26 March 2026 – Hôtel Royal enters a new chapter in its gastronomic history with the appointment of Chef Yohan Fatela as Executive Chef. His arrival reflects the establishment's continued commitment to excellence, both in preserving the prestige of its Michelin starred restaurant Les Fresques and in further elevating its wider culinary offering.

For more than twenty years, Chef Patrice Vander shaped the gastronomic identity of Hôtel Royal and played a defining role in building the reputation of Les Fresques. Hôtel Royal warmly acknowledges his remarkable contribution to the history and spirit of the house.

An international career shaped by excellence

Chef Yohan Fatela has built a distinguished international career within the world of luxury hospitality.

Driven by an early passion for travel, he left for Scotland at the age of nineteen to perfect his English before returning to France to take part in the opening of a restaurant in Grenoble. He then joined the Shangri La Group, marking the beginning of a global journey that would take him across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Following an experience in Abu Dhabi within a French fine dining restaurant, he was appointed Head Chef at Sofitel Beijing at just twenty four years old. There, he led prestigious diplomatic dinners, welcoming heads of state and international delegations.

Upon returning to France, he joined the kitchens of Hôtel Majestic Cannes alongside Chef Pierre Gagnaire, where he led the Fouquet's and Paradiso restaurants. He also contributed to major events during the Cannes Film Festival, overseeing up to seven hundred covers per day. At twenty nine, he became Executive Chef at La Bastide de Gordes in the Luberon, a Palace de France, where he developed his own refined and daring culinary signature.

A dual mission at the heart of Hôtel Royal

Chef Yohan Fatela's cuisine is guided by a simple conviction: the pleasure of the table lies in the meaning found on the plate. His approach emphasises precision in cooking, allowing the purity of ingredients to express unexpected emotions. His menus evolve with the seasons, following the natural rhythm of each product.

For him, dining is more than a moment of pleasure. It is an experience rich in meaning, where every detail, from the plate to the service, contributes to a deeper emotional connection.

At Hôtel Royal, gastronomy is inseparable from the art of living. Each meal is conceived as a story shaped by its surroundings, from the landscape of Lake Geneva to the rhythm of service and the warmth of hospitality.

“It is with great humility and respect that I join a house with such a strong history. I want our guests to experience the spirit of French cuisine: convivial, generous, and meant to be shared. The ambition is to surprise, to tell a story, and to create a genuine moment around the table,” says Chef Yohan Fatela.

This new appointment reaffirms Hôtel Royal's ambition to cultivate a gastronomy that is demanding, authentic, and vibrant, in constant dialogue with Lake Geneva, the surrounding nature, and the rich heritage of the property.

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PR Contact
Tazmin Racke, Senior Account Executive – PR & Brand Communications
Mason Rose
Email: tazmin@masonrose.com

Hotel Royal at Evian Resort

On the edge of Lake Geneva above France's oldest spa town, Evian-les-Bains, Evian Resort has a long history as an unrivalled retreat for wellbeing and natural beauty. The resort's beating heart, the five-star Palace-rated Hotel Royal, promises awe-inspiring views over the lake and mountains with its award-winning golf-course, Michelin-starred Les Fresques restaurant serving local cheeses and wines alongside herbs and vegetables grown in the kitchen garden, plus the resorts' flagship evianSPA offering a range of rejuvenating and indulgent wellness treatments. Also designated as the official venue for the G7 Summit in June 2026. 

Stay: Rooms at Hotel Royal from €475 (approx. £405 per night) for a Sejour Park View Room including daily breakfast // Rooms at Hotel Royal for two adjoining rooms from £770 including daily breakfast 
Link: hotel-royal.evianresort.com/en  
Images: here  

Evian Resort 
Located within grounds extending over 240 acres, Evian Resort comprises three hotels (Hôtel Royal ***** Palace, Hôtel Ermitage **** and La Verniaz ****), 2 hotel spas and Les Thermes evian®, Evian Resort Golf Club with its Academy and two courses, a Kids Resort, a concert hall (La Grange au Lac), and a Casino with a theatre. All the activities of Evian Resort are located in the communes of Evian-les-Bains, Neuvecelle and Publier. Evian Resort is part of the Danone group and its history is inextricably linked with that of the Evian Mineral Water Company. 

About The Leading Hotels of The World
In 1928, 38 independent hoteliers came together to create LHW which now comprises more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries, making it the largest collection of independent luxury hotels. Since its inception, the Company has carefully curated a selection of distinctive hotels, resorts, inns, chalets, villas, and safari camps, from the snow-capped Alps of Europe to the African veldt, to share them with adventurous souls who seek the remarkably uncommon. The LHW community is made of exceptional individuals, united by a passion for the surprising discoveries and details that come with every travel experience. LHW hoteliers are artisans of hospitality whose expertise, commitment to excellence and individual flair allows them to create story-worthy moments for their guests. It is these authentic, individualised moments, combined with the warm high-touch service these hoteliers and their team provide, that keeps discerning travellers returning again and again.