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Jeanne AugierFrench hotelier
Date of Birth: 01.01.1923
Country:  France |
Content:
- Legendary French Hotelier Jeanne Augier Passes Away at 96
- Restoring the Hôtel Negresco's Grandeur
- An Uncompromising Visionary
- A Legacy of Luxury and Benevolence
- A Life Well-Lived
Legendary French Hotelier Jeanne Augier Passes Away at 96
An Era of Glamour on the French RivieraJeanne Augier, the renowned owner of the iconic Hôtel Negresco, has passed away at the age of 96, marking the end of an era of glitz and glamour on the French Riviera. Augier presided over the world-famous luxury hotel for over six decades after inheriting it from her father in 1957. Within the opulent pink-domed Royal Salon, she welcomed countless celebrities, including the Beatles and the Sultan of Brunei.
Restoring the Hôtel Negresco's Grandeur
Augier dedicated her life to the hotel's legacy. After serving as a military hospital during World War I, she meticulously restored its glory, adorning its 121 rooms with her own artworks, ensuring no two suites were identical. The Hôtel Negresco, often referred to as "the Eiffel Tower of Nice," has drawn the likes of Salvador Dalí, Elton John, Michael Jackson, Charles Aznavour, Gina Lollobrigida, and Pablo Picasso. Notably, Sir Elton John filmed his music video for "I'm Still Standing" at the hotel.
An Uncompromising Visionary
Unforgettable for her fiery red hair and scarlet lipstick, Augier famously told Microsoft founder Bill Gates that he was not wealthy enough to buy her hotel. In a 2009 interview with the French newspaper Libération, she declared, "Every year, I must receive about a hundred offers to buy the Negresco. But selling the hotel is out of the question."
A Legacy of Luxury and Benevolence
As described on the hotel's website, the Hôtel Negresco, with its dining room illuminated by a 13-foot chandelier and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea, is "a place where anything is possible... where luxury is served." The hotel's namesake, Henri Negresco, a Romanian-born hotelier, envisioned creating a palace in Nice to cater to wealthy travelers. The Hôtel Negresco opened in 1913 and quickly became a favorite among European royalty.
In 2009, Augier, who had no children or nieces, bequeathed the hotel to a charitable foundation dedicated to the welfare of stray animals. Among other initiatives, the foundation campaigns against bullfighting, which Augier passionately opposed. In 2016, the Hôtel Negresco served as a field hospital following the Bastille Day terror attack, where a 19-ton truck driven into a crowd claimed 86 lives.
A Life Well-Lived
In her final years, Jeanne Augier suffered from Alzheimer's disease. She passed away in the lavish suite within the Hôtel Negresco itself, leaving behind an unparalleled legacy of glamour and unwavering dedication to her beloved hotel.
