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Arab News
6 days ago
- Arab News
Major European cities have little but tourism left
On the recent occasions I have returned to Paris, the city where I grew up, I have noticed a shift. There was once a cafe and bakery in the Trocadero, overlooking the Eiffel Tower, a place you could just walk into without a reservation to enjoy a coffee and one of the best croissants in town. Now, every time I pass by, there is a long queue of tourists waiting to be seated. A glance at the terrace shows that most are there to film themselves pouring hot chocolate and whipped cream to post on Snapchat or TikTok. This is textbook social media-driven overtourism. While it has certainly made the owners of the cafe happy, it has destroyed the fabric of the place. Indeed, this constant rush of visitors has made it nearly impossible for the locals to sit down and enjoy a coffee and a croissant or a pain au chocolat, like I did with my family and friends when I still lived in Paris. This has deprived many like myself of a 'madeleine be Proust' spot that reminds them of their younger years. I also imagine that the familiar faces we would once see regularly and create a bond with must have all but disappeared. In that instance, I would not mind and would be quite happy to see people from across the world enjoying a nice Parisian terrace; if it were not for the fact that no one was actually drinking their delicious hot chocolate or enjoying their pastries, but only filming the moment to share on their social media accounts. Parisians (which I consider myself to be even before being French) are a special breed and are quick to criticize. We are usually unimpressed by anything and have an indifferent attitude. Today, however, locals in most cities across Europe have started to feel resentment toward tourists, just as Parisians do. And we should not forget that tourists, too, have their frustrations with the City of Light. Moreover, these changes have a real impact on people's daily lives. It starts with real estate and rental prices going up due to Airbnb and other furnished rentals popping up. Small grocery stores then usually change their prices to reflect 'tourist prices.' Increased traffic and footfall increase inflation due to rising demand. These countries and areas may be dependent on tourism and might have to support some changes and sacrifice some local areas. France's tourism sector contributed a record-breaking €246 billion ($288 billion) in 2023, or 8.8 percent of gross domestic product. It accounts for nearly 2.9 million jobs. So, tourism is not just a romantic way for foreigners to make memorable moments, but an economic necessity. Paris' travel and tourism industry brought in nearly $36 billion in 2022 and accounts directly for 3.5 percent of the city's economy, along with much more indirectly through supporting activities. According to L'Institut Paris Region, tourism sustains more than 300,000 jobs. It is most certainly similar for other European hubs such as London, Rome and Barcelona, which, with time and the changes in their countries' economies, have also become highly reliant on tourism. Western capitals and landmark cities are among the world's most visited and have become addicted to tourist inflow. Today, locals in most cities across Europe have started to feel resentment toward tourists, just as Parisians do Khaled Abou Zahr It is now becoming clear that overreliance on tourism is a risk, while also being a witness to a changing world. One clear outcome is that it leaves cities vulnerable to many crises. While locals are complaining and protesting, it might not be their activities that stop the inflow of tourists, but a crisis such as a shift in travel trends, a pandemic like we witnessed just a few years ago or even a geopolitical shift with a lack of visas granted. Yet, many cities have shifted their economies to be exclusively specialized toward tourists. This makes them vulnerable. Can policymakers find a way to balance both locals' lives and tourism's economic importance? I have my doubts. I think that until the 'hot chocolate on social media' trend passes, I will still be deprived of my favorite pain au chocolat. The show 'Emily in Paris' encapsulates a specific aspect of this dynamic and the importance of tourism for jobs. The show has been so influential that, of those who said that pop culture inspired them to visit the city, 38 percent said it was 'Emily in Paris' that persuaded them. This impact even forced an intervention from the highest level of politics in France, when news emerged that the show might move its main character to Rome. Indeed, the reaction was swift and French President Emmanuel Macron publicly declared: 'We will fight hard. And we will ask them to remain in Paris.' Amid difficult times in the Middle East and rising global tensions, this is futile. However, I believe it tells a deeper story of a changing world and shifting balances of power. Global tourism is today also a barometer of how economic power is shifting. While, 50 years ago, the Western tourist represented the entire value of tourism, purchasing power is today increasingly dispersed across a broader set of nations. The rapid rise in outbound travel from countries such as China, India, Brazil and Mexico demonstrates how greater disposable incomes in these nations are reshaping the flows of international visitors. This diversification of global purchasing power can also be seen in global geopolitical dynamics, as nations capable of generating both capital flows and outbound tourists are gaining more diplomatic and political weight globally. Europe's increasing reliance on these markets for economic vitality has translated into a shift in their weight in terms of political affairs. It is something we are already witnessing. While decisions and political solutions used to mainly come from the West, now, just like the tourists, they come from across the world. There is undoubtedly a deficit in the power of the West, with the clear understanding that it was economic power that allowed it to finance military power and, hence, it had diplomatic power. This equation is now proving successful for countries in many regions and the West has been welcoming their citizens as tourists, while also becoming dependent on their markets. Tourism includes not only the travelers that I have mentioned, but also students, healthcare workers and more. Many critics of the last decade's policies have stated that Paris, London and other European cities now represent what the countries have become: a hotel, a museum and a restaurant. They are only capable of exploiting their past greatness, symbolized by grandiose architecture and a way of life, including culinary delights. And that's it. While I can imagine how a foreign dignitary would have felt arriving in London at the beginning of the last century and crossing The Mall, which projected power and advancements, today it is no longer impressive. But it amazes as a historical passage that attracts tourists and needs their money to fund its maintenance. In light of this, the exclusive focus on artificial intelligence by Western powers could look like a last effort to regain their advantage. But this time they are not alone. • Khaled Abou Zahr is the founder of SpaceQuest Ventures, a space-focused investment platform. He is CEO of EurabiaMedia and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.
The National
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
New Scottish restaurant takes step back into the Golden Age
This new restaurant and 40-bedroom Art Deco-inspired hotel is located just outside Blantyre, South Lanarkshire. The main attraction is the 'entertainment-led dining experience', inspired by the heyday of Scotland's old dance halls – including its namesake Trocadero in Hamilton, fondly known as 'The Troc', which offered up escapism, music and dancing every night of the week. My friend and I glammed ourselves up in our 1920s-inspired bedroom, with as much vintage style and red lipstick as we could muster, before descending for a night to remember. Guests emerge through a rich velvet curtain to witness underground prohibition decadence. We stepped into a vast but darkly intimate bar, with candlelit dining and a sweeping stage, channelling vibes of speakeasy glamour, like something straight out of an American movie. Here was rich soft furnishings, curves and geometric shapes reminiscent of Art Deco style, and dapper waiting staff ready to take your cocktail order. Mixologist Panos Damou has curated a cocktail list inspired by the Jazz Age. I toasted the night with a Plum Crusta, rich in fruity flavours and dramatically presented in a smoking glass case. The venue's motto 'Where Champagne Flows and Anything Goes' means a healthy bubbles menu too. Feeling like the Marvellous Mrs Maisel, we were led to our stage-side table as an 11-piece band took the night by the horns. Sequinned flapper-style dancers stepped, kicked, swivelled and shimmied in Charleston fashion. In these opulent surroundings the food could take a back seat, but it certainly does not. The menu is overseen by renowned chef Michel Roux Jnr and the kitchen is under the auspices of executive chef Kevin Barron. We could have indulged in dishes synonymous with luxury, such as caviar, oysters and steak, but I opted for lighter ones – a starter of Shetland crab, followed by a shallot tart tatin with blue cheese and pear. I particularly loved the sheer joy of the traditional dessert trolley steered between the dancers to reach our table, where, from myriad treats, I chose a hazelnut milk chocolate tart. After a night of decadence we walked upstairs to our room and curled up in bed with the Trocadero's newsletter, lulled to sleep with stories of couples who met in the original Hamilton Troc and fell in love. The following morning, breakfast was dished up in Foveran's. Its green hues with a palm motif felt like a calming oasis after the hedonism of the night before. Foveran's serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for guests who desire a quieter dining experience. A yoghurt and juice bar kickstarted our detox, with fresh fruit and bakery items brought to the table. After tucking into Loch Fyne kippers, a walk to the nearby Four Angels waterfall blows the cobwebs away. I immersed myself in Trocadero's transatlantic glamour but there's no denying this is a proudly Scottish project. Most of the food is sourced in Scotland, ideally within a 50-mile radius. The owners, Steve Timoney and Alison Reid-Timoney, are Scottish, with Steve growing up in Easterhouse. Much of the veg and honey served in the hotel comes from the owners' Perthshire estate. And the employment opportunities here are vast, tapping into Scottish music agents, an expansive roster of bands, singers, musicians, dance troupes and choreographers, alongside front of house staff and those working behind the scenes. Trocadero's is a £20 million project and the spa (scheduled to open late this year) is devising its own line of beauty products with AS Apothecary on the Isle of Harris, using ingredients/botanicals from the Timoneys' estate and the castle's 14-acre grounds. Trocadero's represents a golden age in hospitality and a destination like no other, so grab your glad rags and hot foot it to the liveliest spot just outside town. It stages entertainment seven nights a week but browse the music calendar if you seek big band vibes. We saw the fantastic Champagne on stage. Also look out for Soul Sundays – a traditional Sunday lunch with added live music performances. To find out more, visit
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'A night of pure indulgence and escapism' at Crossbasket Castle's glamorous speakeasy-inspired dining experience
Lanarkshire is now home to an unrivalled luxury cabaret venue which more than lives up to its titillating tagline "where champagne flows and anything goes". The Daily Record was invited along for a taste of Crossbasket Castle's unique new entertainment-led dining experience overseen by Michel Roux Jr at Trocadero's - part of its luxurious new £20million hotel alongside the existing five-star 15th-century fairytale castle owned by entrepreneur and philanthropist couple Alison and Steve Timoney. And it was a night of pure indulgence and escapism. Inspired by the iconic 1950s Hamilton dance hall, The Trocadero, and modelled on the glamourous speakeasy bars of the Roaring Twenties, velvet drapes are pulled back to reveal Trocadero's luxurious cocktail bar and romantic candlelit restaurant. With celebrity Michelin-star French chef Michel Roux Jr and top mixologist Panos Dimou running the operation, we knew we were in for a truly decadent experience. Starting off the evening with a Southside and classic Daiquiri cocktail served in one of the art deco-inspired booths, we were escorted to one of the best seats in the house for the main event. Poring over the high-end menu complete with Caviar Bar, Loch Ryan/Creran Oysters, Poached Half West Coast Lobster and delicious desserts on their petit gateau trolley, we selected a Beef Short Rib Crumpet and Shetland Crab to start. The slow cooked short rib fritter with celeriac remoulade whisky peppercorn sauce melted in the mouth and the white and brown crab meat with potato chips, mango and Remy Martin sauce was to die for. While savouring a delicious 700g Roasted Cote De Boef of Speyside Beef for two, grilled to perfection, we were treated to some live jazz followed by a dazzling dance display by Trocadero's hugely talented 'flapper girls' before the house band had the room up dancing to hits from the '70s, '80s and '90s. Exuberating the charm and nostalgia reminiscent of 1920s jazz clubs transporting guests to a bygone era seven nights a week, you could be forgiven for thinking you were anywhere but High Blantyre in 2025. As well as top compliments to the renowned chef, I can't commend the service from restaurant manager Kostas Mavrogiannis and his team highly enough. Their culinary knowledge and attention to detail was second to none. They couldn't do enough for us and true to Trocadero's tagline - the champagne was certainly flowing. Earlier in the day we had been educated on Brut Reserve by a representative of Taittinger Champagne and sampled some of the finest and most expensive on the menu during Crossbasket's divine classic afternoon tea experience overlooking the lush sun-soaked grounds surrounding the main castle. Our extravagant tipples included Taittinger Comtes de Blanc which came in at £53 a glass (125ml) and £430 a bottle and Taittinger Prestige Rose at £19 a glass and £125 a bottle. Not forgetting the fine selection of Chef's artisan sandwiches and canapes, we tucked into freshly baked fruit scones with homemade jam and clotted cream and a selection of delicious homemade cakes with chef's afternoon tea delicacies. Retiring for the night to our elegant and expansive top floor castle suite, complete with roll top bath, was the perfect antidote to the electric atmosphere of Trocadero's. And, true to form, following a brief conversation about Crossbasket's award-winning honey, available to purchase in their boutique, we were able to take a little piece of this magnificent hotel home with us thanks to a member of the venue's top team who had kindly left a jar on our pillow. It's certainly an exciting new era for Crossbasket with lots more to come with a new luxury Four Angels Spa opening this autumn alongside two new luxurious eco-cottages creating additional private havens within the castle's 14-acre estate. Currently, an overnight stay in the new 40-room hotel starts from £195. Castle rooms start from £360. For more privacy, guests can stay in The Gate Lodge or The East Lodge on grounds of Crossbasket's grand estate, which offer exclusivity close to the castle and hotel. *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
SF Stern Grove's Trocadero Clubhouse repairs complete, ready for reservations
The Brief The venue is a San Francisco designated landmark built in 1892 The Trocadero Clubhouse underwent extensive repairs after a massive tree crashed into in 2 years ago You can book your wedding, birthday party or special event here starting April 1 SAN FRANCISCO - Repairs are complete at the Trocadero Clubhouse at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco after a massive tree damaged the historic landmark in a storm nearly two years ago. City officials say they are now accepting reservations for events at the venue starting April 1. San Francisco Recreation & Parks Department this week announced that extensive repairs, at a cost of $2.5 million, have been completed and that the venue is available for weddings and other celebrations. The backstory The Trocadero was built in 1892. In 2022, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved the Trocadero's status as a San Francisco Designated Landmark. Its last major renovation was in 1986 due to extensive use and weathering, according to the SF Rec and Park website. You may recall in March 2023, an 85-foot eucalyptus tree toppled on the 133-year-old building during a particularly stormy winter in the Bay Area. The clubhouse's roof was partially crushed, triggering the building's indoor sprinkler system causing a deluge that led to water damage. The building had to be red-tagged because of both water and structural damage. At the time, it wasn't even clear if the historic site could even be saved. Funding for the repairs was made available through Rec and Park's general fund, officials said. A Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement is expected, officials said. The Trocadero's architecture dates back to the Victorian-era, specifically the ornate Stick-Eastlake style. According to officials, the building has the distinction of being the city's last intact example of a 19th-century roadhouse. If you can imagine, dancing and gambling at roulette tables are part of the Trocadero's storied history. The city used preservation contractors with Architectural Resources Group Conservation Services to restore the building to its original condition. Officials said the contractors saved as much original material as possible in order to replicate and match the original detailing. What they're saying "Trocadero Clubhouse in Stern Grove is more than just a historic building—it's been an important gathering place for Sunset District families for generations," said District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio. "I want to thank Rec and Park and Public Works for ensuring that the Trocadero and its legacy can live on for future generations. This restoration is a reminder of the strength and resilience of our neighborhood." Looking ahead, the Trocadero Clubhouse is now ready to host weddings, birthday parties and other special events. "The clubhouse is a vital part of San Francisco's cultural heritage and ensuring we could restore it to its former glory was critical," said Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. "This project was a testament to our commitment to preserving spaces that honor our City's history and providing inviting spaces that unite communities." "The Trocadero Clubhouse has stood for more than a century and now is ready to serve future generations," added SF Public Works Director Carla Short. For more information on how to reserve the venue, you can follow this link. Andre Torrez is a digital content producer for KTVU. Email Andre at or call him at 510-874-0579.
