SUV. However, fully electric vehicles are the next phase of the evolution, and we are already delivering in that area with the MG ZS EV SUV and the Hongqi E-HS9 luxury EV SUV. In terms of infrastructure, there is still groundwork to be done to have a convenient network of charging stations, faster charging times, and incentives for EV usage. This will be a gradual process, but we are already

seeing a change in mindset towards social and environmental responsibility, so the signs are very encouraging.

What do you consider to be the greatest challenges (and opportunities) facing dealerships in 2022?

The pandemic taught us the importance of exploring alternative means of sustaining dealerships, and one key component of this is facilitating a shift to online avenues of car purchase. It is also important for dealerships to offer more flexible buying options to make car ownership an easier prospect.

The opportunities are huge, as there is definitely an economic bounce back as the world returns to semi-normalcy after an unusual couple of years. We expect to see more people buying or rewarding themselves with new cars after holding off for the past two years.

Gulf Insider June 2022

17

Automotive

THE BMW i4

CHANGED MY OPINION ABOUT EVS. HERE’S WHY…

By Charlie Cooksey, Gulf Insider

R

eviewing this car involved me flying to Nice, on the stunning French Rivera, and staying at a beautiful 5-star hotel right on the seafront.

Yes, I have a tough job.

Looking out from my suite to the sea is breath-taking. The water is a beautiful azure blue and almost surreal.

Interestingly, the colour of the sea is the same as the blue ring on the BMW badge affixed to every car in their EV (Electric Vehicle) range. Is this clever marketing from BMW, or coincidence?

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Gulf Insider June 2022

Anyway, before I talk about the car itself, let me say a few words on EVs. I’ve been test driving various EVs from several manufacturers for a couple of years now. But, until now I had only driven EVs for fairly short journeys on the roads of Bahrain and Dubai.

Driving on the French highways enabled me to do some long-distance driving and I really got a feel for EVs and learnt how capable they are - in this case, the BMW i4.

Two versions of this car are available: the eDrive40 and the M50.

The entry-level eDrive40 is a rearwheel drive with one electric motor which produces 340bhp, accelerating from zero to a hundred kph in 5.7sec, with a range of 590 kms. The top of the range M50 is a four-wheel drive with two motors, producing a massive 544bhp, accelerating from zero to a hundred kph in 3.9 seconds, with a range of 521 kms.

The brakes are excellent. The regenerative braking system harvests energy that would otherwise be wasted when you brake - making it easy to slow

Automotive

The i4 offers beautiful build quality. Everything you touch feels wellmade and first class.

down smoothly. The braking system has an Adaptive mode that uses data from the navigation system and onboard sensors to make anyone a better and safer driver. For example, when you’re on a highway and take your foot off the accelerator the car coasts as normal, but if a bend or lower speed limit is coming up, it slows you down.

There’s no engine noise from the i4 – because there’s no engine. If you switch to Sport mode, you do get a synthetic and futuristic electric sound. This was created in a collaboration with film music composer legend, Hans Zimmer and it gets louder and more intense the faster you drive. When I was told about this synthetic sound feature I thought it sounded gimmicky – though I really enjoyed it whilst I was driving.

The i4 offers beautiful build quality.

Everything you touch feels well-made and first class.

What I particularly admire about the i4 is that it hasn’t gone for an overly futuristic type of design, and neither the interior nor exterior shout out that it’s an EV. It’s first and foremost a 4 Series.

BMW has stayed true to the 4 Series heritage and design. The only obvious

clues that this is an EV are the subtle blue exterior badging and, inside, blue touches for the stop/start and gear shifter.

I was also impressed with the range of the car, we did perhaps 250-300 kilometres of driving with 20% battery left in the ‘tank’. We made a stop on the highway at a service station that was fully equipped with EV charging points, plugged the charger into the i4, and relaxed with a coffee. We returned to the car charged with over 80% of power in just 30 minutes. EV battery technology just keeps getting better.

Those who have not yet driven an electric car will initially find it a strange experience, but you soon become accustomed. The Gulf region still has infrastructure developments to make when you compare the progress made in Europe to cater for EV’s, but I can say that I’m now beginning to appreciate and love electric cars, and I really loved driving the BMW i4.

For more information, and to arrange your own test drive in Bahrain, contact BMW Bahrain on +973 1775 0750.

Gulf Insider June 2022

19

Travel

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL:

A LANDMARK OF THE FRENCH RIVIERA Charlie Cooksey spends a weekend at the breathtaking Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, a Four Seasons Hotel in Nice, France.

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Gulf Insider June 2022

Travel

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is about 20 minutes by car from the city center of Nice, and the hotel is rich in history. It was initially built in 1908 and continually added to until World War I.

I

t’s easy to claim that a hotel is synonymous with luxury, yet visiting a 5-star hotel in person and being shown a luxury accommodation is quite another.

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat does not disappoint; from its palatial-like exterior and interior to the staff that recalls everyone by name, this hotel has earned its five stars.

The Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat is about 20 minutes by car from the city center of Nice, and the hotel is rich in history. It was initially built in 1908 and continually added to until World War I. It became a temporary war hospital. In the early 1930s, it once again shifted to a glamorous hotel. After changing hands for a few years starting in the 60s, it eventually became a Four Seasons Hotel in 2015. This landmark hotel residing in the French Rivera boasts incredible views of the Mediterranean Sea and proximity to Paloma Beach and various high-end outlet shops.

The glamour and sophistication of the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat have brought various celebrities and famous icons

into its rooms, from Charlie Chaplin to Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor.

One look at the photos that span the wall on the stairwell, and you’ll see many celebrities have stayed at this property. Even the classic elevator that runs between the staircase is a beautiful feature – although being a creature of habit, I would avoid the elevator and run up and down the staircase.

After arriving for my weekend stay in March, I was greeted by cooler weather in the mornings and evenings.

During the days, the cool fresh air provided a refreshing getaway from the Gulf and surrounded by the 17 acres garden greenery. This hotel provides a traditional luxury stay in the French Rivera.

Right after check-in, I was able to rest with a cup of English breakfast tea in the naturally lit café in the lobby. As a bellboy took my luggage up to my room, I was able to sit and enjoy the stunning panoramic views of the French Riviera and the Mediterranean Sea.

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With a fitness center, tranquil spa with an indoor swimming pool, salon, and two tennis courts on the premises, it’s challenging to find reasons to leave the hotel during the day.

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After that, it was time to head up to my room. Once inside, I was rewarded with more incredible views and a cozy environment. The décor is understated yet elegant, providing a luxurious feeling. Each room includes a mini-bar, a marble bathroom with plush bathrobes, and flat-screen TVs. My room included a terrace to enjoy the views better.

I’ve visited and stayed across the world including New York Downtown, Hampshire England, Jumeirah Dubai, Bahrain Bay and many others, I’ve noticed a few things always stay the same. The Four Seasons properties all offer ultra-comfortable beds and great hospitality and service. As expected, the beds at Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat did not disappoint, nor did the service.

Each morning, I enjoyed my breakfasts. The vast breakfast spread features a large buffet selection with freshly baked bread and warm croissants. You can choose between solely enjoying the buffet or including a-la-carte items for your meal. With many French breakfast items, you can expect your diet to go right out the door,

thanks to those delicious croissants.

I found that eggs benedict with salmon was the best way for me to start my day.

As evidence of the excellent service, Safa, a friendly French Moroccan waitress, personally greeted me each morning a La Véranda Restaurant. The views of the lush gardens and the nearby sea only added to my excellent breakfast experience.

During my last breakfast at the hotel, Francois Regis Simon, the General Manager, introduced himself and sat down for a coffee with me. He has been with the Four Seasons for an impressive 19 years, seven on this very property.

I always enjoy meeting the General Managers of the hotels I stay in, to understand their vision and how they make themselves unique from other industry players.

One of the amenities offered when staying at the Grand-Hotel du CapFerrat is access to the exclusive Le Club Dauphin. This beautiful, heated swimming pool offers incredible views of the Mediterranean while guests

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enjoy drinks and fresh baked goods poolside. Private cabanas are available for rent, though there are also plenty of lounge chairs to sunbathe on. There are also multiple areas where business travelers can conduct and attend events, like meetings.

With a fitness center, tranquil spa with an indoor swimming pool, salon, and two tennis courts on the premises, it’s challenging to find reasons to leave the hotel during the day. Especially considering there’s a Michelin star restaurant at the hotel, Le Cap. This on-site restaurant features incredible Mediterranean-inspired food using fresh ingredients. Some of the ingredients are even sourced from the incredible gardens on the property.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking long walks around the perfectly kept flowerfilled gardens and property. It added a unique flair to my stay, peacefulness and quietness. While I stayed here during the off-season, I have heard that it offers the same tranquility even in summer during peak season.

During my stay, I also met Johann Burgos, the Club Dauphin Club Director.

As he was snapping a photograph of me with the Bahrain flag, he recognized the flag instantly. Johann recounted his two years working at the Four Seasons Bahrain Bay’s restaurant – CUT by Wolfgang Puck. What a small world!

A stay at the Grand-Hotel du CapFerrat offers an impressive list of amenities, from Michelin star food to cozy rooms, indoor pool and outdoor pool, incredible views, and unbelievable hospitality and staff who will never forget your name. Regardless of when you visit, you’ll be rewarded with a memorable stay at one of the most iconic hotels in the Côte d’Azur.

For more information on the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, visit https://www.fourseasons.com/ capferrat/

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