Executive Chef Philippe Labbé is starting 2013 on a high note, for this week he was named ?Cuisinier of the Year? by Gault & Millau. This honour follows the unanimously enthusiastic public acclaim for the three restaurants at Shangri-La Hotel, Paris: the gastronomic restaurant L?Abeille now has five toques, while Shang Palace, exclusively dedicated to Cantonese-influenced Chinese cooking, has three toques.

A new wellness oasis has opened in the heart of the French capital. Located in what were originally the stables of Prince Roland Bonaparte?s hôtel particulier, Shangri-La Hotel, Paris?s new wellness retreat includes fitness facilities, a pool with an outdoor terrace and a beauty treatment centre. The transformation of the space is a tribute to the creative vision of interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, the hotel?s long-time collaborator and design signature.