This week, LATTE chats exclusively with Sandrine Camia, the Deputy Director Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority. Sandrine has had a spectacular career in luxury hospitality, with roles at ultra-luxury properties including Hotel Lutetia in Paris and Hotel Martinez in Cannes, both properties of the Taittinger Family.

She is the former Director of Sales, Marketing and Communication for Hotel Royal Riviera in Saint-Jean Cap-Ferrat and Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo, before taking over as Director of Monaco Convention Bureau.

A savvy luxury marketer, Sandrine is familiar with Virtuoso and many advisors know her face from decades of attending Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas, along with all the other major MICE & leisure shows around the globe.

We start our conversation with Sandrine, discussing the importance of the cruise sector for Monaco.

Sandrine, can you tell us how significant cruising is to Monaco? How many cruise visitors arrive to the Municipality by sea annually?

Cruising is a selective and high-value segment for Monaco. The Principality has implemented strict regulations governing the size of vessels, total number of passengers and crew, and environmental performance, to protect its coastline and urban environment. As a result, Monaco primarily welcomes smaller, upscale ships rather than mass-market liners.

Each year, Monaco welcomes around 200,000 cruise passengers — a relatively modest figure, but one that generates a significant economic impact for the destination, particularly for restaurants, shops, and local businesses, especially those in the Old Town and main visitor districts. There is also a growing number of pre- and post-cruise stays, as Monaco’s strategy focuses on attracting cruises that begin or end in the Principality, encouraging longer stays and deeper engagement with the destination.

What is it about the French Riviera and Monaco that lures cruise lines and passengers to your part of the world?

The Mediterranean is already a dream destination for cruise travellers — admired for its diversity of landscapes, art of living, gastronomy, and culture — and the French Riviera embodies all of that in one glamorous coastline. Within it, Monaco stands out as an unmissable stop, offering unique experiences and accessibility.

The Principality’s unmatched quality of service, particularly through its world-class hotels, its rich cultural and gastronomic scene, and the history of the Princely Family, which has reigned for more than 700 years, give Monaco an identity like no other port in the Mediterranean.

Nestled between the French and Italian Rivieras, Monaco’s compact size allows visitors to explore its many attractions entirely on foot from the harbour, discovering monuments, museums, gardens, shopping, and fine dining within minutes (even if a day is enough to experience all of Monaco’s facets).

With your stellar hospitality career to date, what do you think about ultra-luxury hotel brands entering the superyacht space (Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Orient Express, Aman)? And what new opportunities do these brands present for Monaco?

Thank you very much for the kind words.

I see it as natural convergence: iconic hotel brands bringing their signature service and lifestyle from land to sea. It’s a perfect fit for Monaco, where excellence, and tailor-made experiences are already part of the destination’s DNA.

We already see Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection turnarounds and calls scheduled for Monte-Carlo, and Four Seasons Yachts featuring Monaco in its inaugural Mediterranean programming. These products are completely aligned with Monaco’s positioning.

How is the destination evolving its cruise offering to cater for guests arriving by sea?

Three priorities:

1. Selective sizing & quality: Monaco targets ships under 250 meters and carrying less than 1,250 guests and crew combined, favoring premium and ultra-luxury lines that match the Principality’s positioning and offering

2. Sustainability: Monaco continues to advance its sustainability agenda, with shore power installation at the cruise pier set to be completed soon, allowing ships to connect to electricity and significantly reduce emissions.

3. Guest experience: Simple, easy city access; Curated tours beyond the clichés, alongside visits to Monaco’s must-see landmarks and coordinated calendars so guests step into Monaco’s year-round cultural and sport events.

Have you personally cruised, and if so, where and with which brands? And what was your most recent voyage?

I haven’t taken many cruises personally, but my most recent one was with Crystal last May, during the Virtuoso Overseas Symposium, which sailed from Barcelona to Monaco. Beyond its beautiful itinerary, that ship holds special meaning for a representative of the Monaco destination — it features several iconic Monaco brands on board, including the Casino de Monte-Carlo and the Beefbar.

Beyond cruising, how is Monaco evolving to overcome overtourism and to appeal to day visitors, overnight stayers and villa guests?

In Monaco, we do not view tourism as a problem of “overtourism” in the usual sense, because welcoming visitors is at our core : Monaco was created for tourism in 1863, and we have been a land of hospitality for more than 160 years.

Our approach is holistic: the offer is tailored for day-visitors and overnight guests and the local community and residents are comfortable with the rhythm because it is managed, high-quality and respectful of the destination. We don’t aim for mass volumes; our focus is on experience, balance and value.

For business tourism, we already host over 300 major events annually, which smooths seasonality, supports mid/low season stays, and underlines that Monaco is a destination year-round, not just at peak holiday times.

Do Monaco’s famed hotels provide enough high-end rooms in peak season? Is there room for more luxury inventory or new ultra-luxury brands?

We’re not in a situation of saturation. Monaco’s hotels undergo regular, thoughtful renovations to maintain the highest standards, with projects often focused on larger rooms and more suites rather than simply increasing capacity.

These ongoing enhancements reflect Monaco’s constant pursuit of excellence and consider the needs of both high- and ultra-high-contribution individual guests and the business and group segment, which remains essential to the destination’s year-round appeal.

Here are a few examples of recent renovations:

The Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo was entirely revamped in 2019, a complete transformation that reaffirmed its position as one of the world’s leading palace hotels.

Other major projects are ongoing or recently completed: the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Monte-Carlo Beach, and Fairmont Monte-Carlo, each enhancing their offering through extensive renovations or new suite collections.

Given Monaco’s hotel mix — already composed of over 80% four- and five-star properties — future developments will continue to prioritise quality over quantity. There is still room for new openings, particularly in neighbouring municipalities, where several lifestyle-oriented four-star projects are planned. These will complement the Principality’s offer, catering both to the leisure segment and, importantly, to the meeting & convention market, especially following the 6,000 m² expansion of the Grimaldi Forum.

Is Monaco’s culinary scene keeping up with visitor demand? Latest dining venues and “out-of-towner” experiences?

Monaco is, without a doubt, a gourmet destination. It offers an extraordinary variety of dining options — from Mediterranean to Italian, French, Belgium, English and Asian influences — with a strong commitment to fresh, locally sourced produce and a genuine “farm-to-plate” philosophy.

It boasts the highest concentration of MICHELIN-starred restaurants per square kilometer in the world — 13 stars spread across 8 restaurants — an exceptional figure that perfectly reflects the destination’s passion for gastronomy.

In recent years, Monaco’s culinary landscape has also become increasingly vibrant and festive, with the arrival of international lifestyle dining concepts that add a new dimension to its gourmet appeal.

Here are some of the most recent openings — and truly, not a single season goes by without a new restaurant or bar opening in Monaco:

· Amazónico Monte-Carlo : a lively, jungle-inspired concept blending dining, music and late-night energy.

· Les Ambassadeurs by Christophe Cussac at the Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, already two MICHELIN stars, offering refined Mediterranean cuisine with contemporary flair.

· Pavyllon Monte-Carlo, a restaurant by Yannick Alléno, showcasing the chef’s signature modern French cuisine and relaxed refinement.

· L’Abysse Monte-Carlo, a gourmet Japanese restaurant by master chef Yoshinori Shibuya, newly opened in 2025 at the Hôtel Hermitage, offering an exceptional omakase-style experience that has already earned two MICHELIN stars.

· Blue Bay – Marcel Ravin, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort: two MICHELIN stars, reopened in 2024 after a stunning redesign and now offering exclusive chef’s table formats.

· The Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, completely reimagined, remains the beating heart of Place du Casino.

· Marlow, a new English dining concept bringing a modern, cosmopolitan energy

· Jondal Monte-Carlo, which launched its first Monaco season this summer at the Monte-Carlo Beach, will reopen for the 2026 summer season, continuing its relaxed yet elegant Mediterranean spirit.

Coya Monte-Carlo and Nikki Beach Monte-Carlo, both established for several years, have become essential fixtures in Monaco’s festive dining scene — Coya with its vibrant contemporary Peruvian cuisine and lively atmosphere, and Nikki Beach with its rooftop setting at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, overlooking both the Grand Prix hairpin and the Mediterranean Sea.

For out-of-towners, Monaco offers an exceptional range of seasonal and immersive experiences — from beach clubs, including the new Monte-Carlo Beach by Jacquemus concept, to exclusive wine tastings following the reopening of the legendary Hôtel de Paris wine cellar, one of the largest private hotel cellars in the world, housing over 350,000 bottles. All of this, of course, within walking distance of their hotel or the pier.

Monaco is once again playing host to the Forbes Travel Guide Summit in 2026. How important are events like ‘The Summit’ and other hospitality conferences to Monaco?

Events like the Forbes Travel Guide Summit are extremely important for Monaco — they perfectly align with the Principality’s core values of excellence, hospitality, and innovation. Monaco was the first destination outside the United States to host the Summit earlier this year, and we are very proud to welcome it back in February 2026. It brings together some of the world’s most influential leaders in luxury travel and service, which resonates deeply with Monaco’s positioning.

More broadly, business tourism is one of the pillars of Monaco’s year-round activity, representing nearly 30% of all hotel room nights sold in the Principality. Every year, we host more than 300 professional events, including major international congresses that have been established here for over a decade. The recent 6,000 m² expansion of the Grimaldi Forum further strengthens our capacity to welcome large-scale, high-quality gatherings.

In 2026, Monaco will also host the MICHELIN Guide ceremony and continue to welcome prestigious global events such as the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year. All of these reinforce Monaco’s role as a true hub for international business events.

Your role must see you travel the globe frequently. How many days are you on the road? Carry-on or checked?

I’m on the road about once a month for must-attend forums such as Virtuoso Symposium, ILTM shows, and others. My role also involves regular international roadshows organised by our overseas promotion offices (we have one in Australia and six others across three continents).

I’m not a light packer — I’m a girl who loves her outfits and likes to have options, so I always end up taking a bit more than necessary. But I do keep a spare outfit in my cabin bag, just in case my suitcase decides to travel on a different itinerary!

Besides Monaco (Nice, more specifically), what is your favourite city to fly into, and why? When were you last there?

I’ve been travelling since I was a child — my father worked for Air France, so travel has always been part of my life. My favourite city to fly into is New York, the first city I ever discovered with my father. I’ve been back more than 50 times, both for work and for pleasure. I just love the city’s energy and rhythm — everything feels a little larger than life, and it still manages to surprise me every single time I go back.

I also have many friends in New York, people I’ve known for years, most of them travel industry professionals. That’s one of the things I love most about my job — it allows me to meet incredible people from all over the world and to connect with different cultures and perspectives.

As for my most recent long-haul trip, it was to Australia two months ago — and I promise I’m not saying that just because this is an Australian publication! It was a truly unforgettable family journey exploring Sydney, Uluru, and the Great Barrier Reef — one of the most remarkable travel experiences I’ve had in recent years.

Finally—this is ‘LATTE’ afterall—what’s your favourite coffee beverage?

I don’t like my coffee too strong — even though in Monaco, as in nearby Italy, people usually drink it ristretto. I prefer a smooth, balanced espresso, That might also be because I’ve learned to appreciate American coffee, which is much lighter — and a bit more forgiving first thing in the morning!