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The Ritz after Al-Fayed
The Ritz Paris has been in turmoil since accusations of sexual abuse against its late owner.© Studio Pachamama

Running Story
The Ritz after Al-Fayed

The Ritz Paris has faced numerous challenges since the death of its long-standing owner, Egyptian business mogul, Mohamed Al-Fayed. The world's most famous luxury hotel has to live with the risk of seeing its reputation tarnished by the onslaught of sexual assault allegations levelled against Al-Fayed. What's more, the late owner's heirs do not have the same vision of the hotel's future, with some wanting to sell it and others keen to keep the jewel in the crown of Mohamed Al-Fayed's empire in family hands.

The Ritz after Al-Fayed
The Ritz Paris has been in turmoil since accusations of sexual abuse against its late owner.© Studio Pachamama

Al Fayed representative exits Ritz board of directors

The Swiss lawyer acting on behalf of the shareholder family on the board of the Parisian hotel has left. His departure comes at a particularly tense time for the luxury establishment.

LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Families 06.01.2026

Harrods seeks to remove all visual traces of disgraced former owner Al-Fayed

The London department store has officially begun proceedings to get rid of one of the most iconic – and controversial – features of its interior décor, the central escalator, which is adorned with Egyptian-inspired sculptures that resemble its ex-proprietor.

LogoSubscribers only United Kingdom Entourage 25.09.2025

Ritz Paris to renegotiate French bank loan

At a time when its sole shareholder, the Al-Fayed family, looks increasingly likely to be targeted by lawsuits, the five-star hotel in Place Vendôme is set to renegotiate a substantial bank loan.

LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Entourage 26.06.2025

Lumps and bumps as Ritz Paris rolls out pâtisserie plans

Riding on the success of its first pastry shop on the hotel's premises, the Ritz is about to open a second outlet in Paris, with an international launch on the horizon. This rapid expansion, part of a broader diversification strategy, is causing a number of problems internally.

Free access France Houses 03.04.2025

In police custody for Go Sport, Michel Ohayon faces further problems at the Sheraton Roissy

Remanded in custody on the evening of 2 April over his management of the now shuttered Go Sport brand, the French businessman is in parallel fighting to retain control of Financière Immobilière Bordelaise, which manages his luxury hotels and is currently in receivership.

LogoSubscribers only France Entourage 03.04.2025

Spotlight
Ritz Paris hit with first complaint from Al-Fayed victim

Since the BBC's September 2024 revelations that the Egyptian luxury mogul repeatedly abused women working for his companies, the department store Harrods, now in Qatari hands, has so far been the only one subject to legal complaints.

The world-renowned hotel is the first establishment directly controlled by the Al-Fayed family to be the target of a complaint.
LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Families 13.03.2025
The world-renowned hotel is the first establishment directly controlled by the Al-Fayed family to be the target of a complaint.

As Al Fayed abuse storm gathers strength, Ritz Paris gets a new chairman close to Riyadh

So far unaffected by complaints filed by victims of late former owner Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse, the Ritz Paris has replaced its chairman, financier Keith Lindsay, with a lawyer who used to manage the lucrative licensing of the Ritz brand.

LogoSubscribers only France, Saudi Arabia Entourage 27.02.2025

Ritz Paris provisioned for litigation long before sexual assault accusations against ex-owner Al Fayed

A decade before Mohamed Al Fayed's multiple alleged sexual assaults on women became the subject of a damning BBC documentary, the Ritz Paris started to set aside millions of euros in anticipation of legal proceedings from employees.

LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Entourage 26.09.2024

Ritz Paris rate hikes serve to repay Al Fayed loans

For the past year, guests have paid a lot more to stay at the luxury hotel on the Place Vendôme, allowing creditor shareholders to get some of their money back.

LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Families 29.08.2024

Ritz at daggers drawn with ex-manager Frank Klein

The head of the iconic Paris hotel for 40 years, Frank Klein has won nearly half a million euros in damages from his former employer.

LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Houses 20.06.2024

Spotlight
Ritz Paris's future hangs in the balance

While the heirs to the iconic hotel on Paris's Place Vendôme debate its future following the death of owner Mohamed Al Fayed last year, would-be buyers are all ears.

The Ritz Paris, on the French capital's Place Vendôme.
LogoSubscribers only France, United Kingdom Families 29.02.2024
The Ritz Paris, on the French capital's Place Vendôme.

What will become of the late Mohamed Al Fayed's Megève chalet and Saint-Tropez villa?

The Egyptian tycoon and proprietor of the Ritz, who died last week at 94, leaves behind a substantial real estate portfolio that includes two sumptuous French properties, in the Alps and on the Côte d'Azur.

LogoSubscribers only France Families 07.09.2023

[Family Affairs] Mohamed Al Fayed struggles to shield his heirs from Ritz Paris's debts

Over the past two years, Mohamed Al Fayed has been striving to clear Ritz Paris's debts and leave a stable hotel group for his heirs.

Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed.
LogoSubscribers only United Kingdom Families 29.09.2022
Egyptian tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed.

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The Ritz Paris has been in turmoil since accusations of sexual abuse against its late owner.

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The Ritz after Al-Fayed

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