Mandarin Oriental Lutetia Names Julien Bardet General Manager
The veteran hotelier brings international experience and Parisian know-how to the Left Bank Palace as it enters its 115th year.
Photo: Courtesy of Mandarin Oriental
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has appointed Julien Bardet as general manager of Mandarin Oriental Lutetia, Paris, effective September 15, 2025. Bardet, a native of Cannes, brings a career shaped across three continents back to the Left Bank at a moment when the Palace hotel turns 115.
He began his career on the French Riviera before assuming sales and marketing leadership roles at Le Méridien Nice. From there, he moved into senior roles at the Laguna and the St. Regis Bali, eventually relocating to New York to serve as hotel manager at the St. Regis and later leading the St. Regis Bal Harbour. Bardet was then appointed general manager of the West Hollywood Edition, where he gained experience in one of the U.S.’s most competitive luxury markets.
In 2020, he returned to Paris to oversee the Shangri-La during the pandemic. His leadership during that turbulent period helped steady the property’s profile and secure new international recognition. That mix of Parisian familiarity and global perspective now comes into play at Mandarin Oriental’s only European palace hotel, which has been steadily refining its identity since joining the group in 2018.
The Lutetia’s December anniversary marks more than a milestone; it highlights the hotel’s dual identity as both a cultural icon of Saint-Germain-des-Prés and a Palace competing in one of the world’s busiest luxury markets. Bardet takes the reins as Paris continues to add headline-making openings from Cheval Blanc, Bulgari, and Hôtel de Crillon, intensifying the race for global visibility.
“Joining Mandarin Oriental Lutetia is both an honour and a responsibility,” Bardet said in a statement. “My aim is to preserve its soul while embracing the future. I aspire to showcase its excellence on the international stage by highlighting the talent and dedication of our teams. They are, through their passion and expertise, the beating heart of the Palace.”
His appointment positions Mandarin Oriental Lutetia to reinforce its Left Bank character while leveraging Mandarin Oriental’s broader brand equity. With Bardet’s track record across Europe, Asia, and the U.S., the property enters its anniversary year with leadership attuned to both heritage and global competition.
