Luxury hospitality no longer ends at checkout. Today’s most compelling hotels extend their identity beyond the front desk—past the turndown chocolate and welcome champagne—into the objects guests bring home.
We’re not talking about logo tees or souvenir postcards. Think elegantly signed dinner plates, sculptural dog bowls worthy of display, and backgammon sets that make you consider picking up the game.
At Fouquet’s New York, that evolution lives inside Atelier Fouquet’s—an online boutique where Parisian glamour meets collectible design. The shop offers a curated selection of co-branded pieces that feel less like merchandise and more like modern heirlooms.
I spoke with Victoria Menechella, Regional Director of Marketing & Communications for Groupe Barrière, about why luxury hospitality is embracing retail—and which pieces guests can’t seem to leave without.
What’s the inspiration behind Fouquet’s New York launching Atelier Fouquet’s?
“Hotels are no longer just places to stay. We were inspired by the idea that guests increasingly want to extend their connection with the hotel beyond their visit. Atelier Fouquet’s was created as a way to translate the spirit of the hotel into thoughtfully designed pieces, collaborations, and hotel staples, allowing guests to take a small part of the experience home with them. ”
How does Atelier Fouquet’s reflect the Parisian DNA of Fouquet’s while still feeling distinctly Tribeca?
“Our Atelier reflects the Parisian DNA of Fouquet’s through its bespoke curation mirroring Fouquet’s goal to provide unparalleled experiences for guests. You can shop items that are exclusive to the Fouquet’s brand, such as the Fouquet’s dinner plates used at Brasserie Fouquet’s on the Champs-Élysées for more than 100 years. At the same time, you’ll find a distinctly Tribeca approach in our collaborative pieces, where we work with the cool brands in our own backyard to reinterpret Fouquet's signature items—like the Abbode Makeup Bag and the Vee Collective Weekender Tote.”
Which pieces have emerged as fan favorites—and what do those choices say about how guests want to remember their stay?
“Interestingly, one of the most popular items we see purchased through the Atelier is our gift card. Guests love the idea of sharing the experience of Fouquet’s with someone else, whether that’s a spa treatment, a dinner at Brasserie Fouquet’s, or a future stay. It says a lot about how people want to remember the hotel: not just through an object, but by recreating the feeling of the experience itself and passing that onto someone they care about.”
How do you ensure Atelier Fouquet’s feels elevated rather than overtly promotional?
“Just as people connect with fashion and retail brands, they now express that same resonance through where they choose to stay and what they take home from that experience. To keep Atelier Fouquet’s feeling elevated rather than promotional, we focus on thoughtful curation offering limited quantities and introducing new pieces seasonally. The assortment ranges from branded collaborations, like our Hunza G custom swimsuit, to subtle hotel touchpoints such as our Brasserie dinner plates and signature Toile De Jouey wallpaper turned into gift wrapping paper. Each item reflects the individuality of our guests and the spirit of the brand, giving the boutique the charm and character of a carefully curated shop echoing our in-hotel experience. ”
If someone checks out of Fouquet’s and buys one piece from Atelier, what would you want it to be—and why?
“The Nick Fouquet 456er Cap was one of our first collaborations when the hotel opened, perfectly capturing its blend of playfulness and downtown cool. Though Nick Fouquet isn’t related to the hotel, they share the same name—and when we opened, people even asked him why he was opening a hotel. The collaboration became a fun, cheeky nod to both brands. Plus, the cap wears beautifully and works year-round.”
