Welcome Hotel

The photographer of Queen Victoria had already immortalised Villefranche and its surroundings: the house, the yacht and the Queen’s staff. At the time the Welcome Hotel was called Hotel de l’Univers and it welcomed travellers way back in time (18th century).

Until the end of the 19th century, the building had only 4 floors: the bar on the ground floor, the entrance of the hotel with its living room and dining room and two floors of rooms. Around 1890 a third floor of rooms was added.
As more and more English citizens were regularly visiting the Côte d'Azur, the « Hotel de l'Univers » changed its name to « Welcome Hotel » in 1920.

The hotel entrance was then located in the Amélie Pollonnais Square.
In September 1943, Mrs. Reine and Mr. Guy Galbois (parents of the current owners) bought the Welcome Hotel. The hotel was requisitioned during the Second World War and when Mr. and Mrs. Galbois got it back they found their home deteriorated.

With courage and know-how, they brought the hotel back to life and ready to welcome tourists from the whole world, the Jet Set and the Greek boat owners who were mooring in the harbour. They were using the hotel as a concierge service.
In the aftermath of the war, the 6th American fleet had chosen Villefranche as their home port and the Welcome Bar, like many other cafés, greeted the American sailors.

In 1955 the building reached its present size with the addition of two more floors, one of which with an attic and loggias on the roof. A lift was added in a tower set against the back wall in order to serve the seven floors.
In 2000-2001, the reception is laid out on the ground floor as well as a entrance hall and a living room. The veranda is used as breakfast room and café: the Wine Pier opens in 2002. Four extra rooms and one junior suite are built.

In 2002-2003, balconies with a sea view are built outside each room on the 4th floor.In 2003, the company’s quality policy implemented for many years is finally rewarded with the HOTELCert certification, renewed in 2006, and the ISO 9001 certification, renewed in 2006.