Storytelling, the signature of Parisian luxury hotel bars

Storytelling has become an essential marketing strategy for Parisian hoteliers, rooted in the city's history and collective imagination, combining Parisian clichés with evocations of the Belle Époque and the Roaring Twenties.

These establishments make skillful use of this narrative dimension, particularly in their communal areas, such as the bar, which has become a veritable showcase for the hotel. This convivial space is carefully managed, with a local clientele favoured for its loyalty, spending potential and predictability.

This subject was explored in depth in the final dissertation written by Nolwenn Ragot, known by her pen name Nolwenn RRW, and submitted to the Université Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Her work also highlights the importance of training employees to embody the history of the place, creating an interactive role-playing game with customers. During the crisis of 2020, the closure of the hotels made it possible to renovate these spaces, accentuating the 1920s aesthetic. It remains to be seen whether this approach will continue to appeal in the current and future economic climate.