A palace is born on the French Riviera

New in town: The Palace Grand Hotel du Cap

Leading resorts from all over the country were in line for the distinction, which is vastly becoming a mini-version of the Travellers’ choice hotel award.

The label rates the hotel's location, historical significance, room comfort, personalised service, multilingual staff and health and spa facilities.

There is one winner from the Côte d’Azur- the Grand Hôtel du Cap in Cap Ferrat- plus seven others from Paris, Courchevel and Biarritz.

The eight hotels altogether are the first to have received this award since it was created in November 2010.

Tourism authorities said the label recognises "French-style" and marks them out from the newer hotels run by groups like Shangri-La and Raffles in the French capital.

The Negresco hotel had applied for the award but however failed to impress the judges. The luxury flagship told press it is ready for a comeback and will be applying again for the right to be called a ‘palace’.

France has 130 five-star hotels but there are only now ‘eight French palaces’.

AA