The Peninsula Paris has appointed Luc Delafosse as Managing Director, effective 2 March 2026. A hospitality veteran with more than three decades of senior leadership across some of the world’s most prestigious properties, Mr. Delafosse steps into the role as the iconic palace hotel on Avenue Kléber marks its 12th anniversary.
Mr. Delafosse brings to the position a career forged at the highest levels of international luxury hospitality. He trained at the Imperial College of Management in Canada and the École Hôtelière de Poligny before beginning a progression through landmark addresses that would span London, Monaco, Beverly Hills, Paris, Dubai and Riyadh. His career included senior roles at The Ritz London, where he spent seven years from 1996, and the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, where he served as General Manager from 2003 to 2008 – a period that established the property as one of the world’s defining luxury addresses. He later served as Managing Director of the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris from 2010, overseeing preparations for the hotel’s landmark sale and subsequent renovation programme. He also held the role of Regional Vice President for Europe and General Manager of the Jumeirah Carlton Tower in London.
Most recently, Mr. Delafosse served as Vice President of Hospitality and F&B Management at Al Khozama Group in Riyadh, a position he held from May 2015. In that role he managed a broad portfolio that included asset management of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Riyadh and oversight of internationally recognised restaurant concepts such as La Petite Maison. Across his tenure at Al Khozama he provided strategic oversight on operations, brand development, project management and asset management, while supporting the creation of new hospitality concepts. In 2021, he was seconded to the Maybourne Riviera in the south of France to support the pre-opening of that luxury project.
Mr. Delafosse succeeds Vincent Pimont, who was appointed Managing Director of The Peninsula Hong Kong in January 2026 – the group’s inaugural property, which opened in 1928. Under Mr. Pimont’s leadership, The Peninsula Paris consolidated its position as one of Europe’s foremost luxury addresses and delivered strong commercial performance during and in the aftermath of the Paris Olympic Games.
The Peninsula Paris is a joint venture between Katara Hospitality and The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited. The property occupies a historic building that was renovated in 2014, blending contemporary design with a century of French elegance and history. Situated steps from some of the world’s most celebrated landmarks, museums and luxury shopping districts, the hotel offers 200 rooms – among the most spacious in the French capital – including 93 suites.Its culinary offering includes L’Oiseau Blanc, which holds two Michelin stars and commands panoramic views across the Paris rooftops to the Eiffel Tower, alongside LiLi, which serves Cantonese cuisine in a theatrically designed setting. A 1,800 square-metre spa with a 20-metre pool completes the guest experience.
In his new role, Mr. Delafosse will oversee all hotel operations and lead strategic commercial initiatives, with a mandate to sustain the brand’s commitment to personalised, high-touch hospitality. Gareth Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of The Peninsula Hotels, cited Mr. Delafosse’s breadth of international experience as central to the appointment, noting that it positions him well to lead the hotel into its next chapter.
The appointment reflects a broader moment of leadership transition within The Peninsula Hotels group, with the parallel move of Mr. Pimont to Hong Kong signalling active succession planning at the group’s most storied properties. For The Peninsula Paris, Mr. Delafosse’s credentials in transforming and elevating some of the world’s most iconic hotels make him a natural fit to build on the commercial momentum the property has generated in recent years.
