Luxury hospitality has always been defined by people long before it is defined by buildings. Addresses can impress, interiors can attract attention, yet it is the individuals behind the experience who determine whether a stay becomes memorable. From legendary concierges to hotel managers, the profession has traditionally relied on observation, discretion, and an ability to understand guests long before requests are spoken aloud. As César Ritz, whose approach transformed modern hospitality, famously said: “See all without looking; hear all without listening; be attentive without being servile; anticipate without being presumptuous.”
This philosophy continues to influence the industry today. According to the UN Tourism World Tourism Barometer 2025, Europe remains the world’s leading destination for international visitors, while travellers increasingly seek experiences that offer meaningful connections with local culture instead of standardised itineraries. The report points to a growing preference for personalised experiences that introduce destinations through local knowledge and authentic encounters. Hospitality professionals have therefore become more than service providers; they increasingly act as interpreters of the cities in which they work. Their knowledge, relationships, and understanding of place often become as valuable as the accommodation itself.
That perspective forms the basis of HIGHSTAY’s latest initiative. While the company continues to expand its portfolio of private residences across Paris, its newest project places the spotlight not on architecture but on the people whose expertise shapes the guest experience.
Alongside the addition of Trocadéro I to its Curated by HIGHSTAY collection, the company introduces Parcours Signature, a programme centred around one of hospitality’s most respected professions: the concierge. Available to guests staying within the Signature Collection, the experience is led by a former member of Les Clefs d’Or, the international association whose gold crossed keys have become one of the strongest symbols of professional excellence in luxury hotels. For decades, Clefs d’Or concierges have built their reputation through an extraordinary knowledge of their cities. Their work extends far beyond restaurant reservations or transport arrangements. They understand neighbourhoods that rarely appear in guidebooks, maintain relationships with local artisans and independent businesses, and often preserve the stories that give a city its character. Their profession depends on trust, discretion, and years of accumulated experience rather than technology alone.
HIGHSTAY translates that expertise into a series of private walks through Paris. Guests are introduced to discreet cafés, independent boutiques, hidden streets, and neighbourhood stories that reveal a different rhythm of the French capital. The experience is intentionally personal, shaped through conversation instead of scripted commentary, allowing every walk to develop according to individual interests.
The expansion of the Curated by HIGHSTAY collection follows the same philosophy. The newly introduced Trocadéro I joins a portfolio of carefully selected residences managed according to the company’s hospitality standards, while existing addresses continue to reflect different chapters of Parisian life. Among them is Saint-Germain I, formerly Karl Lagerfeld’s private office, alongside properties such as Poincaré, Eiffel I, and Invalides I, each selected for its distinctive architectural identity and location.
