With Storytelling Guide Peter de Kuster

Introduction: Hotel Lutetia and the Hero’s Journey

Welcome to a unique, immersive leadership journey at Hotel Lutetia-Paris’ legendary Left Bank palace, a living monument to art, resilience, and reinvention. Guided by renowned storyteller Peter de Kuster, you’ll explore the stories of the Lutetia’s past and present, its famous guests, and its role as a crossroads of creativity and courage. Along the way, you’ll reflect on your own leadership story, inspired by the Hero’s Journey and the 12 archetypes.

The Lutetia is no ordinary hotel. Since 1910, it has welcomed artists, writers, musicians, and visionaries-James Joyce wrote Ulysses here, Picasso and Josephine Baker were regulars, and Charles de Gaulle spent his wedding night within these Art Nouveau walls. During WWII, the hotel was both a refuge and a site of occupation, later becoming a place of reunion and hope for survivors and returnees. Today, after a masterful restoration, the Lutetia shines as a symbol of Parisian elegance and creative spirit.

This journey is for creative leaders and anyone seeking to explore their own legend. Through stories, reflection, and the magic of place, you’ll discover the power to become the storyteller of your own life.

Timeline: The One-Day Lutetia Leadership Walking Journey

09:30 – 10:00 | Gathering in the Grand Lobby: The Ordinary World

• Welcome coffee in the luminous Art Nouveau lobby.
• Introduction to Lutetia’s history: from its founding by the Boucicaut family (of Bon Marché) to its role as a creative and intellectual hub.
• Reflect on your own “ordinary world.” What routines, beliefs, or roles are you ready to leave behind?

Reflection:
Where does your story begin? What is your “Shire” or comfort zone?

10:00 – 11:00 | The Call to Adventure: Art, Music, and the Avant-Garde

• Explore the hotel’s salons and Brasserie, once the haunt of Picasso, Joyce, and Baker.
• Hear tales of the artists, musicians, and thinkers who made Lutetia their creative home.
• Reflect on your own creative callings and the adventures that await.

Reflection:
What calls you to adventure in your life or work? What passions or challenges are beckoning you forward?

11:00 – 12:00 | Refusal of the Call: Shadows of War and Change

• Walk through the hotel’s corridors, learning about its role during WWII: from haven for exiles to Nazi headquarters, and later a center for returning survivors.
• Contemplate the courage and fear of transformation in times of crisis.

Reflection:
When have you resisted change or felt overwhelmed by events beyond your control? What “shadows” do you need to face?

12:00 – 13:00 | Meeting the Mentor: Inspiration in Place and People

• Pause in the Joséphine Bar, named for Josephine Baker, and hear stories of mentorship, resilience, and artistic kinship.
• Discuss the importance of mentors and allies in your own journey.

Reflection:
Who are your mentors-living or ancestral? What places or people inspire and guide you?

13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch at the Lutetia Brasserie

• Enjoy a lunch inspired by the creative denizens of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
• Informal storytelling and networking with Peter and fellow participants.

14:00 – 15:00 | Crossing the Threshold: Reinvention and Renewal

• Discover the hotel’s recent transformation-a four-year restoration blending Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and contemporary design.
• Visit the luminous interior courtyard and spa, symbols of bringing light into darkness.
• Reflect on your own moments of reinvention.

Reflection:
What thresholds have you crossed? When have you dared to step into the unknown?

15:00 – 16:00 | Tests, Allies, Enemies: Saint-Germain’s Living Story

• Walk the neighborhood: Square Boucicaut, Le Bon Marché, and the literary cafés that shaped the Lutetia’s community.
• Reflect on your allies and adversaries-who supports your journey, and what challenges test your resolve?

Reflection:
Who are your true allies? What tests your integrity, creativity, or courage?

16:00 – 17:00 | The Ordeal and the Reward: From Darkness to Light

• Stand before the hotel’s iconic façade, adorned with Art Nouveau sculptures.
• Hear stories of the hotel’s role as a place of reunion and hope after liberation.
• Reflect on the rewards of resilience, community, and creative legacy.

Reflection:
What ordeals have defined you? What wisdom or gifts have you gained from your darkest journeys?

17:00 – 17:30 | The Return with the Elixir: Writing Your Own Legend

• Conclude in the hotel’s courtyard or bar, sharing insights and questions.
• Discuss the 12 archetypes-Innocent, Orphan, Hero, Caregiver, Explorer, Rebel, Lover, Creator, Jester, Sage, Magician, Ruler-and how they appear in the Lutetia’s story and your own.
• Receive a personal reflection guide to continue your journey.

Reflection:
What “elixir” will you bring back to your world? How will you use your story to inspire others?

The 12 Archetypes at Lutetia: A Mirror for Creative Leaders

Archetype	Lutetia Example	Leadership Reflection
Innocent	The hotel’s founding optimism	Keep hope alive amid uncertainty
Orphan	Refugees and survivors in WWII	Find belonging and resilience in adversity
Hero	Artists, exiles, and visionaries	Step up in times of crisis
Caregiver	Staff welcoming returnees post-war	Nurture your team and community
Explorer	Picasso, Joyce, and the avant-garde	Embrace new ideas and experiences
Rebel	Anti-Nazi exiles, creative revolution	Challenge the status quo
Lover	Charles de Gaulle’s honeymoon	Let love and connection guide your actions
Creator	Art, music, and design at Lutetia	Build your legacy through creativity
Jester	Jazz, cabaret, and laughter	Use humor to endure and connect
Sage	Literary salons and philosophers	Seek and share wisdom
Magician	The hotel’s many reinventions	Transform crisis into opportunity
Ruler	The Boucicaut and Taittinger families	Lead with vision and responsibility

Conclusion: The Power of Your Own Story

Hotel Lutetia is a living legend-a story of resilience, creativity, and transformation. Its halls echo with the footsteps of artists, visionaries, and survivors. As a creative leader, you are the protagonist of your own legend. This journey is an invitation to see yourself reflected in the history of a place that has weathered every storm and emerged more luminous.

You are the storyteller of your own life. Will you create your legend, or let it be written by others?

Questions to Take Away

• Where does your story begin, and what “call to adventure” are you hearing now?
• Who are your mentors, allies, and adversaries?
• What ordeals have shaped your character and your vision?
• What “elixir” or wisdom will you bring back to your team and community?
• How will you blend your past, present, and future to create your own legend?

Price and Details

Legends of Lutetia: One-Day Leadership Walking Journey

• Duration: 1 day (09:30 – 17:30)
• Guide: Peter de Kuster, renowned storyteller
• Includes: Guided walk, storytelling at key sites, reflection guide, coffee/tea and lunch at Lutetia
• Price: € 950 per person (excl. VAT)
• Private and group tours available

Contact:
peter@wearesomeone.nl

Step into the legend. Discover the stories of Lutetia-and the story of yourself.