Inside Hotel Byblos

Antoine Chevanne, Chairman of Floirat Signatures, has spent his life immersed in the world of hospitality. As the fourth generation of the family behind Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez, his perspective is shaped by decades of summers spent in one of the Riviera’s most iconic addresses. For Lodha Times readers, many of whom share a passion for travel, service and beautifully lived experiences, Byblos remains a benchmark for the kind of discreet, atmosphere-led hospitality that continues to define Saint-Tropez at its best.

Founded in 1967, Hotel Byblos was born from an unlikely love story. “It was originally founded on love for the late Brigitte Bardot by a Lebanese businessman,” Chevanne explains. “With the financial crisis in Lebanon, he had to sell the property that same year and sold it to my great grandfather Sylvain Floirat.” At the same moment, Saint-Tropez itself was emerging onto the world stage, propelled by films such as And God Created Woman and a new wave of artists, actors and international travellers drawn to the Riviera’s particular magic.

The hotel’s position in the heart of the village quickly established it as a social hub, helped by the opening of Les Caves du Roy nightclub that same year. Nearly six decades later, Byblos still sits at the centre of Saint-Tropez life, its ochre façades and shaded courtyards as synonymous with the destination as the port itself.

Chevanne’s own childhood memories are tied to the rituals and personalities that shaped the hotel’s atmosphere. “I remember the legendary bartender Aldo,” he says. “At the time, the bar was located above the pool, and the bartenders loved lowering cocktails down from the balcony into the pool using a small tray attached to a string.”

That sense of warmth and familiarity remains central to the Byblos identity today. “The family spirit passed down from generation to generation, the closeness the staff have with our guests without ever overstepping boundaries, and the truly unique location in the heart of the village,” he says, are what have given the hotel its enduring appeal.

A summer day at Byblos follows the distinctive rhythm of Saint-Tropez itself. Some guests begin with sport and breakfast by the pool, while others recover more slowly after nights at Les Caves du Roy. Afternoons drift between Byblos Beach, Club 55 and long lunches by the sea before sunset drinks at the rooftop Sky Bar and dinners at Il Giardino, B. Lounge or Zuma. Then, inevitably, the night begins again. At 1:30am, DJ Jack.E still opens Les Caves du Roy with the words: “Ladies & Gentlemen, welcome back to Saint-Tropez!”

Behind the glamour, however, lies an extraordinary level of operational precision. Before sunrise, chefs prepare breakfast pastries and select produce from the hotel’s own vegetable garden. “Visual contact is essential when serving guests, in order to anticipate even the smallest request or need,” Chevanne explains. “Everyone in direct contact with guests is an ambassador of the hotel. Their personality reflects the hotel: elegant, relaxed, warm and cheerful.”

The continuity of the team is equally important. Many department heads have worked at the hotel for more than 30 years, passing down what Chevanne calls the “Byblos spirit” to new generations of staff. Returning guests are welcomed not simply as customers but almost as extended family. One guest, who has visited every summer since 1967, even requests that the furniture and paintings in his room be rearranged before arrival. “And of course we do it,” Chevanne says. “He is at home. He is at Le Byblos.”

As luxury hospitality evolves, Chevanne believes travellers increasingly seek authenticity over display. “Guests no longer want to show off. We are entering the era of quiet luxury, far from bling,” he says. “We are about experience, not display. That experience needs to increasingly be unique and tailor-made.”