A home-grown leader for the Saint-Tropez opening
Oetker Hotels has chosen an internal candidate to lead the opening of Mas Bellevue. Géraud Tournier has been running L’Apogée Courchevel and Château Saint-Martin & Spa since 2022. He now becomes General Manager of the group’s future Saint-Tropez property, due to open in June 2027.
Mas Bellevue will mark the group’s arrival in Saint-Tropez. It will complete a portfolio in the south of France that already includes Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes and Château Saint-Martin & Spa in Vence. The property is presented as a refined retreat, just steps from the town’s beaches, restaurants and social hotspots. The project was unveiled by the group in early 2025.
Timo Gruenert, CEO of Oetker Hotels, explained the decision, saying that entrusting Géraud with an opening as significant as Mas Bellevue reflects the group’s confidence in his leadership qualities and in his in-depth knowledge of its guests and values.
From sommelier to General Manager
Géraud Tournier has spent the past decade of his career with Oetker Hotels. Before joining the group, he was a sommelier at Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris and then at Le Louis XV restaurant in Monaco. He joined Château Saint-Martin & Spa as Head Sommelier, before moving the following year to the pre-opening team of L’Apogée Courchevel.
He was subsequently appointed Director of Food & Beverage, then Director of Rooms. These roles prepared him to take on the general management of both properties, a position he has held since 2022. He has therefore already experienced an opening from the inside, in Courchevel, before leading the one in Saint-Tropez.
Géraud Tournier described the opening of Mas Bellevue as a tremendous opportunity to create a unique place in a destination with such a strong personality. He added that he wants guests to feel the elegance and serenity of a refined retreat, while enjoying the conviviality and buzz that are distinctive to Saint-Tropez. Above all, he concluded, the team will bring the authentic warmth of Oetker Hotels to every stay.
Simon Bannelier takes the helm in Vence
A graduate of Rennes School of Business, Simon Bannelier has also built his career between Vence and Courchevel. He started out at the front desk before moving into operations management. He went on to become Director of Rooms at Château Saint-Martin & Spa and Deputy General Manager of L’Apogée Courchevel.
He has worked alongside Géraud Tournier for many years and therefore knows both properties, their teams and their loyal clientele well. According to Timo Gruenert, he brings both continuity and his own ambition to Château Saint-Martin & Spa.
Simon Bannelier said that Château Saint-Martin & Spa has played a very important role in his career, and that leading a hotel and a team he knows so well means a great deal to him. He intends to keep enriching the guest experience while preserving the conviviality and unique character that guests value so highly.
Courchevel keeps its leadership duo
Both executives retain their roles at L’Apogée Courchevel, Géraud Tournier as General Manager and Simon Bannelier as Deputy General Manager. This dual responsibility is made possible by the seasonality of the properties: the Savoie ski resort operates in winter, the Riviera in summer.
Duarte Bon de Sousa, Chief Operating Officer of Oetker Hotels, has followed Géraud Tournier’s career. He himself was recently promoted to COO of the group. He noted Tournier’s remarkable ability to inspire others and to build teams deeply committed to guests and colleagues alike, adding that Simon Bannelier’s promotion shows how that same generosity in leadership creates opportunities for others.
Internal promotion as a governance model
LTH Analysis – These two appointments add to other internal moves made by Oetker Hotels this year. In the spring, the group notably entrusted Le Bristol Paris to Fabrice Moizan and promoted Jean-Alexis Costa at Eden Rock – St Barths. For a collection of modest size, drawing on its own teams makes it possible to open a new address without losing what defines its service culture.
Mas Bellevue will join a portfolio that includes Le Bristol Paris, The Lanesborough in London, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, Eden Rock – St Barths, Hotel La Palma in Capri and The Vineta Hotel in Palm Beach. The group also manages more than 250 villas worldwide.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
Oetker Hotels names two in-house leaders for its Riviera properties
Géraud Tournier appointed General Manager of Le Mas Bellevue Saint-Tropez, opening June 2027
Simon Bannelier promoted to General Manager of Château Saint-Martin & Spa, Vence
Both retain their roles at L’Apogée Courchevel (GM and Deputy GM)
Tournier joined Oetker Hotels over a decade ago as Head Sommelier and has led Courchevel and Vence since 2022
Le Mas Bellevue marks the group’s arrival in Saint-Tropez, alongside Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc and Château Saint-Martin & Spa
