Price Alert in Saint Tropez: Mayor Sylvie Siri Exposes Excessive Demands by Restaurants, Imposing Sky-High Fees for Table Access.
The news
"La Vie" doesn't seem so "en rose" in Saint-Tropez anymore. Complaints are pouring in from tourists, residents, and even hospitality industry insiders, all decrying the "financial screening" carried out by several restaurateurs in the posh town on the French Riviera. This practice appears to be so widespread that Mayor Sylvie Siri has threatened hefty penalties for those who "select" future diners based on their previous spending. "It seems like a joke, but it's all too real. My administration and I are strongly against such practices, which are tarnishing the city's image," Madame Siri told local media. Citing anonymous sources, the Nice Matin newspaper reports that some St-Tropez restaurants routinely input customers' settled bills into their databases, then reject reservations if the amounts are deemed "unprofitable."
"If you didn't spend enough the first time, they'll tell you there's no availability until September, or they'll say, 'Sure, we have a table, but to book it, you'll need to pay €5,000. Is that okay?' A minimum expenditure of €1,500 per person is another option to ensure customers are willing to invest in the experience," reveals a hospitality industry insider. Nice Matin also tells of an Italian tourist chased to the parking lot by a waiter for leaving a €500 tip, about 10% of the bill, instead of the "usual" 20% tip, considering that in France, tips are at the discretion of the guest.
At the start of the summer, the Mayor had planned to meet with venue owners at the end of the season, but due to the urgency of the situation, she decided to intervene immediately. "Restaurants guilty of this are engaging in outright 'money extortion'; essentially, it's an organized racket." These practices severely harm travelers and the local population alike. "If this continues, soon residents won't be able to dine out, which is already challenging in an area so dependent on tourism. But those who persist might face the withdrawal of their precious nighttime licenses," Siri continued, collaborating with the St-Tropez Esprit Village Merchants Association to distribute 1,000 informative flyers, reminding visitors and locals to contact the municipal office and the government's fraud prevention service if they feel swindled.
