What does it take to be happy? If Fabien Morcel and Gilles Pascal have their way, the answer is: the right patch of earth. The two found theirs in the south of France, where they created Souki Lodges & Spa, a refuge that puts nature on a pedestal.
Photos © Mr. Tripper, Souki Lodges & Spa
FACES: How did you get into the hotel industry?
Fabien Morcel: The love for our beautiful region and our dream of offering guests a little paradise in our home in the south of France led my partner Gilles and me to become hoteliers and to found Souki Lodges & Spa.
F: How would you describe your hotel in one sentence?
FM: Souki Lodges & Spa is a little paradise that whispers in your ear, a timeless sanctuary where life is an adventure and reminds you how important the simple and beautiful things are. Nature is the queen here.
F: From the idea to the concept to the finished hotel: how long did it take you?
FM : We worked for four years before we were able to welcome our first guests. We came up with the concept and design, combining our love and vision for the hotel industry with what was actually possible.
Q: Why should we definitely stay at your hotel?
FM: Souki Lodges & Spa offers a moment of floating life. It is an invitation to travel to a place where time stands still. Our hotel is not part of a large chain, but is simply the vision of two passionate aesthetes.
F: What do hoteliers need to think about that others don’t have to worry about?
FM: A good hotelier must be able to anticipate the needs of his guests and know their habits in order to offer them a great experience.
F: What are you worrying too much about?
FM: To get as close to perfection as possible.
“Last summer, a customer begged us to adopt her.”
F: What are you like as a boss?
FM: A perfectionist. The following quote was omnipresent in my family: “The devil is in the detail.”
F: What qualities does a good host need?
FM: A good host must anticipate needs and be proactive and empathetic towards their guests.
F: What do you like most about guests?
FM: Your amazement at the discovery of our earthly paradise.
F: What don’t you like about guests?
FM: We respect all people and learn from our differences, if there are any. We can accept everything except disrespect.
F: What expectations do you have of your hotel, and how have your guests’ expectations changed in recent years?
FM: We want to offer our guests an honest experience that is in line with our values and our vision. This is entirely in line with the wishes of our customers, who are looking for privacy away from traditional hotel buildings, especially after the pandemic.
“Here, nature is the queen.”
F: What story from your everyday life as a hotelier do you have to tell us?
FM: Last summer, a customer begged us to adopt her so that she could live with us and stay at Souki Lodges & Spa.
F: What do you look out for when you stay out yourself?
FM: On the authenticity and history of the place.
F: What is the best hotel in the world that you have stayed in yourself?
FM: The roof tent on our 4×4, with which we were able to cross the most beautiful deserts on the African continent.
F: Where is your own bed?
FM: We are the neighbors of the Souki… nestled in the middle of the Mediterranean forest.
Souki Lodges & Spa
According to Fabien and Gilles, paradise lies in the south of France. Here above the Cabroières valley, 50 kilometers from Montpellier, lies your hotel Souki Lodges & Spa. Surrounded by trees are the wooden cocoons, inside which guests find a new temporary home. Pine trees from sustainable forestry provided the raw material, the two Frenchmen the good ideas. Fabien has picked the crème de la crème of design for the interior and gives his rooms that certain something with modern design pieces. Even more than the design of the rooms, however, it is the panorama that captivates you, as each cocoon is equipped with a terrace and a private jacuzzi from which you can look out over the horizon and directly into the valley.
Souki Lodges & Spa, Chemin des Caraygnasses, 34800 Cabrières, France, souki-lodges.com
Gilles Pascal.
This is what Fabien Morcel from…
cruise ships:
I’ve never been to one.
Buffet meal:
Great when the ingredients are fresh and local.
All-inclusive:
Perfect for families.
Tip:
So motivating!
Dogs in the restaurant & hotel:
We love animals, it’s all about the right upbringing.
Children in the restaurant & hotel:
Traveling and discovering new places is important for children.
entertainers:
It still exists!
Dress codes:
Are over.
TripAdvisor:
Great for getting feedback.
Sharing economy:
The future of our society.
Sustainability:
The most important thing in the hotel industry. We do everything we can to protect the environment.
Influencers:
A way to do marketing today.
Shortage of skilled workers:
Sad, but more of a reality than ever after the pandemic.
