You turned 16 in October. Could you tell us about Parnasse?

Anais Rivron: Parnasse was born 16 years ago from an idea, an intuition that the most demanding customers might need specific, closer and more personalized support. When Parnasse was created, we thought it would be an experiment, not necessarily destined to last. It has found its audience and has become a permanent fixture.

Who are your customers?

A.R: Our customers are opinion leaders in their field: sport, culture, economics, business. These are people for whom connectivity and digital technology are absolutely critical to their business, but who don’t have the time to devote to it. They delegate this concern to us, and we take care of everything!

What are their expectations?

A.R: That everything works: mobile, flat-rate, internet (fiber, satellite…), at home, at work, in their second home, on the road, in France or abroad, 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. More precisely, they expect us to take care of them from start to finish, and to react quickly. Connecting with other Members is also a strong expectation, as is the feeling of belonging to a circle that encourages exchanges.

Is this the principle behind the Exceptional Moments you organize for your Members?

A.R: When you join Parnasse, you join a Circle that offers its Members the opportunity to meet and develop their network. To this end, we offer our Members a wide range of exclusive events, concocted with great care and attention to detail, to help them make contacts and have fun at the same time: dinners, private visits to leading exhibitions, behind-the-scenes at exclusive venues, exclusive showcases…

How do you welcome your new Members, and what do you consider a good welcome?

A.R: To join the Cercle Parnasse, a Member must first be chosen by a Selection Committee which meets twice a week. Once this stage has been completed, an initial meeting is arranged with the Member’s personal Digital Coach, who takes an in-depth look at the Member’s needs and uses, on the move, in their main or secondary residence, and at their place of work. In general, when a Member joins us, we equip them with a top-of-the-range cell phone, which their Personal Digital Coach activates and configures according to their preferences. The coach also provides tips on how to use the device, and in particular recommendations for sober digital use, if the member is sensitive to this. Last but not least, he offers to meet the members of the Circle, and to do so, to take part in an event that corresponds to his interests. A member of the Parnasse Board of Directors welcomes him/her and introduces him/her to his peers – and the magic happens!

Parnasse is very sensitive to the quality of its welcome, whether for new Members or during special events. What is your vision of hospitality?

A.R: Contrary to what you might think, and given that we operate in the digital domain, hospitality is indeed key at Parnasse. In fact, it’s our reference universe! The Parnasse service was designed according to the codes of the luxury hotel industry. Our staff are all “dress-coded”, trained in the codes of luxury, and we pay particular attention to the quality of the service we offer our Members. At Parnasse, we don’t talk about customer relations, we talk about service excellence.

So welcome is key?

A.R: Yes, it’s the first interaction with each of our Members, and as we all know, we don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression!

Has your greeting style changed over the last 16 years?

A.R: While listening, empathy and personalization are as important as ever, our Members are increasingly looking for authenticity and respect for the environment. It’s up to us to adapt and offer them authentic, exclusive and personalized proposals.

Interview by Ava Eschwège